Divided We Fail Pledge signers have told us
they are tired of the gridlock in Washington.

• assisting with AARP-sponsored candidate forums;
• working on a neighborhood team to spread the word about this effort;
• sharing personal stories and encouraging others to do the same;
• exhibiting educational materials at local events;
• meeting with candidates for federal office on behalf of AARP; and
• distributing branded giveaways at community gatherings.

Yesterday’s Health Care Opinion Leader Forum was like a jazz concert.  The discussion flowed.  Rhetoric soared.   The event encouraged individual expression, and felt natural and spontaneous. 

I’m just sayin’. 

As you may have read in the “Times-Dispatch” this morning, our Health Care Opinion Leader Forum was a big success.  Not because attendance was at capacity (though it was), nor because many of the “right people” participated (though they did).  No, what made the forum a wonderfully unique experience were the spontaneous conversations that took place among our featured speaker, panelists, and guests.  (For example, Amy got Delegates Bob Brink (D), Dist. 48, and Joe Morrissey (D), Dist. 74, to sign the pledge in front of the audience.  Now that’s spontaneity!)

The most amazing/frightening/stupefying things I learned were that 30% of all healthcare expenditures are spent (wasted) on not delivering care, and only 52% of patients receive appropriate care.  (Gulp.)  Pair these facts with the 200,000 Americans who die each year due to medical errors and one wonders, “Can’t we do better?”

Len Nichols, Ph.D. from the New America Foundation, was our featured speaker and moderated panel discussions and audience conversations on the topics of access, quality and cost.  Bill Kallio (AARP), Julia Hammond (National Federation of Independent Business), Doug Smith (Virginia Interfaith Center) and J. James Cotter, Ph.D. (VCU Department of Gerontology) were the panelists.  The question and answer format enabled guests to go beyond ornamenting Len’s melody or the panelists’ solos.  Instead, like Louis Armstrong, they created new melodies based on the chords of the initial tune.  It don’t mean a thing if it ain’t got that swing. . . My thought is this: since those gathered were technical experts, the forum’s emphasis on truth-telling, mutual respect, and nonpartisan solutions elevated the discourse to unexpected  heights. 

We capped the morning with lunch and a talk by Bob Holsworth, Ph.D.  Bob is a political scientist and Dean of the College of Humanities and Sciences at VCU.  He entertained the audience with humor insight relative to the Presidential race, the “Veepstakes,” and the Virginia Senatorial campaign. 

In the future, similar forums will be played out in other states with other speakers.  However, with each jazz performance being singular in definition, our particular gig can not be repeated. 

Warning: you have entered my “prop alert” area.  Major shout outs to:

1. Tammie Smith for excellent background research and getting all her facts right.  As the reader could see, AARP does not endorse candidates or specific candidate plans.  Nor do we give money to campaigns or causes. 
2. Tony for getting Bill K’s op-ed published in last Wednesday’s T-D while handling all our marketing and pr for the Roanoke blitz.  You da’ man!
3. David Chapin for being an extraordinary photographer, and generous with your time and talent (which is considerable)
4. Liz for keeping it all together – literally and figuratively

  We are excited to finally be here in Star City and boy have we hit the ground running!

We began our day with an exciting Health Care Forum with Jeff Goldsmith,a self-proclaimed "politically homeless person" and author of the newly released, The Long Baby Boom, An Optimistic Vision for a Graying Generation.   Mr. Goldsmith told us about his vision for the future as the boomers age and suggested some specific policies to deal with the supposed, "veritable tidal wave of gloomy punditry and forecasts of impending national bankruptcy."  The breakfast was sponsored by Carilion Center for Healthy Aging, Council of Community Services, LOA Agency on Aging, NFIB/Virginia and United Way of Roanoke Valley.

Simultaneously, Brian and Liz were setting up our DWF booth is the busiest spot at Market Square in downtown Roanoke.  By the time we arrived with our mascot Champ, the mercury was rising and business was booming at the DWF tent!  Despite temperatures in the 90s, we had a great time talking with folks about the initiative, introducing them to Champ and giving away goodies including LOTS of bottled water!  We thank Roanoke for a very warm welcome!

We are off to the Salem Avalanche game tonight where Champ will be on the pitcher’s mound for the first pitch.  I’d love to say he’ll be throwing it, but well, as you can see in the pictures, Champ stands on his hands so this is pretty impossible.  We are very pleased that AARP National Board Member, and Virginian, Jacob Lozada will be with us to provide the pitching arm. 

Take me out the ball game!

-- Amy Gilbody

Bill B. here, receiving the baton from Amy who has shared the excitement and successes of our Virginia Beach Blitz activities from Wednesday and Thursday.  Now that it is my “leg” and I want to tell you about Friday and Saturday’s entertaining events.  Be warned: reading further may ruin your diet!

We awoke Friday morning to a series of tornado warnings which, thankfully, never arrived.  (Q: Where did the meteorologist stop for a drink on the way home from a long day in the studio?  A: The ISOBAR!!)  Friday was our happening at Mt. Trashmore, and we wanted perfect weather.  The clouds parted for the sun midmorning and the day was spectacular though blustery.  Stone Cold Creamery was on site and served it up to passersby and staff alike (Founder’s Fudge – me likey!)   We captured lots of DWF petition sigs – and Liz jogged along with several prospects until they signed.  (You go, girl!)  After lunch we cut the AARP 50^th anniversary cake (Hey, why was I limited to just 3 slices?), and Krendle (the magician) amazed us with his legerdemain.  The salsa dancing which followed was hot, hot, hot! And, of course Champ couldn’t stay out of the limelight.  He caused a sensation “scootin’ hoof” and was joined on stage by a dozen celebrants.  (Pics should be somewhere here. . .)  The gusty conditions were ideal for kite flying, and some of our crack troops and visitors test-piloted them throughout the afternoon.  I’m happy to report their missions were successful (and amusing!). 

Saturday’s forecast for Virginia Beach called for sun and temps in the high 60s.  This prediction (had it been correct) would have been GREAT since our big goings-on were being held outside at the 31^st street boardwalk.  Wouldn’t you know it, the weather turned out to be the OPPOSITE of the day before!  At about 11:00 am, the wind changed direction and started blowing off the ocean.  Clouds rolled in, the temp dropped to the mid 50s, and rain spattered intermittently until about 4:00 pm.  (Joke or Truth: An honest weatherman says, "Today's forecast is bright and sunny with an 80% chance that I'm wrong.")  We served 500 free lunches, and gave away all our swag – t-shirts, pens, cds – except for the fans.  Like the day before, we gave away ice cream and there was salsa dance lessons.  Champ, ever the ham, made several appearances to the squeals of children as did AARP’s President-elect, Mr. Lee Hammond.   With the help of our EXCEPTIONAL volunteers (and I’m talkin’ about all of you!), we captured hundreds of signatures and fostered thousands of positive brand experiences.  A special shout-out to Buck Vargo for his cheerful disposition and capturing the most pledges -- once again.  You are ‘da man!  Also, major props to PJ for ensuring our first Virginia Beach Blitz was not only a hit, but a home run! 

Derrick Ayers, our DWF #15 driver, earned his first All-American division victory of the season May 10! What started out as a beautiful spring day turned into a pretty chilly evening for fans and drivers at Natural Bridge Speedway on Saturday night. The cool air helped the dirt track stay together and tacky.

Derrick started 4th in the 10 car starting grid of the All American feature. He moved into the second position by lap 2 and captured the lead on lap 4 and never looked back. Way to go Derrick!

Visit www.nbspeedway.com to learn more.

Another excellent DWF event in Virginia Beach tonight. St. Luke’s Catholic Church was a gracious host for our Health and Financial Security Forum. We heard from a financial planner about the importance of planning for our futures. Next, Patrick Johnson did an excellent presentation on fitness and wellness. DWF Organizer, Bill Ballas, ended our session with a terrific DWF presentation and healthy discussion with lots of audience participation about the current status of health care in America. 

One attendee talked about the country’s recent dependence health insurance and told the group that when she had her children she paid the hospital in installments and had a small passbook to track their payments – boy, have things changed. Another attendee talked of importance of wellness in healthcare and our own personal responsibility to make good choices. It was a lively and impassioned discussion, yet always respectful – see the photos here. Now if only we can get the political candidates to sit down and do this!

I am sitting here at Bubba’s Deli & BBQ at Countryside Shops (thanks for the free wireless!) talking with Casey about DWF during our first stop in Virginia Beach during our 4 day DWF blitz. Casey signed the pledge and told me he lost his health insurance because he has preexisting migraines.

He is just one of the many people we’ve talked with today at the Farmer’s Market. I had the pleasure of meeting Steve Cook an Iraqi war vet who just returned from Baghdad this past Monday – thanks Steven for your service! Thanks also for signing the pledge. 

Champ is here with us and he is a big hit with the kids who are getting free Champ kites. 

A team of DWF volunteers were on hand Monday at Virginia’s BioTech Research Park in Richmond for Mark Warner’s Senate Kick-Off Tour. Mr. Warner, who has signed the DWF pledge, recognized our DWF team and gave us a big “thumbs up”!  See the photo here.  Joining him on the stage was a host of Virginia VIP’s including Congressman Bobby Scott, Governor Tim Kaine and Richmond’s own Delegate Jennifer McClellan.