Some years ago, Oldsmobile tried to appeal to younger customers by touting its car as, "not your father's Oldsmobile."

Well, it was my father's Oldsmobile. I know because I drove it.

In my early 30s, I bought my dad's Oldsmobile Cutlass Ciera and let him trade in my little Plymouth Horizon hatchback for a new car for himself.

At first I was embarrassed to be seen driving my new acquisition. It was his style, not mine. It even had velour seats, which, although immune from heat and cold, was too posh for me.

But the Olds ran much better than my Horizon and it had a really great sound system. I got used to it.

Still, I usually did not find my parent's style attractive. I don't automatically reject events that seem pitched to their generation, it's just that I'm not always sure there will be something there for me.

Here are a few things my parents liked (or, perhaps, were merely willing to tolerate) that I don't care for:

- dinner dances;
- dressing up for events (even like going out to dinner);
- invitations addressed to "Mr. and Mrs." followed by the husband's name;
- long, long, long speeches;
- internal protocol, instead of ability, determining the selection of emcees and speakers;
- somber recital of names of award winners;
- asking for applause to be held until the end of the ceremony;
- formal passing of the gavel to the next Chair, as if this is the most important activity at an event (to many people, it is);
- waiting until the workshop is over to ask questions (if there is any time left);
- music that my parents liked and I don't;
- corny comedians;
- sexist jokes;
- "cutesy" amateur entertainment;
- "insider" humor that isn't funny;
- men who apologize for swearing in front of women - especially when they aren't even swearing.

I can overlook some of these things (but not all of them) as long as I think I'll find something that will appeal to me. Otherwise, it's just my father's (and mother's) Oldsmobile.

When I was CEO of Chicago Area Runners Association (CARA), I asked some of my young professional members if they participated in social activities in their associations.

"Oh no!" they responded. "We want to look like serious professionals." They felt that youth-oriented behavior in a professional setting would be a detriment to their careers.

So they came to CARA to party.

There's been some criticism of the ASAE annual meeting having been conducted in the style of people in their 50s and 60s, rather than in that of professionals a couple of decades younger.

The older folk should not be offended by that - they probably criticized their predecessor's styles, too. And I don't think critics are claiming the habits of the 50- and 60-somethings are wrong.

They just don't appeal to everybody.

People of different ages adhere to different styles in countless ways - including music, dress, communication, and even professional interests. They want something that looks like them, not like other people (especially their parents).

The challenge for any association is to adopt a style that has somewhat universal appeal (I think ASAE tried to do that) but that also attracts those who are drawn to other types of appearances, content, and activities.

Appealing to the styles of different age groups is important.

Boomers, in their 20s, were very similar to Xers and Millenials at that same age.

We (Boomers) wanted to make an immediate impact on the world and we didn't want to waste a lot of time talking about things. We disliked the hierarchy of authority and being told that we had to wait our turn.

We did not expect to work in the same place all of our lives - that was our parents' generation (Actually, we often had no idea where we would work, for how long, or even what we might be doing).

We wanted our voices to be heard and our ideas adopted NOW! After all, we thought, we were smarter, more innovative, and more insightful than those who preceded us. It wasn't until we got older that we realized there was a lot that we really didn't know.

Alas, people change as they age. They grow to understand the value of experience, the need for structure of some sort, and the wisdom required to make wise decisions, not just any decisions.

To younger people, those folks may appear to be overly cautious and protective of their realms. That's not always an accurate assessment.

Yes, associations will have to change, as they always have, to accommodate new leaders, new ideas, and new work modes. But they won't have to change as much as some people think.

The movie Wild in the Streets depicts a youth revolution, with the voting age lowered to 14 and mandatory retirement set at 30. People over 35 are rounded up for "re-education" programs.

When the leader of the revolution reaches 30, though, he starts to view age a bit differently.

Many of today's "older" leaders were young leaders. They advocated for democratized workplaces, utilized new technology, and established norms that people today take for granted: casual dress, gender and racial equality, business ethics, social responsibility, interactive learning, work/life balance, and a host of other practices that are based on honesty, equality, and caring about others.

Every generation will introduce new work customs, and each is likely to be critical of those who preceded them.

And every generation will be criticized by those who follow.

Associations should not expect huge generational changes in the workforce.

Yes, there will continue to be more younger people in the workplace. But lots of older people will be sticking around.

As a result, associations will need to embrace the learning and communication modes of a more diverse group of people than they did before or thought they would in the future.

Quality electronic and remote services will need to be available for members, prospective members, and staff. But printed and mailed materials will still be required.

Educational, fund-raising, and social activities will need to be varied, since all age groups won't be attracted by the same offerings or the same types of venues.

That's good. It will keep associations on their toes and force them to always ask audiences what they want (that's the way it should be, anyway).

Association executives are taught to be aware of the cultural preferences of their audiences. We need to understand how nationality, religion, gender, or other demographics influence the behavior of individuals and groups.

Age is one of those demographics. Here are some age-related customs to take note of:

1. When I was twenty-nine years old, I learned that the first political candidate I had volunteered for (thirteen years earlier) had been admitted to the Chicago Senior Citizens Hall of Fame. I sent him a congratulatory note.

He sent me a thank you note for my congratulatory note, and expressed surprise that I would comment on his accomplishment since, he stated, young people usually didn't think of these things.

2. Upon concluding a consulting job, I e-mailed a note to five employees thanking them for the opportunity to work with them. The two older ones responded, the three younger ones did not.

3. The normal response to "thank you" is "you're welcome." Young people prefer, "no problem."

4. Expect late meals at social events hosted by young people. Attendees at a 12:30 p.m. luncheon may not be served an entree until 4:30 p.m. A 7:00 p.m. social event may not dish up dinner until after 10:00 p.m.

5. Older men (60s and over) will usually rise from a seat to shake hands with somebody. Older women (same age) often remain seated and may not offer a handshake even if they are already standing.

6. Older men (and some younger ones, too) hold doors open for women or let them pass through a doorway first, even though there is no reason to do so.

7. Older people (70s and over) often believe that the person who initiates a social interaction is expected to pay. Asking a person to have lunch is interpreted as an invitation, not a suggestion for a mutual outing.

8. Grandparents, aunts, uncles, and older relatives (70s and over) may be insulted when sent a printed invitation to an event at a family member's home. They expect a personal telephone call (no e-mail, text, or fax).

9. Those same people will call the day after the event to express gratitude for having been invited and to tell what a wonderful time they had.

You don't have to practice these customs or even agree with them. But you should recognize them so you don't run afoul of etiquette without realizing it.

With the increasing number of vacancies in the upcoming Congressional election, association folks are watching the competition develop for those open seats. Younger candidates are likely to surface in many districts, and observers may wonder how that will affect electoral outcomes.

A lot of young people ran for Congress last year (some won), but that was nothing new. Young people have run, and won election, many times before.

Although GenX and Millenials represent newer generations, their electoral appeal is likely to be more ideological than generational. They cover the gamut from left-leaning Democrats to far-right Republicans and their age won't cause much of a shift in allegiances.

Still, they'll bring familiary with different modes of communication and, possibly, different attitudes about politics and governance. They'll also have a lot more energy for campaign activities (beware, older opponents).

A lot of age-driven political marketing, though, is more appearance than fact. John F. Kennedy was 43 years old when elected President. His opponent, Richard Nixon, was 47, yet Kennedy was identified as the voice of the younger generation.

People in their 20s and 30s have run for countless offices in state and local government (I was 30 when I ran for a seat in the Chicago City Council). Much is made of their age, but voters still choose candidates primarily because of party affiliation or public policy positions.

The recent presidential campaign was marked by President Obama's success at mobilizing previously non-voting young people. However, young people could be found in the camps of all the presidential contenders, and a person's age does not usually indicate his or her political choice.

It's great to have young people running for office. But it's nothing new. And it's not likely to lead to any significant policy changes.

"Older" is a relative term. Some 65 year-olds run marathons, others have difficulty walking. Always know your audience, but be aware that "older" people (60s maybe, 70s often, 80s usually) may have different habits and different needs.

1. Return calls quickly. Many older people who leave a voicemail message will call again, before you return the call, and may be angry they had to call a second time.

2. Provide printed newsletters and registration forms. Older people may use computers for specific tasks but do not always rely on them for information, communication, or signups. (And they usually don't Tweet).

3. Be prepared to accept credit card payments by phone, as many older people will not use a credit card for an online purchase.

4. Address older people by title - Mr., Ms., and, yes, even Mrs. - unless you know them or they tell you to use first names. They often don't want younger people whom they don't know addressing them by first name.

5. Older people often dress more formally than do younger people, even in casual settings. (Just don't be surprised).

6. Don't get too experimental with food choices at meals. Many older people have dietary restrictions (many younger people do, too). Low fat, low sodium, no spice, and no beef choices are often necessary.

7. You should always start meetings on time, but older people are more likely to expect punctuality. Many will arrive early to grab seats in the front of the room, so they can see and hear speakers more easily.

8. Many older people have mobility problems, so arrange meetings that require as little walking as possible. Make sure elevators and ramps are available, so people aren't forced to climb stairs. Buses should have lifts.

9. Consider booking meetings in cities with large airports, so passengers can board a plane from a walkway and not have to climb a stairway from the tarmac.

10. Be sure that meeting rooms are well-lit, and that printed and electronic information are displayed in large fonts, so people can easily read copy from close-up and from a distance.

11. If you set up a meeting room theater-style, leave more aisles than you normally would, so it won't be as necessary to shuffle across the laps of others to reach a seat.

12. Schedule meals at logical times. Many older people (and lots of younger ones, too) take medication on a regular basis and must have it with food.

13. Be sure bathrooms are available, accessible, and well-supplied. Older people use them more frequently than do younger people.

14. Poll your members to learn time preferences for meetings, tours, and other activities. Many older people are early morning risers but aren't ready to leave their rooms until they've taken medication and are sure physical ailments won't interfere with their day.

15. Many older people have a lot more professional experience than do younger people. Be patient and listen when it's shared. You may find value in what you learn.

So, somebody finally realizes that Boomers and GenY are pretty similar.

We've known that for awhile. So what's the problem?