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Support OWL Today!
As a federal, postal or military employee, you can make on-the-job donations to OWL through the Combined Federal Campaign (CFC).
To make your CFC pledge for support to OWL, enroll during the campaign season (September 1 to December 15) at your workplace by designating the Older Women's League (campaign number 11321) on your enrollment materials.
No donation is too small - enroll today!
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2013 COLA Adjustments
Monthly Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits for nearly 62 million Americans will increase 1.7 percent in 2013.
The 1.7 percent cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) will begin with benefits that more than 56 million Social Security beneficiaries receive in January 2013. Increased payments to more than 8 million SSI beneficiaries will begin on
December 31, 2012.
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Douglas County OWLs
OWL members in Douglas County, Kansas partnered with the Douglas County Coalition on Aging to host a forum to learn what state and county candidates plan to do about Medicaid.
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Courage in Journalism Awards 2012
In many parts of the world, it takes courage to be a journalist. Each year, the International Women's Media Foundation (IWMF) honors three women journalists with the Courage in Journalism Award to shine a spotlight on their courage and to promote the importance of a free press. This year, three brave women were honored in New York City: Reeyot Alemu, Asmaa al-Ghoul, and Kadija Ismayilova.
To read more about this year's award winners, click here.
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Electronic Payments: the Best (and Soon Only) Way to Get Benefits
A Department of the Treasury rule with a fast approaching deadline requires most Federal benefit payments be made electronically instead of by paper check. With a few exceptions, this March 1, 2013 mandate includes Social Security, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Veterans Affairs, Railroad Retirement Board, Office of Personnel Management benefits, and other non-tax payments.
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October: A Month of Celebration and Awareness
Hispanic Heritage Month
Each year, Americans observe National Hispanic Heritage Month from September 15 to October 15, by celebrating the histories, cultures and contributions of American citizens whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean and Central and South America.
For more information, click here.
Domestic Violence Awareness
According to the 2010 National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey, 1 in 4 women are affected by intimate partner violence in their lifetime.
If you or someone you know would like to learn more about domestic violence, click here.
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Free Wellness Workshops
As part of Family & Nursing Care's community outreach initiative, they are offering a series of wellness workshops geared toward educating the community.
The presentations are free of charge, and can be offered at your business, community organization, support group or place of worship.
For more information, contact: Rachel Weisman
rweisman@familynursingcare.com
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OWL Welcomes New Board Members!
OWL is pleased to announce the election of the 2013-2014 National Board of Directors:
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 Joan Bernstein - Tina Bigdeli
- Cari DeSantis
- Beedie Jones
- Daniella Levine
- Lida Rodriguez-Taseff
- Audrey Sheppard
- Janna Starr
- Robin Strongin
Each board member was elected with overwhelming support and will bring a unique range of experience and perspective to our organization.
We are excited to have the new board taking the helm here at a time when - regardless of the outcome of next week's election --our issues will continue to dominate the national stage. With their leadership, OWL's voice will be heard at these critical policy debates, speaking out on behalf of the 74 million midlife and older women in the nation.
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What the Medicaid Eligibility Expansion Means for Women
Want to know how the Medicaid expansion will help women? The National Women's Law Center recently released an issue brief titled "What the Medicaid Eligibility Expansion Means for Women." This brief provides information about how 7 million women will benefit from this provision of the Affordable Care Act, breaks down how the program is a good deal for states, and provides a break-down of how many women in each state will gain health care coverage from the expansion. Some additional highlights include:
- Starting in 2014, 15 million uninsured Americans, including 7 million women will be newly eligible for Medicaid coverage. Medicaid is an effective program that has the potential to improve the health and economic well-being of millions of American women while at the same time saving states money and creating jobs.
- Under the expansion, all individuals with incomes up to 133 percent of the federal poverty line will be eligible for Medicaid coverage, regardless of their categorical eligibility status. This means an additional 7 million currently uninsured women will be eligible for coverage.
- Medicaid coverage provides economic security that benefits the whole family. Medicaid beneficiaries are 40 percent less likely to ignore other bills, or borrow money, in order to pay medical expenses. This means that parents with Medicaid coverage are less likely to forgo paying for other necessary household expenses that are important to their children's health and security.
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U.N. Report on Aging
This month, UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund and HelpAge International co-sponsored an audio press briefing on the release of a report "Ageing in the Twenty-First Century: A Celebration and A Challenge." The report contains country-by-country data, including the United States. Also included in the report are success stories and recommendations for the way forward to ensure a society for all ages.
Reporters heard comments and participated in a Question-and-Answer session with three main speakers: Richard Blewitt, CEO, HelpAge International; Jose Miguel Guzman, the report's author and Chief, PoTo access the audio file, click herepulation and Development Branch, United Nations Population Fund; and Martha Farnsworth Riche, former Director, U.S. Census Bureau.
To access the audio file, click here.
To read the full report, click here.
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New International Initiatives
Focused on Women
At the 2011 UN General Assembly, President Obama challenged member nations to "break down economic and political barriers that stand in the way of women and girls."
In response to the President's challenge the United States has joined with 12 other founding countries to launch the Equal Futures Partnership. On Monday September 24th Secretary Clinton and Valerie Jarrett announced the formation of this partnership - a commitment by the founding member countries to take concrete steps to promote women's economic and political participation.
At the launch of the Equal Futures Partnership, the United States and member countries shared new national commitments to help meet the goals of the partnership The United States announced new initiatives that will focus on:
- Advancing STEM education opportunities;
- Domestic violence
- Entrepreneurship
- Civic participation
OWL's 2012 Mother's Day Report dealt with the first and third initiatives, and our 2013 campaign will focus on the fourth: civic participation.
To read more about the Equal Futures Partnership, click here.
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 STOP Obesity Alliance Releases New Guide
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"Nobody will ever deprive the American people of the right to vote except the American people themselves and the only way they could do this is by not voting."
- Franklin D. Roosevelt
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Election Day
Election Day is less than a week away. OWL encourages everyone to head to the polls and vote early. Women over 40 make up one of the largest and most consistent voting blocs in the United States - that means that your vote counts!
Who: Everyone
What: General Election
When: Tuesday, November 6, 2012
Where: Your local polling place
To get a personalized voting guide with information about your registration status, candidates, and polling location, visit Vote411.org or click here.
To read the National Women's Law Center's fact sheets on Why Women Should Vote, click here.
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OWL -- The Voice of Midlife and Older Women
The only national grassroots organization that focuses solely on issues affecting the nation's 74 million midlife and older women
www.owl-national.org
1625 K St, NW, Suite 1275
Washington, D.C. 20006
Phone: 1-877-OLDRWMN (653-7966) | 202-567-2606 |
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