Dear Members and Friends,

I am honored to address you as the new Chair of the Board of Directors for our Lifelong Learning Institute.

Let me first take a moment to acknowledge our outgoing Chair, Susan Greenfield, whose leadership steered us through some of the most challenging times in our history. Under her guidance, we navigated the disruptions of the COVID-19 pandemic, relocated to a new headquarters and maneuvered through significant financial challenges. We owe her a debt of gratitude.

My first exposure to SOAR was 7 years ago when I accompanied my wife to several events. I really enjoyed the continuing mental and social stimulation which I missed after retirement.  In attending classes and SIGs and being on the Curriculum Committee, I have met many wonderful people and have first-hand experience of the dedication, intelligence, ingenuity and kind heartedness of our members. We have a fantastic organization with brilliant members.

Looking ahead, here are a few key priorities that our Board will continue to concentrate on to make SOAR even more awesome:

• Keep expanding our curriculum to offer courses that reflect the rich tapestry of human knowledge and experience. We’ll invite our favorite speakers while also introducing new lecturers.
• Host enjoyable and educational Special Events and explore new venues with our Field Trips.
• Ensure more opportunities for social interaction by expanding our Shared Interest Groups (SIGs). The newest ones include a theatre group, storytelling group and the spontaneous pop-up events group. There is something for everyone. If not, propose one that you think would be right for you.
• Attract new members and enhance our outreach efforts to a broader audience. Make diversity and inclusivity a fact not a goal.
• Make sure that SOAR is on a robust financial footing. This involves both increasing our revenue through innovative fundraising and membership drives and also minimizing expenses without compromising the quality of our programs. This will allow us to do the many things that our members would like to see of us.

Since we are a volunteer non-profit organization, you are the backbone both in membership support and in donating your time to do the many tasks required to run SOAR. Whatever your background or experience, there is a place at SOAR that could use your expertise. Call the office if you have a few hours of time per month to give. You’ll meet some great people!

We will continue to listen and learn from your input. You can always send your suggestions for improvement to the office at info@soarexplore.com or to me at boardchair@soarexplore.com

I am excited about the opportunities that lie ahead. Let’s make this journey as successful and enjoyable as possible.

Thank You.

Joe Kwapisz
Chair of the Board of Directors
SOAR Lifelong Learning Institute