ShAARP Session: Observations from AARP

Welcome Jennie! We look forward to reading your blog posts and seeing what exciting things lie ahead in your tenure as AARP's president.

Welcome! I went to the AARP convention in Boston this year. I am only 49, but I went to cover it for my boomer blog. I had a blast, and never thought I would. AARP makes me not that afraid to get older.

i think we need to startsome sort of trips and events for the boomers. i'm 56 and a disabled vietnam veteran. i would like to work with aarp or any others to start a program for meeting on a weekly basis.to have cook out and picnic events. maybe a beach day. also a trip for a nature walk. maybe twice a year bingo andthe casino. we need more to keep us active and something to look forward to. and if we need funds than we can also have events to raise funds like when we were young in school.i just want to throw that out there for comments and see how much feed back i get in reguards to it. thanks james contarino.

Volunteering has become a way of life for my family. We volunteer at our school, church, and through community projects, so we view everyday as a "Day of Service" and kudos to AARP for sponsoring such programs.

I have been a North Texas Master Naturalist for over 4 years now and have done numerous presentations for folks of all ages in an effort to educate them on the importance of caring for and learning about our natural resources and wildlife. I am also involved in a program which helps at risk teens, ages 10-17 yo who have been assigned to a juvenile detention facility become trained in a skill that will keep them out of the criminal justice system.

The more folks we can get involved in volunteer activities throughout the U.S. the better our communities would be. There are so many members with skills that our youth would benefit from. Volunteering once a month can change a child's life forever.

Careful "healthy drinkers" not all off us might find the suggestion for a glass of wine per day all that healthy. As a Reconvering Alcoholic of 18 years "I AM POWERLESS OVER ALCOHOL" never in all my years of drinking did I ever find it possible or desireable to have ONE drink. One was never enough nor was a thousand. Anyway on May 8, Volunteer Day I will be 270 miles away from my home serving my State Church Conference as I serve on the Chemical Dependency Summer School and the Chemical Dependency Ministies Committes and that is the time for our quarterly meetings. On Wednesday the 7th I will spend my day at a Drug and Alcohol Rehabiliataion Facility serving as Chaplain and 2nd thru 5th step advisor.
Most of the time I still work as an architect and free-lanch artist.
By the way I am just a youngster at 69. Have a great time serving others no matter what you chose to do to use your God given skills. God bless to all volunteers! GG

This May 8, Fred and I will be doing what we have done for the last 14 years, researching the developed campgrounds of a national forest or national grassland. This year we will be researching the Butte Valley and Crooked River National Grasslands first then heading to the Tongass and Chugach National Forests. This will bring out total of national forests researched to 153. We have done all this research with our own nickel and provide the collected information to the public free of charge on our website, www.forestcamping.com.

Fred, my husband, and I are having a debate over whether or not our efforts should be considered a "Volunteer Effort". I say it is and he claims it is not. Your opinion.

Am a volunteer AARP Job Search Facilitator 3 hours a week.

1. I have only right ear can hear and left eye can see.
2. I am senior and a fribomygia patient.
3. I like to know what I can do on the day of the 8th of May from my home?
4. I need a finical consortand for free advice. Who is in the centrol or south San Diego area.
5. Is there an AARP office in the San Diego area?
6. Just like you; I am Chinese and American citizan.
7. I was born on 1929 and live alone. I hope there will be group travel to the out of town comventios. I don't like to travel alone.
8. Thank you.

I really like the new Make a Difference part of your website. Lots of great ways to get involved in my community... My neighbor and I walk each day, so we are talking about doing the local walking audit one on May 8th.

Just to respond to Suzi Dow's post above about researching national parks. Yes, I think you are volunteers! And it sounds like a resource that is very useful to a lot of people.

As a member of Rotary, we have an annual "Paint your Heart Out"
program. This year we painted 15 houses (25 in past years) for citizens who are homeowners and unable to do the work themselves. We have been doing this program for 15 years now and have painted over 300 homes now.
John O'Connor

Dearest Jennie & James Contarino,

First let me welcome, our new Madam President. It is a small world. I live in a seniors community, RYDAL PARK in Jenkintown, Pa. I recently join our elementary school pen pal group. Her name is Jenny and she has moved away from the school. She is from Korea.

I would love to share with her, how I read about you today. If I can locate her and make a connection, would you mind, if her family agrees, connecting with
her? I have no biological children, only loads of God Children of previous professions, such as Job Corp/AmeriCorp, etc. Hope to hear from you soon.

Next, I want to commend James Contarino for his concern for needs of people in wheel chairs. I have been in a chair about six years, with limited services. My life has not been the same.

I have joined Easter Seals and find them to be a great resource.

Due to being in our computer lab, I do not have my AARP files close by. I joined DIVIDED WE FAIL, please
give my best to the staff. I hope, they have not forgotten me (forgot his name),as they have been very supportive over the past years.

Hope to hear from you all soon and any one interested in traveling in wheel chairs/class action suits.

Vi

Congratulations on your new position as AARP President. It is wonderful to have a registered nurse in such a prestigious position. I am sure you will do a great deal to promote the nursing profession and to provide service and education to the public.

Susan,
If you want to volunteer on May 8th and cannot leave your home, I recommend AARP's 50 Ways to Make a Difference.
http://www.aarp.org/makeadifference/volunteer/articles/50_ways_to_make_a_difference.html
There are many ways you can help without leaving your home.

Vi,
Thank you for your comment. We are here to support you. Email me at dearjennie@aarp.org. so we can figure out how to assist you.

have you considered that when (if) universal health is approved medicare goes away and seniors will be limited on options for treatment.

Is it true, we can now order medicine from canada, and if so, what is the procedure.

My aetna premium is $234/month 5K deductible, worse is premium goes up every 6 mos. I still have 9 yrs. before medicare. My fear is how much will my insurance be by age 64. We need some gov. coverage for low income like me. I have not heard of any one in Canada that declared bunkcruptcy, or has to divorce just to be able to receive treatment. Yes there may be delayed treatment for non emergency in Canada but never denied like here. I buy my medecine there. Please help thank you

Dear Jennie - I think your adds are a bunch of lies. I have been in Health Care for 16 years and you cannot surgar coat a government take over of health care. You have your facts and myths mixed up and that's a fact. We already have rationed health care with HMO telling patients what they can and cannot do. And for a second you think honestly, that the governement is not going to tell you that you are too old to have a surgery or you are too far gone? Get real, who do you think you are kidding. I am disgusted with you rlies and your false advertising tying to persuade seniors that they are in for a good thing! Come on, you know you would not take helath care offered by the goernment if this passes. And Sen. Kennedy, he'd be dead with your government run health care. He is a terminal patient and you think the goverment would spend the money that is being spend on him to keep him alive for a short period! No thanks, I am going to cancel my membership in you joke of AARP, I'll not be a member of a organization that wnats to sell out the American people. Shame on you for telling lies. I know better after working in health care. Just take a look at Canada and England, lists and more lists, you think you will get to the top of the list before your kidneys fail?

i do not understand aarps stand on the health care problem. obama want to kill advantage plus policies that are wonderful. aarp wants 120.00 a month for the 20 percent and advantage plus is 19.00. also small businesses will dump coverage. why are we endorsing you when your not watching out for us.

Last evening I watch an AARP rep. answer Lou Dobbs question concerning AARP's postion On Obamas "public option". This is the 2nd AARP rep I have heard in the last two days and in each case the hide our couch their answers to the point where it is almost pain watching them twist the answer and wrap it in obfuscations.
The AARP rep last evening actually agreed with Obama of taking out $500 billion from Medicare over the next 10 years. Where ever has the AARP triesd to go against the very people whom make up their organization. Clearly AARP no longer has the elderly as their promary concern but rather their primary concern is supporting the Democrat takeover of our health care. Learly this is a self serving postion of the people running this organization.

If the AARP continues down this road to public health care, of any kind, it will loose not thousands but million of memebers.
WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO AARP is that it no longer does what its orginally charge was, that is, watching out for the best interest of the elderly, not the dmeocrat party.
John Martino

AARP has lost my respect ! There is a large number of people who can think and read for them selfs and we don't need the media telling us what and how to think. And most of us still have a memory and can still remember things . I hate where someone is always trying to tell someone you just need the facts and not the scare tactics ! well after looking over some of the internet websites the H.R. 3200 Health care reform Bill . Which I wonder how many of the AARP leaders have read ? some of the intended changes to this massive Health care package . One of the new items that will change , I can not and will not except, pro-abortion as the H.R. 3200 Health care reform Bill will allow. Truly the 1st time in our American History where we the people will be paying for Paid abortions out of our Federal funding ,which means you and I will be footing the bill ! that's something I can't do ! it goes against my Christian way of thinking . This new Capps Amendment authorization would cover elective abortions in the public plan. I know America is still based on what our founding father's, and there Christian faith stood for . I think there are things being done to the American people and Government that both parties should be Appalled with and want to STOP, and I think AARP should keep more focused on the needs of there members . When did AARP become such a one sided political Advocacy ? Divided We Fall Is right. Anytime you focus on any one of these subjects Political,Race,Religion. All of your members and not just some of them are effected in some way. The very thing people join for , support and helpful information, for the seniors. Just because we all don't think the same, being a member you have no contact your congress in oppositions to Obma's Health Care plan, as it stands right now ? Why the Big Rush Anyway ? Why Can't Congress get a chance to at least read this massive Bill and also better explain it to the American people ? . This is the battle AARP should be fighting for the seniors . To Ask Government Why Rush Such a Major Issue Through So Fast Without Reading it Through and Letting Both Sides Have Input ? The AARP saying { WHAT WE DO, WE DO FOR ALL } Do You really ? Where AARP is so one sided and part of the Obama Administrations . I know I'm only one member of AARP and I don't count ! Like all of the millions of Americans like me who are out there . By resigning my 5 year membership . I'm just sorry I spent hard earned money, only to find out AARP has changed so much.

Brad Wallace I don't expect my comments to be life changing or eye openers to the powers at large. P.S. I'll pray for you.

I find it interesting that AARP now asserts that they do not support the national healthcare plan. Who does AARP think they're kidding with this rhetoric? This is certainly in direct conflict to the numerous requests that I have recieved in the mail from AARP for donatons to help support the healthcare plan. We are all aware of AARP's long standing support of the democratic agenda. I find it ludicrous that AARP pretends to support America's seniors, when they are so willing to send us down river. How can AARP support a healthcare plan similar to Canada's, when their healthcare plan is "imploding"? Is healthcare perfect in this country, NO. However, fix what is wrong with it instead of destroying what works for the great majority of people in this country.

I just read your article in the Sept/Oct 2009 AARP, p. 76. I am NOT a member of AARP. I do not intend to be one unless, and only IF, AARP changes it's backing of Obama's health care takeover (sic) plan. Your article is typical of the Democratic side's explanation of his plan. That is, what you DO NOT say about the plan is as important as what you DO say. What you DO say is that we indeed CAN keep our current insurance and doctor. True. What you DO NOT say is that this is true FOR NOW! And ONLY for now! Obama has made it clear that he fully intends to go with the single payor system- ie: the government will take over ALL health plans. Private insurance will be no more. This IS his eventual stated goal.

So thank you, but no thank you Obama. No thank you AARP!

Rigo Fernandez (DO NOT use my name if you use this message in your magazine).

AARP
First I realize that AARP has done a great justice for us seniors. With that said your support of the proposed health care change is very concerning. Yes it does need some overhaul
but in no way is our government capable of running anything. They have proven that in every instance (except WWI & WWII they cant't do anything right. How could you trust the health care of our nation to the Gov. Pass tort reform and
let the insurance company's bid across state lines and let the free market solve the problem. Quite playing politics!
Just run our organization or you will lose even more seniors.
Steve Wagner

$627 if my social security check. no changes in medicare i hear. well i just heard they are going to raise the fee and there
is no cost of living for next two years. since fee comes out of
my check, how is that no change in medicare? i still have my payment of $125 a month for unitedhealth care supplement that
you recommend. things are not looking good for we aarp members that are not rich as your magazine seems to assume.

i want to know if aarp is helping the health care reform why did
I get turned down for health insurance through aarp?

I, for one, are more than fed-up with my voice mail being loaded up with AARP messages re: health care reform. I also resent being bombarded with snail mail re. the same. I am intelligent enough to make up my own mind on this issue...not to mention that I have already (INDEPENDENTLY) contacted my congressional representatives. Please give me a break and stop "pushing" me!

I cannoit understand AARP's position on health care. The Finance Committee bill along with other health care legislation in Congress would cut around $500 billion in projected Medicare payments to providers over a decade, including around $125 billion from Medicare Advantage. Yet AARP seems to be endorsing the Obama Plan (whatever that is) - You folks need to be clear - do you or do you not support the house or senate plan as written?

This is for Jennie
Let's get specific - What are you going to do to stop the administration from taking 500 million dollars from your supporters medicare program?

Your article about myths in the medicare bill promoted by reid and poluski are probably correct However you failed to address the important issues such as:
1. Tort reform not being addressed.
2. Insurance companies allowed to sell accross state lines.
3. cuts in the mediare advantage programs
3.government bueuracracies created and cost of each invoved with the goverment option presented.
Finally end of life counciling should be between paitients family and the doctor not dictated by a government programs such as the VA program,
Thanks but no thanks to the present costly program promoted strictly by the Demecrates with no input from the Republicans or what input they had being tottally rejected by the demecrate machine.

Dear Jennie,
As a AARP member for many years I am angered that
AARP executives have chosen to support the Pelosi health care
bill without polling the membership.
When President Obama announced that Medicare would
need to cut 500 billion dollars it was obvious that current seniors will lose benefits so that all younger people can get health coverage.Why would the executives of AARP support
this concept?
Why aren't members of Congress required to give up their
current cadilac health insurance plan to be covered by the plan that AARP executives support?
Why isn't there a statement that no government panel
will be allowed to change protocals for end of life health care?
These are the concerns that AARP executives did not address.

After Obama announced AARP was supporting health care, and AARP followed that up with the announcement they had NOT committed to supporting health care, you now announce you are supporting whatever health care the government comes up with. If there are any reason for doing so other than financial, to your benefit, I'd appreciate knowing what it might be. The fact that you claim concern for seniors, weren't you aware that the public, which includes seniors, was NOT in favor of government health care? The public was surprised you lied in your denial of support and has been strongly encouraged to cancel their subscriptions, which we have done. Shame on you!!!

Ann Short

I would like to see Medicare as my only insurance carrier. Right now I have two carriers; Medicare and a supplement. I have two cards for id, I have two sets of billings I have two saying we will pay 80% of the approved and then 80% of the left overs then you are responsable for the rest.

Make it simple charge me more for medicare, BUT less than my 2nd carrier does now so that net net I am paying less for the same coverage.

All seniors hate double paper work, the staff in the providers office hate filing double paper work. Yea I know they pass it along===sometimes.

I have three folders one for Medicare on for my secondary carrier and one for my providers. Paper work nightmare.

AARP should not be selling these products and using membership fees for such solicitations, rather AArp shoud be supporting it's members.