Project Renewment

For the first time in history, millions of career women who strongly identify with their work are facing retirement. They are educated, skilled and successful, having achieved rewards beyond money. Because they are the first there are few, if any, role models.

These women are baby boomers and from the generation preceding them. In Betty Friedan’s book The Feminine Mystique, such women asked, “Is this all there is?” Now they are asking the same question in their 50s, 60’s and 70s.

Today’s career women facing retirement are concerned about key issues:

• Feeling less productive when you no longer having a primary career.
• Creating a new identity.
• Finding substitutes for the power, influence and having an impact in retirement.
• Navigating an anti-aging society.
• Finding passion outside of work.
• Financial stability in the new economy
  

Enter Project Renewment: The mission of Project Renewment (retirement + renewal) is to provide a forum for career women 55 years or older to use their strategic thinking, creativity and vision to create a future that is equally, if not more satisfying, than their previous working years.

Project Renewment is three things:

• It is a process and forum -- one that engages highly effective women leaving the workforce and those recently retired to thoughtfully discuss and plan for the next chapter of their lives.
  
• It is a movement -- consisting of a community of women’s groups where career women gather and pose questions about their next 30 years in an environment that is non-judgmental, supportive and creative.
• It is a book -- of 38 essays based on hundreds of hours of discussions by Project Renewment women on topics that are most important to consider at this time of their lives. The last section of the book is a guide on how to start and sustain a Project Renewment group. (Project Renewment: The First Retirement Model for Career Women, Scribner 2008).
  

Although men may face similar issues as the career women, their approach is different. Generally, they discuss less, if at all.

The first Project Renewment group started in 1999. By word of mouth, 18 groups have been established in Southern California and across the U.S., with more continuously forming. Each has evolved into a small enduring community.

Although we never planned for growth, a movement is emerging of like-minded women who want to create a future of their choice with intention, rather than by chance. And they are having a great time doing it.

Authors: Helen Dennis & Bernice Bratter

GETTING STARTED

The impetus for starting a Project Renewment group often comes from just one person. It may be you. Perhaps you have been thinking of retirement and wondering what will happen in the next part of your life. Or perhaps you have been retired for a short time and find yourself asking "Is this all
there is?" If you are interested in exchanging your thoughts with other women in similar positions or situations, consider launching a Group.

FINDING POTENTIAL MEMBERS

It may take months talking to friends, friends of friends, business contacts or people you hardly know about your ideas of starting a group. To recruit members, consider organizations you know well and are a member of, such as business, sporting, religious, professional, philanthropic or recreational groups. Often an interested woman may know several like-minded women. Your group members may have diverse professional backgrounds yet share common values and concerns that are helpful in establishing group cohesiveness.

WHERE TO FROM HERE?

If the idea of starting or joining a Project Renewment Group sounds interesting to you, why not start by talking to some friends and business contacts. There is some useful information on this web site and you can send us an email with your contact details and we will put you in contact with other interested women in your area. If you decide to email us, please give us a little information about yourself as well as your phone number and the suburb / city or town / state that you live in. Send your email to -
info@mylifechange.com.au

If you would like to watch a video of a presentation  by the book’s authors  CLICK HERE  This video shows the authors getting ready prior to the start of the presentation, so the first 5 minutes are not very exciting.