As I approach the end of my two-year
term as AARP’s president in May 2008, I’d like to reflect on where we
are and where we are headed.
I believe 2007 marked a pivotal point in AARP’s evolution as an organization.
That’s because the AARP Board of Directors, our management and staff,
and our more than four million active volunteers really began to see
the possibilities of what AARP can accomplish—with all of us working
together as one.
In fact, I’m confident we’ll look back on 2007 and 2008 as two of the
most memorable years in AARP history. We will say that we firmly claimed
our place as America’s strongest grassroots organization, while celebrating
our 50th anniversary year as the leading force in our nation for positive
social change.
Many experiences led to this conclusion, but one stands out in particular:
the Divided
We Fail rally we held at the U.S. Capitol in July 2007.
AARP’s nationwide staff had gathered in Washington, D.C., for a week-long
meeting, and we marched up to Capitol Hill to urge answers and action
on health care and lifetime financial security for all Americans.
Standing there on a sunny summer day, looking out over a sea of red
shirts, I've never seen AARP so together. Nor have I ever been so
proud to be part of AARP. Our story and our issues were picked up
by the media across the country. Momentum grew as our budding social
movement spread nationwide, fueled by enthusiastic support from business,
labor, consumers, faith groups and other diverse voices for change.
But 2007 also marked other milestones on behalf of our 39 million members.
AARP Foundation volunteers helped a record 2.19 million people of modest
incomes file their tax returns free of charge. The Foundation also launched
an exciting effort to link mature workers with community employment.
Meanwhile, AARP Services announced market-leading health insurance plans
that promote prevention and wellness.
Throughout 2007, AARP stood up for a better America. Millions of Americans
need us, including our own children and grandchildren. They count
on us to be leaders and to stay with the fight as long as it takes.
They count on the power of our philanthropy, our advocacy, our trusted
information and market-leading products to make their lives better.
They are counting on us to make this nation a place where all of
us can believe, once again, in the American dream. We hear them. We
cannot, and we will not, let them down.
Erik D. Olsen, President |
