The Wisconsin Alliance for Retired Americans (WIARA) is a non-profit, non-partisan, organization representing over 87,000 Wisconsin residents. It was chartered by the national Alliance in 2005.  Wisconsin was the 18^th state to become a chartered member. Members include retired union members and members of community groups throughout the state. 

Our mission is to advance public policy and programs impacting the health and economic security of retirees and other older Americans. We provide public education and advocacy with, and for, Wisconsin retirees on state and federal issues on programs that impact them.
 

Our Board of Directors is made up of 21 representatives from union leaders, public and private sector union retirees, and community representatives. Currently, we have 68 affiliated organizations around the state. 

• Milwaukee Social Security Forum at Serb Hall with Rep. Gwen Moore and Mark Weisbrot, a national expert on Social Security.
  
  
• In July 2005, the National ARA ‘Social Security Truth Truck’ visited Wisconsin carrying petitions from ARA members across the country. We made visits to the cities of Racine and Green Bay . Our president, Leon Burzynski, personally delivered over 1500 petitions each to Representatives Green and Ryan.
  
  
• Organizing a debate in Janesville with Rep. Ryan and Dean Baker, the co-director of the non-partisan, Washington-based, Center for Economic Policy and Research. With a coalition of labor and community organizations, we had over 600 people attend the debate at Janesville High School.
  

We are very proud of our participation in this national coalition. As the President took his privatizing plan around the country, more and more Americans opposed it. Sadly, President Bush has cut survivor benefits and is continuing to push the privatizing of Social Security. We will continue to oppose privatization of Social Security.

Since its introduction in Congress, it was evident that the Medicare RX law, commonly known as the Medicare Part D plan, had several requirements that would be harmful for seniors. From January through April 2006, as the leadership member of the Coalition to Fix Medicare RX, we scheduled and facilitated 18 town hall meetings throughout the state. Our purpose was to educate the public and mobilize retirees, other older Americans and their families, about the negative aspects of the current law.  We had over 500 people attend these forums, extensive media coverage, and editorial board visits with local press about what needs to be changed in the law. We have over 3000 signed petitions listing specific changes we want members of the Wisconsin Congressional delegation to support in order to “fix” this disastrous law.

During the 2008 election cycle, we organized and sponsored several candidate’s forums in the 8^th Congressional district race between John Gard and now Congressman, Steve Kagen. We educated the public on the candidate’s positions on the law and whether or not they support allowing Medicare to negotiate the cost of prescription drugs with drug companies and eliminating the ‘donut hole’. We also publicized their positions on other retiree issues such as privatizing Social Security and strengthening pension laws.

In the candidate forums in the 5^th and 8^th Congressional District, we worked with our affiliates, individual members and labor unions. The local labor councils and individual unions have been extremely helpful in our activities and efforts to seek social and economic justice for retirees and senior residents. 

At our March 2007 WIARA Convention, the delegates approved becoming a 501(c)(4) to allow us to be more influential in state and federal elections with our sustaining union members.

As part of our efforts to communicate with affiliates, members and unions about our activities, we have:

• Met with our affiliates to educate their boards and membership about our activities, issues and programs impacting retirees and other older Americans.
  
  
• Created a bi-monthly newsletter with the inaugural issue in November 2005.
  
  
• Created a sizeable email list and mailing data base of nearly 2500 households.
  
  
• Developed this WIARA website.
  
  
• Created a mailing data base of nearly 2500 households
  

Labor unions and our affiliates were the foundation upon which our organization was built. This year we worked with over 35 statewide organizations, in our efforts to pass Healthy Wisconsin, a comprehensive, affordable health insurance plan for all Wisconsinites. We held 12 town hall meetings in July and August 2007 to educate and inform attendees about Healthy Wisconsin. During these town hall meetings around the state, we met with editorial boards and had numerous interviews about our support for Healthy Wisconsin. Although the Healthy Wisconsin legislation was removed from budget considerations, we will continue to support it when it is introduced as stand-alone legislation.