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.
As September dawns, Alliance activists across the nation wrap up summer actions focused on celebrating the anniversaries of Social Security and Medicare. Over 70 actions in 30 states garnered plenty of attention from elected officials and the media. Activities ranged from parties celebrating many successful years of the programs (76 for Social Security, 46 for Medicare); to deliveries of cake, letters and petitions to local Congressional offices; to protesting and calling out candidates on their damaging stances against the programs.
This month, the California Alliance hosted a coalition event in San Francisco and Los Angeles that brought together Californians of all ages for a mass delivery of Social Security stories to Senator Dianne Feinstein. They requested Feinstein stand firm on the issue of protecting and preserving Social Security, not just for today's seniors, but for future generations. Not only were seniors and members of the disability community on hand to relay the importance of Social Security in their lives, but young adults from all parts of the state turned out to say "Social Security can be there for my generation. I'm counting on you to protect it and make it work."
In Seattle this month, hundreds of seniors and community activists joined in a 'Medicare birthday march' from Safeco Field to Pike Place Market. Thousands of onlookers were touched by the Washington Alliance's message "Hands off Medicare."
In Warren, Ohio, 100 local residents gathered at a senior center with U.S. Rep. Timothy Ryan to discuss the importance of Social Security as a stable part of the local economy, not just to individuals but for the business community. Rep. Ryan spoke in support of the long term viability of Social Security and defended the need to keep Social Security fiscally sound.
The Rhode Island Alliance presented several Members of Congress, including Senator Sheldon Whitehouse and Congressman David Cicilline, awards for working to protect both Social Security and Medicare.
In New Hampshire, Alliance members and community allies made national news as they protested the visits of presidential nominees Rick Perry and Mitt Romney in both Portsmouth and Lebanon, New Hampshire.
Summer may be wrapping up, but Alliance activity around these issues will continue through the year. Stay tuned.
San Diego --- Over 150 people participated in the Town Hall on Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid (Medi-Cal) on Tuesday. The standing-room only crowd heard from advocates and experts on these issues and participated in a lively exchange with speakers on the future of important retirement security programs.
Participants included seniors from area senior centers, people with disabilities, homecare workers, and local members and affiliates of CA Alliance for Retired Americans. Translation was provided in Spanish and Vietnamese. The program concluded at 12:00 with lunch, birthday cake, song, and celebration of Medicare’s 46th anniversary that is July 30th.
Guy Cargulia, CARA CAT Convenor said, “The meeting is an example of the interest and concern that people have for their retirement security. The new faces and organizations involved is inspiring! With so many Californians already struggling to get by, things would be much worse without Social Security, Medicare, and Medi-Cal. Fortunately, people are willing to get involved to save these programs from the chopping block."
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
Leading up the recent failed vote on the Deficit Commission report, the California Alliance for Retired Americans (CARA) held successful demonstrations in front of Speaker Pelosi’s San Francisco office and Xavier Becerra’s Los Angeles Office.
The Deficit Commission (The National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform) was created by an Executive Order signed by President Obama in February. The Executive Order directs the commission to recommend how to reduce the annual deficits to 3% of the national economy by 2015. The Commission has been meeting for eight months of negotiations among the eighteen commissioners - all of whom are Washington insiders who reflect little sense of the everyday realities for the working families who are looking for leadership and job creation from their national leaders.
CARA fully supports the President on the critical need to reduce our nation’s budget deficit, but many are troubled by the false claim that Social Security is to blame for the deficit, even though the program has not contributed to the federal deficit and maintains a $2.5 trillion surplus. In fact, according to data from the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), most of the projected budget deficit over the next 10 years will result from President Bush’s tax cuts for the rich, the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, skyrocketing health care costs and the continuing effects of the worst recession since the Great Depression.
CARA’s rally could not have come at a better time as the Deficit Commission zeroed in on cutting Medicare and Social Security. Calling for "No Cuts to Social Security," seniors and union activists sang and rallied in the rain – to the tune of the Battle Hymn of the Republic:
We don’t know how you make it, as you live from day to day. With income fixed and prices up, there’s always more to pay. So minding our arthritis, let us march and sing and say: Let’s all go bravely on!
Chorus: Holy Moley, it’s our MON-EY. Holy Moley, it’s our MON-EY! Holy Molely, it’s our MON-EY! We paid when we were young!
The debate has just begun. And while it is unlikely the commission will approve a report that will actually reach the floor of the House and Senate, we can be certain that the job-killing plans under the guise of "deficit reduction" will continue. Social Security’s long-term solvency can be resolved by relatively modest adjustments and without cutting benefits. The following are solutions to consider:
· Raise the payroll tax on Social Security taxes for the wealthiest Americans · Put people back to work in good-paying, decent American jobs. · Tax the bonuses of the Wall Street millionaires and billionaires who are doing so well.
It's time to put a stop to the unwarranted claims that Social Security and Medicare are to blame for the deficit -- we must fight against the Commission’s detrimental ideas, includling raising the retirement age. Learn more at www.CaliforniaAlliance.org.
The California Alliance for Retired Americans meets with Senator Feinstein's staff tomorrow to urge her to co-sponsor the Sanders Resolution which opposes raising the Social Security retirement age.
You can help them carry this message by calling her office tomorrow, Los Angeles: 310-914-7300 sometime before 3:00 PT and urge her to co-sponsor the Sanders Resolution.
Numbers for Senator Feinstein's other offices are: Fresno, 559-485-7430, San Francisco, 415-393-0707, San Diego, 619-231-9712.
Sample message:
“My name is __________________ and I am calling today to urge Senator Feinstein to co-sponsor the Sanders Resolution which opposes privatization of Social Security and any change in the retirement age. Social Security helps millions stay out of poverty, has not contributed to the deficit, and is America’s most important retirement security program. Help protect Social Security for future generations. Co-sponsor the Sanders Resolution!”
Take 2 minutes to make this call - help convey the paramount importance of not raising the retirement age!
About 100 California Alliance for Retired Americans active seniors descended upon the Laney College campus in Oakland over lunch hour yesterday for a rally and discussion of Social Security and its importance for future generations.
The seniors engaged students 1-1, encouraged them to sign petitions to secure Social Security and also spoke out at a rally in the Commons about the current threats to Social Security and how the students can get involved to preserve it.
Many students had not heard about the threats to Social Security or talk about raising the retirement age. They were surprised and interested to discuss the program with another generation.
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.
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.
'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.
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
