ISG chapters: challenges and opportunities to raise the global profile of gerontechnology
G.M. Gutman (Convener, Canada)
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AbstractParticipants: Y.-L. Hsu (Taiwan); S. Ishihara (Japan), J. Hajjam (France), B. Klein (Germany); H. Kort (Netherlands); Y.-R. Park (Korea); C. Santana (Brazil), Y. Zheng (Hong Kong). ISSUE: Gerontechnology is still a new area of specialization within gerontology research and practice and within health technology (Schulz et al., 2015). The chapter structure that has evolved within ISG crosses geographic boundaries and/or links members by language/culture, raising many possibilities for awareness-raising, knowledge spread and information sharing (Galambos, 2018). Functions are limited however by operational issues, including member recruitment and retention, need to interact with multiple stakeholders and individuals with diverse professional backgrounds, limited access to and fluctuating resources - problems not uncommon for non-profit associations (Younger, 2017). CONTENT: Round-table speakers will review best practices for association models with a view towards generating recommendations that will enable chapters to better meet their members’ needs and ISG’s objectives for the global development of Gerontechnology (International Society for Gerontology, n.d.). STRUCTURE: Chapter representatives will share their experience with operational issues, providing examples and context that will facilitate replication of best practices across venues. Addressing the broader issue of awareness raising, they will identify key questions encountered in defining and explaining Gerontechnology to potential members, other organizations and the general public. CONCLUSION: Communication and experience sharing will shape the way forward for ISG’s growing number of chapters and their members. Of special interest are student members who present opportunities for mentorship at the chapter level.Keywords: association chapter models; ISG organization; linguistic and geographic chapters; mentorship
G.M. Gutman (Convener, Canada) (2020). ISG chapters: challenges and opportunities to raise the global profile of gerontechnology. Gerontechnology, 19(0), 1-1
https://doi.org/10.4017/gt.2020.19.s.70112