Sept. 10-11 conference on aging in Montana to be streamed and available on Web

For the first time ever, residents across Montana will be able to participate in a Sept. 10-11 Wheeler Center conference when a forum on the graying of Montana is streamed live via the Web and screened at four state-wide viewing sites.

"The Graying of Montana," a two-day discussion about how Montana’s aging population is likely to affect the state’s priorities in the coming years, will be held Sept. 10 and 11 at the Red Lion Colonial Inn in Helena. Co-sponsored by the Burton K. Wheeler Center, based at Montana State University, and One Montana, the conference will focus on the findings of Montana University System economists regarding the impacts of Montana’s steadily aging population. The conference will also detail the ramifications to healthcare, education, infrastructure and other aspects of eldercare in the state with more than 20 speakers from Montana and other areas of the country.

However, for the first time in 20 years, the Wheeler Center is greatly extending accessibility of its annual fall conference by making it available via state of the art technology to those unable to attend in person. The entire conference may be viewed on the Web at http://www.onemontana.org. Viewers are instructed to follow links on the streaming page.

Viewing groups will be held in Miles City, Kalispell, Dillon and Havre for the second day of the conference, or Sept. 11.

"Through working with One Montana, which focuses on bridging the urban-rural divide in our state, we saw an opportunity to broaden this discussion to all those affected, which includes Montanans in every corner of the state," said Brad Snow, chair of the Wheeler Center Board. "Including as many residents as possible in this important conversation via technological innovations will allow our state legislators and agency personnel to consider all facets as they make decisions on these important issues."

The Sept. 11 viewing sites, which will include large-screen televisions, are:

Miles City — Miles Community College, room 106

Kalispell — Flathead Valley Community College, room 139 in the Arts and Technology Building

Dillon — University of Montana Western, Lucy Carson Library Conference Room 202

Havre – Northern Agricultural Research Center

For more information and to register to attend in one of the satellite locations email [email protected] to attend at the Miles City site or [email protected] for Kalispell, Dillon and Havre sites.

Participants at the outlying locations can ask questions during the conference by emailing [email protected] or tweeting via #grayingmt.

The video will also be available for download after the conference on the http://www.onemontana.org site.

In addition to the Wheeler Center and One Montana, the conference also is sponsored by MSU, the University of Montana, MSU Extension, AARP Montana, Dennis and Phyllis Washington Foundation, Greater Montana Foundation and Area Agencies on Aging.

For more information, contact Lisa Titus Grace at One Montana at [email protected].

http://www.montana.edu/cpa/news/nwview.php?article=11414