Page 2 - Spring 2017

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Romance after 50 continued from page 1
Volunteers needed for community effort
all around the room. Men sit across from the women. The action begins with the sound of a bell, as each pair engages in a four-minute conversation to see if they connect. If so, contact information is exchanged. When the bell rings again, the gentlemen rise and move on to the next table. The process continues until all participants meet. Cole explained, “This is a great way to practice social skills in a fun environment where everyone is in the same boat.”
If speed dating isn’t offered at a center near you, check out these other ways to try to find a love connection:
• Get involved at your church, temple or mosque or become a volunteer
• Become actively involved in hobbies, sports or interests with other like- minded people at a community senior center or through online services like www.meetup.com where you have
Online dating safety tips
the opportunity to connect in groups that meet near you and share the same interests
• Hire a professional matchmaking service like www.matchmakermichigan.com
• Join an online dating site for mature adults (age 50+) like, www.mytime.com, www.SeniorMatch.com or www.howaboutwe.com
Linda said, “When I met Gregg, we went places together and he would actually go with me to church and family gatherings. That made a big difference.” Gregg proposed to Linda before the holidays and the couple is now engaged. Jennifer Michalak, executive director at Milan Services for Healthy Living said, “We plan to have a wedding reception here so that we can all celebrate together.” As to a honeymoon, Gregg smiled and said, “We’re going to Las Vegas. There’s lots of BINGO there!”
The Medicare/Medicaid Assistance Program (MMAP) is looking for talented and skilled volunteers to join their teams in Livingston, Macomb, Monroe, Oakland, St. Clair And Washtenaw counties. If you have computer skills, know your way around the internet, and have a sincere desire to help others understand their health benefits, call 248-262-9935 between now and April 10 to sign up. (If you speak Arabic or Spanish, as well as English, help is especially needed
in Macomb, St. Clair and Oakland counties for people with this skill set.)
Volunteers receive training to help educate people in their community about health insurance options, assist seniors with limited incomes to save money on healthcare costs, and counsel people with Medicare through the annual prescription drug enrollment.
Training includes orientation,
three days of training and 10 hours of online training. Once trained, volunteers perform as counselors, outreach assistants or administrative assistants
in scope, providing the opportunity to license them to other companies, especially Wi-Fi doorbell businesses.
Langer describes himself as a creative problem solver who enjoys the challenge of new and different things. He emphasized, “When you believe in something, it‘s important to
and will be asked to serve 60 volunteer hours per year.
Lilly Estenson, AAA 1-B MMAP Manager, shared how important these volunteers are, “Imagine what it’s like to make that kind of a difference in the lives of others. There are so many stories of people helping individuals on limited incomes save money on prescription drugs or programs that cover Medicare premiums,” said Estenson. “This is important work.”
Volunteers are not paid; however, they are rewarded with the satisfaction of making a positive impact in the lives of other people, experience professional growth, and work as part of the dynamic MMAP team. MMAP is the State Health Insurance Assistance Program for Michigan, and is a trusted resource
for unbiased Medicare information
and assistance.
Insurance agents, insurance brokers, and financial planners are not eligible to serve as MMAP volunteers.
stick with it and follow through. Use all the resources around you, especially from school and work.” What’s next? Langer noted, “I have plans for a mailbox using SMART technology.” His inventive mind, vision and persistence see the possibilities.
• Create an email address just for online dating. If you need to get rid of this email address, it won’t be connected to your other accounts.
• Get to know the other person very well via email and phone calls before meeting in person (If you can, use Skype or Facetime to meet a potential date first.)
• Research a potential date with Google, Facebook or LinkedIn. If anything seems off, you can cancel.
• Always meet in public.
• Always tell a friend or two where you’re going, who you’re meeting and when you’ll be back. When you get home, call to let them know you’ve arrived safely. (Take your cell phone with you!)
• Drive yourself to and from your first few dates.
Discover your inventive spirit continued from page 1
Following the disappointment of his first invention, Johnson’s second effort paid off big time. The first shipment of Phase 10 landed on K-Mart shelves in 20 stores and in the toy departments of 30 Meijer locations in August of 1982. By the end of 1983, Phase 10 became a mainstay in stores across the country and now, around the globe; with a mobile app for your phone so you
can play anywhere, anytime.
Now, age 57, with many successful business ventures under his belt, Johnson mentors others who dream of bringing their inventions to life as a member of the Inventor’s Association of Metro Detroit (IAMD) board for the past four years. “I like helping people and meeting the challenge of bringing a product to market,” he explained. IAMD Board of Directors President Catherine Phillips affirmed, “Ken is
a patient and encouraging mentor to countless entrepreneurs.”
A budding inventor inspired by Johnson is a retired automotive electronics engineer Peter Langer, 74, also a member of IAMD who has
Peter Langer, IAMD member and inventor.
twenty patents, including three assigned to his name. Langer has
an active mind and refuses to take retirement sitting down. He’s invented an illuminated doorbell with SMART technology. “I would like to see this doorbell design on every home, illuminating the doorway from dusk
to dawn. The annual operation cost is about fifty cents a year because of its patented energy conversion technology. Currently the Macomb County resident has three patents on it which are broad
The art of invention in six steps
Step 1: Keep a journal identifying problems around you that need solutions
Step 2: Define the problems. This may take research on your part. Note your discoveries, along with the contact information of experts/resources you encounter
Step 3: Brainstorm possible solutions
Step 4: Create a plan of action
Step 5: Build a prototype and define your target market (those who will benefit from your product). Test the prototype with this market segment. Note your observations
Step 6: Join IAMD to connect with a mentor and mix with other inventors. You’ll learn how to go about protecting, marketing and launching your idea. For more information contact Catherine Phillips of IAMD at 248-204-2994 or reach out to Johnson at www.kenjohnsonspeaks.com