By Laurie Whittier
THE ERICKSON TRIBUNE

Just because many Wind Crest residents are retired doesn’t mean they’re any less connected to their convictions. Two groups in particular are helping residents keep their fingers on the pulse of global and local issues.

Current Issues
Those who live at Wind Crest have a chance to share their opinions—and listen to others—in the Current Issues discussion forum.

The Current Issues group meets every two weeks to discuss a topic pulled from a member-created list. Many subjects are political in nature—immigration, the economy, voter education, earmarks, and the national debt. Others are more general, like social security, human rights, and overpopulation.

According to Wind Crest resident Wally Speers, around 40 people joined the group within the first few months of its creation this past summer. Group members range from former doctors, lawyers, and FBI officials to teachers, college professors, and housewives. People attend for a variety of reasons, says Speers. "Some are searching for information so they can write their Congressmen," he explains. "Others are looking to vent their frustrations or simply share their personal experiences."

Now and then, he adds, participants leave with something they didn’t expect: a different perspective. "Often, these discussions give people a broader understanding," he says.

Government Affairs Committee
Wind Crest’s Community Resources Manager Sharon Prouse has assisted in the formation of around 80 clubs and activities, but she says the Government Affairs Committee was something special.

"They were incredibly motivated from day one, working hard and fast to pull in candidates prior to November’s election," she explains. "They’ve quickly become one of our more active committees."