Arlington County has issued a press release entitled “Arlington Encourages 20 and 30-Somethings to Get Involved with Youth.”

ARLINGTON, VA. — Are you a 20/30-something looking for ways to get more involved in Arlington? To engage and inspire local youth? To participate in social and community activities that don’t require a commute to DC?
The Community Role Models’ Volunteer Forum on Youth Services is for you! Learn more about how to get involved as a mentor, a coach or a homework buddy. Get to know some of the local groups that are working with our youth to make Arlington the awesome community that it is. Get inspired and gain some new ideas on how YOU can make a difference.

On Sept. 29, come to the Arlington Central Library, 1015 N. Quincy St., at 7 p.m., and learn how to get involved. Representatives from local non-profits, service groups and youth-serving County programs will answer your questions and tell you more about their programs and services. All are welcome. …

Background

Since June 2003, a small task force of civic leaders, county staff and young adults has met regularly with County Board Member Walter Tejada to discuss and brainstorm ways to engage Arlington’s young adults in civic activities that provide healthy models for Arlington’s youth. During the County Board’s Jan. 1 organizational meeting, Tejada announced the Community Role Models (CRM) that is “aimed at engaging our young adults, 20- and 30- somethings in mentoring and other civic activities” as part of the Board’s 2004 civic engagement initiative.

At 42, apparently I’m no longer capable of “engaging and inspiring” the youth of the county while providing them a “healthy model.” Presumably, I’d just be bugging them to come and polish my walker or change the batteries in my hearing aid, or boring them with stories about life before the Internet.