If you haven't already, please take the time to read the June copy of "Family Circle Magazine" (page 52), which features an article about the Ageless Dreamer Foundation. It doesn't tell the whole story, but if it engages someone to check out the website or take a second look at who they might know with an ageless dream, then it's working.

Many thanks to Vi McNeill, who responded to a request last summer from the magazine for readers to send in a name of their favorite local activist.

Almost 10 years ago, approaching age 50, the founder Laurie Widmark became highly aware of the fact when welcome mail from AARP landed in her mailbox alerting her to the fact that there was some "threshold" she was about to cross.

As the years went by, Laurie noticed a remarkable indifference to our oldest generation. It was an "ah-ha" moment when she spawned the idea for "Ageless Dreamer" and wrote a business plan, unaware at the time of the number of years that would pass, and the intense effort, perseverance, funding, and undertaking that would be needed to make this nonprofit organization a reality in January 2006. It was here that the journey of a million unspoken dreams would begin.

We depend on volunteers to sustain the work of the foundation. Volunteers who have furnished vital services include: Harley Davidson and antique car buffs, private pilots and airlines, limousine services, food services, an art gallery, a Rotarian in Illinois, and so many other entities which have made it possible for people to realize their dreams. We also want to thank our individual volunteers who have contributed countless hours to supporting these activities. We could not have done it without them.

Ageless Dreamer, as a vehicle for older people to play out their dreams, occupies a unique niche. With people living longer we decided to focus on those over the age of 70.

All of this raises the question of who is old? Life in many ways is a state of mind. Our experience tells us that dreaming has no boundaries, but as people grow older the opportunity to realize their dream becomes more difficult.

The issue of aging and what is old has recently sparked some interest in medical circles. Harvard University, for example, has established a number of initiatives and research to study this subject.

The Ageless Dreamer Foundation is a nonprofit organization dependent upon memberships and gifts to sustain its ability to help people realize their unspoken dreams. Our experiences with helping dreamers have been so rewarding that it needs to be shared with younger generations.

The sparkle in the eyes of an ageless dreamer recipient is like the sparkle in the eyes of a small child. We like to use then and now photos to remind us all that we will become, someday, part of the oldest generation.

We will miss our executive director, Beth Fischer, who's passion for our mission and organizational skills have served us well during her tenure. The Board of Directors wishes her well.

Please call (603) 953-0006 or stop by Suite 302A, McConnell Center, Dover, to say hello. And don't forget to visit the website at: www.agelessdreamer.org and show your support for this organization so that in 10 years you'll be able to say: "I remember them when ..."