NWARTA’s COVID–19 Challenge — Embracing Technology
This article can also be found in the Spring 2021 news&views
In a 2006 study, researchers at the US National Institutes of Health found that individuals who anonymously donated their winnings to a charity “activated the same reward centre in the brain that was activated when participants had received the winnings.” I believe this “feel good” sensation is also activated when people donate their time and energy. Certainly, this is the case with the nine NWARTA executive members. We derive great pleasure in volunteering and serving our community of retirees. Providing opportunities for our members to be physically, socially, intellectually, and emotionally engaged ensures a vibrant retirement lifestyle not only for members but also for us, NWARTA’s executive volunteers.
Addressing the COVID-19 Challenge has forced us to be creative and to develop new skills, especially when using communication technology. We are especially thankful to ARTA’s Tony Esteves who manages the website at artabranches.net/nwarta.
For NWARTA, the COVID-19 Challenge is to connect with members through engaging, physically distanced, virtual activities. Communicating by email, the website, and Facebook is at the core of our success. Creating interesting and visually appealing electronic messages is one of the skills NWARTA continues to develop and modify. To encourage Winter Wellness at Home, we sourced, tried, and shared a number of fitness YouTube videos. While this was meant to encourage members to remain active, testing the videos got us active as well.
Musical entertainment is emotionally engaging and has always been a part of our yearly St. Nicholas Luncheon. Since we were unable to come together to celebrate, we shared videos featuring performances by the Grande Prairie Boys’ Choir and others. In addition, organizations such as the Primary Care Network, Seniors’ Centre Without Walls, and Alberta Health provided a variety of free virtual activities, health-related sessions, and informative presentations, which NWARTA also shared with members.
These were all one-way communications, so when planning our Fall Ramble, we encouraged members to share messages of “hope and inspiration” to create a Wall of Support at the event on October 1, 2020, the Day of Older Persons. The logistics of posting the messages on a wall proved difficult and it became a Vehicle of Support instead.
Celebrations and gatherings that accompany the Christmas season were sadly missed, so members were invited to interact electronically by sharing their messages of hope to create a Members’ Greeting Card. To further celebrate the season of giving, there were a number of gift prizes (some donated) for dining or entertainment.
Spring 2020 saw NWARTA postponing its Sixth New Frontiers Retirees’ Conference, but the Planning Team was thrilled about a three-day virtual conference in February 2021. New Frontiers re-imagined was a free Zoom event featuring one speaker on each of the three days. To support the event, registration gifts were delivered or mailed to participants.
Finding ways to adapt and improve communication technology has been exciting, energizing, and ultimately has “activated the reward centre of the brain.” NWARTA’s Planning Team looks forward to gathering in person, but in the meantime the COVID-19 Challenge encourages us to remain creative.
