[Photos in Banner and Header courtesy of Eleanor Foa Dienstag, Sally Dougan and Nancy Leon.]

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CONTENTS

Welcome: Betsy Werley ................................................................................................................................... 2

Building our Future Together—and Bonding: Barbara Marwell ...................................................................... 3

Smart Women Don’t Retire, They Lead TTN into the Next Decade: Janice Johnson; Betsy Werley.................. 4

Summit Reflections: Charlotte Frank ................................................................................................................ 5

Many Thanks ..................................................................................................................................................... 7

Fundraising & Donations ................................................................................................................................... 7

What An Amazing Experience: Terry Kozlowski; Eleanor Foa Dienstag; Luanne Mullin .................................. 9

From the Caring Collaborative Workgroup & Snapshots of Passion: Lynn Minton........................................... 11

Remembrances: Cali Tamarkin ......................................................................................................................... 12

Get Involved ...................................................................................................................................................... 13

The Summit in Photos / The Summit in Videos

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Welcome to our special Summit newsletter! We held our first Leadership Summit in Philadelphia on April 30th/May 1 - celebrating our first decade and launching our next ten years. Almost 70 board members, chapter steering committee members and other TTN leaders gathered - at their own expense - to shape a vision for our future, commit to action plans and build personal bonds. This special newsletter is filled with stories and photos from the summit, plus ways you can get involved. The format is special as well. Just click on the cover to begin and read it like a magazine. You can change the type size by clicking on an article and choosing "zoom," print a copy and click through all links. I hope the newsletter will inspire you to join one of our national task forces - you’ll meet some great women and have fun using your talents. I also hope you’ll make a donation to support the programs you love in your community and around the country:

Providing role models for women exploring "what's next" Offering support through life's many transitions Connecting women who want to discover their options I look forward to hearing what you think about the Summit -- and the newsletter. Just send me a note at betsy@thetransitionnetwork.org. Betsy Werley, Executive Director

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70 TTN women from across the country gathered at the Radisson Hotel in Philadelphia on April 30 and May 1 for the first TTN Summit -- two days of camaraderie and hard work that will shape the future of TTN. Eight of Chapters were represented at the Summit, as well as the excited founding mother of the soon to be born Baltimore Chapter.

The Summit was convened as part of TTN’s recently developed Strategic Plan, to emphasize our growth into a National organization and bring leaders from all Chapters together in taking responsibility for our future. The meeting was almost non-stop – from 11 AM National Task Forces through after dinner Chapter sharing well past 9PM on the first day to 8AM to 3PM work sessions on the second day. Participants worked together, ate together, confronted serious issues about TTN’s future, networked and rejoiced in the community of TTN as a national organization.

The working sessions of the meeting followed the Appreciative Inquiry process, where participants focus on identifying the best that TTN has accomplished and building on those assets to learn and grow. Barbara Beizer and Lynn Olson of the DC Chapter did a masterful job of facilitating this complex meeting -- keeping us all on task, assuring that we

met and worked with many other participants over the two days and giving everyone an experience that was both productive and fun.

Going forward from the Summit, TTN has many working groups focused on the strategic goals of the organization. With the basic goal of supporting women “50 and forward” in the many transitions they will encounter, cross-Chapter groups will be developing plans to advance membership recruitment and retention, improve the website, create financial stability, sharpen our message to both potential members and external supporters, increase the diversity of our membership, recruit new leaders and expand initiatives such as the Caring Collaborative and the Second Act. One working group called TTN the “new N.O.W.”, emphasizing the role we can play in focusing the attention of a wider audience on the issues of our time of life and bring the joys and benefits of the community of TTN to more women in more cities into our second decade and beyond. 3

Building Our Future Together — and Bonding

Bet

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I was not at all sure what to expect of the Philadelphia Summit, but I came away energized by the extraordinary group of women who attended and filled with new ideas of how much TTN can mean to us and to women over 50 in transition — whatever their transitions may be. During the meeting we acknowledged that members have very different ideas of what TTN is/should be on subjects like retirement, next careers and engagement with women's issues. It will not be an easy journey to more fully develop TTN into a truly national organization, with significant organizational impact, while maintaining the wonderful communities that exist in the Chapters and Peer Groups. However, after spending the two days in Philadelphia, I am firmly convinced that this group can make it happen!

As Marshall McLuhan said, "the medium is the message." TTN's summit meeting brought our message to life: we're the role models for women fifty and forward, and we do a great job of creating a community. The seventy leaders who attended are accomplished, attractive, full of energy and eager to shape TTN's next decade - - very representative of our whole membership group. We also relished the chance to connect with other accomplished women, and traveled from the Bay Area, Houston, Chicago, Columbus and the East Coast to spend two days with fellow TTN leaders. It was inspiring to see the bonds of a national organization form between women whose focus had been on their individual chapters. After a couple of hours together, we unanimously renamed Philadelphia the City of Sisterly Love. I wish all of you could have experienced the warmth and intense conversations of our two days together - they were definitely the high point of my 31-year career. At the end of the session, participants described the "creativity" "talent" "energy " and "dedication" of their fellow

leaders. They described TTN as their "second family." Best of all, several said "sometimes I wonder why I spend so much time working on TTN projects. After two days with this great leadership group, planning our future, I'm more committed than ever." I hope you'll be inspired to get involved with one of our national teams, and to meet more of our life-enhancing members in your own chapter and nationally. Our next summit will be open to all members, so you'll be able to share this powerful experience. 4

Smart Women Don't Retire -- They Lead TTN Into Our Second Decade Ja

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Skyline photo courtesy of Eleanor Foa Dienstag, NYC Chapter]

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TTN Co-founder Charlotte Frank was not able to attend the Summit but participated with her remarks shared by TTN's President Janice Johnson:.

Dear Summit Participants, I am so sorry I cannot join you for this watershed moment --- the first meeting of TTN chapters to forge a common vision and move to a national plan of action. I will miss being in the company of such extraordinary, wonderful women as you, as you share your experience and ideas and solidify an already amazing bond. These next two days will be characterized by energy and fun and at the end I know you will start TTN on a road to utilize its incredible potential to be a powerful force for women over 50 and their communities. As you know, I co-founded TTN in 2000 for senior women leaving career tracks that were consuming and challenging. We wanted our next phase to be everything we had deferred, a long list of dreams with to-do's to make it all happen ---- a life of purpose, friendships, continued personal growth. As we met with others, it was clear that to we had to pave the way. Thus was TTN born, out of our own experience and our own need. You did the rest. You recognized a good idea and built it into a vibrant national organization. More than that, you created a rare and wonderful thing --- a new community.

It is a community that never existed before --- filling the vacuum between communities geared to family raising and career building and the isolation that often comes with the growing frailty of waning years. Our members span an age range of over 30 years. TTN is a place where women over 50 come together to explore transitions and new ventures and to support each other along the way. Today you will contemplate TTN, what it means to you; and others --- its core strengths, its value and its role in building community . This is your summit; you are the leaders of TTN's second decade. You will choose the paths to be taken.

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Summit Reflections

My dream is that what binds you today will keep you together as a community and that this group cohesiveness, combined with your unmatched intelligence, skills, experience and good will, will result in a TTN commitment not only to help each other through the rough patches that come with growing older but to bring our unique ability for supporting each other to the wider community. I believe that we are privileged --- well educated and financially secure (more or less) and able to accomplish what we dream. My wish is that others (potential members, partners and funding sources) see us an organization that looks outward as well as inward ... . that knows how to use community to help each other and uses that knowledge to reach beyond ourselves. This is not an easy task. We in New York have struggled with it for a long time. Today we have a specific project called The Caring Collaborative, which has the potential for defining a TTN outreach. As we age, we begin to encounter health issues that we should not have to face alone. Alone is the operative word. Being the proud, independent women we are, feisty by nature, it is a badge of honor, a mark of our independence that we DO not, WILL not ask for help. To counteract our tendency to do it all ourselves, through the Caring Collaborative we committed ourselves to building a culture of care within our TTN community. The basic premise is to forge a RECIPROCAL extended care giving model that enables our very independent members to ASK for help because they are GIVING help. As the TTN community filled a niche, so does the Caring Collaborative. The Caring Collaborative offers a forum for the exchange of health concerns and a safety net for unforeseen illnesses. Participation helps members to feel more secure and cared for; to live better and maybe longer. This is a valuable strategy for enhancing TTN member benefits with help available for Chapters interested in starting a similar program. 6

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DC chapter members Barbara Beizer and Lynn Olson did an "awesome," "superb" job of leading the meeting, giving TTN the benefit of decades of experience and many hours of planning. Philly chapter co-chair Mary Klein and Steering Committee member Jean Brubaker took the lead on meeting logistics. No job was too big or too small for them - from finding a beautiful and cost-effective location to filling gift bags with Philly's signature Tastykakes. And our strategic planning team listened to chapter leads and in January, made the recommendation to hold the summit meeting. Team members are Ellen Bartoldus (board VP, LI chapter lead and board/planning team liaison), Barbara Beizer (DC Steering Committee), Pat Daly (board VP, NYC Steering

Committee), Barbara Marwell (board), Ellen Murphy (NYC Chair), Nancy Leon (Philadelphia co-chair), Cali Tamarkin (DC Steering Committee).

7 *Your payment is secure. TTN uses the highest level of encryption to ensure all transactions are protected.

Many Thanks to the Members Who Made the Summit Come to Life

(L to R): TTN Executive Director Betsy Werley, Barbara Beizer, and Lynn Olson (DC/Capital Area); President Janice Johnson. Barbara and Lynn were the talented, hard-working facilitators behind the Summit.

Donate Now and Support TTN’s Second Decade

We hope you're inspired by reading about TTN's national summit, and seeing some of the dynamic leaders who are shaping our second decade. We encourage you to make a tax-deductible contribution* that supports what TTN does best - in your community and around the country: * Providing role models for women exploring "what's next" * Offering support through life's many transitions * Connecting women who want to discover their options https://www.thetransitionnetwork.org/Donate.aspx

Donate Now:

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(L to R): Nancy Leon (Philadelphia Co-Chair) and Arlene Reiff (San Francisco/Bay Area Chair). [photo courtesy of Betsy Werley]

A high point for me was the opportunity to meet and work with the MOST impressive, talented and creative women I could hope to meet. Their warm welcome and encouragement for my efforts to begin a chapter in Baltimore were supportive and energizing! I especially enjoyed the opportunity to learn from these more seasoned members, about their chapter formation, governance, structure, and what has worked well for them. Similarly, I was eager to learn about the successes and challenges that lie ahead for TTN in it's

second decade. The collective energy experienced at the summit has re-inspired my efforts at home and support for the goals of TTN at the national level.

Sandy Kogan, leading the Baltimore chapter (in formation)

“I loved seeing the concept of TTN as a national

organization come to life in the person of so many vibrant

women from all over the country. It was great to have

women in their 50s, 60s and 70s...and to see how much we

have in common “ - Summit Participant

CROSS-COUNTRY CONNECTIONS

"Wow! What an amazing experience to be in the same room with so many bright, interesting, fun women from across the country. You could see the passion and the commitment to be of service in the heartfelt conversations in each of the group discussions. What a fabulous launch for an even more powerful TTN organization in our second decade serving women over 50. At our next meeting in Chicago those of us who attended will share the story and pictures with the women of talent, energy and commitment here. Together we will create an even larger circle of connections and making a difference."

I am always impressed by how much I like TTN women. And the Leadership Conference reinforced my impression that we are a bunch of Exceptional Women, full of intelligence, energy and good will. I believe that by Building, Nurturing and Providing Community, we are carrying on the women's revolution that started in 1970 and continues to roll on. One of the groups said TTN is the new NOW for women over 50, and in part, I hope that is true (although, clearly, we are not a political organization.) But we are a positive voice for Women over 50. We are a cool group. Women supporting women is a powerful force. We need Passionate Leadership to grow and become fiscally sound. I see more chapters in our future. I believe that, as with all volunteer organizations, you get back what you give. I believe that those of us at the Leadership Conference got back a lot. We were happy to be there and left energized, and optimistic about the future of TTN as a national organization. I hope that energy and optimism nourishes new, creative ideas for moving forward so we can help women fight America's ageism, and help our sisters feel that over-50 is a great time in life, maybe even the best! 9

What An Amazing Experience…

Terry Kozlowski, Chicago Chapter Chair

Eleanor Foa Dienstag, NYC

From my midnight arrival in Philadelphia and late night dinner at Little Pete's to my last "lump in the throat" hug on Saturday as I headed back to San Francisco, it was clear to me that TTN has brought together some dynamic, smart, talented and caring women. Awesome, Incredible and Amazing were expressions that permeated the conference and they referred not only to the gathering but to the women who were there. To realize that we all cared enough to be there was testament to the value of The Transition Network not only for us individually but also collectively and to our desire to see the organization grow and thrive. Sixty women met in Philadelphia realizing that we each have our own "second half of life" journey but how much richer it can be to hook up with others on the path. Aren't women great? And aren't women over 50 even greater? We come in all shapes and sizes with different life experiences and perspectives but, darn it, we all realize there is a lot more

living to do after we reach the age of 50. We need TTN to be our vehicle to connect us to the support, sharing, caring and mentoring of others who have reached this milestone with us. Through our excellent facilitators, Barbara and Lynn, for two full days we explored what TTN is, what values and goals it aspires to, what it needs in order to survive and what the next steps are to achieve its mission and goals. And while it was clear the organization has come a long way, it needs an accelerated thrust to continue into the next decade. Thank goodness we have an excellent director, Betsy Werley, at the helm and a very generous and committed board, many of whom were at the conference. But it is up to us, the members, to continue to spread the energy and enthusiasm we felt in Philadelphia to our chapters back home. The moving and endearing refrain of "We Are (TTN) Family*" belted out by the creative, funny and talented group probably best sums up the weekend. We can go it alone or we can do it with a little help from our friends. I suspect that most of us left this Summit recognizing that this second option is the only one for us. Thanks to all of you who made this gathering possible! It was truly wonderful. *See the Summit in Photos for video 10

What An Amazing Experience…

Luanne Mullin, San Francisco/Bay Area

From the Caring Collaborative Work Group The exchange of information and experiences among Caring Collaborative leaders from San Francisco, Long Island, Philadelphia and NYC was enormously exciting, with Arlene Reiff and Linda Sherwin (SF), Carol Lioz (L.I.) and Lynne Iser, Beth Lazer and Linda Brunn (Philadelphia), plus Sally Dougan and Lynn Minton (NYC) all making plans to keep in touch with news, mutual encouragement and support. Sally and Lynn, who talked about the NYC Caring Collaborative Menu of Options, marveled at how each of these groups was carving out the piece that most fitted their geography and membership right now--just what we in NYC had hoped for and planned: Arlene and Linda talked about the hands-on service component the SF chapter has developed with four East Bay peer groups, and their lively newsletter, the "Monthly Chat."

They're also exploring a Member Information Exchange tied into NYC's CC, as well as health-focused programs--and they're calling their group the Caring Community. Long Island, led by Carol Lioz and Jean George, is planning health-focused educational programs, a Member Information Exchange tied into NYC's CC, a Health and Wellness Resource Directory and possibly a newsletter, but no service component right now--too ambitious at this point. Lynn Iser's team from Philadelphia were avid to hear from SF and L.I. because they're actively exploring the viability--and desirability--of a CC there. They've had an extremely productive first meeting and have a plan of action, a script for introducing the concept to peer groups and a deadline for reporting back to their Steering Committee, at the moment four-people strong, and calling itself Caring Connections. 11

Lynn Minton, NYC

Snapshots of Passion Jean Palmer (moving to Santa Fe from D.C.), who with her husband has sheltered 150 abused children, expressed her passion for a more diverse TTN, saying: "I'd like to see a TTN that was one-third women of color--within one year." Linda Sherwin (SF) told us that in a group she was in, "six out of eight women talked about living alone and having fears about that," which inspired her passion for a Caring Collaborative in San Francisco. Lois Aronstein, (TTN NYC) NYS Director of AARP, also expressed her passion for TTN's Caring Collaborative, energizing Arlene Reiff (SF chair), Carol Lioz (L.I. CC chair), Mady Prowler (Phila), Asst. Director of Coming of Age, A Center for Intergenerational Learning at Temple Univ., plus Sally Dougan and Lynn Minton (NYC) about taking the CC the next step to further partnerships and funding. One wise woman said, "More than 200 years ago, the Founding Fathers met here in Philadelphia-and now, it's the Founding Mothers"-and the group cheered. As Barbara Hoenig, TTN Board Member from D.C., said, "I like to be where it's happening." Clearly, on Fri/Sat of April 30/May 1, that was the TTN Summit in Philadelphia. — Lynn Minton

Remembrances

A warm sunny day in the month of May. An historic hotel in the City of "Sisterly" love. And a room full of excellent, energetic, exuberant women sharing their dreams, experiences, and future plans. This was the setting for the first annual TTN Leadership Summit in Philadelphia. After the ice-breaking, after the appreciative inquiring, after the bonding, the participants began forging ahead with a continued new vision for the strong, successful, sharp women we are and how we will personalize, maximize, and emphasize each of our new beginnings.

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Cali Tamarkin, DC/Capital Area Steering Committee

Do YOU want to meet some great women and shape TTN's second decade? Seven ways to get involved Now that you're excited about TTN's plans, here's your chance to meet fellow TTN members from around the country, and use your skills. The dynamic, member-led teams listed below are ready to welcome you. To be part of a TTN team, you need to be a paid-up member - if it's time to join, please click here: http://ww.thetransitionnetwork.org/join.aspx or here: http://www.thetransitionnetwork.org/renewal.aspx

Contact: Nancy Leon (Phila co-chair), nmleon@gmail.com This team helps fund TTN's website, expansion and day-to-day operations, as well as raising our visibility with corporate sponsors. * Develop Sales Materials * Tell companies about the benefits of working with TTN and sell ads/sponsorships

Contact Nancy Leon (Phila co-chair), nmleon@gmail.com This team articulates TTN messages, puts together marketing materials, shapes TTN's branding and gets the word out * Marketing materials (brochures, flyers) * Key messages including elevator speech, mission * PR * Close ties with website team 13

Get Involved

Corporate Sales

Marketing

Contact Nancy Leon (Phila co-chair), nmleon@gmail.com The web team will plan, fund and execute the next phase of TTN's web development including home page, overall navigation and content, programming support/hosting. This team works closely with the marketing team.

Contact Barbara Beizer (DC Steering Committee), bbeizer@aol.com This team builds TTN membership in three categories: * Launching new chapters * Attracting members to our current chapters * Retaining members in our current chapters Contact Pat Daly (Board VP, NYC Steering Committee) pdaly09@gmail.com This team helps fund TTN's website, expansion and day-to-day operations, as well as cultivating and thanking donors, planning fun fundraising events and pursuing foundation grants in a targeted way * Plan our annual donor appeal * Develop other fundraising appeals * Cultivate potential donors * Work on events (raffles, product sales, creative ideas that offer value to participants) * Research and apply for grants - for technology, operating support, programs 14

Get Involved

Individual/Foundation Fundraising

Website

Membership Growth and Retention

Contact Charlotte Frank (co-founder, Board), charfrank@rcn.com or Sally Dougan, saldougan@aol.com. The Caring Collaborative is a health care strategy to encourage community organizations to offer support to help their members cope with health issues that occur with increasing frequency to people as they age. The theory is that community (TTN, churches, alumni associations), is a huge, untapped resource where capacity and good will can lead to reciprocal exchanges of health care support where members help other members. Help develop a Caring Collaborative in your chapter, or expand the program nationally. Second Act Initiative: Contact Janice Johnson (board President/Treasurer), janice@janicemjohnson.com This initiative will provide a means for members who have left full-time employment, to use their skills in both the for-profit and not-for-profit worlds in less-than-full-time paid positions. It will also advocate with employers to hire experienced women over 50 for their project work, and provide training for women to work successfully in project roles. 15

Get Involved

Caring Collaborative National Expansion

Second Act Initiative

The Summit in Photos

Kate Morrison (NYC), founding member and Board member talks about TTN's finances. [photo courtesy of Eleanor Foa Dienstag, NYC ]

Kathy LaPier (NYC ) discusses TTN's Positive Net Income at the Summit as Barbara Beizer (DC/Capital Area), looks on. [photo courtesy of Eleanor Foa Dienstag, NYC ]

(L to R): Ellen Murphy, (NYC Chapter Chair) and Cali Tamarkin, (DC/Capital Area Chapter Steering Committee member )

(L to R) Jean Palmer (DC Steering Committee) and Christina del Balso (NYC Board member) [photo courtesy of Sally Dougan, NYC Chapter]

The Summit in Photos

(L to R): Nancy Leon (Philadelphia Co-Chair) and Dianne King (San Francisco/Bay Area ) share their TTN stories. [photo courtesy of Eleanor Foa Dienstag, NYC

(L to R): Board members Christina del Balso (NYC), Pat Daly (Ohio) and Ellen Bartoldus (LI) catch up during a break. [photo courtesy of Eleanor Foa Dienstag, NYC Chapter]

Barbara Marwell (NYC, Board Member), hard at work as always. [photo courtesy of Nancy Leon, Philadelphia]

( C): Roberta Cohen (LI) enjoys getting to know her fellow TTN members from around the country. [Photo courtesy of Nancy Leon, Philadelphia]

Teams (Part I): Themes | Teams (Part II): Propositions | We Are The Voice of Women | We Are TTN Family [video courtesy of Arlene Reiff, SF] [video courtesy of Arlene Reiff, (SF] [video courtesy of Sally Dougan] [video courtesy of Sally Dougan] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FqM09I-YPvA http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v8N2S_NVkMw http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JbqpfUvrgeU http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LdOucP32Zt8

The Summit in Photos

LI group: Sari Goren, Janice Johnson, Dania Smith, Ellen Bartoldus, Betsy Werley. [photo courtesy of Betsy Werley]

Task workgroups [photo courtesy of Sally Dougan, NYC Chapter]

The Summit in Videos (Click on blue link below video, or visit TTN’s YouTube Channel at http://www.youtube.com/ttnadministrator to watch all these videos and more)

"It's been a great first decade - here's to

an even better second decade for TTN!

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P.O. Box 231240, Ansonia Station New York, NY 10023-0021 www.thetransitionnetwork.org info@thetransitionnetwork.org Tel 212-714-8040 Read the TTN blog: http://blog.thetransitionnetwork.org/