Leading Forward: A Message from the SOAR President
Although I have only recently stepped into the role of SOAR President, I am excited and eager to share my vision, priorities, and recent activities with you.
My top priority is raising awareness that SOAR membership is now open to anyone aged 45 and above. Although our membership rules changed in 2019, the pandemic meant many union members remained unaware of this option. Our goal is to engage members with SOAR well before they retire.
Recently, I attended the Alliance for Retired Americans membership meeting, where we adopted resolutions that will guide policy for the next four years. Our discussions centered on protecting seniors’ voting rights and strengthening Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid. I was honored to represent SOAR as a voting delegate at this pivotal event.
SOAR is proud to be affiliated with the Alliance for Retired Americans in much the same way our union partners with the AFL-CIO. As the retiree arm of the USW, SOAR works closely with the ARA, which serves as the AFL-CIO’s retiree organization.
The ARA operates both nationally and through 40 state chapters, each accessing resources via its state federation and affiliation fees. We take pride in the many SOAR members actively engaged in state Alliance initiatives, including leadership roles on state Alliance boards.
Looking ahead, I will speak at several District Conferences this year to promote SOAR and the 45+ membership initiative. Next month, the SOAR Executive Board will convene in Washington, D.C., in conjunction with the Rapid Response, Legislative, and Policy Conference, where our SOAR representatives will join with the USW’s advocacy efforts on Capitol Hill. Wishing you a healthy, safe, and joyful summer. I look forward to connecting with many of you as we work together to build and grow SOAR!
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