Alliance for Retired Americans Blog

REMINDER: Western Regional Conference in Vegas

FEBRUARY 29 – MARCH 2, 2012

REGISTRATION:
We have extended the deadline date for REGISTRATION AND PAYMENT for the Western Regional Conference to February 15, 2012, to avoid the $15.00 late fee.

HOTEL
Bally’s Las Vegas
3645 Las Vegas Blvd South
Las Vegas, NV  89109
877-603-4390
 
Bally’s Las Vegas has extended our cutoff date to February 10, 2012 for making Hotel reservations.
We would encourage you to make your reservations on or before February 10, 2012 in order to get the contracted rate for our Western Regional Meeting.

If you have any question about registering for the conference or about registering at the hotel, please contact: Joni Jones - Alliance Event Coordinator at 202-637-5377.

Photo: Douglas Carter Cole on Flickr

 

2011 State of the Union Watch Parties

Post by Asiah Gayfield, student at Butler University Indianapolis, IN

 Social Security was on the minds of Alliance Members all over the country as they tuned to President Obama’s State of the Union address on January 25, 2011. Members gathered in living rooms, community centers, and restaurants to hear what the President would say about the state of the country, the growing national deficit, and if Social Security would play a part in helping to pay down that deficit (which Social Security does not and cannot by law contribute to).

Seniors citizens were no doubt relieved, and some where even moved to cheer, when the President declared “To put us on solid ground, we should also find a bipartisan solution to strengthen Social Security for future generations.  We must do it…without slashing benefits for future generations; and without subjecting Americans’ guaranteed retirement  income to the whims of the stock market.”

The watch parties were not only a way for members to socialize as they watched the important event, but were also incubators of great discussions. One group of energized seniors in Gig Harbor, Washington spent three hours at their State of the Union gathering both watching and discussing the President’s speech, including their ideas about Social Security and health care reform. A group of senior activists in Toledo, Ohio made up their own criteria to grade the President on before his speech and stayed after to discuss what grade the President should receive. And another group in Tucson, Arizona were so inspired by the Presidents speech they decided  they were going to follow up with their Member of Congress.   

When asked about their opinions of the State of the Union address, party participants had great things to say. A retiree from Arizona exclaimed, “It was really positive – he’s on our side!” Another retiree from Washington summed up the whole speech by saying, “Obama hit that out of the park!” Many retirees even ventured out on a limb and tried their hand at new technologies by using the popular websites Youtube and Twitter to share their feelings about the State of the Union and the Republican responses. The Arizona Alliance, for example, tweeted on their Twitter account http://twitter.com/azretiredams while the Florida Alliance hosted a member teleconference call throughout the State of the Union Address and a press conference call afterwards. FLARA then posted video responses from members and part of the press conference call on YouTube here.

The success of the State of the Union watch parties underscores the value of holding such events because they are a mobilization tool to help organize seniors to discuss current events and respond to them as they happen, in real time.

Response from Doug Hart, Arizona Alliance for Retired Americans President

Slideshow (watch parties & events across the country featuring AZ, CA, CT, IA, IN, NH, OH, TX & WA)

Photos: above at right ~ top to bottom: Connecticut, New Hampsire and Indiana Alliance parties

Trumka on the State of our Union

Post by Joshua Roll

Last Wednesday, AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka gave a passionate speech on the state of our Nation and the choices we have going forward. Using real life examples, of a 9/11 firefighter and child care provider, he called attention to the ever growing inequality in American society, and demonstrated the need to combat it.

Expounding upon Obama’s Tucson speech last week, in which the President urged us, as a nation, to build a future that "lives up to our children's expectations" Trumka outlined a way for our nation to become great again. Trumka criticized both political elites and the ruling class for failing to act while people remain jobless and wages remain stagnant, saying, “we are falling behind because we are governing from fear, not from confidence. And we have let our transnational business titans convince our politicians that our national strength lies in their profits, not our jobs”.

While Trumka paints a bleak picture of America in its current form, he see’s brighter days ahead, an America that makes things again, leads the world in infrastructure, educates it’s citizens, has a booming middle class, cares for the elderly, and provides Jobs for the masses. While achieving these goals in the short term may seem impossible, Trumka highlights a few possible solutions: ending the political bickering, investing heavily in infrastructure and education, and ending tax cuts for the wealthy.

While these solutions offered by Trumka are all common-sense, many politicians do not get elected by standing for common sense issues, they get elected by playing into fear and greed.

This upcoming election in 2012, voters need to take a stand, choose the America they want, a prosperous America that provides Job security and can compete globally or an America that is a “winner-take-all society, a faded casino that pays a big jackpot now, an intolerable future of scant job security, inequality.” It’s truly our choice, we have the power to choose our future and we must make the right decision.

Joshua Roll is a Junior at American University

[Photo from previous Press Club event 7.29.2010]

"Save Social Security" Actions Continue

Alliance members and leaders across the nation have not let up in their efforts to strengthen Social Security and combat proposed cuts from the federal deficit reduction panel. [Arizona Alliance pictured in 2 photos at right.]

Yesterday, the panel released their plan to reduce the federal deficit in a 66 page report entitled "The Moment of Truth." A vote on the proposal by the 16 commissioners was postponed until Friday.

Alliance Executive Director Ed Coyle came out against the plan yesterday saying that it turns a blind eye to tax cuts for millionaires and disproportionately impacts the working class and retirees. Coyle asked, "Since Commission members of all ideologies today acknowledged that Social  Security does not add to the deficit, why are these callous, draconian cuts the centerpiece of the Commission’s recommendations?"

Last Tuesday, Alliance members in California and Illinois got the word out in their respective states about the need to ward off cuts to Social Security. The California Alliance (CARA) held press events in L.A. and San Francisco, presenting over 75,000 signatures to Congressman Becerra and Speaker Pelosi urging them to share our NO CUTS message with the Fiscal Commission and with Congress.

The Illinois Alliance held a press conference with Champaign County Health Care Consumers the same day to tout their support for Rep. Jan Schakowsky's (a member of Obama's Fiscal Commission) plan to reduce the federal deficit.  Barbara Franklin, President, Illinois Alliance for Retired Americans said

Congresswoman Schakowsky’s deficit reduction plan demonstrates that the deficit can be addressed without harming lower and middle-income Americans.  The plan balances the federal deficit in a thoughtful and responsible manner, while safeguarding the hard-earned Social Security benefits of retirees.

Unlike the commission’s co-chairs, Alan Simpson and Erskine Bowles, Jan Schakowsky has set forth a plan that does not slash Social Security, give tax breaks to the rich, or cause further harm middle class workers and retirees.

The following day, Wednesday, Steelworkers Organization of Active Retirees (SOAR) teamed up with the Pennsylvania Alliance to take a stand on the Fiscal Commission's likely recommendations for Social Security cuts in advance of the December 1st release. Seniors and workers discussed the impact of proposed cuts. USW Secretary Treasurer Stan Johnson said at the event, “We cannot allow retirees, our nation’s most vulnerable group, to be made the scapegoats and sacrificed to satisfy the greed of those who are the most well off.” [Photos at right: Jean Friday, President, PA Alliance for Retired Americans; Credit Jim Coleman - SOAR]

This Monday, the Arizona Alliance continued its activities with a press conference and an open letter to  Senator John McCain. The Arizona Alliance urged McCain to safeguard Social Security and oppose any proposals that will cut benefits. Download open letter here. Photos here.

On Tuesday, the nation's defenders of Social Security teamed up for a National Call-In Day on Social Security. Capitol Hill's phone lines were slammed Tuesday thanks to concerned citizens nationwide. In fact, the Capitol Switchboard and the phones went down for a while due to the phone traffic. "Hands Off Our Social Security!" was the message sent loud and clear. (The 800 call-in number is still live 1-866-529-7630.)

Next Monday, the Missouri Alliance Educational Fund and Illinois Alliance gather area seniors and guests for Social Security luncheons. The working lunches will seek to separate fact from fiction about Social Security as changes to Social Security is debated in Washington.

Month-Long Celebration of Social Security

This week, Alliance groups in Califonia, Georgia, Indiana, Maine, Maryland and Missouri held more celebrations of the successful program known as Social Security.

Tomorrow, the California Alliance will celebrate Social Security's long history and issue a call to protect it for future generations. Congressman Xavier Becerra will be present at tomorrow's event. He is a member of the Commission on Deficit Reduction which will make recommendations to Congress that could impact the future of Social Security and Medicare.  The commission, nicknamed the "catfood commission" was recently discussed in a San Jose Demo Report.

Members of Congress attended events in numerous states. In Arizona, for example, Congressman Raul Grijalva joined over 200 Arizona Alliance members in Tucson to celebrate Social Security's successes. Grijalva reiterated his promise to vote no on commission recommendations to cut Social Security or Medicare.

Celebration in Arizona:

Phoenix senior's story:

More American Stories regarding Social Security.

Happy Birthday Social Security!

Social Security celebrates its 75th birthday today and Alliance activists and Americans nationwide continue celebratory parties and events.

The week of August 1st, Alliance members held several events in Arizona, Iowa, Ohio and South Carolina in advance of the birthday.

Last week, over 50 Alliance events took place in communities across the states, and festivities continue next week.

Social Security is a true American success story, one that has kept generations of seniors out of poverty, and allowed millions to retire with dignity and peace of mind. Because this landmark anniversary is tainted by the deficit commission's calls to cut Social Security benefits and raise the retirement age, Alliance activists are busier than ever staging events to celebrate and educate across the country. Check out very personal accounts from Alliance members about how Social Security has impacted their lives here.

Festivities in Cedar Rapids, Iowa recently helped spread the word that Social Security puts $7.2 billion into the Iowa economy by releases on Social Security matters coinciding with birthday celebrations. The Social Security Works for Iowa report adds, "Without Social Security, half (50.8) percent of Iowa women aged 65 or older would have incomes below the poverty line." U.S. Rep. Dave Loebsack (D-IA) joined the celebration in Cedar Rapids and added his personal story about Social Security survivor benefits. The Congressman told attendees that without Social Security survivor benefits, he would not have made it through college. Other state reports here.

Yesterday, seniors in Omaha, Nebraska gathered to join the month-long, national commemoration of Social Security and the people it serves. ‘With more than 50 million people receiving Social Security benefits today, the program helps virtually every American family,” Donna M. McGrath, Secretary of the Nebraska Alliance said. “Beyond the candles and the cake, we have a more serious message – Social Security must be remain strong for current and future retirees.”

Members nationwide speak out on the issue. Here is Don Thacker from South Carolina:

Jo Price from Florida also shares her thoughts on Social Security:

Check out some news clips including interviews with Alliance members here:

Wisconsin

• 'Social Security celebrates 75 years' - Wisconsin Radio Network
  Billy Feitlinger is Executive Director of the Wisconsin Alliance for Retired Americans. “We feel very strongly, if it is not the greatest program that the federal government has done, it’s clearly one of the most successful programs. And we feel very strongly right now that it’s under attack.
• Seniors celebrate the 75th anniversary of social security - WEAU Channel 13 Eau Claire
  Social security provides benefits to more than one million Wisconsinites. Besides sharing a cake, speakers discussed the importance of social security and the adjustments needed to have it for future generations.

North Carolina

• Etheridge visits Louisburg Senior Center to celebrate Social Securit's 75th anniversary - The Franklin Times
  With a 75-year-old as the guest of honor, the Louisburg Senior Center was the appropriate place for a birthday party.

Connecticut

• 75 years of Social Security celebrated (video) - The New Haven Register
  NEW HAVEN — A 75th birthday party was held Wednesday for the nation’s Social Security Act, and guests, including U.S. Rep. Rosa L. DeLauro, D-3, wished for many, many more.

California

• Senior Group Plans SF Social Security Rally - KPIX CBS Channel 5 San Francisco
  ... several organizations in San Francisco are warning against suggestions by some in Washington, D.C. to cut Social Security benefits or raise the retirement age in order to fix the federal government's deficit woes.

Alliance leaders speak out:

• 'A federal plan that works' - Toledo Blade letter from Sam Burnett
  Social Security has been the lifeblood of people age 65 and older. Without monthly Social Security payments, nearly half of Americans over 65 would live in poverty.
  Help us celebrate this successful government program, which is run by fine people who care about senior citizens.

• Alliance President Barbara Easterling's column on Huffington Post commemorates Social Security's 75th birthday.

Happy birthday Social Security... and many more!

Retirees Pleased with Tele-Town Hall and Health Law Clarification

This week's teletown hall event with President Obama, organized to clarify the new health reform law for seniors, was well-received by many seniors and Alliance members nation-wide.
 
The Alliance's Judy Cato attended the event in Wheaton, Maryland; and the Alliance hosted over 25 watch-and-call-in parties in Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Maryland, Missouri, New Hampshire, North Carolina, New Mexico, Ohio, Pennsylvani and South Carolina.

Photos. [Top left: Obama at tele-town hall in Wheaton MD courtesy National Council on Aging (NCOA) Bottom left: DesMoines, Iowa event.]

Barbara Franklin, President of the Illinois Alliance, was the first phone call accepted. She asked President Obama about whether or not changes in Medicare Advantage overpayments would result in a reduction in care for seniors.  Obama replied that this was one of the more common myths about health reform (in addition to death panel concepts), and explained what the new health law does to sustain Medicare.

Video.

Elmer Blankenship said in response to Obama's tele-town hall,

As a retired Auto Worker and a member of The Indiana Alliance for Retired Americans, I was one of the seniors here in Indianapolis that watched President Obama’s June 8 town hall forum on CSPAN to learn more about how the new health reform law will benefit seniors and retirees.

The new law will help retirees better afford to see a doctor and fill their prescriptions.  Seniors who fall into the “doughnut hole” coverage gap in Medicare Part D will, starting this week, receive a $250 rebate check from the government. That may not sound like much, but for many Seniors, it can be the difference to getting needed medicine.

Seniors are starting to benefit with free annual check-ups in Medicare, ending co-payment for preventative screenings, allowing children up to age 26 to be covered on their parents policy and in many other ways. I thank President Obama for his efforts to end the myths and scare tactics around health reform and giving America’s seniors the facts.

Ken Sagar and Midge Slater reported from Iowa that the consensus from seniors gathered at the tele-town hall sites was that "President Obama should do more town hall meetings to inform Americans of the content of the new health care program and to dispel the falsehoods being spread by tea party and other malcontents.  Many people indicated that they learned quite a bit from the discussion."

Outstanding members granted scholarships to Alliance convention

The Alliance for Retired Americans awarded 10 scholarships for community-based members to attend the national Alliance convention. They will join over 400 retiree activists in Las Vegas next Monday through Thursday (April 5-8).

Winners include:
Dawn Bronsema, Artist Gilbert and Diana Carpenter Madoshi from California (Sharing one scholarship)
Sam Burnett from Ohio
Jim Collins from New York
Suleika Cabrera Drinane from New York
Kathleen Kennedy from Arizona
Larry Malone from Missouri
JoAnne McGaw from Washington state
Lithangia Robinson Murray from Georgia
Will Parry from Washington state
Gerry Rennert from Florida

The 10 scholarships were granted in an effort to defray the costs of the convention for some of the nation's most dedicated and accomplished senior advocates.

Alliance President Barbara Easterling said, “We are very impressed with the work these members have done in their respective states.  I am so glad they will join us in Las Vegas to strengthen grassroots democracy for America’s seniors in these troubling economic times.”

The list of accomplishments from some of the scholarship winners is impressive. Will Parry, for example, has served continuously on the Puget Sound Council of Senior Citizens and the Puget Sound Alliance for Retired Americans since his retirement in 1994.  Since 2000 he has served as president of the organization – adding value through his impeccable organizing and communications skills.  Also, Mr. Parry has served on countless advisory boards for aging, disability and senior service organizations.  In 2005, he was a delegate to the White House Conference on Aging.

Similarly, Gerald Rennert serves as the Florida Alliance’s Broward County chapter Vice President, where he recently organized two vibrant Community Action Networks.  In 2007, he was appointed by Governor Crist to sub-chair an advocacy council monitoring nursing home and long-term care facilities in Florida.  He holds countless other leadership positions in local organizations devoted to seniors and veterans.  Mr. Rennert said, “I am actively involved in looking out for the welfare of our seniors.  I will continue seeking opportunities to grow our groups and to organize new retiree clubs.”

Here's what some of the others had to say:

“I’m interested in helping to solve some of the problems that people face when they leave the workforce and retire.  When I return from the convention, I will continue to build our retiree organization in Missouri and help address seniors’ issues." - Larry Malone from Missouri

“The number of seniors is growing and the need for them to have good, reliable information is great.  With the Alliance, I work to provide good, reliable information on issues that are relevant to them." - Samuel Burnett of Ohio 

Happy Holidays

Opposing McCain 's Motion

The Alliance for Retired Americans opposes the motion by Senator John McCain to commit the Patient Protection and Affordable Care America Act (H.R. 3590) to the Finance Committee.

Prompt defeat of McCain's motion is urged so that efforts to undermine important, substantive reform for seniors are not realized.

Download Letter opposing McCain motion to commit