Can you think of any limitations for seniors who live in a residential community interested in starting a photography club? There are peers living all around you who love photographs, and they probably already have cameras. If you already are living in a senior residence like Saranac Village at Will Rogers in New York, you know the programming encourages the residents to keep active and pursue their interests. So, no, there isn't really anything to prevent you from starting a photography club.

The greatest benefit to senior independent living is the support, enthusiasm, and availability of the residential staff. If you need help or suggestions on how to get the word out, or need a room to hold your first photography planning meeting, there is always a willing staff member who can advise you, for example, do not schedule your meeting the same night as the senior living financial planning meeting.

Once you have a date and a comfortable room for your club planning meeting, make flyers with all the information to give to friends, and interested residents. Plan some refreshments.

Next, write notes about how to start the club. Ask for input from new members which is the best day for photography walks and outings to local parks, museums and places of interest where the club can take pictures.
Have a form your club members can fill out before offering refreshments, with questions about important decisions like:

• Do you want to meet weekly or monthly?
• Should regular meetings be on week days or weekends?
• Should we go out to take pictures once or twice per month?
• Should we have a special event at the end of each month to display our photographs?
• Does anyone want the job to set up a Facebook account where our club can post our best photos?
• Do we want to let Facebook visitors vote on their favorite photos?
• Should there be a prize each month for the Best Photo?
• Funniest Photo?

Let the senior independent living community photography club members discuss these items and whatever you come up with. Then set up the first photography outing, and a date for your first event. Again, be sure your meeting doesn't conflict with the senior living financial planning meeting.

For more information on how to engage seniors in a senior community, visit our website at: www.sarnacvillage.com.