Retirement online book club starts September 11

Registration for the Purposeful Retirement Online Book Club, hosted by North Dakota State University Extension and South Dakota State University Extension, is now available.

Jane Strommen, NDSU Extension gerontology specialist, and Leacey Brown, SDSU Extension gerontology field specialist, will host the online book club. Participants will discuss “Purposeful Retirement: How to Bring Happiness and Meaning to Your Retirement” by Hyrum W. Smith.

During each session, Strommen and Brown will facilitate a group discussion and ask probing questions to encourage attendees to think about retirement in new and exciting ways. The group discussion will enable attendees to explore their attitudes and beliefs about retirement, increase knowledge about how purpose enhances health and wellness, identify strategies to integrate purpose into retirement planning and explore goals and priorities for retirement.

“This book club helps attendees to reflect on what matters most to them personally and to consider how their retirement can reflect their goals and values and what makes them happy,” said Strommen. “Attendees want to plan their retirement instead of defaulting to falling into this new phase of their life - it’s amazing how we all learn from each other as we read and discuss the book.”

The book club will meet every other week for six sessions beginning Wednesday, Sept. 11, at 10 a.m. CDT via Zoom. The group will meet on the following dates:

• Wednesday, Sept. 11

• Wednesday, Sept. 25

• Wednesday, Oct. 9

• Wednesday, Oct. 23

• Wednesday, Nov. 6

• Wednesday, Nov. 20

Those interested in participating in the book club can register at ndsu.ag/retirement. Participation is free, but space is limited. Registration will close on Sept. 10. Participants must purchase or borrow a copy of the book to join this book club.

For more information or questions, contact Jane Strommen, NDSU Extension gerontology specialist, at jane.strommen@ndsu or 701-231-5948.