Retirees Today
Respect Your Elders!
May is Older Americans Month
Ever since 1963, May has been Older Americans Month. Presidents since John F. Kennedy have proclaimed Older Americans Month to celebrate the way seniors have enriched our lives. It's also a time to consider the special needs of seniors—needs that Congress seemed to overlook in its recent efforts to cut Medicare and undermine Medicaid coverage of long-term care.
The battle to preserve these and other vital programs is one reason why the 1996 celebration is particularly meaningful. Another is the rapid aging of the U.S. population. Older Americans Month is a chance to re-examine the nation's policies on aging, so we can prepare to meet the needs of the next generation of senior citizens: the baby boomers who start turning 50 this year.
The theme of the 1996 Older Americans Month is "Aging: A Lifetime Opportunity." It reflects the outlook of millions of seniors who've made the most of growing older by remaining active and involved in their communities—and their unions. They set an example for younger Americans who have so much to look forward to in their later years.
Many AFSCME retiree members exemplify the spirit of Older Americans Month. They may be retired from their jobs, but they certainly haven't retired from life.
Earles Mitchell is a retired nurse and a leader of Maryland Retiree Chapter 1. Last year, Baltimore Mayor Kurt Schmoke and Mitchell's Park Heights neighborhood recognized her community activism by naming a street in her honor. At a ceremony unveiling the street sign that says "Earles Mitchell Way," she was commended not only for her work with the elderly (she's a former secretary of her AFSCME chapter, as well as of the Maryland State Council of Senior Citizens), but for her long history of helping neighborhood children.
"Earles Mitchell Way" is adjacent to the Langston Hughes Elementary School. Several years ago, Mitchell lobbied city officials for funds to build the school. She continues to use her influence to get necessary school supplies for the kids.
She founded and still heads the Langston Hughes Elementary School Association and has been heavily involved in Baltimore's teen summer jobs program, among other civic activities.
Lavarne "Lee" Pound, vice-chair of CSEA/Retiree Chapter 1000's executive committee, has also been honored for community activism. In 1994, she was named Senior Citizen of the Year by New York's Rockland County. She serves on the Women's Commission founded by her state representative and is secretary of her town's Traffic and Fire Safety Advisory Committees. She is also a member of the Rockland County Advisory Board to the New York State Office on Aging.
In addition, Pound is co-chair of the Rockland County Senior Health Care Coalition. She's been a leading advocate in her community for a national health plan and recently organized county seniors in opposition to the Congressional cutbacks in Medicare and Medicaid. Last September, in Wash-ington, D.C., she attended a White House briefing on health care issues for 50 of the top retiree grass roots activists in the nation.
According to CSEA Southern Region Pres. Maryjane MacNair, Lee "still manages to attack every barrier, every stone wall and any politician who gets in her way. Lee never met a challenge she was afraid to tackle."
That's a pretty good description of another AFSCME retiree.
Charles Smith is president of Detroit Retiree Subchapter 98.
Smith is also president of the Michigan Senior Coalition, the statewide organization that runs Michigan Senior Power Day, an annual event that focuses state attention on issues affecting the elderly.
In addition, he finds time to sit on the Advisory Council of the Detroit Area Agency on Aging (AAA) and serves as its representative to Michigan's AAA Senior Advocates Council. He's also a member of the Senior Citizens Commission of Detroit's Department on Aging and is on the Board of the Mid-City Citizens District Council, which fosters development projects in Detroit communities. Recently, he served on the Senior Subcommittee for the successful Tiger Stadium Initiative, which called for construction of an inner-city baseball stadium as the key to redevelopment.
As if this weren't enough to tax the energy of a man half his age, Smith also heads his block club and is national chair of the Senior Kappas Committee of his fraternity, Kappa Alpha Psi. In 1992, he was co-director of the Operation Big Vote election-year phone bank in Detroit and was honored with the National Council of Senior Citizens Community Service Award for Voter Education.
"On the occasion of Older Americans Month, AFSCME congratulates Earles, Lee and Charles," said AFSCME Pres. Gerald W. McEntee. "Thanks to our 180,000 retired members for their many contributions to this union. These retirees truly embody the AFSCME tradition of dedicated public service."
