A Message from the Alliance for Retired Americans

Alliance_RetAm
2015 represents a major milestone in our fight for retirement security. As America prepares to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Medicare and the 80th anniversary of Social Security, we are reminded that these critically important social programs are here today because of the hard work of those who came before us.
We are also reminded that there are powerful voices in Washington and on Wall Street who want to dismantle and privatize our earned benefits for their own profit.
Next month, on July 13, the White House will hold its once-a-decade White House Conference on Aging. This is an opportunity to discuss the future of retirement security in America and the future of our earned benefits. But, one glaring omission we’ve found from the conference’s draft policy brief is the need to expand Social Security benefits.
At a time when employers are phasing out traditional pensions in favor of a do-it-yourself retirement savings society, we need to ensure that policymakers in Washington understand that Social Security is the most successful social program in the history of the United States. It has a $2.8 trillion surplus, and can pay out 100 percent of benefits owed for the next 18 years.
The White House Conference on Aging is an opportunity to shape the policy around our earned benefits today and for decades to come. And with Americans facing a $7.7 trillion retirement savings crisis – meaning that for the first time in our country’s history, current and future retirees may face a lower standard of living in retirement than their parents – and with many in Congress intent on cutting Social Security and Medicare, we must make sure expanding Social Security is a key part of the conversation.
Today, two-thirds of retirees depend on Social Security for the majority of their income. As we continue to fight for policies that protect retirees, disabled workers, children and veterans, we need to make sure that lawmakers understand that opposing cuts and privatization isn’t enough.  Right now, 79% of likely voters – Democrats, Republicans and Independents – support expanding Social Security benefits and paying for it by asking the wealthy to pay their fair share. It is time for our country’s policies to catch-up with our priorities.
If we want to truly strengthen Social Security for generations to come, it is time for bold leadership out of Washington and it is time to expand Social Security!
Thank you,
Richard Fiesta
Alliance for Retired Americans

Walk to End Alzheimers

The son of Lois Hutwagner, a former secretary at Northport Middle School, want R-UTN members to know about a fund raising Walk to End Alzheimers in honor of his mother. A Florida friend and neighbor of Lois started a team to help fund Alzheimers research. The name of the team is C.H.A.P. — the H stands for Hutwagner. To make a donation, or find out more about the Walk, you can visit Lois’s FaceBook page, or the the C.H.A.P. Team webpage.

Wanted: Newsletter Editor

The Retired – United Teacher of Northport  is in need of an editor for our quaterly newsletter. The editor position includes proofing submitted articles and laying out copy. Training in using desktop publishing will be provided. Anyone interested in volunteering should send an email to Fran LaDuca at laduca@aol.com ASAP.  

 

Memorial Service for Madeline Porter

A memorial service will be held for Madeline Porter on June 27th at 11:00 a.m. at St. Thomas of Canterbury Episcopal Church in Smithtown. A Reception to follow the service. 

St. Thomas of Canterbury Episcopal Church
80 Edgewater Ave. and Brooksite Dr.
Smithtown, NY
Church phone # is 265-4520

After going up the hill from the “Bull” at the intersection of Rts. 25A and 25, turn right at the 2nd light – Brooksite Dr. The church is on the left at the corner of Edgewater and Brooksite.

SeniorNet Open House

SeniorNet Is holding an Open House on Friday, June 19, from 10:00 AM until 2:00 PM. Refreshments will be served.

SeniorNet is a national, volunteer, not-for-profit organization. Our mission is to provide computer and technology classes for adults aged 50+. We offer a wide range of computer-based and mobile device courses, from beginner to expert to everything in between. A schedule and description of the classes being offered this semester are displayed under the “Semester” tab above.  SeniorNet Website – seniornetli.org.

Check out the classes available that will allow you to add working memory to your computer, how to line up those paragraphs in Word, or how to get that i-pad, i-phone, or Android devise to do what it said it would. Even windows “8”.

Come have a cup of coffee, and talk to the experts.

As a point of interest, members of the Northpot High School Class of 2016 will be working as paid summer interns at SeniorNet this summer.  The students, part of the Academy of Information Technology (AOIT) program, a nationwide program that has been offered at The high school since 2001. 

SeniorNet Open House,
Family Service League building on Park Avenue, just north of Pulaski Road.
(You may use the bank parking lot.)
10:00 AM – 2:00 PM