Minnie Adams is a Wayne State University graduate who retired from the Detroit Public School System. She took a leave from teaching and worked with Investment Diversified Services where she was not only the first black women to work there, but also the first to make the top ten salepersons in the company list.Adams' interest in aging came from a desire to help her peers realize the beauty of aging. She considers membership on the EAR an honor and is excited about the new direction the group is taking.

May Berkley is designated Staff Emeritus at Oakland Community College where she taught a non-credit workshop in retirement planning. She also teaches a class in life story writing at the Southfield Senior Center which she has taught for the last nine years. Berkley has attended training sessions at the National Council of Aging in Washington D.C. She would like the EAR to contribute to the continued development of lifelong learning programs for older adults.

Jan Calle retired as a corporate manager from AT&T where she worked for 33 years. She also worked as an independent consultant and focused on issues of diversity in public and private organizations. She volunteers for several U of M groups and is on the contribution committee for the Ann Arbor Friends. Calle would like to see the EAR develop and activate more positive views of the last third of life.

Roberta Cottman is designated Professor Emerita at Wayne State University where she served as faculty for 24 years. She is presently serving as an NGO representative in consultative status to the United Nations on the Commission of the Status of Women on both the aging and the health focus groups. She would like the EAR to recognize the importance of health and well-being, physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually through the life-span.

Virginia Crowthers was once faculty at Wayne State University School of Social Work and also served as Executive Director of the Detroit Area Agency on Aging. She is currently the chair person for the Detroit Mayor's Commission on Senior Citizens. Crowthers would like to see EAR apply the practical applications of theory to real lives of real older adults and their families.

Marie Guyton is known as an educator, visionary, civic leader and philanthropist. Her new home in Presbyterian Village, the Guyton Center, is dedicated "Together We Build." The retired Detroit principal has accumulated a variety of awards that include letters from President Bush, Governor Blanchard, Wayne State University and AARP. Guyton is a long time human rights activist and her new home serves as a place where everyone belongs and anyone can meet.

Charles Jackson received his graduate certificate in gerontology in '90 from the IoG. Jackson retired from the City of Detroit Water and Sewage Department as a personnel officer level 1 after 32 years of service. The longtime Detroit resident hopes the EAR will promote the resources available to elders in Detroit.

Tom Jankowski retired as a Fire Chief Officer in Wyandotte where he worked for over 27 years. He currently serves as executive director of the Michigan Association of Fire Fighters and is a long time volunteer of both the American Heart Association and the American Red Cross where he is a CPR instructor trainer. Jankowski thinks the EAR is talking to the right group to determine the right type of projects.

Mildred Jeffrey is a member of the Michigan Women's Hall of Fame and serves on the Wayne State University Board of Governors.She is designated Governor Emerita, WSU. She was the director of the UAW women's department and served as assistant to Walter P. Reuther when he was the UAW president . Jeffrey has served on many national commissions and participated in two Social Security national dialogues. In 2000, Jeffrey was awarded the Presidential Freedom Medal by President Clinton at the White House. This is the highest award a civilian can receive from the United States. She would like to see the EAR work interactively and productively with the IOG.

Virgil Jones served four denominations in his position as minister at Wayne State University. Before he retired, he also taught philosophy at Wayne, Oxford, Princeton and Harvard. Jones says we come from an education system that "focuses on earning a living not learning how to live.;quot; He believes the EAR serves a dual role - transferring information from the community to the IOG and from the IOG back to the community.

Hector Lopez has served as a therapist and educator for over 15 years. He has first hand experience in counseling victims of HIV/AIDS, substance abuse and homelessness. He retired early from Henry Ford Health System due to health problems but has volunteered his time to Partners Against Crime Detroit as a community probation worker for the last eight years. Lopez would like to see the EAR utilize all the resources of the members to benefit the elders in the community.

Maryanne Mahaffey was on the faculty at the School of Social Work at Wayne State University for 25 years and has been designated Professor Emerita, WSU. She is currently serving her seventh term on the Detroit City Council where she was elected to office in '74. Her interest in aging comes from a combination of her experience with her parents and her personal experience. She would like the EAR to combine theory with action to influence policy.

Marion McCarthy is a field staff contract social worker with Calvery Senior Center. Before retiring she raised a large family and worked in the home health care field for 15 years. She earned her master's degree last year from Wayne State University and has her own web page. McCarthy has recently developed a course for seniors that combines mental and physical exercise. She views the EAR as a reality check for the IoG and would like the group to serve as liason between the IoG and the public.

Charles Meyers received his Ph.D. in pharmacy and retired as president of Binson's America. He serves on the Senior Advisory Council to BC/BS of Michigan. He once served as chair of the Michigan Commission on Indian Affairs in Lansing and currently is a board member of the Nokomis Learning Center in East Lansing. Meyers has been married for 50 years. He says he would like to see the EAR work together toward a common goal.

Anna Mickel worked as a medical technician in public and private settings. While working at a nursing home, she developed a library and many programs for the residents. She is a member of the Oakland County Senior Power Day Committee, State Advisory Council to the Michigan Commission on Services to the Aging and numerous organizations that deal with senior issues. She would like the EAR to address issues that enhance the lives of seniors by allowing them to live in the residence of their choice with dignity.

Clay Mitchell retired as a vice president at Detroit Edison and holds three patents. He has served on the board of directors of the Detroit Urban League and Detroit Science Center. He was a member of their Detroit Strategic Planning group in 1987. He looks for academic and spiritual rejuvenation of himself and other seniors through EAR. Mitchell recognizes life as a fantastic gift that should not be wasted due to false ideas on aging.

Shiva Sastry graduated from WSU in 1975 with a Ph.D. in Biology-entomology. He has worked as an entomologist for nearly 50 years both in the US and India. Sastry is now retired from the Environmental Protection Agency. He also has taught courses at both Wayne State University and Oakland University. He would like to see the EAR assist the IoG in finding research projects that would improve family relationships.

Frank Singer retired as a manufacturer's representative in the disposable food industry. Prior to that he was in sales and marketing for Lilycup Co. He serves the City of Southfield part-time as Community Access Liaison which includes doing senior programming for cable television. He has fully recovered from a series of strokes in 1986. He would like to see the EAR educate the public to look at Seniors as an important facet of our society with much to offer.

Betty Welsh is designated Professor Emerita at Wayne State University. She spent much of her career as a teacher and social worker in various cities throughout Michigan. She currently is a member of the Medicare + Choice Senior Advisory Committee to the Greater Detroit Area Health Council. She is president of Oakwood Common Independent Living Resident Association and utilizes her social work skills in facilitating a variety of programs for Oakwood residents. Welsh would like the EAR to use the available elder wisdom in the group to the fullest potential.

Andrew Wong is a WWII veteran who retired from Michigan Bell Telephone as a District Manager Technology Systems. He served as president for the Detroit Chapter of the Association of Chinese Americans and was the National Vice President of Public Affairs for the organization. Wong was also a council member and president of the Village of Beverly Hills. Since both his parents lived to be 100 years old he understands the needs and problems of aging and would like to extend his advocacy to the EAR.

Ann Zuzich taught at the Wayne State University College of Nursing where she participated in the formation of the Developmental Disabilities Institute. Her interest in aging blossomed when she was faced with her own aging and the aging of her developmentally disabled son. She is chair of the board of the Citizens for Better Care. Zuzich thinks the EAR is a good approach to providing data about what is happening to aging people today and would like to see the group promote successful aging.