"Socrates" is a blast from the past who inspires today’s elders to live fully and well! At the age of 70, "The Gadfly" of Fifth century Athens reached his peak when he defended his life at his famous Trial. He affirmed seven principles of successful aging. In this multi-media theatrical event, Socrates steps down from the pedestal of history to engage dramatically with your audience. They will experience at first hand how to express their own "Socratic Spirit" by Asking Great Questions, Freeing Your Mind, Doing the Right Thing, Growing with Friends, Speaking Your Truth, and Nurturing Your Soul. "Socrates" launched our great traditions of independent thinking, freedom of expression, and civil disobedience. He has returned after 2,500 years to inspire, provoke, delight and astound.

"Socrates" is portrayed by Ronald Gross, author of The New Old (Doubleday), The Lifelong Learner (Simon and Schuster), Individualism (Dell), Socrates’ Way: Seven Master Keys to Using Your Mind to the Utmost (Tarcher-Putnam), and other acclaimed publications on successful aging. These books have been commended by leaders of NCOA, the Gray Panthers, and Elderhostel, among others.

Gross chairs the University Seminar on Innovation, at Columbia University. As a practitioner of "Eldergogy", Gross is known nationally for his work as creator of the "Lively Minds" program for Elders, funded by federal and state grants. He has been writing, speaking, advocating and working with elders for 25 years. His other writings in the field of aging include syntheses of major conferences, conventions, and policy-planning efforts, such as Lifelong Learning for Self-Sufficiency, White House Conference on Aging, 1980, and Adults Learning Here: How New York State Serves Older Adults.

Gross is an on-line columnist for ABOUT.com, one of the ten most-visited "portals" on the Internet; formerly, he was a long-time columnist for Lifelong Learning Today, and for Convene, the magazine of the Professional Co nvention Management Association.

Gross has served at The Ford Foundation and the Academy for Educational Development. In recent years Gross has keynoted major national conferences and conventions, and been featured in major stories in the national press including The New York Times, San Francisco Chronicle, Denver Post, Dallas Morning News, Newsday, and on numerous radio and television programs including ABC-TV News.

Recent speeches and workshops have included: “The Socratic Elder: Seven Master Keys to Masterful Aging,” “The Magic of Your Mind.” Exhilarating exercises in which elders discover and share 10 key dimensions of their ageless mind, such as "Your Creative Mind," "Your Wise Mind," and "Your Historic Mind," using proven strategies from one of the most acclaimed programs for celebrating the capabilities of mature adults.

Whole-Brain Poker: An event, not a presentation – elders, or the professionals who work with them, become hysterically involved in a Las Vegas casino-themed workshop in which they create a Poker hand of traits they love to use, swap wonderful stories, create a map of their own brain, and "join hands" to work together.

Business, Aging, Management, Spirituality, religion, Leadership, Education Faith & Religion,