Category — Engagements

Title: National Association of Recording Merchandisers (NARM) Know Your Consumer Conference
Location: Lighthouse International, 111 E 59th Street, New York, NY 10022
Date: September 28, 2010
Time: 10:00 AM – 6:00 pm EDT
Register: here

Description: Are you struggling to find research on Boomers? Are you overloaded with data on the high school demographic but still at odds with how to most effectively market to them? Delve deep into the minds of this consumer group during our live consumer panels. Live consumer panels will discuss music discovery and purchasing behavior, social media usage and music gifting. Also slated for the agenda are research and best marketing practices presentations, including a presentation by Lori Bitter, President of Continuum Crew, offering fresh perspectives, facts and figures.

Title: Age March
Date: August 8, 2010
Time: 9:00am
Location: Crissy Field at Sports Basement, San Francisco
610 Old Mason Street, The Presidio
Register: here
Directions here Map

The Age March will be the first time in history when people of all ages, races, genders, sexualities and economic walks of life join together to celebrate aging as a positive experience. The Age March’s intention is to raise age awareness and begin to break down the myths, stereotypes and social pressures causing age discrimination, shame and negative attitudes towards aging in our culture.

At a time when we are living longer lives than ever before we need to be free to SHINE ON at 50, 60, 70, 80, and beyond and not be limited by ourselves or others as we continue to seek new experiences and opportunities to make our contributions.

Don’t be ashamed of your age—be proud and celebrate it. Many younger people have missed out on the opportunity to spend quality time with grandparents and other older adults in their lives. There is a special connection between the young and old which needs to be nurtured and supported.

So much can be gained from the wisdom to be shared between generations.

Title: Age Strong! Live Long! Walk
Location: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Hubert H. Humphrey Building
200 Independence Ave., SW
Washington, D.C. 20201
Date: May 27, 2010
Time: 8:30AM
Register: here
Description: To celebrate the strength and vitality of older Americans the U.S. Administration on Aging is hosting the Age Strong! Live Long! Walk on the National Mall in Washington, D.C.

This is a one-mile walk and will also feature exhibits, demonstrations, and other fun activities for walkers and non-walkers alike.

Title: 2nd Annual Florida Boomer Lifestyle Conference
Location: Ruth Eckerd Hall , Clearwater, FL
Register: here
Description: Theme: Reinventing Life After 50, will explore key trends that are shaping baby boomers’ reinvention in four major, but intersecting aspects of their lives: personal, professional, physical, and spiritual – and what these trends mean for companies marketing to them. This Conference is designed to give marketers greater insight into the current boomer zeitgeist and capitalize on it to successfully address the needs of this huge market.
Start Time: 08:00
Date: 2010-04-15
End Time: 17:30

Title: Audiology Now
Location: San Diego, CA
Register: here
Description: AudiologyNOW! 2010, the annual conference for the American Academy of Audiology, offers unequalled educational content covering cutting-edge audiological research to timely ideas for managing your practice in a tough economy. The largest gathering of audiologists in the world also offers Audiology Solutions – a show floor featuring the latest technology in hearing care, in no other place can you see as many products or speak with as many industry representatives about your needs. All of this will take place in beautiful San Diego, where hundreds of restaurants, shops, and the San Diego Bay are steps away from the center. Stay for a few extra days to explore the coastline, visit the world famous San Diego Zoo, tour a WWII Aircraft carrier or bring the family and make the most of your educational experience and your limited travel dollars and have an “Edu-Vacation”!
Start Date: April 14, 2010
End Date: April 17, 2010

Title: What’s Next Boomer Business Summit
Location: Hyatt Regency, Chicago, IL
Register: here
Description: The premier event for individuals and organizations in business to serve boomers and seniors – entrepreneurs, corporate strategists, marketing professionals, experts in aging, leaders in the market segments interested in strategic alliances, media executives, and analysts.
Start Date: March 18, 2010
End Date: March 19, 2010

Title: NCOA-ASA Aging in America Conference
Location: Chicago, IL
Register: here
Description: It is the largest gathering of a diverse, multidisciplinary community of professionals from the fields of aging, healthcare and education. Join us to find the answers, the experts, the research, the best practices, and the most comprehensive educational offerings available to professionals. The conference provides attendees with the opportunity to network with new and old friends, gain insight from voices from the front line and find new grassroots and national partners for advocacy.
Date: March 15, 2010

After seeing Brokaw’s special on Baby Boomers I have more questions than I do answers. It’s a tease not a well-delivered package. I love the fact that he started and ended with Boomers in the middle of the country – Michigan. It grounded some of his perspective. He failed to acknowledge that this is a 20-year cohort, so the “duck and cover” reference means nothing to the Generation Jones segment of the Boomer cohort. The approach was blanket—no subtlety, insight or drill down.

While well produced, there was no acknowledgement of the sheer buying power—through every life stage—of this cohort. Entire industries and institutions were transformed by this birth boom. Think about baby formula; school districts; cars (the station wagon, then mini-van, then SUVs); housing—the creation of the suburbs, then retirement communities; and so much more! Often too much emphasis on the angst and not on the contributions.

Tom Brokaw loves the “Greatest Generation”. He is a member of the so-called “Silent Generation” – forever sandwiched in between two incredible generational cohorts. While we call them silent, they spawned JFK, Martin Luther King and many of the other icons of the early boomer movement.

At the end of this very shallow review, we need to remember some important points. First a huge generation of young people found their voice and expressed themselves—regardless of where or how they served. This was a first for the country, and because we were raised by depression-era parents we were given the gift—NOT THE EXPECTATION—of optimism. They told us we lived in the greatest country on earth—they fought for it—and we believed it. If we were spoiled, this was the spoiling!

This generation dealt with the rise of women, racial equality and sexual emancipation. This was dealt with by 20 somethings. We made mistakes. We made progress. We learned. Bill Clinton typified it, “I like rock and roll, I had long hair, was liberal, and opposed to the war…We were raised by the WWII generation; how could they be the worst parents and still the greatest generation?”

At the end of the day I believe the Boomer generation is, as Brokaw elicited, “unrealized.” The oldest of us are in our 60s and the youngest in our 40s. If we live to be 85-100—as longevity studies suggest we might—we have a lot of time to tell the world what our contribution and legacy will be. Stay tuned.

If you missed it: TOM BROKAW REPORTS: BOOMER$! will re-air on CNBC on Saturday, March 6th at 7PM ET/4PM PT, Sunday, March 7th at 9PM ET/6PM PT and Monday, March 8th at 8PM ET/5 PM PT.

These extras were posted to the CNBC site. Enjoy!

Slideshow: Growing Up Boomer: A Generation’s Joy and Angst

Quiz: 1960s Boomer Culture

Video Extras:Tom Brokaw Reports: Boomer$!

Thursday January 21 at 10:30 a.m.

The International Builders’ Show is the largest annual building industry tradeshow in the country, and the National Association of Home Builders is holding the 50+ Lifestyle Central Suite at IBS. This is a new addition to the 50+ HC offerings at IBS in intended to be a way to engage with the leaders and influencers in the Active Adult Builder community including the associate members of the industry. The 50+ Lifestyle Central should be the hub of activity for IBS attendees that are actively involved in the 50+ Housing Segment of the market. I am looking forward to seeing how this new format works.

If you’ll be at IBS next week, come participate in our panel “Networking Using Facebook, Blogs and New Media to Market Your 50+ Communities Panel”: Social media is gaining a foothold in the housing industry – find out how to make it work for your business. Social media, like signage to your active adult community, steers prospects to your web site and builds awareness and credibility. In this interactive session, find out how to use these new tools and technologies to connect to potential 50+ buyers, get them talking about your community and build your sales. We will be sharing our research on how different mature consumers are using social media.

The Anxiety Index has shifted! Based on our original research in December of 2008 with Boomers, GenXers and Ikes, the biggest concern then was collapse of the economy; 45% of Boomers were “very nervous”. Fast-forward to 2009 and Boomers biggest concerns have shifted from the state of the economy to the cost of health care and the political debate surrounding this issue (46%). Hear more about the impact of the headlines.

Most interesting in the recent study is a shift in media consumption. The only media activity that rose dramatically was time on the Internet. No doubt social media has made a significant dent in the time generally reserved for traditional media. Learn what media channels are being crowded out.

Meet the new Boomer Social Maven and discover the influence of their connectedness on their circle. Hear more about who they are and how they can impact ROI for your campaigns.

You can sign up by going to www.immn.org. Hope to hear you there!