Alliance for Retired Americans Blog

Washington State Lobbies Patty Murray’s office, Super Committee: Real People, Real Stories

Retirees with the Washington State Alliance for Retired Americans held a meeting Friday, November 18th at Senator Patty Murray’s office in Tacoma, as the "Super Committee" entered the final hours of their deliberations. This wasn’t a discussion about abstract financial debates, or complex political agreements - it was about real people. These retirees weren’t political insiders that understand the games that politicians play or lobbyists that are paid by powerful special interests. They were regular people who live in Washington State, working hard every day to get by in tough times, and relying on Senator Murray to remember their stories as the "Super Committee" finished its work. 

Senator Murray’s office was moved by the presentation of hand-written stories from members across generations identifying the impact of potential cuts to Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid as well as by personalized testimonies from members Bette Reed from Seattle, and Nancy Lawson from Gig Harbor. 

The Washington Alliance put real faces on real problems.

Bette Reed from Seattle is solely dependent on Social Security for her income, and she is by no means alone. She explains the hardship that cutting Social Security would cause for her and others, and the direct impact it would have on increasing the poverty rate among seniors and other populations in Washington and nationwide. She also points out that she does not expect to receive Social Security for nothing. In fact, Reed has contributed to Social Security throughout her entire life, beginning in 1951. Watch her compelling testimony here.

Nancy Lawson from Gig Harbor speaks to Patty Murray here:

The Super Committee announced Monday, November 21st that they could not come to a bi-partisan agreement to reduce the federal deficit by $1.2 trillion. This came as good news to seniors in Washington state and across the country as reports indicated many cuts on the table would have fallen on those least able to afford them – seniors and low-income individuals who rely on Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid just to survive – instead of large corporations and the wealthiest individuals. However, the budget deficit debate is not over and retirees will remain engaged and vocal. They will continue to work to make sure that the budget is not balanced only on the backs of seniors and working people who did not create the current crisis and cannot afford to solely fix it.

Senior Summer Actions Wrap Up

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.

 

 

 

 

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

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 

New Presidents for Maryland-DC and Puget Sound Alliance Chapters

Maria Cordone, who gave 41 years to the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAMAW) in a variety of roles - including the last 12 years as director of the IAM Community Services & Retirees Department, before retiring at the end of 2009 - has been elected new President of the Maryland-DC Alliance. 

In addition, Robby Stern was elected to a two-year term as Puget Sound Alliance for Retired Americans (PSARA) president on December 17.  An activist in labor and social justice issues for more than 40 years, Stern chaired the Healthy Washington Coalition for six years until last month and served on the PSARA Executive Board.