Joan Devine
Director of Education, Pioneer Network
Being a virtual organization like Pioneer Network, with the staff and board of directors living and working from points across the country has its benefits, but for those of us who believe in the principles of person-centeredness, we know that it’s all about relationships, and we yearn for opportunities to make connections. And there is no better connection than one that is face-to-face!
So it was with the board and staff of Pioneer Network, as we met together last week in Denver at the site of the 2018 Pioneering a New Culture of Aging Conference. There was work to be done, but for me, it was the renewing of old friendships along with the opportunity to make new friends, that created several very special days!
And Denver…what an incredible city! We stayed at the Sheraton Downtown Denver, where it will all be happening at the 2018 conference. A beautiful venue in an incredible location – one we can’t wait to share with fellow Pioneers!
My fellow staff member, Cathy Lieblich, and I, took several strolls on the 16th Street Mall, located right outside our hotel. There are shops, restaurants and so many things to do up and down the Mall. We later learned that had we walked another block, we would have arrived at Confluence Park, where the Cherry Creek and South Platte Rivers come together. Historians tell us that this is the location where the search for gold began in 1858, causing the Colorado Gold Rush! And if you’re not into walking like I am, no fear. A free shuttle will take you up and down the mall all day long!
And I made new friends in Denver. Individuals from the Colorado Culture Change Coalition, the Ombudsman’s office and two incredible organizations that will be providing opportunities for conference attendees to visit their communities and meet the Elders that live there.
So why am I sharing this? Because we want to share the beauty of Denver with all of you when the Pioneers gather there August 12-15 for the 2018 conference. Plans are well underway to deliver the best conference program ever. We are blessed and very excited to have received so many proposals for sessions from incredible Pioneers, and thanks to all the people who responded to our survey “Making it YOUR conference”, we have the guidance we need to choose sessions that cover the topics that YOU want to hear about.
Be on the lookout for more information about the 2018 Pioneering a New Culture of Aging Conference, Pioneer Network’s annual conference which has always been the largest conference in the nation devoted to culture change and person-centered care. And don’t miss out when registration opens in early February.
Mark your calendars NOW– plan on joining the Pioneers in Denver August 12-15, 2018, as we learn, share and enjoy the sites of Denver!
