DONNA RAMER – QUEST PRESIDENT

Over more than three decades, Quest has grown from a small group of one hundred enthusiastic lifelong-learning disciples to almost 285 retired and semi-retired people from around the tri-state area

At the heart of Quest is our dedication to peer-to-peer learning, which means our members teach, lead and facilitate our classes and workshops, occasionally engaging outside guest speakers.

But we also have a strong dedication to Quest as a community. Our after-class and lunch-time activities, discussion groups, local excursions during summer, winter and spring breaks, and our QuestCommunity google group that facilitates sharing among members — the offer of an extra theater ticket, an interesting article, or response to a query from a member seeking someone to hang shelves — keep members connected and building relationships year-round.

As an all-volunteer organization, members also are involved in daily operations: close to one-third of our total membership is on at least one of our nineteen standing and two ad-hoc committees. For example:

  • Quest’s New Members Committee sponsors monthly lunchtime meetings to facilitate introductions to other new members as well as have their questions about Quest answered in an informal environment.
  • Curriculum oversees all courses and lunchtime activities and pitches in to help members develop their course ideas.
  • Technology provides technical assistance for all Quest classes to ensure each presenter’s PowerPoint runs smoothly and Zoom links work as seamlessly as possible.
  • Our Social Committee plans on-site get togethers, our Special Events committee arranges off-site holiday and year-end parties, and our Travel Committee facilitates domestic and international travel programs.

I truly am honored to follow in the footsteps of the many members who have guided the organization over the years. We know that it takes a village to create and maintain an engaging interdisciplinary peer-learning and social organization. And since 1995, that village has been Quest.