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Some people look forward to retirement as a time to kick back and relax. Ann Crytser, however, has a completely different perspective.

Crytser, director of public relations and marketing at Blount Memorial Hospital, will finish her 15-year career at the hospital Aug. 15. Shortly thereafter, she will begin a new adventure as a volunteer with the Peace Corps.

"As I sit at this phase of my life, I've been putting a lot of thought into what it is I want to do next," Crytser said recently at her BMH office. "I can't relate, really, to the word 'retire.' I have always liked the expression, retire 'to' something. I knew I wanted to be doing something I felt was useful, and there are so many ways to be useful."

Crytser had thought about the Peace Corps over the years, recalling the organization's beginnings in 1960, when then-Sen. John F. Kennedy challenged students at the University of Michigan to serve their country in the cause of peace by living and working in developing countries. A few years later, a college friend joined the Peace Corps, serving in Guatemala.

"In fact, after she came back, she was the first volunteer to eventually become the director of the whole Peace Corps," Crytser said. "I stayed in touch with her over the years."

In Crytser's travels, she met Peace Corps volunteers living in Thailand, Nepal and Guyana and the idea of volunteering piqued her interest. That idea gained momentum when she heard a radio interview with a recruiter, who said opportunities existed for volunteers from 18 to 80.

"I thought, that's my demographic, I'm between 18 and 80," Crytser said with a laugh. "So I filed that in the back of my head."

The final nudge came when Crytser, a member of Alcoa Kiwanis Club, looked through a magazine published by Kiwanis International.

"I turned this page and here was this ad with this middle-aged couple in the Peace Corps," she recalled. "I got up from my chair and I went to my computer, and I logged onto peacecorps.gov. That was in August last year, and that was really the beginning. This Kiwanis ad was the catalyst that moved me from thinking to taking action."

Volunteer State

Tennessee is living up to its reputation as the Volunteer State. According to information provided by Dave Leavitt, public affairs specialist at the Peace Corps' Atlanta Regional Office, applications from Tennessee increased 46 percent for the first nine months of its 2008 program year compared to 2007. In comparison, applications in the Southeast Region -- composed of Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, South Carolina, Tennessee, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands -- increased by 40 percent and nationally applications increased by 14 percent.

Currently, 93 Tennesseans, ranging in age from 23 to 61, are serving overseas in 65 countries as diverse as Mongolia, Jamaica, Zambia, Islamic Republic of Mauritania and Romania.

Crytser said she normally would not reveal her age, but she changed her mind after reading this information about her fellow Tennesseans.

"I will be the oldest Tennessee Peace Corps volunteer once I am sworn in," she said. "When I read that, I thought that's something I need to be taking bragging rights about. ... On Aug. 10, I will be 68. So prior to leaving, I will be 68, the oldest volunteer from the state of Tennessee. That's my bragging right."

The organization is actively recruiting the over-50 population, taking advantage of the skills of Baby Boomers like Crytser now reaching retirement age. Five percent of volunteers are currently over 50, with the oldest being 80.

Down in the Caribbean

Crytser will be stationed for 27 months in the eastern Caribbean on the island of St. Vincent in the Grenadines after completing orientation in Miami at the end of August and two months in training in St. Lucia. She will work in community development.

"The first part will be listening, learning and seeing where the needs are, but it looks like I will be working with schools and other organizations to help assist the needs," Crytser said. "A lot of it will be seeing what's been done, how that can be enhanced. ... Very much a supporting, assisting and facilitating role."

Crytser's past experience has prepared her for this task. She has been a teacher, worked with public relations agencies for a decade and has worked as director of public relations and marketing at Blount Memorial Hospital for 15 years. "Between the combination of the education background and the public relations and marketing, they should all serve me well," she said.

Crytser has no misgivings about starting this new chapter.

"I'm so excited to be at this stage of my life, to have my good health and to be able to start on a whole new adventure like this," she said. "I'm doing what I want to do. I'm very much anticipating it, like you would a really good dessert -- it feels good."