Lights, Camera, Anaheim!

Life@50+ AARP's National Event & Expo October 26-28, 2006

Source: AARP Press Center | July 28, 2006

AARP will bring its annual Life@50+ AARP’s National Event & Expo to Anaheim, October 26-28, 2006. This national event for AARP members, friends and their families will have something for everyone with three unforgettable days and nights filled with non-stop activity, fun, and excitement at the Anaheim Convention Center.

Over 25,000 AARP members from all over the United States are expected to flock to the popular destination to participate in this unique expo and entertainment weekend to experience top-notch entertainment, interactive exhibits; and lifestyle, education and feature sessions with noted experts and celebrities. This national event will feature politicians, entertainers, exhibits, lectures, and health and fitness activities. Come to hear—widely acknowledged as today’s preeminent NFL studio personality Terry Bradshaw, award winning documentary filmmaker Ken Burns, legendary evening news anchor Dan Rather, famed movie star Raquel Welch, musician, actress, and entrepreneur Queen Latifah speaking with one of the greatest voices of contemporary literature, Maya Angelou, and many more. Take in concerts featuring headline entertainers Elton John, Bill Cosby, and Jose Feliciano.

Daily highlights will include AARP University, lifestyle and feature sessions presenting dozens of celebrities and experts who will offer insights, entertainment and expertise on everything from TV sports to finding love after 50; a celebration of movies for grownups; and morning fitness sessions with Tae Bo guru Billy Blanks and fitness celebrity Denise Austin.

There will also be an extensive interactive exhibition floor with over 350 exhibiting companies featuring new and future technologies, travel and leisure destinations, and a host of other products and services—all under one roof! There will be music, fitness, and fun for all.

AARP will open the festivities with Dan Rather captivating everyone with his authority, experience, and perspective that he offers on world events. Also featured will be a welcome from the Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa. The doors will open with more than 400,000 square feet of exhibit space with something for everyone. Lifestyle sessions will begin with comedian Carl Reiner kicking off AARP Celebrates Movies for Grownups sessions; Finding Love after 50 with Orange County Register columnist Tom Blake; and Daniel Luce, Corporate Manager of Pharmacy Affairs with the Walgreen Company will discuss Getting the Most Out of Your Relationship with Your Local Pharmacist. The afternoon feature session will take place with admired actress Raquel Welch. Opening day will end with a "Welcome to Southern California" party featuring the music of Papa Doo Run Run. Evening entertainment will introduce AARP Studio 50+ Nightclubs featuring three distinctive locations, sounds, and bands including Splash, Motor City Magic, and Latin Fusion.

The day will begin with morning fitness featuring Billy Blanks, creator of his martial arts/aerobics hybrid, Tae Bo. The exhibit hall will open at 9:00 a.m. and the first feature session will be with famed news anchor and reporter Connie Chung. Lifestyle sessions will include Comedy, Cubicles and Corporate Life with Scott Adams, creator of Dilbert; Friendships Keep you Young with Keith Ferazzi, known as one of the world’s most "connected" individuals by Forbes is CEO of Ferrazzi Greenlight, a consulting and training company; a lifestyle session by Billy Blanks; Sonia Manzono, a first-generation American of Latin descent joined Sesame Street in the 1970’s as "Maria," will share her insights on Taking Care of Our Parents; B. Smith, former fashion model, turned restaurateur, television host, author, entrepreneur and entertainer will reveal her Recipe for Success; and Dr. Reed Tuckson will deliver remarks on How to be an Effective and Savvy Health Consumer: Making the “Right Decisions to Meet "Your" Individual Needs. The afternoon feature session will feature widely acknowledged NFL personality, Terry Bradshaw on Why Not Your Best? The evening will end with entertainment from comedian Bill Cosby and special guest Jose Feliciano.

Begin the day with fitness guru Denise Austin and plan to attend the closing show featuring Dr. Maya Angelou, one of the great voices of contemporary literature and a remarkable Renaissance woman, joined by Queen Latifah, entertainment conglomerate—musician; television and film actress; talk show host; a label president; an artists' manager; an author and entrepreneur, as they share Women Who Were Inspirational in Our Lives. Lifestyle sessions will continue with Rosemary Gibson, healthcare expert and author discussing Playing it Safe: 10 Tips for Healthy Visits to the Doctor and Hospital; and Craig Wilson, USA Today feature writer, presenting The Trials and Tribulations of Writing a Newspaper Column: Are they Laughing in Nebraska? AARP’s fourth 2011 council will be led by famed and award winning documentary director Ken Burns. The Council, launched in 2002 will remain in existence through 2011 and is a unique blend of political, academic, social and cultural expertise of diverse individuals who are now or have previously placed their imprint upon the American fabric and the baby boomer generation.

Additional lifestyle sessions will close out the day with Professor Akbar Ahmed of American University in Washington DC—who is, according to the BBC, "the world’s leading authority on contemporary Islam"—and ordained rabbi, author and speaker, Dr. Hillel Levine leading a session Interfaith Dialogue: Building Bridges Between Islam and Judaism; and Kevin Panetta, from Greater Boston Convention & Visitors Bureau will be joined by music historian and radio personality from Boston’s WGBH, Ron Della Chiesa to share insights about Boston, 2007 site for Life@50+ AARP’s National Event & Expo. The day will close with Ruby Dee, long-time star of the stage and screen, speaking on The Advocacy of Life. Ending the three days will be a spectacular concert by Elton John—one of the top-selling solo artists of all time with over 200 million records sold worldwide.

Each day throughout the three-day event, attendees can attend the AARP University, the center of education where members and guests can benefit from informational and interactive programs, and will enhance their knowledge on the hottest AARP research, issues, and programs related to people 50+. The faculty is composed of AARP experts and leading authority speakers from profit, nonprofit and government sectors. The campus is located at the Anaheim Convention Center, the Anaheim Marriott, and the Hilton Anaheim. AARP University Workshops are a new addition to AARP University. The AARP University Workshops are small interactive discussions and specialized hands-on programs focused on special subjects, issues, needs, trends, or skills relevant to the professional or personal needs of people 50+.

Additionally, the exhibit hall will be open daily and will showcase health and fitness, personal finance, advocacy, travel and entertainment and community service. Back by popular demand for the third year, AARP will show feature length films, as well as some shorts, from independent and foreign film makers throughout the three-day event at the film festival better known as AARP Celebrates Movies for Grownups.

Life@50+ AARP’s National Event & Expo will be open to members, friends and family. Members and non-members can register by fax or mail or on-line through www.aarp.org/events or call the toll free number, 800-883-2784 and for international callers, 972-349-7613. Special rates are available for exhibit, program and entertainment packages starting at $15 for members and $27.50 for non-members for the daytime program. Preferred seating for both the Bill Cosby with Jose Feliciano concert on Friday, October 27th and for the Elton John concert on October 28th have sold out. Still available are $25 reserved seating concert packages for one evening or $50 for reserved seating for both evenings. Additionally, attendees can sign up for several optional tours exclusively run for Life@50+ attendees to experience Anaheim. These include Disneyland, Glitz & Glam Hollywood Tour, Seaside Shopping, Newport by Bike, Richard Nixon Library, Historic LA and Walt Disney Concert Hall, Hollywood Behind the Scenes, Crystal Cathedral, and more. To register as a journalist, click here.

AARP is a nonprofit, nonpartisan membership organization that helps people 50+ have independence, choice and control in ways that are beneficial and affordable to them and society as a whole. We produce AARP The Magazine, published bimonthly; AARP Bulletin, our monthly newspaper; AARP Segunda Juventud, our bimonthly magazine in Spanish and English; NRTA Live & Learn, our quarterly newsletter for 50+ educators; and our website, www.aarp.org. AARP Foundation is an affiliated charity that provides security, protection, and empowerment to older persons in need with support from thousands of volunteers, donors, and sponsors. We have staffed offices in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.