By D Perry Kidder
MnSF-Metro
Region member

The 2006 Minnesota Senior Federation convention Oct. 11 drew about 225 delegates to Maple Grove Community Center.

A high-energy morning session found political candidates orating to the delegates. Jim Ramstad, 3rd District congressman, was introduced by Marty Gates as "a powerful voice for Minnesota seniors." Ramstad pledged to continue fighting for Medicare justice and lower prescription drug costs: "Why shouldn't we use the purchasing power of 43 million Americans to bring the price of drugs down?" he asked rhetorically.

Keith Ellison, 5th District DFL candidate for Congress, pledged to "fight to the end to strengthen Social Security."

Michael Cavlan, Green Party senate candidate, averred that "corporate entities own the health care system in America." He added that another reason health care costs are too high is that pharmaceutical companies are driving up prescription costs.

Judy Dutcher, DFL candidate for lieutenant governor, brought greetings from Mike Hatch and decried the spiraling cost of college education, prescription drugs and health care costs generally.

Ken Pentel, Green Party candidate for governor, said he stood for establishing an intrastate bus service, free education for all Minnesotans and affordable housing for everyone.

Peter Hutchinson, Independence Party candidate for governor, said he stood for the environment, health care, education, transportation and transit; he denigrated the light rail line in Minneapolis as "one toy train." When Mike Downing asked him if he favored the Senior Federation's stance on a property tax based on ability to pay, Hutchinson forthrightly stated, "No, I don't."

Other questions the candidates spoke to included sustainable energy, dedicated funding for transit throughout Minnesota, Medicare reimbursement, single-payer health insurance, high health care costs, property tax relief and unfairness of the state's assessing system.

Amy Klobuchar, DFL senate candidate, could not attend. Instead she sent her father, Jim Klobuchar, to speak to the assembled members of the "greatest generation," decrying the war, health care costs and polarization of the U.S. population. "We have a health care program that is broken!" he said, receiving a hearty round of applause.

Other morning business included a certificate of appreciation presented by Paul Demers of the Social Security administration and accepted by volunteer Linda Feist on behalf of the Senior Federation. Lois Williams, state president, was appointed convention chair and Iva Zanker served as secretary and parliamentarian. Convention goers took a coffee break while viewing the 33 exhibits.

The afternoon session began with raffle drawings for prizes, cash and gift certificates (see sidebar for list of winners).

During his chatty noon-hour keynote talk, Dave Nimmer, professor emeritus at the University of St. Thomas and former WCCO-TV reporter, contributed "a few lessons on getting old." Dealing with humor and insight into his many and varied experiences, he told how he learned to deal with painful aspects of life ("some of my best moments have been painful"), how to say "I was wrong," how to be open to the magic and mystery of the universe.

"Never lose your sense of wonder. And when you get a chance to sit or dance, I hope you dance," he advised seniors. "Finally, you've got to give it away; nothing is worth anything unless you give it away - your time, your attention, your money!"

Showing his Medicare card, he admitted membership in the senior generation. "I sure as hell belong here," he boasted.

"At age 66, I know something I didn't know before. I'm no longer in control - and I never was!"

Returning to the podium, Lois Williams thanked retiring board members Barb Kaufman, Dean Lemke and Iva Zanker for their service. Convention rules were adopted and the agenda approved as printed. Kaufman moved adoption of an abbreviated 2007 budget, which was approved.

Officers who were elected were Gil Kiekenapp, vice president for membership; Dennis Anderson, vice president for issues; D. Perry Kidder, trustee; and Lorraine Schreyer, recording secretary. Kiekenapp is retired from the Kelly Institute and Anderson from the Greater Minneapolis Council of Churches.

After elections were held, Kiekenapp gave a membership pitch.

Dick Honetschlager was presented with a plaque honoring his 12 years of service as director of the South Central region.

Lois Williams also presented a plaque to Peter Wyckoff, who will retire at the end of the year. He was the founding director of the state organization in 1975 and has for 33 years been the executive director of the Metro region.

Ed Holst introduced proposed changes in standing state and federal convention resolutions. After much discussion, a resolution to exclude local, state and federal retirement pensions from income tax was defeated; the rest passed, except a resolution urging the Senior Federation to support a health insurance-system based on the Massachusetts plan that was withdrawn and referred to the health action committee.

New resolutions were then introduced. Six new resolutions carried:

• A "good Samaritan"resolution for volunteer drivers.
• A resolution endorsing the pension action committee's "basic pension principles."
• A resolution that the Senior Federation work on the issue of oxygen on aircraft.
• A resolution on eliminating the $10 billion Medicare stabilization fund and equalizing benefits to consumers across the nation.
• A resolution on permitting the federal government to negotiate drug prices and endorsing creation of a standardized Part D prescription benefit plan.
• A resolution to eliminate the private Medicare Part D program and replace it with a prescription drug program administered by Medicare itself.

A resolution proposing creation of a cabinet-level department of peace and nonviolence failed.

Voting on prioritizing national and state issues for the Senior Federation to work on in 2007 concluded the day's official business. Results were to be tabulated and published elsewhere in this issue of Minnesota Senior News.

The presidential address was greatly abbreviated because of heavy snow falling in some regions. Williams then gaveled the podium and adjourned the convention.