How to Make Your City a LifeNuts Community
Now that you’re interested in this program, you want to share the joy with your family, friends, and your community. The next step is to approach your community. Warning: you will encounter resistance because the first question will be, “How much does it cost?” Difficult economies kill municipal budgets. Some cities have declared bankruptcy. So, let’s talk about cost – what every city manager must consider before launching a new program.
The first step is to read the book, LifeNuts, in order to become familiar with all aspects of the program, its scientific basis, and how it can save city budget dollars.
Who’s going to be in charge of LifeNuts, you ask. Our city budget has no money for new programs is a familiar tune. As you can see, you’ll need volunteers for this program to work. Lots of them. The good news is your community has hundreds, maybe thousands, of volunteers – the Baby Boomers. These individuals want to help; they want to be healthy; they want to be active; and they like to volunteer. And there will be millions of them retiring over the next 20 years. Also, high school students need volunteer hours to graduate and can be great assets. All you’ve got to do is recruit them.
How do I find these wonderful people, you wonder. Not too difficult – there are several ways. First, set a date for an informational meeting for volunteers for this program. Then, contact all employers, church leaders, and school principals and ask them to publicize a need for volunteers and the date of the meeting. Connect with local service clubs and senior citizen groups. Put a notice on your city website and in your city newsletter. Use emails or Facebook. Post notices in every conceivable public place – city parks, gyms, libraries, schools, and city buildings. Spread the word.
At the volunteer meeting, you’ll have to decide on who will take charge of the program –the main director of LifeNuts – a commitment that demands over 20 hours each week. In choosing a good director, be sure the person has sufficient time for this undertaking.
The director should have strong leadership skills and lots of energy. If your city budget allows it, this person could be a city employee. Yes, I know, city budgets are strapped for cash. If you can’t find such a volunteer, you might consider applying for grants to support such a position. Foundations, hospitals, medical insurance companies, and the local and state chapters of AARP have interest in promoting health and longevity. Anyway, the director needs strong organizational skills. A charismatic personality wouldn’t hurt, either.
Next, you’ll need to appoint coordinators to be in charge of committees, which consist of one or more volunteers. Each coordinator will decide on how many volunteers he or she will need. Obviously, the larger the community, the more volunteers required. One coordinator can run multiple programs in smaller communities. You’ll need several coordinators.
OK, you’ve got your director, your coordinator, and volunteers. Next up is setting the date to implement the programs. Decide on how many months you’ll need – probably at least three to six months – and place announcements for individual sign-ups in the same ways as you did for the volunteers. Explain the program and its benefits in these messages and ask those interested to bring their data, including predicted life expectancy as determined in a longevity survey, with them to registration. A sample newsletter announcement is listed in the appendix of the book, LifeNuts. One of the benefits of participating should be a free LifeNuts seminar. Participants who don’t have time to attend the seminar can read LifeNuts as an alternative.
The first step is to read the book, LifeNuts, in order to become familiar with all aspects of the program, its scientific basis, and how it can save city budget dollars.
Who’s going to be in charge of LifeNuts, you ask. Our city budget has no money for new programs is a familiar tune. As you can see, you’ll need volunteers for this program to work. Lots of them. The good news is your community has hundreds, maybe thousands, of volunteers – the Baby Boomers. These individuals want to help; they want to be healthy; they want to be active; and they like to volunteer. And there will be millions of them retiring over the next 20 years. Also, high school students need volunteer hours to graduate and can be great assets. All you’ve got to do is recruit them.
How do I find these wonderful people, you wonder. Not too difficult – there are several ways. First, set a date for an informational meeting for volunteers for this program. Then, contact all employers, church leaders, and school principals and ask them to publicize a need for volunteers and the date of the meeting. Connect with local service clubs and senior citizen groups. Put a notice on your city website and in your city newsletter. Use emails or Facebook. Post notices in every conceivable public place – city parks, gyms, libraries, schools, and city buildings. Spread the word.
At the volunteer meeting, you’ll have to decide on who will take charge of the program –the main director of LifeNuts – a commitment that demands over 20 hours each week. In choosing a good director, be sure the person has sufficient time for this undertaking.
The director should have strong leadership skills and lots of energy. If your city budget allows it, this person could be a city employee. Yes, I know, city budgets are strapped for cash. If you can’t find such a volunteer, you might consider applying for grants to support such a position. Foundations, hospitals, medical insurance companies, and the local and state chapters of AARP have interest in promoting health and longevity. Anyway, the director needs strong organizational skills. A charismatic personality wouldn’t hurt, either.
Next, you’ll need to appoint coordinators to be in charge of committees, which consist of one or more volunteers. Each coordinator will decide on how many volunteers he or she will need. Obviously, the larger the community, the more volunteers required. One coordinator can run multiple programs in smaller communities. You’ll need several coordinators.
OK, you’ve got your director, your coordinator, and volunteers. Next up is setting the date to implement the programs. Decide on how many months you’ll need – probably at least three to six months – and place announcements for individual sign-ups in the same ways as you did for the volunteers. Explain the program and its benefits in these messages and ask those interested to bring their data, including predicted life expectancy as determined in a longevity survey, with them to registration. A sample newsletter announcement is listed in the appendix of the book, LifeNuts. One of the benefits of participating should be a free LifeNuts seminar. Participants who don’t have time to attend the seminar can read LifeNuts as an alternative.