The next Cafe Society discussion on March 29, which will be facilitated by Ms. Taylor Bird, a Shepherd University student will focus on “Volunteerism.”

Bird and her “Psychology of Aging” class participated in a session several weeks ago dealing largely with how effective inter-generational communications are between old and young people. This topic will deal with volunteering as a substantive aspect of shared life in the community. These informal weekly discussions are held from 8:30 to 10 a.m. in the Rumsey Room of the Shepherd University Student Center each Tuesday morning. Pre-registration is not required and there are no fees or charges.

Bird, who is a student in the psychology of aging course, commented, “I would like to talk about the benefits of community engagement, especially in the form of volunteer work for older adults. Research has found that those who are actively engaged in their community are more successful in maintaining good health and have a stronger sense of well-being. So we will examine what factors lead an individual to participate in the community more than another.”

Mike Austin, one of the regular Cafe Society facilitators, added, “We are delighted to have a student taking the lead in this discussion. Aside from the benefits for older citizens, our Shepherdstown and Eastern Panhandle communities are highly dependent on volunteers to sustain the wonderful quality of life that we enjoy. The ability to motivate and effectively engage an adequate number of people to unselfishly donate their time, energy and resources for the benefit of others is one of the hallmarks of a successful community.”

Those with suggestions for future Cafe Society topics or who want more information should contact Austin at (304-876-0598 or michael.austin@frontiernet.

net.