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.
Early November was an ominous time for many social programs, including Social Security and Medicare. The Super Committee was closing in on its November 23rd deadline and scrambling to make their $1.2 trillion mark. This meant that Social Security and Medicare were on the congressional chopping block, and seniors were not going to take it laying down. Their frustration and outright rage at lawmakers nickel and diming the elderly finally spilled over on November 7th as seniors took to the streets with the Occupy Movement in Chicago. A number of senior groups joined the protestors in Federal Plaza, including the Illinois Alliance for Retired Americans.
The seniors were fearless in order to gain support for their cause, they joined the protestors as they marched a block from the park into the intersection of Jackson and Clark. They achieved their goal by bringing traffic to a standstill as protestors stood and sat in the middle of the intersection. Police quickly ushered protestors off the street and issued over 40 citations, however the seniors and protestors would not be discouraged. Many said they would do whatever it took to ensure their benefits weren’t cut. They scoffed at the idea jail, saying that would be a small price to pay to ensure there were no cuts to Medicare and Social Security. "People are already living on starvation amounts of money. It's not time to cut," said protester Tom Wilson.
Seniors are finding support among other politicians as well. Illinois Senator Dick Durbin said:
Social Security has served America for over 70 years. Let's stand behind Social Security and make it strong.
Representative Danny Davis, that represents the 7th district of Illinois echoed Durbin’s thoughts saying: “Get your hands off Social Security. Get your hands off Medicaid. Don't mess with Medicare." It is clear that the seniors’ message is heard and supported. This is evident by the failure of the Super Committee to reach any kind of deal on November 23rd.It is now a matter of holding politicians’ feet to the fire, making sure they stand by their words and their constituents. "We are citizens too. We vote too," said Ruth Davis, one of the protesters in Chicago.
The overall outcry from protestors garnered the attention from lawmakers. Many agree, now is not the time to cut. Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) came to speak at the protest, admonishing Washington for trying to balance the budget on the back of seniors. This month, joining the Alliance Retired Americans and the Strength Social Security campaign, Schakowsky unveiled a report titled The High Cost to Illinois of Raising the Medicare Age. The report details how increasing the retirement age to 67 negatively impact on the state, costing individuals; businesses and the State of Illinois a whopping $524 million more in the first year alone. The answer to the states’ and country’s debt problems are not rooted in social programs.
Congress should remember that as the 2012 elections are around the corner, and senior issues promise to be a key campaign issue.
Retirees across the country are joining their younger counterparts in protests against Wall Street greed and failed economic policies. Numerous events took place this weekend and will continue indefinitely.
Today marks Day 25 of "Occupy Wall Street" actions, spurred by the group Adbusters.
Phillip Meyers, active with the Alliance for Retired Americans in Georgia and the retiree chapter RUFF (Retirees Unite for the Future) reports that yesterday seniors were up bright and early to stake out the turf for the OCCUPY SAVANNAH rally yesterday and stayed despite steady rain and forceful winds. Several were interviewed here:
During their 4th biennial convention yesterday, members of the Wisconsin Alliance for Retired Americans (WIARA) unanimously approved a resolution condemning Governor Scott Walker for his drastic budget cuts. Then they got up, marched to the capitol, and watched as WIARA President Leon Burzynski hand delivered the resolution to the Governor’s Office.
Armed with signs reading “Don’t ‘Walker’ On Me!,” retiree activists protested outside of the Wisconsin capitol building. WIARA President Leon Burzynski addressed the crowd and warned that if lawmakers approve this budget, it would mean great steps backward “to where we were before Social Security when 50% of seniors lived in poverty." Governor Walker has proposed cuts to SeniorCare, which is the state’s drug plan for senior citizens. He has also proposed: cuts to essential programs like BadgerCare (a state-run program similar to Medicaid), WI Department of Veterans Affairs, transit aid, public education; freezing Family Care program funding; and also calls for an end to the Earned Income and Homestead Tax Credits. Walker claims that these drastic cuts, which disproportionately affect seniors, children, and low-income residents, are necessary if the state hopes to balance its budget.
In their resolution, the members of the WIARA pointed out that the Governor’s budget does not calls for an end to tax breaks for corporations and Wisconsin’s rich residents. As stated in the resolution, the budget “…does not contain a single provision asking wealthy Wisconsin residents and corporation sot accept their fair share of sacrifice.”
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
Dan Fonte is an Ohio Alliance activist and leader in Canton, Ohio.
Seven years ago, he retired as the business manager of the United Association of Plumbers and Pipe Fitters Local 94 after 24 years working there. Currently, he serves as the director of the Harry Mayfield Senior Center in South Canton.
On January 10th, at Walsh University in North Canton, Fonte confronted newly elected Congressman Jim Renacci (R) on repealing health reform. It’s well worth a watch here:
Fonte’s apt question prompted Cleveland’s Plain Dealer to construct a “PolitiFact” check on Renacci’s statement that there are “a half a trillion dollars in cuts to Medicare that are going to go into place as a result of health care reform.” The “truthometer” generously rated Renacci’s statement as “barely true.”
Photos: Top ~ Dan Fonte speaks at a Social Security forum in Canton; Bottom ~ Dan Fonte MC's a candidate forum in Ohio.
On why he stands up for the health reform law, Fonte says, “I don’t look at just me and my case; I look at the broad spectrum and if it’s gonna help people.”
Fonte said, “When my parents immigrated to this country,” he said, “it was because of a union job that my father could afford to raise a family and have health care."
Pension security and senior issues are important to Fonte. Fonte says that he stands up to Representatives like Jim Renacci on issues such as health care and Social Security out of respect for future generations, stating, “Not everybody’s gonna get pulled up by their bootstraps.” He holds Representatives like Jim Renacci accountable on such issues for his children and grandchildren and “for working people who’ve struggled so long all their lives.”
“When you’re a doer, you’re a doer,” Fonte said. The Alliance is glad that Dan Fonte is a doer.
Post by Sam Burnett of Toledo, Ohio (Alliance for Retired Americans Regional Board member)
Once again the seniors and retired folks are under attack. My major concern is for the way we respect the seniors and Social Security. Social Security has been a fantastic program for folk that are now seniors and put part of their earned income into the social security trust fund. They were entitled and expected what they put in and the interest from that would be there for them at retirement and it worked well for 75 years.
The Social Security program has not caused one cent of deficit in the U.S. Government program. So why hurt us? Now we have a 2% suspension of the FICA tax. This will hurt the trust fund and hurt the future seniors and older Americans because if you put in less you get less out of the system. The way to make up the difference and pay it is wrong and not in the proper way the system was designed.
I would ask that the seniors all watch the state of the union speech to see if and how Social Security will be further attacked. The best way to hold the senior citizens in the proper esteem is to know what our President Obama will say about this very important topic.
Before the speech, let’s contact our National Elected Official to share our concerns.
Let’s share our concern with the White House today.
Do it today before the speech and tell them keep hands off our successful program.
[Photos from 2011 State of the Union watch party hosted by Sam Burnett]
Post by Donald Singer, Retiree activist from New York (AFSA, ARA)
We all are members of many families. Our immediate families (our own children and grandchildren, our nieces and nephews); our professional family (fellow retirees, Associations, Political clubs, etc.); and our social family (clubs, friends, religious institutions, community centers, etc.).
Many of us consider ourselves "activists," because we belong to retiree groups and/or retiree organizations such as AFSA, CSA RETIREES, AARP and ARA. Is that enough?
Is there a connection between "family" and "activist?"
Most definitely!!! And as the State Legislatures and Governors around the country are screaming for "givebacks" from the "greedy public service unions" there has never been a more vital time for us to be active!
Issues that continually face retirees including pensions, social security, health insurance, Medicare, a fair taxing policy and affordable housing must be approached at all levels with which we have contact.
We as the "elders" must take the responsibility of sharing with all groups mentioned above. We should explain and teach about the values of pensions, Social Security and health care. We must emphasize that these "benefits" were not "entitlements," but the results of 40+ years of work, savings, and that they are not "unfair" burdens to our communities.
For example, our children and grandchildren must understand that Social Security is not a drain on our society's resources; that it is a self-funded retirement/survivor/disability policy for those who have contributed parts of our salary so that we and our children and grandchildren will accrue a dividend for their investment in their own retirement plan. For example, when discussing health care, we must continue to advocate for reforms with the U.S. National Health Insurance Act to essentialy expand Medicare for all Americans, to lower the cost of health care, to allow the government to negotiate costs of prescription drugs and to maintain the integrity of health plans which retirees enjoy.
For example, when talking about tax reform and the budget, shouldn't we look at a new tax policy, closing "loopholes,' how Wall Street "reforms" are playing-out. Why should hedge-fund managers have a lower federal tax rate than middle-class teachers, nurses, firefighters and police officers?
So many other issues are of importance... housing, victims' rights, funding public education and, employee rights to unionize - just to mention a few.
When talking with our families, we must remember the "Social Contract" upon which our middle class was formed - the "family" must support the youngest through their years of schooling and post-High School education, and, at the same time, help the older generation retire in dignity and comfort. The families to which we belong will be supporting us if we support them. The challenges will be constant, but families will make facing those challenges easier.
These conversations could take place at our family and friends' dinner table and at parties and meetings and social events we attend. We should be proud of the families to which we belong.
We must see ourselves as advocates, as activists in all family situations. When we hear that "pensions" are too much of a drain on our society, when we hear that public employees and their unions are only out for themselves, and when we're told that "vouchers" are the answer to Public Education, we must answer.
But that answer should be in the context of the "family" in which we are residing in at the moment. It doesn't have to be confrontational, but the issue should be addressed. We must remember, that regardless of what "family" we're in, we're always sensitive to the need to be an advocate for what we strived for all during our careers. Not all of us will be active in "retiree organizations," but we should active as members of the "retiree family."
On Monday, the Nevada Alliance participated in two events with Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius around Nevada intended to explain what is in the Affordable Care Act, including new benefits that hit last week. In addition to spreading the news about the Affordable Care Act, Sebelius was in Nevada to support Harry Reid’s re-election to the U.S. Senate and Shelley Berkley & Dina Titus in their run for the U.S. House.
In Reno, Nevada Alliance President Scotty Watts (pictured at right) and NARA Treasurer JoEtta Brown joined the morning panel discussion.
AFT retiree and NARA Vice President Rich Miller attended the 100-person meeting in Henderson. Miller reported that there were several Nevadans present who spoke out about how provisions in the new health law would benefit their families.
Miller added on the Nevada Alliance’s work in the state around the Affordable Care Act, “We’re doing the best we can to get the information out. There’s no doubt that every opportunity we have to go to the press, to hold educational panels, and to lobby, we do that.”
Wisconsin Alliance Executive Director Billy Feitlinger was recently honored by the Coalition of Wisconsin Aging Groups (CWAG) with the Alfred Hirsch Award for Outstanding Work as a Legislative Advocate. He received this award with his friend, David Newby, the President of the Wisconsin State AFL-CIO.
Newby (at left) and Feitlinger (at right) were honored together for their outstanding leadership and lifetime service as advocates on behalf of working Americans.
William "Billy" Feitlinger has been the Executive Director of the WI Alliance for Retired Americans since its inception in 2005. He has worked to advance public policy that affects older Americans and stays committed to improving their lives. Feitlinger educates seniors at community centers, nursing homes, in labor unions and other senior organizations about issues such as Medicare, Social Security and health care reform.
Prior to the passage of the new health law, Feitlinger traveled the state to make sure seniors understood the truth about its contents. He now educates seniors on how the new law affects them. He also advocates to protect Social Security, especially in this crucial time when a new Fiscal Commission threatens cuts to the program.
David Newby, President of the 250,000-member Wisconsin AFL-CIO since 1994, has long fought for economic justice in the workplace and social justice in society. He was very pro-active in the state's charge to improve access to affordable, quality health care for Wisconsin families.
In 2003, Newby and the state federation created the Wisconsin Health Care Partnership Plan - a dynamic health care proposal offering unique solutions to the health care crisis. In 2007, the state federation's plan was integrated with other universal health care proposals to create the "Healthy Wisconsin: Your Choice, Your Plan," which serves as a national model for further health care reform.
Wisconsin Alliance member Judy Burnick said, "Under their leadership, working together, the Wisconsin State AFL-CIO and the Wisconsin ARA have formed a firm partnership to protect the health and economic security of seniors that rewards work, strengthens families and builds thriving communities. Both David and Billy are examples of what leaders in this movement should strive to be."
