Affinity Groups in Action

by Gayle Seely

"Ideas can be life-changing. Sometimes all you need to open the door is just one more good idea," - John Rohn.  These words reflect Life by Design NW's exciting new sponsorship of the Affinity Groups program, started by Hands On Greater Portland's Boomer Initiative.
So what is an Affinity Group?  The idea was inspired by Karen Beal, Program Manager of the Boomer Initiative at Hands On Greater Portland.  And though it is new, it is based on the time honored tradition of people with similar interests working together.   Karen defines the Affinity Group as "a group of individuals who join together to provide collective support for personal attainment."

Another way to describe an Affinity Group is to say what it is not:  it is not a networking group, it is not just a group volunteers who participate in a project, and it is not a club.  In an Affinity Group membership is about a shared belonging.

How did the Affinity Group come into being?  Often the best ideas come from the most familiar of sources.  Karen, in her role of service to the community of people over fifty, gathered a "Visioning" group as part of the Boomer Initiative.   She asked this group what they would like to see as a valuable addition to their lives. They expressed a need for programs that supported a sense of belonging, of community, of meaning, and service.  They told her how nice it would be to join a group of people with common interests with whom to share their recreational activities and personal development.   They told her of the importance of the inner and outer connection for personal growth.  Karen listened carefully.  And then she thought about finding a new way to serve this need, using both her years of experience and her appreciation of Boomer's aspirations.  And so the Affinity Group pilot was born.

The first Affinity Group, set up a year ago, was focused on the shared interest of "Community Engagement."  The two facilitators, Karen Beal and Virginia Hendrickson, have met with their group once a month over the last year.  In order to ensure that the group has similar goals, before beginning, the facilitators spoke with the prospective members of the group, on the phone, and gave them the opportunity to describe what they would like to experience in the group.  After joining the group, each member was asked to make a commitment to attendance, to participation, and to the respect of the privacy of his or her fellow members.  The group settled into an ideal size of eight to ten members, plus the two facilitators. Often the group would volunteer in the community, beyond regularly scheduled group activities, and then, during meetings, Virginia and Karen would facilitate discussion about those experiences, bring in resources, and try to help members gain a deeper meaning about their participation.

Several members of this group shared their impressions of the first year of membership.   One member, Michael, reports that working together creates bonds, and that this group has helped him to re-define himself. He said, "few volunteer groups offer meaningful contact with other adults".  Another member, Sherry, reports that she joined the group because she wanted to meet people of her own age and situation, and who were interested in volunteering together.  These objectives have largely been met, but she hopes for even more in the future.

The Community Engagement Affinity Group succeeded beyond all expectations.  The waiting list grew and grew, reaching close to thirty people.   LifebyDesignNW, recognizing the importance of this new idea, charged Virginia Hendrickson with advancing the program to the next level.

The second Affinity Group, called Retirement: Loss and Liberation, is being facilitated by Virginia Hendrickson and Jane Schue.  Virginia has a deep devotion to this subject, and has spent a lot of time learning how to understand and appreciate this phase of life.

And a third Affinity Group, Life/Work Transition, began in February.

Perhaps the most important thing about Affinity Groups is something that cannot be measured.   Transformation.   A person joins as an individual, bringing their personal hopes and ideas.   But then the exchange begins and members has the opportunity to go beyond their own minds, to learn from others like themselves, to become more than they were when they joined.

Other groups will be developed during this coming spring and summer, so if you have an interest in learning more, please contact Life by Design NW's Volunteer Coordinator, Debbie Durham at ddurham@lifebydesignnw.org or 503.731.6634.

About Gayle

Gayle is an Oregon resident whose personal experience includes both the pressurized business world of executive recruiting and care-giving for aging family members.  In 2005 Gayle recognized that it was time to refocus her energies and to 'reinvent' herself. She attended Portland Community College to study Gerontology, biology, and writing.   She is in the process of a number of writing projects, and has an abiding affection and respect for those who seek to re-focus the meaning of their lives, and to help others who are growing older to realize their personal potential. She is one of Life by Design NW's valued volunteers and is a contributing writer for our website.