Virtual
ABOUT GREG:
Greg is the co-author of 5 books & workbooks. For his civic efforts, he has received honors such as the Jefferson Award for Public Service & has been featured by media like Senior News & Good Morning America. His Grandma was his lifelong best friend, and he has spent a great deal of time with seniors in general. For more on Greg & his own Grandma, click here.
Greg is the co-author of 5 books & workbooks. For his civic efforts, he has received honors such as the Jefferson Award for Public Service & has been featured by media like Senior News & Good Morning America. His Grandma was his lifelong best friend, and he has spent a great deal of time with seniors in general. For more on Greg & his own Grandma, click here.
BEFORE THE PANDEMIC:
Greg normally travels to different places to speak at companies, events, conferences, retirement communities, schools & camps. The events have taken place around the US and in other countries like Canada and South Africa.
DURING (AND SINCE) THE PANDEMIC:
Greg took part (from home) in a two part activity with communities for older adults, senior centers, organizations that serve seniors in their homes, and groups that engage seniors as volunteers. To this day, even as the pandemic has eased up, he has continued to participate in this virtual activity.
Greg took part (from home) in a two part activity with communities for older adults, senior centers, organizations that serve seniors in their homes, and groups that engage seniors as volunteers. To this day, even as the pandemic has eased up, he has continued to participate in this virtual activity.
The first part of the two part activity involves a book series. Here is some background information on the books.
BOOK 1 - THE SILHOUETTE MAN
The Silhouette Man tells the story of a young person trying to make a positive difference in his neighborhood, and the grandparent who mentors him along the way. The book is a 189 page novel. It is based on a true story. The book was honored in Canada as a book that celebrates the wisdom of seniors.
The Silhouette Man tells the story of a young person trying to make a positive difference in his neighborhood, and the grandparent who mentors him along the way. The book is a 189 page novel. It is based on a true story. The book was honored in Canada as a book that celebrates the wisdom of seniors.
BOOK 2 - THE FIRST THIRTY
The First Thirty tells the same story -- just in shorter form (96 pages). It is a good fit for older adults who prefer to read a short version of the story.
BOOK 3 - THE MILKSHAKE MAN
There is also a condensed (42 page) picture book version of the story. It is called The Milkshake Man. It includes lots of illustrations. There are typically just a few sentences per page (so the print tends to be larger on most pages).
There is also a condensed (42 page) picture book version of the story. It is called The Milkshake Man. It includes lots of illustrations. There are typically just a few sentences per page (so the print tends to be larger on most pages).
THE COMPANION WORKBOOKS
One Lunch is the companion workbook for The Milkshake Man... A Place To Sit is the companion workbook for The Silhouette Man or The First Thirty... The workbooks have hundreds of questions & (non-physical) activities that readers can answer & do after reading the books.
One Lunch is the companion workbook for The Milkshake Man... A Place To Sit is the companion workbook for The Silhouette Man or The First Thirty... The workbooks have hundreds of questions & (non-physical) activities that readers can answer & do after reading the books.
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MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE BOOKS & WORKBOOKS
To see the covers & page 1 reviews for the books & companion workbooks, click here. To see lots of examples of senior groups using the books, click here. To read additional reviews of the books & workbooks from people who work with seniors -- click here. |
Scroll down to see how the two part activity has been carried out with different kinds of senior-related groups
GROUPS THAT INCLUDE SENIOR VOLUNTEERS OR SENIOR CENTERS OR SENIOR BOOK CLUBS - Activity PART 1:
You (the group's representative) order copies of The Silhouette Man or The First Thirty or The Milkshake Man through this link for the seniors you select. If you want, you can also get them copies of the optional companion workbooks (through this same link).
You (the group's representative) order copies of The Silhouette Man or The First Thirty or The Milkshake Man through this link for the seniors you select. If you want, you can also get them copies of the optional companion workbooks (through this same link).
GROUPS THAT INCLUDE SENIOR VOLUNTEERS OR SENIOR BOOK CLUBS - Activity PART 2
You & Greg arrange a private Zoom Q&A (with you serving as moderator) exclusively for those seniors who you got the books for. So, for example, if you get 35 books for 35 seniors, the Q&A is a special event solely for those 35 seniors.
You & Greg arrange a private Zoom Q&A (with you serving as moderator) exclusively for those seniors who you got the books for. So, for example, if you get 35 books for 35 seniors, the Q&A is a special event solely for those 35 seniors.
INDEPENDENT LIVING SENIOR COMMUNITIES - Activity PART 1:
You (the community's representative) order a stack of copies of The Silhouette Man or The First Thirty or The Milkshake Man (or a mix of all three titles) through this link. If you want, you can also get them copies of the optional companion workbooks through this same link. Then, you share the books among your residents like a Community Common Read.
INDEPENDENT LIVING SENIOR COMMUNITIES - Activity PART 2:
After the residents have had time to read the books, you and Greg arrange a private Zoom Q&A (with you serving as moderator) -- exclusively for your residents.
SENIORS IN ASSISTED LIVING - Activity PART 1
You (the community's representative) order a stack of copies of The Silhouette Man or The First Thirty or The Milkshake Man (or a mix of all three titles) through this link. If you want, you can also get them copies of the optional companion workbooks through this same link. Then, you share the books among your residents like a Community Common Read.
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SENIORS IN ASSISTED LIVING - Activity PART 2: After the residents have had time to read the books, you and Greg arrange a private Zoom Q&A (with you serving as moderator) -- exclusively for your residents. |
SKILLED NURSING OR MEMORY CARE OR HOSPICE - Activity PART 1:
You (the community's representative) order copies of the short illustrated version of the story - The Milkshake Man -- through this link. If you want, you can also get them the optional companion workbooks - One Lunch - through this same link. Then, you read the books with the seniors you support who are in Skilled Nursing or Memory Care. (Due to this book's short length, your residents can read the book on their own or with a member of your staff in a single sitting.)
SKILLED NURSING - MEMORY CARE - HOSPICE - Activity PART 2:
Instead of a Q&A -- you'll be given access to a password-protected link on this website to a few-minutes-long, friendly & supportive "Hello" video that Greg has made for this exact scenario so your staff can privately play it for your residents as a fun surprise. This way, they still get to hear from him -- without it requiring them to stay engaged for a longer period of time like a Q&A Session.
Instead of a Q&A -- you'll be given access to a password-protected link on this website to a few-minutes-long, friendly & supportive "Hello" video that Greg has made for this exact scenario so your staff can privately play it for your residents as a fun surprise. This way, they still get to hear from him -- without it requiring them to stay engaged for a longer period of time like a Q&A Session.
CONTINUING CARE COMMUNITIES - Activity - PARTS 1 & 2:
In many cases, the participating groups are 'Continuing Care' Communities with residents in different lifestyle phases - such as Independent, Assisted and Skilled Nursing/Memory Care. In these instances, they begin (Part 1) by ordering (through this link) some of each of the three books. This way, the residents who still enjoy reading full-length novels can do so -- while the residents who prefer a shorter novel or an illustrated book can read those instead. And then, for Part 2 of the activity, the Continuing Care location's representative can choose whether to have Greg do the Zoom Q&A for the residents (as seen in the Independent and Assisted Living examples above) or provide a link to a "Hello" Video (as seen in the Skilled Nursing / Memory Care example above).
In many cases, the participating groups are 'Continuing Care' Communities with residents in different lifestyle phases - such as Independent, Assisted and Skilled Nursing/Memory Care. In these instances, they begin (Part 1) by ordering (through this link) some of each of the three books. This way, the residents who still enjoy reading full-length novels can do so -- while the residents who prefer a shorter novel or an illustrated book can read those instead. And then, for Part 2 of the activity, the Continuing Care location's representative can choose whether to have Greg do the Zoom Q&A for the residents (as seen in the Independent and Assisted Living examples above) or provide a link to a "Hello" Video (as seen in the Skilled Nursing / Memory Care example above).
ORGANIZATIONS THAT PROVIDE IN-HOME CARE TO SENIORS ON ONE-TO-ONE BASIS - Activity PARTS 1 AND 2:
First - part 1 - you (the organization's rep) order copies of the books through this link as gifts for specific seniors you support, and your caregivers can then read the books with those seniors. You can get copies of any of the 3 books for this activity. The Milkshake Man has seemed to be a particularly good fit since it can easily be read in a single sitting by an aging adult & their caregiver. If you want, you can also get the optional companion workbooks (through this same link) which your caregiver & your client can do together. And then, Part 2, you'll be given access to a password-protected link on this website to a few-minutes-long, friendly and supportive "Hello" video that Greg has made for this exact scenario so your caregivers can privately play it as a fun surprise for your clients who you got the books for.
First - part 1 - you (the organization's rep) order copies of the books through this link as gifts for specific seniors you support, and your caregivers can then read the books with those seniors. You can get copies of any of the 3 books for this activity. The Milkshake Man has seemed to be a particularly good fit since it can easily be read in a single sitting by an aging adult & their caregiver. If you want, you can also get the optional companion workbooks (through this same link) which your caregiver & your client can do together. And then, Part 2, you'll be given access to a password-protected link on this website to a few-minutes-long, friendly and supportive "Hello" video that Greg has made for this exact scenario so your caregivers can privately play it as a fun surprise for your clients who you got the books for.
ACTIVITY SPREADS ACROSS NATION Communities for older adults and organizations that involve seniors all over the nation have already taken and/or are currently taking part in this activity -- including groups in over forty states. |
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IN SOME CASES, GROUPS HAVE ADDED OTHER PARTS TO THE ACTIVITY ON THEIR OWN
In some cases -- in addition to doing the Virtual Q&A with Greg -- the groups have had their own internal Book Club discussion after reading the books. In other cases -- as a nod to the main character's love of milkshakes, the group's coordinator has surprised the seniors with milkshakes before or after the Q&A.
In some cases -- in addition to doing the Virtual Q&A with Greg -- the groups have had their own internal Book Club discussion after reading the books. In other cases -- as a nod to the main character's love of milkshakes, the group's coordinator has surprised the seniors with milkshakes before or after the Q&A.
ACTIVITY EXPANDS TO STAFF
In some cases, groups that serve seniors have done this two part activity as a staff appreciation activity. First, they order copies of the books through this link for each member of the staff. Then, after the staff have time to read them, Greg does a private Zoom Q&A just for those employees.
In some cases, groups that serve seniors have done this two part activity as a staff appreciation activity. First, they order copies of the books through this link for each member of the staff. Then, after the staff have time to read them, Greg does a private Zoom Q&A just for those employees.
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To contact us, click here To order the books &/or workbooks, click here SCROLL DOWN FOR LOTS OF ADDITIONAL PHOTOS |
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To order the books &/or workbooks, click here |
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