Virtual File - Item

Text: MINNESOTA
SILVERHAIRED LEGISLATURE
P.O. Box 302, Pine River, MN 56474
[218) 587 • 4945
AN INTRODUCTION TO THE SILVER HAIRED LEGISLATURE
In the medi~ recently there have been references to the Silver
Haired Congress and Silver Haired Legislature. The time has now
come to present the function and,. formation of the two organizations.
The structure of the Legislature, hereafter called the Minnesota
I
Silver Haired Legislature (MSHL), will closely follow the structure
of the Minnesota regular Legislature. There will be 67 senior
senators and 134 senior representatives. This body will convene
twice a year in St. Paul to discuss pertinent bills concerning the
senior population and also to prepare bills which are felt necessary
to be submitted to the State Legislature for consideration.
There will, of course, be interim sectional meetings to discuss
regional problems.
As to the history of the Silver Haired Legislature, the first
legislature was organized in 1973 in the State of Missouri. The
next two states to formalize a senior legislature were Iowa and
Florida. These were ~uickly followed by the States of Indiana,
Georgia, Nebraska, North Dakota and Massachusetts making a total,
with others, of 23 states with their own silver haired legislatures.
The latest state to join is Texas.
The wheels have already been set into motion to create a
silver haired legislature in the State of Minnesota. This is a
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project which is going to take a great deal of work and cooperation on
the part of seniors throughout the state. A resolution for acceptance
of the MSHL, not only by the State Legislature itself, but by the Governor
as well, has already been set in motion. This has been the
procedure of the states already functioning as silver haired legislatures.
Funding in the various states has come from many sources; i.e.,
direct state financial backing, boards on aging, American Association
of Retired Persons and many other sources, such as private donations.
The first step is to create a steering committee, by solicitation, which
is already in progress. As soon as the steering committee has been
formulated, meetings will be held for the election of board members and
other matters of business. We will, of course, have the help and
guidance from the other states which have already gone through the formative
steps. Two former members of the State Legislature have joined us
in the building of the MSHL; Peter X. Fugina, who served in the House
for over 20 years and who is a past president of the Minnesota Senior
Federation, and Robert F. Christensen, who served in the House for
eight years. Other past officers of the Minnesota Senior Federation
have also joined in the building of this organization. Active memberships
in the association have been established at $10.00 per person
and a qualified active member must also be 60 years of age and a voting
citizen of the State of Minnesota. Associate members shall include
individuals, organizations, corporations, businesses and others who
have demonstrated their consideration for senior citizens by making a
financial and/or service contribution to the MSHL, without voting
privileges. Associate members may participate as members of advisory
committees and in other ways related to their experience and interest.
All related organizations dealing with the senior population in
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Minnesota will be called on for their cooperation in the development
of the MSHL. Progress reports will be issued through the media on a
regular basis.
NATIONAL SILVER HAIRED CONGRESS
This is a body already in motion, designed to function on a
parallel with the ~nited States Congress. It is made up of 435 senior
House of Representative members and 100 senior Senators. The National
Silver Haired Congress is having its first session in Washington in
December of this year. The steering committee of the'congress has
already been formed and each state, including Alaska and Hawaii, are
represented. Your correspondent is the Minnesota steering committee
member. A full r~port will be made .through the media of this National
Silver Haired Congress session.
Fred Jervis, President
Northern Lakes Senior Federation
October, 1986
Update: June, 1987
50 retired a.Ild incumbent Legislators have now become members of
MSHL,as well as several senior citizen clubs who have made sustaining
donations. Several senior citizens have also joined. Officers have
been duly elected and sworn in and the constitution has been ratified.
SILVE
MINN OTA
HAI ED LEGISLATURE
P.O. Box 302, Pine River, MN 56474
[218] 587 .. 4945
THE MINNESOTA SILVER HAIRED LEGISLATURE WAS FOUNDED AS
AN INDEPENDENT CHAPTER OF A NATIONAL GROUP TO AID THE
ELDERLY BY ADVOCATING, SUPPORTING AND SUGGESTING LAWS THAT
WILL HELP THE ELDERLY~ THIS IS NOT A NEW CONCEPT BUT A
TRIED AND TRUE MEASURE THAT HAS BEEN USED WITH GREAT
SUCCESS IN OTHER STATES.
WE BEL I EVE THAT 11'.JE ARE CAPABLE OF THE LEG WORK TO HELP
ENACT SUCH LAWS IN M,INNESOTA.
SELLING INSURANCE AND FORMING GROUPS AND HIRING STAFF ARE
GOOD BUT IN THE END YOU ARE BENEFITING INSURANCE COMPANIES
AND STAFF EMPLOYEES, MOST, NOT THE ELDERLY.
WE WANT TO HELP THE ELDERLY AND THUSLY ALL WILL BE H~LPED,
IF ONLY BY THE TRICKLE-DOWN EFFECT; BY ADVOCATING JUST
LEGISLATION TO MAKE THE LIVES OF OUR ELDERLY SAFER, MORE
COMFORTABLE AND HAPPIER.
OUR NEED FOR FUNDS ARE THE USUAL - POSTAGE, TELEPHONE, RENT,
MILEAGE AND OFFICE SUPPLIES. WE ARE NOW SUPPORTED BY
MEMBERSHIPS, DONATIONS AND A GREAT GROUP OF VOLUNTEERS.
RETIRED PERSONS ARE NOT RETIRED ABILITIES AND SPIRIT.
PLEASE HELP US TO HELP OUR FELLOW ELDERS AND THEIR FAMILIES
TO LIVE HAPPIER, HEALTHIER AND SAFER LIVES.
Minnesota Silver Haired
Legislature Report
Submitted by Fred Jervis
A very important meeting was ~eld in. St. Cloud on May 1st
for the purpose of ratification of the Constitution and election of
officers for Minnesota Silver Haired Legislature. Members
from throughout the State were present. The Constitution was
urified and the following officers were elected for a tw9-year
term: President, Howard Nelson, Lindstrom, former Senator;
\'ic-e President, M. J. (Mac) McCauley, Winona, former
Representative; Secretary, Charlotte Miller; West St. Paul,
former Secretary of Minnesota Senior Federation; Treasurer, I
Robert Christensen, Pine River, former Representative;
Executive Director, Fred Jervis, Pine River.
To date the membership is made up of 45 former
lt"gislators, several incumbent Legislators, former officers of
tht• Minnesota Senior Federation, many senior clubs, and
individuals from throughout the State.
Presently there are 2J states which have embraced the
mncept of the Silver Haired Legislature and Minnesota now
hrings the total to 24 and there are several other states now in
the proces ? of developing their own Silver Haired Legislatures.
All of these ~rganizations now in existence, and developing,
arc and probably wiU be the most influential groups in each of
. the states where they exist.
The Silver Haired Legislature movement is strictly a
nonpartisan concept and is NOT a lobby but rather an advocacy
movement. · ·
If you as an individual would like to become a member of
lhf Minnesota Silver Haired Legislature you may either write
for information to Post Office Box 302, Pine River, MN 56474 or
l<'lcphone 218-587-4070.
Nearly half the states have "silver-haired
legislatures;' whose members meet to identify
issues and propose legislative solutions. Many of
their proposals eventually become law.
By Susan Kelleher
hen it comes to doing legislative
battle, silver-haired
citizens are becoming seasoned
veterans. Just ask Saul "Sy"
Simons, a 78-year-old Floridian whose
voice reflects the confidence of a man
accustomed to winning.
"You can't sit back in your rocking
chair thinking about how things could
be improved," he said. "You have to
stop rocking and get out and do
something."
Simons is among a growing number
of senior citizens who have become
advocates for change by joining senior
legislatures in their states. There are
currently 23 "silver-haired legislatures,"
where elected representatives
from the states' 60-and-older population
meet to identify issues, formulate
bills and develop strategies for moving
their proposals through the state's
legislative machinery.
The groups have no lawmaking
power and meet only a few days a
year. But in some states, they have
proven themselves effective in advancing
the cause of older adults in areas
such as health care, housing and transportation.
In California, for example,
the seniors have in the past six years
managed to get 75 percent of their
proposals passed into law. Last year,
60 of the 116 "memorials" were picked
Susan Kelleher is a Denver-based free-lance
writer and a staff researcher for The Washington
Post.
Page 32 March 1988 State Legislatures
up by sponsors and moved through the
Legislature, according to Albert Perrault
of Joshua Tree, Calif.
"Our main function," says Perrault,
a four-year veteran of the group, "is
to identify issues from the grassroots
area. The regular Legislature doesn't
always have the time to get out around
the people like we do. We're out
among the people every day and we
know their problems."
The members are elected generally
to two-year terms and serve on a variety
of committees targeted to specific
concerns such as health care, income
and security, and government operations.
The elections are held primarily
at senior centers and other areas accessible
to older adults.
The amount and source of funding
for the groups vary widely from state
to state: In Florida, each member pays
his or her own way; in California and
Louisiana, a voluntary income tax
check-off supplies all the funds; in
Iowa and Missouri, the state picks up
the tab. Other states, like Minnesota
and Montana, use a combination of
state and private donations to fund
their groups while still others (Texas
and Virginia) rely entirely on donations.
Funding ranges from $8,000 a
year in Wyoming to $320,000 a year
in California, according to the California
Commission on Aging. The money
is used to pay for housing and transportation
for the annual meeting and
for materials the groups use throughout
the year.
Because none of the senior legislators
receive a salary, the members consider
themselves advocates and not
lobbyists.
"We' re here to develop long-term
solutions for tomorrow's problems,"
said Simons, who believes state agencies
are too often wrapped up in
today's crises to look further down the
road. "We're advocates, but we have
to become activists also. We have
become activists for what we're
advocating ... Just because you're
vociferous in voicing your opinion
doesn't mean you're a lobbyist. It's a
fine line."
A few years ago, some California
residents felt the Senior Legislature had
crossed the line, said Perrault.
"We had a backlash here three or
four years ago, which I considered
very serious," he said. "Some people
were saying that we seniors were for
seniors only, that we had an undue
influence and that we were selfish.
Many of the seniors were upset about
it, but I personally think it was a good
thing because it made us step back and
take a look at what we were doing."
Perrault notes that the five top priorities
for this year-priorities that
include a state health insurance plan
and in-home supportive care-are
proposals the group believes will.
benefit all the residents of California.
Frank Avery, chairman of Missouri's
Silver-Haired Legislature Supervisory
Board, said the problems
affecting senior citizens in the state also
affect low-income and handicapped
people, so measures the group sponsors
frequently will benefit those people
as well as seniors.
As examples, he cited a measure to
give a tax break to low-income
homeowners and renters, another to
eliminate the sales tax on prescription
drugs, and a change in the state's lien
laws that prevents subcontractors from
collecting delinquent funds from
homeowners unless the contractor has
first obtained the homeowner's permission
to do so.
The Missouri group also scored a
victory that Avery believes will give
seniors a bigger say in selecting the
next president. "On Super Tuesday,"
he said, "Missouri will have a presidential
primary. The primary won't select
the delegates, but it will establish the
percentages. The delegates will still be
selected by caucus. The seniors were
:§ vote and who are interested in the
~ issues for several reasons: They have
-!:1 more time to think about them and
E
~ they're affected by more things as they
said. "It helps because we know our
legislators in each county and we can
bring our concerns to them.
"Seniors' problems," she said, "were
not addressed as thoroughly as they
are now because there was no
organized voice to get the message
through. With the senior legislature,
we were better able to explain our concerns
and tell them what we needed."
~ get older. Seniors vote in bigger per-
~ centages than other ages."
California Senior Senators Ed Kramer
and Peggy Rowe address the press.
interested in a primary because the
caucus system requires that they go out
at night. A lot of them don't have
transportation and it's difficult to get
around, especially at night."
That the seniors have been able to
have an impact on the system speaks
of the broad nature of their proposals
and the importance of the senior voting
block, said Avery.
"In our state," he said, "we have a
good percentage of seniors who do
The Silver-Haired Legislature, said
A very, provides seniors with a voice
they otherwise wouldn't have.
"In the past, a lot of these people
were represented by trade groups or
unions or merchants organizations,"
said Avery. "As they retire, they have
no one to speak for them or consolidate
their ideas. We try to do that.
These people need representation.
Once you retire, you face different
kinds of problems and no one's there
to represent you."
Millie Gillitzer, a member of Wyoming's
Silver-Haired Legislature and the
state's Advisory Board to the Commission
on Aging, said giving seniors what
she called "a coherent voice" in legislation
has resulted in greater attention
being paid to seniors' concerns at the
state level.
"We learn what is important to the
seniors in our community and bring
those issues to our legislators," she
Although the elderly citizens spend
a great deal of time as representatives
of their peers, there are many rewards,
said Simons of Florida, who spends
between $800 and $1,000 of his income
attending legislative functions.
"I get satisfaction in knowing that
I'm trying to do something for my fellow
person," said Simons. "I got
involved in this because I was appointed
to serve on the city of Hallendale's
Human Resources Department and
dealt with indigents and people who
couldn't care for themselves. I was also
visiting my friends in rest homes and
found (the homes) in deplorable conditions.
I knew just going to the local
office would get nothing done. The
only way to see anything accomplished
is to get involved in legislation." ~~
!!!!!!
Silver-Haired Legislatures Meet . 23 States In
State Year Members Session Percent of Funding Source
Started Pop. over
Uni- Lower Upper 60 Years
camera! House House
Arkansas 1977 99 1 day biennial 18.5 Title IV grant money
California 1981 40 80 4½ days annual 14.3 Income tax check-off
Florida 1978 40 120 3½ days annual 23.1 Supported by members
Georgia 1978 27 75 4 days biennial 13.4 Office of Aging
Hawaii 1983 Hawaii County Continuing Education Project 11.8 AAA* contracts the University of Hawaii/Hilo
Indiana 1977 100 3 days biennial 14.9 Office of Aging and local agencies
Iowa 1978 100 3 days annual 17.9 State funds through AAA*
Kansas 1982 125 3 days annual 17.4 Coalition on Aging
Louisiana 1986 15 35 2 days annual 13.4 State income tax check-off
Massachusetts 1980 40 160 1 day annual 17.5 State Department of Education
Minnesota 1988 67 134 3 days annual 15.9 State money matched by donations
Missouri 1973 30 120 3 days annual 17.7 State funds through AAA*
Montana 1980 65 3 days annual 15.2 State money matched by donations
Nebraska 1981 49 3 days annual 17.4 Senior Council and Race Track
North Dakota 1980 167 biennial 16.5 Local funding and federal grant money
Ohio Development in progress 15.3
Oklahoma 1981 22 44 3 days biennial 16.7 Member contributions and donations
Rhode Island 1981 80 varies biannual 18.6 State Department of Elderly and House of Representatives
Texas 1987 132 3 days annual 13.3 Donations
Utah 1982 29 75 3 days annual 10.6 Donations
Virginia 1983 40 100 3 days annual 16.9 State appropriations
West Virginia 1981 34 100 3 days annual 16.9 State appropriations
Wyoming 1982 48 3 days annual 11.8 Education funds and donations
Sources: California Coalition on Aging and 1980 Census * Area Agency on Aging
State Legislatures March 1988 Page 33C RE cares
II for s n1ors
By DWIGHT BOYUM
Staff Writer
The phone rings.
Sherrie Christensen answers and
listens to a request from 'a senior
citizen who needs a ride to an
appointment.
But Christensen, who owns Good
Neighbor Home Care, can't help
seniors who can't afford Good
Neighbor's transportation rates.
Transportation is a persistent problem
for seniors,· Christensen said,
and one that has no ,solution yet.
''They call the county or the senior
citizens' center and say, 'I need a
ride to the doctor. Who can I call?'"
Christensen said.
Christensen and Virginia Johnson,
a social worker at St. Joseph's
Medical Center, co-chair the senior
committee of Coordinating Area
Resources Effectively. The group
meets monthly to discuss problems
experienced by senior citizens.
Brainerd's Dial-A-Ride program,
used by many senior citizens,
doesn't operate on weekends and
evenings, Christensen said. The
CARE seniors committee has approached
city officials about expanding
the hours for Dial-A-Ride but
was told that there wasn't enough
money in the budget to support more
hours, she said.
Some volunteers normally would
be happy to drive seniors to and
from appointments, she said, but the
issue of insurance liability has made
many reluctant to offer rides.
A new business in the area may
ease the problem, Christensen said.
The business, called Care Cab, offers
non-emergency transportation.
It takes calls at 829-1099.
"We're still working on a solution,''
Christensen said. '' As to what
it is, we're not sure."
The CARE seniors group deals
with several health and lifestyle
Brainerd Daily Dispatc;•
SHERRIE CHRISTENSEN
No solutions yet
issues. Christensen considers her
committee a resource and support
group for other area agencies that
serve seniors.
'Legislature' for seniors takes root
One of the newest organizations
for Minnesota senior citizens is the
Minnesota Silver Haired
Legislature.
Leaders met May 1 in St. Cloud to
ratify a constitution and elect
officers.
Members from throughout the
state were present. The constitution
was ratified and the following officers
were elected for a two-year
term:
President, Howard Nelson, Lindstrom,
former senator; vice president,
M. J. "Mac" McCauley,
Winona, former representative;
secretary, Charlotte Miller, West St.
Paul, former secretary of Minnesota
Senior Federation; treasurer,
Robert Christensen, Pine River,
former representative; and executive
director, Fred Jervis, Pine
River.
To date the membership is made
up of 45 former legislators, several
incumbent legislators, former of-
2
ficers of the Minnesota Senior
Federation, many senior clubs and
individuals from throughout the
state.
Presently there are 23 states
which have embraced the concept of
the Silver Haired Legislature and_
Minnesota now brings the total to
24 and there are several other states
now in the process of developing
their own Silver Haired
Legislatures.
The first Silver Haired Legislature
was organized in 1973 in Missouri.
The next two states to formalize a
senior legislature were Iowa and
Florida. These were quickly followed
by the States of Indiana, Georgia,
Nebraska, North Dakota and
Massachusetts making a total, with
others, of 23 states with their own
silver haired legislatures. The latest
state to join is Texas.
Funding in the various states has
come from many sources: direct
state financial backing, boards on
aging, American Association of
Retired Persons and many other
sources, such as private donations.
Two former members of the state
Legislature have joined in the
building of the MSHL: Peter X.
Fugina, who served in the House for
over 20 years and who is a past president
of the Minnesota Senior
Federation, and Robert F.
Christensen, who served in the
House for eight years.
Other past officers of the Minnesota
Senior Federation have also
joined in the building of this
organization. Immediate funding
will be realized from an annual
single associate membership of $10
and/or an annual sustaining
membership of $25. All senior citizen
clubs will be asked to contribute a
sustaining fee of $25 or more. All
related organizations dealing with
the senior population in Minnesota
will be called on for their cooperation
in the development of the
MSHL.