Residents fill the room for a Monday morning News & Views presentation at The Osborn.
As anyone who lives or works on The Osborn campus will attest to, there’s never a shortage of things to do, or to talk about. Residents seem to share a thirst for lifelong learning, so it’s fitting that a weekly program on current events called “News & Views” has become a must for many. The program’s origins date back more than a decade and it has evolved into a structured, pointed — and sometimes provocative — Monday morning presentation. We spoke with Lucy Werner, the “moderator’s moderator,” to get the inside scoop.
How did News & Views get started, and how has it evolved?
Lucy Werner: I wasn’t able to find anyone who was here when it actually started, but I was able to go back about 10 years. At that time, a former educator and a staff person led the discussions in a space that held about 35 or 40 people. One focused on local news and the other on international news.
Over the years, leadership changed. Most recently, our friend Robert, a former business executive, led the program. During his leadership, Robert recognized that we needed a larger space because people were coming to the door and couldn’t get in. So, we moved to where we are now, which can accommodate more than 80 people. My husband, John, and I had known Robert for more than 50 years, and he was involved in everything at The Osborn. He passed away last year … it was a tough loss for us and the entire community.
Michele Schreer, Director of Sterling Park Independent Living at The Osborn, said, “We have to keep News & Views going,” and reached out to a group of us. Someone suggested rotating the leadership, and that idea took hold. We now have a group of moderators who take turns leading the program.
What has changed about the program beyond moving to a larger space?
Lucy: Rather than focusing so much on what happened in the news that day, presentations now provide background that helps people better understand what’s happening. We’re not repeating what people have already seen or read.
For example, we recently had a presentation about the national debt. We didn’t need someone to tell us the debt was high — we knew that. Instead, a former vice president of the New York Stock Exchange explained the many ripples and implications of it: what it means, how it affects us and how it may affect generations to come.
We’ve also added visuals. There’s a large-screen television where presenters can share text, images and occasionally video, and materials can be posted on The Osborn app so residents can look at them afterward.
How do you decide what topics to discuss?
Lucy: The moderators decide, sometimes with suggestions from other residents. We’re looking for topics that will help people better understand what they’re seeing in the media.
We have wonderful scientists who can help us understand developments in research or something like an Ebola outbreak. We’ve had people explain labor statistics — why the numbers change and what those changes actually mean. The goal is really understanding, rather than simply hearing the news.
What would I experience if I attended News & Views for the first time?
Lucy: You’d probably arrive a little before our 10:30 start and find yourself chatting with the person sitting next to you. We’re very prompt because, although this is clearly a favorite thing to do, people have other plans! We start at 10:30 and never go beyond 11:45.
Presentations can be quite short — the humorous ones may be only two or three minutes — while more serious presentations are usually seven to 12 minutes. Afterward, the presenter asks for comments and questions.
Most questions are about further understanding the presentation, but sometimes someone will say, “I just don’t agree with what you said,” or, “You’ve got the facts wrong, as I understand them.” And those are really fun. None of us is perfect. It’s good to expand our knowledge from everybody in the room, not just the presenter.
Why do you think News & Views has become so popular?
Lucy: I think the very chaos in which we’re existing in the outside world causes people to appreciate having a place where they can come and make some sense out of what is going on.
And the quality of the presentations is exceptional. People work very hard to make sure what they’re saying is understandable. They seek clarity and simplify where something can be simplified without being simplistic.
What the audience may not realize is how much time and care the moderators put into selecting what will be presented, and how much work the presenters put into making their presentations. They may be experts in their subjects, but they still put considerable time into making the material work for the audience.
A scientific presentation, for example, could easily get into the weeds. Our presenters work hard to make it understandable for those of us who aren’t scientists. The financial people are careful not to use financial jargon.
Recently, during a financial discussion, someone said, “I really don’t understand what that means.” Another resident offered an analogy: “It’s like paying off your mortgage with your credit card.” And we got it.
What does News & Views add to life at The Osborn beyond keeping residents informed about current events?
Lucy: It is a space for lifelong learning. There is such an incredible array of individuals here who are willing to share what they know with you without talking down to you.
And that goes far beyond News & Views. Residents help one another learn about technology. And if you want to learn Mahjong, you can learn Mahjong — or you can teach Mahjong. Residents who are skilled in art share what they know with others.
There’s a culture of acceptance and learning and wanting to be with you as another human being that is very special. And it wasn’t just created last year. The Osborn has a long history, and that culture has developed over time.
What is your role with News & Views?
Lucy: I coordinate who is available from our pool of moderators and when, and I’m also the communicator between the group and staff. I’m kind of the administrator-scheduler. Somebody called me the “moderator’s moderator.”
What do you personally value most about News & Views?
Lucy: Somebody told me the other day that the way to have a good day is to have at least one meaningful conversation.
I think News & Views produces a lot of those conversations.
I was coming down the hall recently and heard someone say to one of the presenters, “I’m not sure I understood what you said yesterday at News & Views.” They started talking, and when I passed them again later, they were still having the conversation.
I think the conversations that come from the News & Views experience are a very important part of what is making meaningful days for lots of people here at The Osborn.
To learn more about Independent Living at The Osborn, click here.