When students think of “baby boomers” most might think of the generation of hippies, Vietnam veterans, and rebellion. Listen to a group of “boomers” talk about growing up and students might be surprised to learn that the generation is much more than that.

Yesterday, the Sacramento State Gerontology Program and Sigma Phi Omega National Honor and Professional Society presented “From TV to Twitter and Beyond: Boomers Speak Out,” a presentation and discussion on the “baby boomers.” According to Will Tift, manager of the Eldercare Program in seven counties in Sacramento, the “Baby Boomers” were the explosion of children that were born to American families from 1946 to 1964.

“What you hear about the baby boomers a lot of it is actually based on myth,” Tift said.

The presentation was pulled together to provide awareness that America is not ready for the baby boomers retiring and flooding the nursing homes and hospitals.

Tift said baby boomers will make up 64 percent of senior citizens-those over 85 years old-by 2030.

Five panelists from all areas of the baby boomer generation formed a panel at the presentation, each giving a different perspective on growing up as a baby boomer.

Maxine Milner Krugman was one of the first of the baby boomers and is known for advocating for the aging.

“Being a boomer, we were open to talking and speaking out against things that didn’t seem right,” Milner Krugman said. Sacramento State’s Vice President for Academic Affairs Joseph F. Sheley was born later than the generation of “hippies,” but says he still has significant memories in his mind.

“I remember watching our first television, and being able to watch it inside in 100 degree Sacramento weather because we had air conditioning,” he said.

Others talked about the differences in how they raised their families from the way they were raised.

Michael E. “Mick” Martin, a recording artist and radio host said he grew up with the idea that if he got good grades and a good job, he would win his father’s approval. “But I wanted my kids to be more encouraged. That’s the way it was for a lot of boomer parents,” he said. Others in the panel were Timothy P. Fong, Sac State’s director of Asian American Studies, and Lisa Smith-Youngs, the program coordinator of The Senior Connection.

In the end, all those involved hoped that the presentation would help others prepare for the “coming hurricane” that Tift felt Americans aren’t ready for.

“We have a narrow window of opportunity to makes some changes.”

Kyrie Eberhart can be reached at [email protected]