Celebrating 10 Years – The History of SAIL
October 2009 – The first Village-to-Village Conference was held in Washington DC. Several Shepherdstown residents attended the conference.
November 2010 – State of West Virginia incorporated SAIL as its first aging-in-place village. There were 9 Founding Members.
April 2011 – SAIL was introduced to the community at a series of grassroots meetings in homes of Shepherdstown residents.
April 2011- SAIL launched its new website: www.shepherdstownsail.org.
Fall 2011 – SAIL members participated in the launch of Shepherd University’s Lifelong Learning Program. SAIL was recognized as a catalyst for the program.
October 2011 -Fifty people attended SAIL’s first social gathering in Shepherdstown. Helen Burns announced SAIL’s new slogan “Keeping the wind in our sails!” SAIL had 26 members.
November 2011 – SAIL membership had grown to 44 members.
January 2012 – Launch of SAIL. In June a part-time office manager was hired. SAIL received a $5000 grant from the Jefferson County Commission.
February 2013 – SAIL met with Shepherd students in a forum designed to promote improved communication and understanding between young people and seniors.
February 2013 – SAIL introduced monthly Brown Bag Lunch programs.
October 2014 - Selected SAIL Board Members continued to attend the annual Village to Village National Conference.
September 2016 - SAIL Kayaking Group featured in national Village to Village newsletter.
February 2017 – SAIL received an award from Jefferson County League of Women Voters for community service.
January 2018 – SAIL sponsored a panel of guest speakers discussing facets of aging in place.
March 2018 – SAIL members combated “ageism” meeting with Shepherd University’s Psychology of Aging class. (An ongoing program.)
May 2018 – SAIL “Founders Dinner” honoring the Founders of SAIL. Dinner is sold-out, in Erma Ora Byrd Hall.
November 2018 – SAIL instituted their Community Service Award, given annually to an individual or group that has provided an important service in Shepherdstown.
December 2018 – Shepherdstown was accepted into the international network (WHO and AARP) of Age-Friendly Cities and Communities, the process for which was initiated by the SAIL representative on the Shepherdstown Accessibility Committee.
September 2019 – SAIL members presented at the Village-to-Village Network National Conference on the locally created and completed project, Hear This! Sharing Stories Across Generations.
March 2020 – SAIL presented “Hear This! Sharing Stories Across Generations” with its members and Shepherd students sharing their life stories with the community. This event wrapped up a year-long intergenerational oral history project funded by the WV Humanities Council and assisted by Adam Booth, Shepherdstown's nationally acclaimed storyteller.
2020-2021 – SAIL adapted to the COVID pandemic, with several new computer and phone-based support programs. SAIL members volunteered in leadership roles for critical community health and wellness initiatives.
January 2022 – SAIL membership reached 120 members.
June 2022 – SAIL launched a research-based Stronger Memory program, after successful implementation in other locations.
September 23, 2022 – SAIL celebrates 10th Anniversary with a party at Morgan's Grove Park!