Saw an AARP commercial

[candy331]

I have never seen one in this area before. Might they be a little worried as perhaps membership dropped more than admitted?

[lovedems]

1. I saw a thread a couple days ago that said 45,000 people withdrew

their memberships. I don't know what percentage that is.

[alwynsw]

4. Hardly a drop in the bucket

AARP claims over 33,000,000 members. Assuming 50,000 withdrew, the percentage is .oo1515%. Negligible.

[shirlden]

12. Just checked that membership number

On their 2002 Annual Report, they claim $186,000,000.00 in membership dues. I am not sure just what the yearly rate was in 2002...it was 8 when I joined years ago, then it went to 10 and now it is at 12.50. Any way you figure this, it does not come to 30 to 35 million members. But who can believe any accounting these days.

I hope AARP dies a slow and painful death.

[1monster]

2. 49,000 AARP members ended their memberships

early, according to the last count I saw. That does not include the numbers of members who will not continue their memberships when it was time to pay dues again. The AARP may have ended its effectivenss as a voice for those fifty and over.

What is needed is a new organization that stays out of the corporate world, is a political activist outlet that NEGOTIATES with drug, insurance, and other companies, AND keeps their membership informed of what is happening governmentally.

The AARP forgot a very important detail: The membership of any club should be the ones to determine policy, not the paid administration.

edit: syntax error

[GinaMaria]

5. Or the numbers who will never join

because of their recent action. They have lost future membership too.

[blondeatlast]

7. Exactly.

Not to mention those that were never able to contact them because they only had phones. They were so overwhelmed they couldn't handle the phones.

Many retired people are not internet savvy; if AARP is aware (as I'm certain they are) of this they have every reason to be worrying.

[blondeatlast]

6. They are frightened that potential members protested in droves.

I'm looking at the short path to AARP membership and I told them on the phone (was that ever difficult!), in snail-mail, and e-mail that I would not be joining.

[blondeatlast]

8. Amen.

Will the Gray Panthers acept a blonde? I suspect they will.

http://www.graypanthers.org/

Very activist!

A "Disaster of Epic Proportions": Just Say No to Janice Brown
The Bush Administration continues to send extremist nominees to the Circuit Courts in a transparent attempt to prepare the way for an all-conservative, all-the-time Supreme Court. The latest contestant is DC Circuit Court nominee Janice Brown, who apparently believes that it is a "disaster of epic proportions" that the Social Security Act lifted the yoke of poverty from around the necks of millions of seniors. It seems, in fact, that she's opposed to any fetters on the greed of her sponsors. Therefore, Gray Panthers is opposed to her. Gray Panthers signed onto a letter read into the record by Sen. Feingold. Send him thanks, and then tell your Senators to "advise" Bush that his attempts to pack the Judiciary do not have our "consent."

[ret5hd]

9. oooohhhh...now i get it...

blonde, not blond...
i always wondered why you felt blond's should eat last...

[Robbien]

11. There is a new organization out there

The Alliance for Retired Americans
http://www.retiredamericans.org/

They are small, but they do have 3 million members. Not bad.

[GinaMaria]

14. really like this organization

They are growing. Nice weekly newsletter too.

[oneighty]

15. I signed my wife up.

Waiting to hear more from them.

180

[blondeatlast]

17. I'll let my mom know about this! I'm still 10 years away

but I will not be joining the AARp; but the ARP seems like a viable alternative.

Thanks for the link.

[RichV]

3. I believe

their membership is about 35-36 million folks. If memory serves.

[Cleita]

10. I'm still a member, but...

I'm waiting for the no penalities enrollment period to come around so I can change my husband's medi-gap insurance, which we are very dependent on. When I get that done, then I'm dumping our membership and moving on.

I'm sure many other seniors are in the same boat, so unless AARP does a 180 degree turne and gets rid of Novelli, watch their membership keep dropping.

[spanone]

13. I've resigned from AARP Twice and still receive their mailings

So that tells me that they are probably not counting ME as one of their disgruntled ex-members. No telling how many have resigned their memberships and are still being counted by these goons. Maybe when I fail to pay my dues they will finally drop me from their membership.

[shirlden]

16. Pass on this great idea

Some Duers on a thread a day or two ago, said they were sending back all the poatage paid envelopes they get from AARP. Someone even suggested that we put all of our junk mail in the envelope and send it to them.
I think this is an awesome idea and am spreading it around to all my friends and family.

:kick:

[Stefkaskid]

18. AARP is pro-Republican?

Did you know that AARP is sending 5 members from each state to DC tomorrow for the State of the Union Address? What are they doing there? They won't be at the Capitol, that would be too obvious. They will be watching on a special closed circuit feed at the DC Marriott! Your membership dues at work!

[newyawker99]

19. Hi Stefkaskid!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast: