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Now that summer is here most New Seniors will, no doubt, have some favorite recollections of their youth.  From playing with friends and neighbors to get-a-way cabins by the lake or cottages by the ocean to going to camp or being involved in local activities the time was full but we always wanted to have more things to occupy our time.  Over the years, the reality of youthful impetuousness and the desire to be constantly entertained has given way to an appreciation, maybe a yearning, for those easier softer times.

Younger people may look at nostalgia as an older person’s day dream.  This may be because the young are not far enough away from life’s events for people, places and things to have a lasting impact or meaning on them.  Another reason that the past is significant is when the product, service or circumstance no longer exists.  And, the older you get the more things disappear and the more attractive those memories become.

In due time the Gen X, Y and whatever other generational groups come along will find their own moments of nostalgia.  These may be the quiet days before the Internet was invented, remembering their first cell phone, what was “in” prior to body piercing and tattoos becoming popular, or how enjoyable life was before the great recession.  Time will reveal what is worth remembering for today’s younger people when they become tomorrow’s older people.

New Seniors who were born in the ‘30s through the mid-‘40s are considered pre-boomers.  While the depression is not stored in their memory banks, WWII is.  They remember the war years and the ultimate victories.  The coming on the scene of television, 45rpm records, the Korean Conflict, 3-D movies, moving to the suburbs, and the birth of rock and roll were all important events in the lives of pre-boomers. 

Boomers did not start arriving until 1946, but they took what their older brothers and sisters had and expanded on it.  They experienced Vietnam with its protests, civil rights and the women’s movements, plus a whole lot more.  They are turning 65 at the rate of 4 million individuals per year and will continue to do so through 2030 until all 76 million of them have attained New Senior status.

What will be nostalgic in the minds of boomers as they continue the aging process?  Will it be the historic events such as those mentioned above, those that are frivolous in nature like or strictly personal situations that can be conjured up anytime they want to take a break from the stress and strain of modern life?  Whatever the reason remembering the good times can’t be a bad thing.   

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New Seniors (pre-boomers and the early baby boomers) are the ones who benefited most from the sacrifices of the Greatest Generation.  It may seem strange to those younger than we are to consider being born during the Great Depression or WWII to be a good thing.  But it was.  We saw first hand, or soon came to understand, what incredible strength, faith and courage our parents and the others of their era had.  They were patriots.

They, their parents or earlier ancestors, came to this country with a dream: the hope of building a new and better life.  One were they could be free.  And, one where their children would have endless opportunities to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.  These people left behind whatever they had and whomever they knew to come to America.  They understood it would not be easy but believed it would be worth it.

Few arrived here with money or the possibility of work.  They lucky ones had friends or relatives provide them with food and shelter.  When jobs were found, the hours were long and the tasks difficult.  Yet these new Americans were determined to make it and while doing so they made this country a better place for all of us.  This makes them patriots.

It’s almost impossible for us to think of what they went through.  Although stories passed down let us know it was no cake walk.  What our patriot parents went through was a long arduous journey through the ‘30s and directly into fighting a War on two fronts in the early ‘40s.  Many of us remember those war days, when people lived in both fear and faith for nearly five years.  And we all benefited from their efforts as the country moved from 15 long years of darkness into the sunshine of post-war prosperity.

Those who carried the message of family tradition and the responsibility that goes with the freedoms enjoyed in this great country of ours are leaving us at an ever increasing rate.  The pre-boomers are approaching old age as the boomers join us as New Seniors.  In the meantime, we have work to do in order to help get the US back on track.

This Independence Day, let us commit ourselves to using what we learned and what we believe to reignite the feeling of patriotism within in our families, our friends and our communities.  The true greatness of America began with the individual and became  bigger, stronger and more beautiful as people worked together to make this the land of the free and the home of the brave.  This may be the moment in history when we can do our part to let the American dream live on for our children and grand children.  There is no better birthday gift we could give to the country that gave so much to us.

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The forerunner to the company was established in the 1880s when the firm’s founder invented a machine that helped the US Census Bureau complete the tabulating task in two rather than ten years and saved the government millions.  In 1911, this firm combined with three others to form the Computing Tabulating Recording Corporation (CTR).

In 1914, Thomas J. Watson joined the company as general manager and became president a year later.  He was innovative and believed in team work as well the motivation and retention of good employees.  Soon after he arrived, the first disabled employee was hired.  He started training programs.  And it was Watson who coined the famous company slogan: “Think.”   Ten years after his arrival, the company changed its name in order to more accurately reflect the company’s mission and goals to International Business Machines (IBM).

Even during the Great Depression, IBM continued to hire people and was among the first companies to provide group life insurance, survivor benefits and paid vacations.  All the while, Watson saw to it that the firm reinvested in its future through research and development activities.  He strongly believed in “world peace through world trade” and had that statement inscribed on the headquarters building in New York.  But, when WWII broke out, he offered his company’s facilities for the production of military ordnances.  It was during the war that the first woman became an IBM vice president.  Immediately after the war ended, the company hired its first black salesman.

As the post war recovery took place, the company was faced with making the transition from mechanical counter devices and systems to the electronic age.  This effort was interrupted with Watson’s death at age 82.  His son, Tom Watson, JR., took over and completely reorganized the company while keeping his father’s philosophies and policies in place.  After his retirement in 1971, IBM continued to flourish.

The shift to PCs and an influx of new technology in the early 1990s had a devastating effect on IBM.  It had to shed old products and seek new areas of opportunities. The firm lost nearly half its workforce, but continued to practices the proven principles for success.  

Today, less than two decades later, IBM is back up to about the same number of employees and revenues have increased to well above previous levels.  This demonstrates that a commitment to excellence at all levels within a company can payoff for everyone involved, in spite of setbacks.  Other companies could learn from IBM’s performance.  And, the government might learn a thing or two as well, if it were so inclined.    

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These men and women, many not even out of high school and having just gone through a decade-long depression, put the safety of their family, friends and community ahead of themselves.  They came from rich and poor families, educated and nearly illiterate ones, some were famers others city dwellers.  The make up was as diverse as America itself. 

Everyone was part of the war effort.  Besides those fighting the war, defense work was a priority at home.  Rationing of food, gas and luxuries was commonplace.  Even the children were involved with paper and scrape metal drives plus selling War Bonds in conjunction with the schools.  Virtually all families had someone in the armed services and every community suffered when one of theirs was lost in the war. 

World War II was fought by every American in some way.  That’s why New Seniors and those older remember it so vividly to this day, nearly 70 years later.  Sadly, the people who lead us to victory are leaving us at an increasing rate.  The Greatest Generation is big in its accomplishments, but their ranks are becoming smaller.  We already miss their wisdom, and the courage they displayed is remembered in stories rather than in news reports as it once was.

Before it’s too late, we should talk to these true American heroes and find out why they did the unselfish things they did without asking for praise or reward.  This is something New Seniors are well equipped to do.  In fact, it is our responsibility to honor these patriots and get the word out to the rest of the population, starting with the aging Baby Boomer who benefited so much from what these folks did.  Tell them to get over Viet Nam, when the only thing many of them did was to complain rather than serve.  If they can’t do that, the future of America looks bleak, indeed.

Then, pass the word on to the Gen X and Y groups who never had to sacrifice anything until recently when jobs became scarce, cars and homes were reposed and their credit cards got maxed out.  This are the generations that have not paid their dues but seem unwilling to pay more for services they intend to use in the future.  They don’t realize that unless we all help finance Social Security and Health Care there won’t be any programs to aid them.

And, last but not least, what about the politicians?  They are not being asked to sacrifice their personal money.  We just want them to have the courage to make the right decisions, without regard to party lines.  Government programs must be fixed so people can start earning money in order to pay for the changes that will ensure funds are ready when needed and the United States can collectively have the courage and wherewithal to remain the land of the free and the home of the brave.        

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The birds chirping in the nearby tree was a great way to wake up – sure beats the jarring ring of the Baby Ben windup clock back then or the more recent buzz of the digital alarm.  Even in the city, were tree were in short supply, birds perched themselves on wires or window sills to let us know morning had arrived. 

New Seniors, like me, will remember the hucksters making their way up the streets and alleys at different times of the day.  The fruit and vegetable purveyors came to my neighborhood several mornings each week while the fish merchants came by with their catch of the day on selected afternoons.

For the most part older kids, those that were allowed to cross the busy streets, went to the park or the playground after breakfast and attending to any required chores, because the summer heat and humidity in my hometown of Philadelphia did not reach the highpoints until later in the day.  The sounds around home were usually young children playing on the sidewalks or in backyards.  Other than that mornings were normally quiet.

The crack of the baseball bat was frequently heard anywhere you could play what was then America’s pastime.  Have you listened to the sound of a baseball being hit by an aluminum bat, which the kids all use today?  It’s more a ping than the crack you get from real wood and certainly not as memorable.

Lawnmowers could be heard most afternoons, because no one seemed to agree on the best day of the week to cut the small plots of grass that were part of city homes.  Later on, the bells of the ice cream truck let kids know it was time to ask mom for some change in order to have a treat – a far less annoying sound than the snack trucks of today that play the same tune over and over.  Those who bought something usually sat lined up on the curb or on the front steps to eat these fast-melting ice cream novelties.

Everyone was home just before dinner, and we played on the street or sidewalk until mom called us to eat.  Then one by one we stopped what we were doing and then reappeared as quickly as possible to pick up where we left off. 

Sometimes we went to the playground to watch a twilight baseball game.  Otherwise, we stayed in the neighborhood and had fun until the street lights went on.  If we weren’t home in five minutes, the dads let us know it was time when they called us by name.

Times were gentler then, and the sounds were part of growing up.  We didn’t think much about them in those days, but now it is enjoyable to remember the sounds of summer.

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Many of the brands we buy today are those we were first introduced to as kids.  Mom was the families purchasing agent.  During the ‘50s and ‘’60s most of us lived in homes with just one TV so family members were often exposed to commercials at the same time.  As a result, everyone had some influence on what products to buy, but mom was the ultimate decision maker.  Of course, if we joined her as she strolled the aisles of the local supermarket, there was a change to lobby for a cereal or snack food that was not included on the shopping list.

Studies over the years indicate that when people move out of their parents’ homes, they usually buy products their mothers used.  This ranges from laundry brands, to paper goods, to household cleaning products.  The same is true for food brands, although individual tastes come into play here as with personal care items.  Once they are on their own, product usage is determined by personal satisfaction.  However, new or improved products that are heavily advertised may receive trial, which could result in repeat purchases thereby replacing the old brand.

Retro packaging is a means to instantly differentiate a brand from all the others, and remind shoppers that this was a product they liked back when times were better.  Such a strategy is fine for Boomers and New Seniors who combined represent the largest purchasing demographic in US history.  But modern moms don’t remember the old packages – they had yet to be born.  However, with the aid of advertising, they can be made to realize this is a bit of nostalgia they can enjoy, too.

Some of the brands that have dabbled in retro marketing include Doritos, Pepsi, Cheerios, Hostess Cup Cakes and Twinkies as well as Tide and Downy.  Results for these products have been favorable.  One notable brand that tried using elements from its original label design dating back to 1933 was Kraft’s Miracle Whip.  Research told the company that younger consumers were not attracted to the look, so the company took its label in a new, more contemporary, direction.

Some products have not changed their look over the years, but these are usually specialty items.  New products, often premium ones, may use old-style graphs and type to give them a distinct look and make the brand synonymous with old-fashioned quality. 

The outside of the package may attract us to buy, but what’s inside is the reason we keep buying it.  If food processors made a good tasting item with honest ingredients rather than a bunch of chemicals and preservatives or manufacturers offered a product that was as good as its advertising they might find this is the best way to create real brand loyalty.    

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Another New Senior landmark event took place this year as the first of the more than 76 million Baby Boomers began turning 65.  This translates to someone becoming a New Senior every ten seconds through 2030.

The Greatest Generation, after doing so much for our country, has passed the baton to the New Seniors.  So it is our job to uphold, the values those before us fought for and sacrificed to protect for all generations.  New Seniors Day was established to memorialize this responsibility. 

New Seniors accept this honor and make the commitment to connect with other New Seniors by engaging in honest and civil discussions, sharing our experience and getting involved in our communities and reaching out to others in an effort to bring our great nation together, once more.

The 65+ crowd is a more homogenous group than most other demographics – partly because we share similar concerns about living our own lives in relative comfort and safety and partly because life’s lessons endowed us with an understanding of the importance of  unity.  New Seniors are not from one race, political party, religious affiliation, education level, job background or geographic area.

Our numbers are impressive.  There are more Pre-boomers than there are adult Hispanics living in the United States.  Pre-boomers and Boomers together represent a larger population than Generations X and Y combined.  By 2015 the New Seniors population will be about 50 million, which is just 17% of the population.  However, we will account for a third of the discretionary income and half of the country’s assets. 

Politicians should note that this year those 65+ accounted for about 1 in 4 of the votes cast in the last election.  And our concerns about Medicare, Social Security, government debt and tax increases will continue to be expressed at the ballot box.  New Seniors are also concerned about the future of our grown children and the education and opportunities for our grandchildren.  We expect the nation’s problems to be solved in a common sense way that will benefit all Americans.

So on June 5^th (6/5), join in the celebration of New Seniors Day.  If you’re not one, take a few minutes from your busy schedule to call a New Senior and get to know us.  Learn from what we experienced by living life on life’s terms.  And, most important, enlist our guidance to navigate the bumpy road that lies ahead.  You’ll discover that we are ready and willing to help if you are prepared to accept it.    

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The $2 million study is being conducted by the government agency in five schools in the poorest section of San Antonio, Texas.  According to the research firm in charge of the project kids faces won’t be photographed.  Parents will be provided eating information through a bar code system in hopes that at-home eating habits can be changed.

Unfortunately, the study does not expand its scope of interest to include the other known factor relating to the obesity issue: exercise.  If a camera was aimed at a child’s physical activities during and after school, maybe officials would come to the same conclusion the rest of us reached many years ago.  There is a simple answer to most weight issues, which is to burn more calories through exercise than we take in by eating.

The schools where the four-year study is being conducted has an obesity rate of 33%.  This is about twice the national rate of 16% for both elementary and secondary schools.  Obesity has increased by 50% since 1994 and three to four times the levels of 1970 and before.  Few will argue that there is a problem, but are the choices made by the children or the foods available at the schools the answer?

Back when the obesity level was at 4 and 5%, the fare at school was not particularly good or healthy.  That’s why many kids brown-bagged lunch.  It was also cheaper for mom to make lunch than to have the kids go through the cafeteria line.  Given a choice, young people will usually make the wrong selection when it comes to what they put into their bodies, because kids will be kids.

The food police, individual moms and the government, have made strides by getting vending machines operators to stop offering high-calorie, high-fat foods and drinks in favor of healthier products.  When New Seniors and most Baby Boomers were in school, snacks and soft drinks could not be purchased from vending machines, because there were no vending machines in the schools. 

Those of us who were considered middle-class kids back then ate junk food and candy when we had the money. However, we did not have much extra money, so we did not load up on junk.  Why do today’s impoverished children have money to eat bad food away from home? 

Will knowing that the kids don’t eat well at school cause their parents to change the way they eat at home?  Is this government research program just one more in a long line of poor spending choices?  Or, worst of all, does big brother plan to dictate what we eat be starting with the children and working its way up until we all eat the way it wants?

Did you hear about the impetuous high school senior who hung his invitation to attend the prom on the school wall and got in trouble?  The girl said yes to the date, and the principal said no to the prom but later reversed her decision.  There is a lesson we can learn from this story that has been boosted by media and social network publicity. 

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The guy, while basking in his fifteen minutes of fame, has been suspended and can’t attend the big dance, because he hung large letters on the school wall asking a classmate to go to the senior prom.  He did this in the middle of the night, which meant he was trespassing on school property.  The girl was impressed, and the principal was upset.

It’s difficult to run a high school these days and provide an atmosphere for learning without having the support of the parents, the school board, local politicians and all the other factions that think they know how to motivate, educate and control the students.  Well-meaning people flocked to the support of the young man and his date.  Some are romantics, others believe that rules are made to be broken, there are the opportunists and, of course, a sprinkling of folks who think anyone in authority must always be wrong.

Hundreds of thousands of people from around the country let their displeasure be known on a Facebook page devoted to the prom issue.  Most believe the original punishment was too harsh for this simple offense, which they say was goodhearted in nature and did not hurt anyone.  Their attitude is no harm no foul.  

However, the school principal countered by saying, “There has been a practice at the school for many years that any student receiving an in-school or out of school suspension after April 1 for any reason would not be allowed to attend the prom.”  School board and outside pressure resulted in a change of heart and a new policy to decide such issues on a case-by case-basis, which amounts to no policy at all.

Two state representatives, both Republicans, have drafted legislation that would require schools to come up with alternative punishment for youthful pranks rather than banning students from school-related activities.  Where is the wisdom in this?  Don’t these politicians have more important things to do, such as keep the state afloat financially? 

Isn’t the idea behind school policies to be consistent in punishing offenders as well as discourage others from engaging in inappropriate behavior?  If we don’t teach our youth that their actions have consequences and that laws are there for the good of everyone, how can we expect to be a nation governed by the rule of law? 

This story is already yesterday’s news, but there is one thing to remember from this incident: the United States is a republic and not a direct democracy.  We can thank the Founding Fathers for this.  Otherwise, there will be more knee-jerk reaction to the whims of those who want to override policy as they did with the principal who is, in the final analysis, the peoples’ representative.  Too bad they did not let her do her job.

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Growing up in Philadelphia, I was exposed to the thoughts of one of the great early American’s, Ben Franklin.  His common sense philosophy about how to live one’s life was published in Poor Richard’s Almanac, and all the city’s school kids had to memorize the important sayings.  Things like “a penny saved is a penny earned” and “early to be, early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise” and “time is money” are but a few of the adages we recited.

Few take exception to the words of Franklin; yet, through the years these maxims have lost their importance.  Maybe it’s time to give the proverbs a second look and incorporate these simple truths into our daily lives.  While we’re at it, the words of the other Founding Fathers may lead us back to understanding the fundamentals on which this country was built.  A good place to start is with the documents many of them contributed to: The Declaration of Independence and The Constitution of the United States.

Reading these sacred documents won’t require much time and the process may remind us of what freedom means and why it must be embraced and maintained at all costs.  Those who framed these documents also offered their personal thoughts reminding us to be ever vigilant lest our freedoms be eroded, and they provided words of wisdom by which we might pursue and better enjoy individual liberties.  It’s easy, just go online and you’ll find many quotes from Washington, Jefferson, Franklin and the other great patriots.

This leads us back to the issue of money.  Since the prosperity years following the end of WWII, our generation never looked back.  Sure, there were bumps in the road, but we had confidence in the future and lived that way.  Many of us did not save for that rainy day or the retirement years ahead, at least not to the extent we should have.  Fortunately, there were things like company pensions and IRAs (Individual Retirement Accounts) to supplement grossly insufficient Social Security benefits.  So we’ll get by.

The sad news is our country didn’t plan for the future either.  The nation is in deep debt, yet government doesn’t seem to be able or want to turn off the spending machine it created.  The politicians point to the people who will suffer if federal programs are cut back.  They seem to forget, it is our tax dollars that pay for all the social and entitlement programs.  And, borrowing or printing more money will saddle generations to come. 

Something has to be done.  All of us must accept some of the blame.  This means everyone gets less and suffers some.  Remember what Ben Franklin said, “when the people find they can vote themselves money that will herald the end of the republic.”