The conversation is all around us: the trouble with boomers is that there are too many of them. Keep the current system of benefits and entitlements? Unthinkable. Change the current system to create a sustainable system of benefits and entitlements? Impossible. These policy issues will play out on the national and state levels for years to come. We should hope for a national dialogue, an opportunity to work through what we, as a nation, are willing to do to support the boomers as they begin to retire, pursue new careers, volunteer in their communities or find new ways to give meaning to their lives.

One of the ways that our program is taking a local view of these complex issues is to examine what senior nutrition programs will look like in the future. As the area agency on aging and the recipient of Federal Older Americans Act funding, our program operates the Senior Meals and the Meals on Wheels programs for Linn, Benton and Lincoln counties. We are serving more than 186,000 meals each year, helping older adults and people with disabilities receive a nutritious meal each day. We serve lunches at our 12 sites, 2 to 5 days a week. We can assure home meal delivery seven days a week for those who qualify.

We take pride in the motto, "We are more than a meal." The program is successful because our staff - and a very dedicated group of 500 volunteers - works to ensure that the program supports people in the community. The social connection with a group, as well as the benefit of having a volunteer visit people who cannot easily leave home, strengthens our community safety net. In this way, we provide yet another kind of sustenance.

To further improve our services, we're conducting a community survey. It is short, simple and to the point: We want to know your ideas about how the meals program can evolve. How and what can we do, over the next several years, to be relevant as the "silver tsunami" ages, changing the face of each of our communities.

We are hoping to hear from you about the kinds of foods you eat, where you might participate, and if there are other activities that could be provided in conjunction with the meal that would interest you. We also are interested in identifying barriers that might prevent you or someone you know from participating in the program.

The survey has been mailed throughout the region and copies are available at each of the meal sites, as well as libraries and senior centers. In this age of the personal computer, you also can access the survey at our Web site, www.ocwcog.org. Look for the "What's New" button on the left side of the page, which will link you to the survey. Please also feel free to send your comments, either through the survey or to me directly.

You have the ability to influence and guide the development of services such as the nutrition program into the future through the survey. I encourage you to assist us in providing a service that will remain vital for years to come.

Scott Bond is the Director of Senior and Disability Services for Oregon Cascades West Council of Governments, the Area Agency on Aging for Benton, Linn and Lincoln counties. Call him at 541-812-6008 or send e-mail to sbond@ocwcog.org.