Jeanette and Arnold Finkelstein: A passion for AJA 50+
By Hannah Bernstein
With more than 40 years membership in AJA 50+ between them – including countless years on the Board and on various committees – the power couple of Jeanette and Arnold Finkelstein have a passion for the organization that dates back to 2005.
In a wide-ranging interview, they both had lots to say about AJA 50+’s first quarter century and their role in it..
In her volunteer capacity as chair of the organizing committee for last spring’s 25th anniversary gala, Jeanette is rightly proud of the work of her team and the success of the event. . “We kept the price to $18, which included a fabulous dairy meal and entertainment. We honoured the founders of AJA 50+, and there was lots of singing and dancing.”
For his part, Arnold began volunteering right from the get-go. He helped in the early offering of a computer program for members. “We got a grant from the province, bought some computers and a printer and we were off,” he explained. He later sat on the web development committee, which, by a stroke of good planning, managed to launch AJA 50+’s interactive website with online registration just prior to the COVID pandemic.
While they share a love of AJA 50+, they chose different paths to make their mark. Jeanette, a self-described “people person” enjoys organizing and attending programs and meeting new people. “I love developing and participating in programs. I love the people, the lectures and the places to go.”
Arnold became involved in the governance, and served as president from 2011 to 2014. “Our biggest problem in those days was money,” he explains. “After three years as president, I was pleased to leave the organization in better financial shape than I found it.”
They both agree on the value of volunteerism. “Volunteers are the lifeblood of AJA 50+,” says Arnold. “The more you do, the more you get out of it.” A regular volunteer at Creative Connections on Tuesdays, Jeanette notes, “You get gratitude from people and are left feeling that you’ve made someone’s day a bit brighter.”
And on the subject of Creative Connections, they concur that its creation and evolution has been one of the highlights in the 25-year history of AJA 50+. The program now boasts close to 60 participants, includes morning and afternoon programming, gentle exercise, lunch, and transportation for those who need it.
They both look forward to a bright future for AJA 50+ and hope the organization keeps going for as long as possible. “The population of seniors is going up like a rocket,” says Arnold. “And yet there are plenty of folks out there who don’t know about us,” notes Jeanette.
They agree that there’s always room for more volunteers. “More volunteers means we can do more,” says Arnold. And doing more for more members is what AJA 50+ is all about.