1.
It's Generational: Intergenerational
Relationships and Challenges in Rotary
Dr. Laura Garrett
Assistant District Governor
District 6110 OK, KS, AK, MO

2.
 We tend separate different age groups into opposing
sides based on ascribed values and attitudes.
 These biases are very difficult to verify and
erroneously generalize across large groups of people.
 “Gen Y” or Nexters, Millennials, Generation Me,
iGeneration
Danger

3.
Chronological vs. Cultural

4.
Introduction: What is a Generation?
“In addition to coincidence of birth, a
generation is also defined by common tastes,
attitudes, and experience….Those times
encompass a myriad of circumstances –
economic, social, sociological, and, of
course, demographic.”
Zemke, R. Raines, C., & Filipczak, B. (2000). Generations at work: Managing the clash of Veterans, Boomers, Xers, and Nexters in your workplace. New
York:Amacon.

5.
Rotary Trends

6.
Is it age or years in
Rotary??
Interesting Question

7.
In the US, the younger the age
cohort, the more racially diverse it
tends to be.
Younger people don’t believe in
Social Security as older generations
did.
United States

8.
• They have always been able to refer to Wikipedia.
• A visit to a bank has been a rare event.
• “You’ve got mail” would sound as ancient to them as “number, please”
would have sounded to their parents.
• Films have always been distributed on the Internet.
• Mass market books have always been available exclusively as eBooks.
• Exotic animals have always been providing emotional support to
passengers on planes.
• The Prius has always been on the road in the U.S.
• When filling out forms, they are not surprised to find more than two
gender categories to choose from.
• People loudly conversing with themselves in public are no longer
thought to be talking to imaginary friends.
themindsetlist.com
Class of 2022

9.
Veterans or Traditionalists
(1900-1945)
Baby Boomers
(1946-1964)
Generation X
(1965-1980)
Millennials
(1981-1999)
Centennials Gen Z (1997-present)
Current Working Generations

10.
 Also known as the Greatest Generation
 Defining events: Great Depression, New Deal, World War II,
Korean War
 Faith in institutions; loyal; patriotic
 “Save for a rainy day,” “Waste not, want not”
 Influential people: Ella Fitzgerald, Charles Lindberg, Franklin
Delano Roosevelt
Veterans or Traditionalists: 1900-1945

11.
Veterans or Traditionalists:
Born 1900 - 1945

12.
 Defining events: television, Vietnam, women’s and human
rights movements, television
 Optimistic and competitive; prosperous
 Promise of good education = opportunities their parents
didn’t have
 Influential people: Martin Luther King, John F. Kennedy,
Richard Nixon, Beaver Cleaver
Baby Boomers: 1946-1964

13.
Baby Boomers:
Born 1946 to 1964

14.
 Defining events: Challenger explosion, fall of Berlin Wall, fall
of Soviet Union, Personal computer
and other media
 Skepticism; institutions called into question; U.S. divorce
rate tripled during birth years of Gen X (latchkey kids)
 World is not as safe anymore: AIDS, drunk drivers, drugs,
etc.
 Leading people: Monica Lewinsky, O.J. Simpson,
Supermodels, Michael Jordan, Dilbert
Generation Xers: Born 1965-1980

15.
Generation X: Born
1960-1980

16.
Gen X Motivation
 Say, “Do It Your Way”
 Use well-written emails
 Say “I Got It”
 Focus on the Mission
 Allow Life Balance
 Bond As People
 Be Direct
 Acknowledge that they exist
 Expect Pessimism
 Expect Work-Life Separation

17.
 Also known as Echo Boom, Generation Y, Baby Busters
 Defining events: Oklahoma City bombing, Columbine High
School massacre, death of Princess Diana, Lewinsky scandal,
the Internet
 Realistic; optimistic yet cautious; multiculturalism
 “Personal Safety” is a workplace concern; appreciate
diversity
 Influential people: Barney, Backstreet Boy, Venus and
Serena Williams, Tinky Winky
Millennials: Born 1981-1999

18.
Millennials:
Born 1981 -1999

19.
The Centennials 1997-now

20.
Centennial Generation
 They are the first generation to never know life without the
Internet and social media.
 Their sense of style is a lot more simplistic than that of
Millennials.
 They are less judgmental.
 Furthermore, they are slightly more serious than Millennials.
 They have very short attention spans.
 They plan for the future and avoid frivolity and unnecessary risk.
 Schooled in emotional intelligence.
 Most diverse group in history
 Very involved in volunteering

21.
In the Workplace…

22.
A seven year study of more than
3,000 leaders found that employees
of all ages wanted three things:
family, respect and trust

23.
 Global Demographics
 Education
 Living Costs
 Labor Market
 Child Care Opportunities
 Access to Internet
 Immigration Patterns
 Access to Public Health
 Global Competition for jobs
 Political Power
External Factors

24.
 Technology
 Social Interactions
 Loyalty
 Attitudes toward respect and authority
 Work/life balance
 Flexibility
Communication Challenges with
Generations

25.
Slice of Pie Theory

26.
 Hoarding
 Social Distancing
 Educational Interruption
 Lack of Activities
 Masks
 ZOOM ZOOM ZOOM
COVID- The Big Unknown

27.
 80% of consumers in US and UK say they consume
more content
 Boomers- Increase watching broadband tv
 Gen X- Increased tv watching more than any
generation but are watching TV online
 Millennials increased online video, online TV and
broadcast tv
 Gen Z- consuming more online video content than
before Covid. Listening to more music
Covid Changes with Media
Consumption

28.
• Women Surpass Men on Impact of Virus on Shopping Behavior: 59% of
women surveyed said that the virus was impacting how much they spent on
products, compared to 56% of men.
• More Men Stockpiling Groceries and Cutting Back on Spending: With 46%
of all respondents buying more products in anticipation of Coronavirus, 47% of
men say they are stockpiling groceries in particular, compared to only 38% of
women.
• Boomers Show Greatest Shift in Behavior Compared to Other
Generations: Immobility has had a dramatic affect over the last three weeks,
with 71% of Baby Boomers saying it has impacted where and how they shop, up
173% from the last survey.
• Baby Boomers Less Inclined to Cut Back on Spending than Other
Generations While 47% of respondents are cutting back on spending overall,
only 38% of Boomers say they are reducing their spend in preparation for greater
Coronavirus spread.
• Baby Boomers Show Greatest Increase in Those Stockpiling
Groceries: Similar to men, Baby Boomers are the generation showing the
greatest increase over the last three weeks, with 34% now saying they are
stocking up versus only 10% last survey, a 240% increase.
Shopping Habits

29.
 Formative Age
 Cut off from friends
 True mortal peril
 No routine
 Lack of Rituals- graduation
 Vast economic uncertainty
 “Ambient uncertainty”
Gen Z- Most Impacted??

30.
The Answer to the Issue is:
Service

31.
Jardim, C., & Sofia Marques, d. S. (2018). Young people engaging in volunteering: Questioning a generational trend in an
individualized society. Societies, 8(1), 8.https://doi.org/10.3390/soc8010008
Results clearly indicate that young people have an
instrumental relationship with volunteering, which is
mainly focused on the individual benefits that they
believe they will acquire in their personal and
professional life. Volunteering emerges as an
opportunity to escape and to overcome the persisting
challenges and constraints posed by our society; namely
unemployment and precariousness, both of which are
on the rise amongst young generations around the
world.

32.
Salisbury, J. J. M. (2014). Rural retiree volunteer motivations for nonfamily-based intergenerational communication
 Key findings indicated participants felt they had little
or nothing to share despite a variety of life
experiences, found communication success with
nontechnology-based catalysts, and felt the
community has closed social circles. Transferring
identity during retirement was difficult for many
participants, a finding which supported the resulting
project: a retiree social transition workshop. These
findings suggest that those approaching retirement
may benefit from identity transition support from
employment to retirement, resulting in increased
well-being in retirement, increased self-efficacy and
motivations, and improved knowledge transfer to
younger generations

33.
Houger, V. P. (2011). Generational differences and the impact to employee engagement: A program design (Order No. 3443843)
 Individuals working in a multi-generational
organizations will find challenges in learning how to
solicit and accurately interpret needs and
expectations; communication styles, and how to
respond positively and meaningfully to requests.

34.
Youth Volunteer!
 In a survey of American youth, Prudential (1995) found that 71%
of students thought their communities would be better places to
live if more adults volunteered. Additionally, they found
volunteer levels to be higher among white students and highest
among students in households where the chief wage earner had
a post-graduate degree. Westat and Chapman (1999) found that
32% of urban high schools have a community service graduation
requirement. Additionally, 64% of all public schools, including 83%
of public high schools, had students participating in community
service activities recognized and arranged through the school
(Westat & Chapman, 1999). Finally, 57% of all public schools
organized community service activities for their students
(Westat & Chapman, 1999).

35.
Motivating Generations to Volunteer
 Early adulthood, which includes singles, young couples, and
families, is the most diverse developmental stage. Virtual
volunteer opportunities will often appeal to early adults. Some
young parents need opportunities to volunteer at home, while
other stay-at-home parents seek opportunities to get out of the
house and interact with adults. Young professionals seeking to
establish themselves in a community and occupation may be
interested in volunteering or performing pro bono service.
Extension professionals should consider providing childcare as
an incentive to engage young parents. (With proper screening
and orientation, the childcare providers could be volunteers as
well!)

36.
Rate this session in the Rotary Events app,
available in your Apple or Android app store.

37.
Thank You!!!
Dr. Laura Garrett
laura.garrett2@tulsacc.edu