News

The Alliance for Retired Americans (ARA) will hold its Midwest Regional Convention on May 4. 

     2016 Midwest Regional Conference

     May 4, 2016 at 10:00 am

     MGM Grand Hotel, 1777 Third Street

     Detroit Michigan

     Host Contact Info:  call 888-373-6497 or

     email ARAConference@retiredamericans.org

The 2016 Midwestern Regional Conference will be an excellent opportunity to hear  from leading experts and to strengthen your skills as a retiree activist.  Attendees will participate in interactive workshops and training sessions on:

• Using issues to educate seniors during the 2016 elections
• Communicating our message using words that work
• Building and growing local retiree chapters and volunteers
• Organizing and participating in media events and rallies

Monday, October 12 – At the Italian Community Center, 631 East Chicago St., Milwaukee. 

Celebrating:

            The 10^th Anniversary of the WiARA

            The 50^th Anniversary of Medicare

            The 80^th Anniversary of Social Security

Guest Speaker Congressman Mark Pocan.   Honorees include Dave Stella

For more details

It's your right and responsibility to vote.  Do you have questions about where to vote?  Or what you will need for identification at the polls?  Get answers to these and other questions at the Voter Information page on the website of the Government Accountability Board website.

GAB Voting Information

To check on your voting record (address, whether you voted, etc.) go to:

My Vote

Saturday, September 19 -- Breeze Stevens Field, Madison Wisconsin.

For information about registration, speakers,volunteering and exhibiting, click here.

7/7/15 -- Breaking News:  Republicans say they’ll drop proposed changes to JSCRS. 

"Swift and strong outcry from current and retired

public employees prompted majority

Republicans in the Legislature on Tuesday to

eliminate a state budget provision that would

have changed the makeup of a committee

overseeing the Wisconsin Retirement System."  (WSJ, 7/7/15)

CONTACT YOUR LEGISLATORS TODAY: The Joint Finance Committee passed an amendment to the state budget (Budget Modifications #999) that changes the composition of the Joint Survey on Retirement Systems Committee (JSRSC). They want to load the committee with appointed legislators so they can rush through any changes they want to the WRS.

The JSRSC was created in 1947 and currently is composed of legislate members from both parties along with representatives from the public, the Department of Employee Trust Funds, the Attorney General, and the Insurance Commissioner.

The Committee would become entirely APPOINTED legislators under Joint Finance's proposal.

Read ETF's description of JSRSC

Read POWRS' description of Change

Read POWRS' sample letter

READ WSJ Article - Dropped Changes

Cities And States Paying Massive Secret Fees To Wall Street: An analysis suggests as much as half of pension fees paid to private equity firms aren't being disclosed.

Read the article here.

By Jill Hynum

I attended the biennial convention of the Wisconsin Alliance for Retired Americans (WiARA) recently.  The National ARA was founded in 2001 and was the first retiree’s organization to affiliate with the AFL-CIO.  The Wisconsin chapter was founded in 2005.  Below are some tidbits from the convention. 

John Nichols gave his usual rip roaring talk.  He talked about what a misnomer “right to work” is.  It suggests you have a right to a job which of course it doesn’t deliver.  He talked about all the limitations the employer can impose.  Don’t want to wear the silly uniform?  You have a right to work … elsewhere.  Don’t like closing up at midnight and returning to open at 5:30 am?  You have a right to work … elsewhere.  Don’t like forcing an artificial smile all day?  You have a right to work … elsewhere. 

To read the rest of the notes, click here