Lois Williams

I am hopeful seniors signed up for Medicare Part D to cover prescription drugs before the May 15 deadline. Now that we have a start on prescription drug coverage, the Minnesota Senior Federation will continue to work on legislation to improve Medicare Part D.

Most of our time and effort the last half of 2005 and this year has been spent on Medicare Part D. We, as members of the Minnesota Senior Federation, now have to shift gears to plan for the future of our organization. What will our organization look like in 2008, 2010 or 2015? Possible cuts to the Older Americans Act of 1965 and other programs for seniors have been reported. With the first wave of baby boomers turning 60 and the possibility of fewer programs and less funding, more thought and planning needs to happen for senior organizations. A recent poll estimated that while people on average are living longer, only 21 percent of baby boomers have invested for retirement, 41 percent own property, 40 percent live without a partner. Baby boomers will be joining us, but they do not want to be called seniors. Regardless of how they want to be referred to, they will be in need of all senior programs and that is why we need to start looking ahead.

One of the first areas we can begin working on is to increase membership. We need to reach the younger seniors and explain our organizations and programs to them.   

Another area would be to better educate our current members on what programs we have and what the programs offer. I have come in contact with so many of our members who know very little about our programs. Several months ago I was at a meeting talking about the Minnesota Senior Federation and our programs. When explaining Senior Partners Care one woman stated she had been a member for five years and knew nothing about Senior Partners Care. She also stated that her sister could make use of the program. Building membership that is well informed of our programs is the first step towards a stronger Minnesota Senior Federation.

By the time you read this, most of the Federation regions will have held their conventions and voted on resolutions. Please send your resolutions into the state office to give the resolution committee time to include them in the state convention book. The state convention is being held in Maple Grove this year. Our vice president, Eileen Iverson, is putting together a great convention. I encourage each region to plan ahead and send a large number of delegates. A large number of delegates at the convention will send a message that we are a strong, viable organization working for the betterment of all seniors.