About - Sharing Active Independent Lives

Who We Are

Sharing Active Independent Lives (SAIL) is a member-led community inspiring a new vision of aging. Our vision is for SAIL members to thrive and experience more joy in life’s second half.

We are:

RESPONSIVE – we encourage members to shape and create meaningful programs and services; and to grow through volunteering, engagement, program design and organizational operations.

RESILIENT – we adapt to life’s changes.

COLLABORATIVE – we connect with each other through cooperative efforts of members, volunteers, donors, staff, and other organizations.

INCLUSIVE – we address disparities with sensitivity and respect so that everyone, from all backgrounds, can flourish together.

INNOVATIVE – we find creative ways to improve service, add value, solve problems and maximize effectiveness.

SAIL embraces the talents, experiences and wisdom of its members. We rely on one another for everything from leadership to volunteer activities to participation in special interest groups. We learn together, we share experiences, and we help each other as members needs change over time. Through new connections members demonstrate every day that we are stronger together.

We collaborate with the University of Wisconsin and local community organizations, and draw on the talents, insights, and ideas of our membership to solve problems and provide needed resources to seniors.

Become part of a welcoming community that is redefining what it means to age well. We invite you to join SAIL and discover the many benefits of staying active, independent, and connected.

SAIL is funded through membership dues, donations, grants, and the generous support of AgeBetter, Inc.'s sponsoring organizations Oakwood Village and Attic Angel Association. This innovative, member-driven approach allows SAIL to meet the changing needs of the aging population, and improve the quality of life for its members. Interested? Click here.

SAIL is a village model organization and a founding member of the Village to Village Network

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SAIL Staff

SAIL is led by an executive director and a team of dedicated professionals whose desire is to serve SAIL members. The staff is assisted and supported by skilled volunteers, largely drawn from SAIL members.

Ann Albert, AgeBetter Executive Director

ann@agebettertoday.org

Ann began working with SAIL's parent organization, AgeBetter, Inc. in 2004 and assisted with the launch of SAIL in 2005. Her master’s degree in rehabilitation psychology and her previous experience as an administrator at Oakwood Village prepared her well for her role with AgeBetter. SAIL is a charter member of the national Village to Village Network and has assisted in the development of other "villages" like SAIL throughout the United States.
In addition to overseeing SAIL, Ann led the development of the Safe at Home Pilot in 2023. Safe at Home offers free home safety assessments to seniors living in Dane County. Assessments are provided by volunteers who are Occupational Therapy college students, retired Occupational Therapists, or other retired health care professionals. The successful pilot helped position AgeBetter to receive funding by Dane County beginning in 2024 to support a part time program coordinator.
Ann is a member of the Madison West Middleton Rotary Club as well as various local professional aging services groups.

Becky Rogers, Volunteer and Programs Manager

rebecca.rogers@sailtoday.org
Becky is responsible for growing and managing all aspects of the volunteer program of AgeBetter through our SAIL and Safe at Home programs. She manages the SAIL educational and social programs in collaboration with organization staff, volunteers, and community partners. She serves on the Falls Free Dane Committee of Safe Communities and also supports members with direct services. She has a degree in business and has experience as a certified occupational therapy assistant and provider of direct care services in assisted living, independent living and adult day programming.

Gina Collins, Outreach and Services Coordinator

gina.collins@agebettertoday.org

Gina is the Outreach and Services Coordinator for SAIL and Safe at Home. Her SAIL role focuses on supporting SAIL members with respect to expanding and maintaining SAIL’s Service Provider Network to ensure members have access to trusted, high-quality services that help them live safely and independently. Gina’s role at Safe at Home is to coordinate the provision of free home safety assessments for older adults living in Dane County and to follow up for a period of six months to connect participants to local resources and services. Gina also provides outreach for both SAIL and Safe at Home programs.

Gina’s background is in education and community engagement, and she is bilingual in English and Spanish. She is passionate about helping people feel seen, valued, and supported, and about strengthening community-based systems that allow older adults to thrive.

Crystal Delwiche, Office Manager

crystal.delwiche@sailtoday.org
As Office Manager, Crystal keeps everything running smoothly behind the scenes while supporting members, volunteers, and staff. She works closely with the Executive Director to manage daily office operations, communications, scheduling, and organizational systems. She assists with new member welcome visits, daily check-in and follow-ups, events and programs, as well as coordinating the monthly newsletters, weekly email blasts, and other communications relevant to SAIL. Crystal’s goal is to create a welcoming, organized, and supportive environment for all.

Leadership

The SAIL Operating Council is comprised of SAIL members, community volunteers, and staff representatives. The Council oversees the day-to-day operations of SAIL and assists with membership development.

Council Member Include: Kathryn Arndt, ChaNelle Baines (Community Member), Beth Campbell, Mary Ann Drescher, Christine Klotz (President), Terry Mouchayleh (AgeBetter Board Member), Alan Lukazewski, Christine McKenna, Galen Metz (Vice President), and Joan Schilling (Secretary).

History

From the beginning, and every step along the way, SAIL has been shaped by the needs of the community and of SAIL members. Our parent organization, AgeBetter, Inc., worked in collaboration with Attic Angel Community and Oakwood Village and two other local organizations to design a membership program with resources and services to help keep older adults healthy, independent, and in their homes.