American Association of Retired Persons - Term Paper Example

Lecturer: October 21, Introduction AARP formerly known as the American Associationof Retired Persons is a non-governmental organization and an interest group operating in the United States. Dr. Ethel established the AARP in 1958 and based its headquarters in Washington D.C (Charles, 1996). AARP evolved from the National Retired Teachers Association (NRTA) that Andrus established in 1947 (Charles, 1996). According to Pamela and Tracy (2000), the NRTA organization aimed at promoting the philosophy of productive aging and in reaction to the need of health insurance for teachers who had retired. The mission statement of this organization states that it is a nonpartisan and nonprofit membership organization for members who are 50 years of age and above. It is dedicated to enhance the quality of life for all people, and to provide a wide range of exclusive benefits, special products and services for all members (Frederick, 2011). This research paper is about the analysis of how the AARP uses social capital to influence its members to act in the United States political system. Further, it covers the issues AARP seek to influence in order to achieve specific goals. Lastly, it highlights tactics that the organization use for recruiting and engaging its members and prospective members to join in its efforts to enact desired changes. Overview of AARP As mentioned before, AARP was formed in 1958, and has two affiliated organizations, AARP Service Inc., which is responsible for generating of profits for the organization, and the AARP Foundation which operates on a non-profit basis (Charles, 1996). This organization no longer requires its members to be retired, they are just supposed to be 50 years old and above. However, it does not extend full membership privileges to retired applicants who are below 50 years because they do not fall in the category of its beneficiaries. Julie (2009) cites that, AARP grew exponentially from 400,000 card-carrying members in 1960 to 40 million members in 1993, and hence it was the second largest private organization in the world after the Catholic Church. The AARP Service Inc provides services like offering discount on prescription drugs and consumer goods, entertainment and travel packages, home and life insurance, long-term care insurance and automobile among other offers. In addition, it provides quality control over goods and services that the providers that AARP make available to its members. The AARP foundation an non-profit oriented entity, has a offers services like, preparation of free tax and counseling, work training for older individuals of low income, training volunteers on elderly matters, safe driving and prevention of crime (Charles, 1996). The use of social capital by AARP to influence its members to act in the U.S. political system The organization encourages their members to get political candidates and ask them for actions. They must know plan that politicians will take once they voted in their respective political positions. They seek to get answers and accountability on their questions. Further, an initiative campaign enables its members to travel in the whole country and inform people about the importance of letting politicians consider their views in any political rally (Pamela and Tracy, 2009). They ensure that politicians address matters that affect people on the ground by giving them their priorities. This organization is of great political importance to its members because it assesses social capital and civic engagement in the United States. It encourages its members to form small groups and hence meet regularly to support those who a take participation in political matters (Frederick, 2011). AARP ensures that need to count the costs and benefits of community engagement are felt. This organization encourages the society to know the importance of a strong and active civil society that enables consolidation of democracy. It has lamented about the absence of independent civic engagement and widespread tendency towards reliance on the state. According to Julie (2009), lack of independent civic engagement has forced AARP to use democratic activists and scholars to influence its members to participate in politics. AARP has encouraged its members to take models that they must emulate, in order to act in the political system in the United States. The organization influences its members to take part in political activities by taking part in the voting process because it is their political responsibility. For example, from a relatively high voter turnout in 1960, the number had reduced by almost a quarter by the year 1990 (Pamela and Tracy, 2000). This implies that the majority of Americans had neglected their key responsibility and only opted for citizenship. This organization informs its members about the benefits that come because of exercising their democratic rights. The members are encouraged about the importance of attending political rallies or speech, working for political parties in order to make an independent decision about a political party to for or a candidate depending on their manifesto. The AARP encourages its members to lobby for positions before government agencies and Congress. This organization actively engages itself in voter education of its members as well as the public at large. The voter education program has a responsibility of informing the public about vital public policy matters and positions of candidates for public offices (Frederick, 2011). By use of issue and candidate forums and voter guides, the AARP works hard to promote issue-centered campaigns and an electorate that is more informed. The issue(s) AARP seeks to influence and their goals. AARP announced the launch of a new advertising campaign that it designed specifically to address the future issues. The advert aims at influencing future generations and displays the AARP brand. The organization referred to this campaign as the future campaign and it involves children talking about health care of the state and financial security. Charles (1996) states that the design of this multigenerational aimed to engage the Divided Well Fail that AARP developed. This organization widely addresses issues that affect older Americans through many initiatives such as lobbying efforts at the state and national governmental level. AARP gives extensive consumer information, volunteer information and events like the annual National Event and Expo that took place in Los Angeles this year (Julie, 2009). This ensures that after retiring, the older people have a secure partner to take care of their medical covers at an affordable rate. The organization is very active in influencing the health care policy debates since 1960. For instance, in 2003 it influenced the congress of United States to pass the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement and modernization Act that authorized the creation of Medicare Part D. Further, this organization influenced the congress by resting radical transformations to Social Security in 2005 (Frederick, 2011). The AARP Advocacy Center for Medicare seeks to ensure that affordable and quality health care is available for elder persons and individuals with disabilities. For example, in 2000 AARP was working to come up with ways of maintaining short-term solvency of the Hospital Insurance Trust Fund and was organizing the needs of the baby boomers in the long term (Pamela and Tracy, 2000). It educates its members about latest ways of giving services and empowers older individuals by informing them their rights under this system. AARP organization aims at reducing hunger among the aged through the Drive to End Hunger. Both AARP and AARP foundation have a new association with NASCAR driver and Hendrick Motorsports to boost awareness of hunger in the United States with the number 24 Drive to End Hunger racecar and related food drives (Charles, 1996). By reducing hunger among older people, it reduces amongst them and hence lengthens their life expectancy. AARP uses Public policy institute to work with external partners and foundations on a range of projects that they design to improve services and care available to older Americans. AARP has an initiative that aims to champion nursing in America. It focuses to build and sustain a 21st century nursing workforce with knowledge and skills that the Americans need. As noted by Julie (2009) removes barriers that limit the ability of nurses to deliver healthcare expected by consumers, it increases the number and diversity of nurses that enter and remain in the profession. Further, AARP Public policy institute is a leading agent in coordinating a national initiative to uplift the capacity of nurses and social workers in order to meet requirements of family caregivers. Health insurance; almost seven million people have AARP branded health insurance such as Madigan and drug coverage (Julie, 2009). This has enabled AARP to earn more income due to sell of insurance to its members than it does from membership payments from April 2007. It aims to collaborate with Aetna in order to provide health insurance cover to people who are aged between 50-64 years. According to Pamela and Tracy (2000), AARP anticipates becoming the largest source of insurance cover for recipients of Medicare and it estimates that new products will enlarge its health insurance customers to 14 million people by 2014. AARP designed the ‘Divided We Fail’ slogan to deal with healthcare and financial security. The business Roundtable and Service Employees international Union launched this initiative, and it encompasses advertising in national outlets as well as in the primary states. Others activities that relate to this slogan include online activities, traditional grass roots work that aims at engaging the public, business, elected officials in the debate, and hence encourage public leaders to give solutions. Frederick (2011) states that the AARP addressed the healthcare matter in their campaign that targeted the 2008 using the policy of Divided We Fail to drive the political system in the United States. The tactics that the organization uses to recruit its members and engaging its prospective members towards enacting desired changes. There are several tactics employed by AAPR in recruitment of its members. One of these tactics is training. AARP gives training opportunities and placement to its members through AARP Foundation Senior Community Service Employment program (SCSEP) (Julie, 2009). It helps its workers improve their skills, get skills and make necessary changes that the organization needs in order to make improvements. Further, it helps people who are 50 years and above to enter once more into the job market and hence they will be able to use their working experience to aid the management in making changes with respect to their fields of specialization. Thus, people experience its usefulness and join the organization. AARP also uses radio and television programs to encourage the elderly to join this organization. For example, Prime Time radio that a veteran broadcaster called Mike Cuthbert hosts has a one-hour program that focuses various interests and concerns of Americans and the elderly. This program is available on radio stations across the country as well as the website of Prime Time Radio (Julies, 2009). Alyne Ellis hosts Prime Time Focus has a 90-second feature daily and a five-minute over the weekend that more than 500 stations broadcast. Using this strategy the organization is able to reach many people at ago using the press. In addition, an AARP lifestyle show that feature nationally by known experts such as Dr. Elmer Huerta and Dr. Dorree Lyn cover who cover issues from health and money relationships and volunteering (Pamela and Tracy, 2000). The use of multimedia multiple outreach devices such as fliers, brochures, press release sent to news media outlets, posters and recorded testimonials from other members showing the benefits that they have realized after joining this organization (Charles, 1996). This encourages many elderly people to join after knowing the benefits that come along with this organization. AARP has been able to recruit more members because it has massive mailing lists of presumably loyal members. Conclusion As discussed AARP is a nonprofit organization that has an aim of aiding old and retired people in the United States in their health matters and political issues. AARP ensures that the government comes up with health policies that favor the people of the United States and particularly the old. It further educates its members about the importance of participating in politics such as voting in visionary leaders. Lastly AAPR uses training, promotional activities and the media in recruitment of its members, these tactics have been very successful, as indicated by the huge membership the organization currently has. References: Charles, M., (1996): The AARP: Americas most powerful lobby and clash of generations: Times Book Publishers: ISBN: 08 12927532, 978081 2927535 Frederick, R., (2011): One nation under AARP: The fight over Medicare, social security, and America: university of California Press Julie, J., (2009): The AARP Retirement Survival Guide: How to Make Smart Financial Decisions in Good times and Bad: Sterling publishing company Pamela, R. and Tracy, G., (2000): Aging: Abandonment-Injuries among the elderly: Salem Press Publishers Read More