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

 

Dates Announced for the Alliance Regional Conferences! Check them out and join us!

Regional Meetings Begin in February 2012

Be sure to hold the following dates for the Alliance’s 2012 Regional Meetings:

    * Western Regional: February 29 – March 2, 2012
      Las Vegas, Nevada - Bally’s Hotel

    * Midwest Regional: March 5-8, 2012
      Milwaukee, Wisconsin – Hilton Hotel Milwaukee

    * Southern Regional: April 29 – May 1, 2012
      Orlando, Florida – Buena Vista Palace Hotel 

    * Northeastern Regional: May 14-16, 2012
      Philadelphia, Pennsylvania – Sheraton City Center Hotel

Additional information will be available soon. Questions? Please call Event Coordinator Joni Jones at 202-637-5377 or e-mail jjones@retiredamericans.org

Legislative Conference a Success

Last week, about 500 active senior delegates from across the nation and from many backgrounds joined together in Washington, D.C. for the Alliance Legislative Conference.

Attendees heard from strong political and labor leaders like Reps. Nancy Pelosi, Sen. Bernie Sanders, Rep. Xavier Becerra, Rep. Raul Grijalva, Rep. Wasserman Schultz, Richard Trumka, Mary Kay Henry, John Sweeney, Randi Weingarten, Gerald McEntee, Dennis Van Roekel and others on issues of importance to them. Singer and activist Judy Collins offered entertainment, while Robert Adler from the Consumer Product Safety Commission provided helpful tips to seniors.

Sessions like "Using Facebook to Communicate" and "Senior Fraud Patrol: Let's Stop Medicare Fraud" were popular stops in the breakout session circuit. 

An entire afternoon was dedicated to lobbying on Capitol Hill. Alliance members who are active year-long in their states around issues like preserving Social Security and Medicare got to visit their Representatives' national offices and discuss these issues with Members of Congress or their staff.

Photos here.

Videos & other materials are coming up here.

2011 Award reciepients included:

Al Hamai - President of the Hawaii Alliance for Retired Americans - President's Award

Tony Fransetta - President of the Florida Alliance for Retired Americans - President's Award

Gerald McEntee - President of AFSCME - Leadership Award

Nancy Pelosi - Democratic Leader, Member of the U.S. House of Representatives - Leadership Award

Pictured: Top: Texas Alliance for Retired Americans' Bob Feltzke & Sarah Carothers; Bottom: Texas Alliance delegation visits Congressman Al Green at his D.C. office.

Tax Day and Tea Parties

Last year’s economic stimulus package cut federal taxes by $232 billion.  Most Americans are paying lower taxes this year than last but you wouldn’t know it by the flurry of Tax Day Tea Party protests made up of activists protesting paying taxes.  New Mexico Alliance members held counter-tea party protests on Thursday.  They argued that, “Real patriots pay their fair share of taxes,” and members said they are happy to pay into Social Security, Medicare, public schools and public works.  New Mexico’s Terry Schleder said, “Our seniors turned out because they have historical perspective on the importance of government programs.” 

Last week the New York Times and the Gallup organization jointly released a poll of self-identified Tea Party supporters.  While 92 percent of respondents believe the country is drifting toward socialism, nearly half also said either they or someone in their household benefits from either Social Security or Medicare.

On government programs and retirement, political commentator Glenn Beck said this week that privatized Social Security accounts would be, “a better bet than the federal government.”  He also called for a sharp increase in the retirement age.  Alliance Executive Director Ed Coyle said that these sentiments are troubling in advance of the first meeting, on April 27, of the new federal commission on deficit reduction.  He said, “Too many people are urging this panel to cut Social Security and Medicare.  Seniors need to make their voices heard to preserve these great American success stories for future generations."

Award Winners = Harry Reid, Scott Watts, and Bill Holayter

The Alliance presented its Leadership Award to U.S. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) on Monday.  “This award is especially meaningful because the first recipient was Sen. Ted Kennedy,” said Sen. Reid.

The Alliance’s President’s Award was bestowed upon Scott Watts, President of the Nevada Alliance, and Executive Board member William J. Holayter of Washington State.  “I’m going to cherish this moment,” said Mr. Watts.  “We’ve had a great convention…we know how to handle ourselves when we get home,” he continued, implying future activism. 

Mr. Holayter added, “Whatever we do, we don’t necessarily do for ourselves.  We do it for the next generations, our children and our grandchildren.”

Barbara Easterling & Ruben Burks Re-elected as Leaders of the Alliance

The Alliance’s 2010 national convention took place in Las Vegas, Nevada on Monday through Thursday of last week. 

On Wednesday, Barbara J. Easterling, who has been President of the Alliance since February of 2009, was re-elected to a four-year term.  Prior to joining the Alliance, Ms. Easterling had served as the Secretary-Treasurer of the Communications Workers of America. “You have helped improve the lives of millions of current and future retirees,” said Ms. Easterling to those in attendance.  “We have more work to do.  I know none of you will rest, and neither will I,” she continued. 

Ruben Burks, who has been Secretary-Treasurer of the Alliance since it was launched in 2001, was elected to another four-year term.  Mr. Burks was once the Secretary-Treasurer of the United Auto Workers.  “Thank you for re-electing me.  I will do everything I can do to help this unique and wonderful organization,” he said.  More than 400 Alliance members watched and cheered as the two took their oaths. 

Six non-union members were elected to the Community Advocacy Network (CAN) Board on Tuesday: Julie Harbin of South Carolina; Rosario Holguin and Mary Magill of California; Rev. Louis B. Jones of Maryland/Washington, DC; Suleika Cabrera-Drinane of New York; and John Jensen of Nebraska.  President Emeritus George J. Kourpias administered the oaths, and Hawaii Alliance President Al Hamai served as Parliamentarian during the convention.  Click here to preview photos from this week.

National Convention in Las Vegas - 12 days & counting

On Monday, April 5, Alliance members will be able to personally thank Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) for shepherding health reform through the Senate.  On that day, Reid will address the Alliance’s 2010 national convention in Las Vegas.  Other speakers will include AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Liz Shuler, Rep. Shelley Berkley (D-NV), and the Honorable Hilda Solis.  The theme for the April 5-8 convention is Building Retiree Power.  Click here to register!

Convention Call / Resolutions Currently Being Accepted for Las Vegas Convention

On April 5-8, 2010 in Las Vegas, the Alliance will hold its annual convention. Th conference, which has the theme Building Retiree Power, will offer educational and training opportunities to improve both grassroots activism techniques and leadership skills. As part of the convention, any delegate registered to attend may offer or second a resolution for consideration. The resolution must pertain to a statement of the Alliance’s position or policy on a specific matter. To be considered, please send your suggestions to 2010Resolutions@retiredamericans.org.

Proposed resolutions, and seconds, must be received by the Alliance no later than March 15, 2010 in order for the Resolutions Committee, designated by the Alliance President, to review them. To register for the convention, please go to http://bit.ly/1jIzz2.

Preparing for the 2010 Senior Vote ~ National Alliance Convention

As 2010 political campaigns heat up, retirees are beginning to learn more about elections that will see the entire U.S. House, one-third of the U.S. Senate, and 36 gubernatorial races on the November ballot. 

Experts predict a low-turnout, with older voters making up over one-third of the electorate.  This year's Alliance National Convention April 5-8 in Las Vegas will feature noted speakers and training workshops on mobilizing retirees for electoral success. 

The Alliance has a Community-Based Scholarship Program as part of an organization-wide effort to increase access to national conferences and conventions for our community-based members.  For more information on scholarships and the overall convention, click here.

Hawaii Convention

January 9's third Biennial Hawaii Alliance Convention was a success. Ninety delegates and guests attended.

On the political front, Mufi Hannemann - Mayor of Honolulu - spoke to the convention at length about Hawaii senior community issues. U.S. Senator Inouye introduced his wife and expressed his endorsement of State Senate President Colleen Hanabusa for election to the Congress. Congressman Abercrombie also addressed delegates on his congressional activities.

ARA Regional Board member Luis Duran, from California, represented the national Alliance and spoke with the delegation about various issues including health insurance reform.

Hawaii Alliance President Al Hamai said, "Hawaii has one of the best congressional delegations in the country.  All of our four - U.S. Senators Inouye and Akaka and Congressmen Abercrombie and 
Hirono - have ARA voting records of 90% plus.  They are very accessible.  We thank our congressional delegation for their outstanding service to seniors and our community."

The convention adopted three resolutions: 

One - Honoring the late Ah Quon McElrath, who attended two previous Alliance conventions, as a delegate from the International Longshore & Warehouse Union (ILWU), for her lifetime of service to working people of Hawaii and her commitment for economic and social justice;
Two - Supporting the Pacific Beach Hotel Workers and the Employee Free Choice Act;
Three - Supporting a one percent increase in the general excise tax, from the current 4.5% to 5.5% to raise state revenues to close the state budget deficit, rather than have more cuts in the essential state services, including senior services and programs.  (This resolution was preceded by an hour education session, small break-out groups and debate.)