2007 in Review. 1 Our Member Organizations 2 Good Ideas Have No Borders 4 Reciprocal Privileges. Page Section. AARP Global Network Annual Report 2007

Transcription

1 2007 a n n u a l r e p o r t

2 2007 in Review Page Section 1 Our Member Organizations 2 Good Ideas Have No Borders 4 Reciprocal Privileges 2

3 Our Member Organizations Our members are among the world s most established and respected organizations dedicated to serving mature populations. AARP ( the Network s founder, was established in 1958 as a nonpartisan, nonprofit membership organization. The organization provides valuable information and resources, advocates on behalf of its members, assists members in serving their communities, provides a variety of publications, and makes available, through third party providers, products, services, discounts, and other benefits to its members. AARP has more than 39 million members and staffed offices in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Denmark s DaneAge ( org), founded in 1986 and based in Copenhagen, has more than a half million members one-fourth of the nation s 50+ population. DaneAge became AARP Global Network s charter member in January Denmark has an outstanding network of social support for its citizens, which helps them remain healthy and productive throughout their lives. DaneAge has built on that strong foundation by advocating for its members with policymakers both at national and local levels. It also provides timely information on consumer health, finances, travel, leisure and self-improvement through a bimonthly lifestyle magazine, access to a free member counsel hotline and discounts on products and services. Italy s 50 & Più Fenacom (www. enasco.it) is 35 years old and serves 350,000 members. Headquartered in Rome, 50&Più Fenacom has 800 offices across Italy and 17 offices in six other countries. 50&Più Fenacom aims to meet social needs and lifestyle interests; benefits the organization offers include fiscal and pension advice, tax assistance, advocacy, healthcare services, insurance products, unique travel packages, discounts, publications, education opportunities, and social events. CARP, Canada s Association for the Fifty-Plus ( headquartered in Toronto, Ontario, is a leading membership organization for Canadians age 50 and over. It has grown to almost 400,000 members since it was founded in 1984 by Lillian and Murray Morgenthau. Its mission is to enhance the quality of life for older Canadians through outreach and advocacy, information about key issues and lifestyle choices, and negotiating group benefits and savings on products and services. 1

4 Good Ideas Have No Borders Just as aging is global, so is the exchange of ideas. The AARP Global Network provides unique resources for the exchange of proven solutions among its member organizations around the world. 2 To grasp the value of this expertise, imagine an average day for staff professionals who work at organizations that serve older populations. In Scandinavia, an editor focuses on how to make her organization s member publication more relevant to those just turning 50 while continuing to appeal to their over 65 readers who may have different interests. In Asia, an events manager wonders where to start in developing and marketing a health, lifestyle and technology exposition for mature people in his country. The AARP Global Network can help each of them. Member Case Study Through facilitated discussions at the CEO and staff levels, and several advisory sessions called immersion weeks that paired DaneAge staff with counterparts at AARP, DaneAge refined its strategic plan and identified fresh tactics to provide greater value to current and prospective members. For example, DaneAge wished to tap into AARP s long heritage as an organization that encourages its members to serve others by volunteering. Both organizations want to make it easier for boomers to volunteer in service to others, but face challenges in breaking through the clutter of competing demands on boomers time. For four days, DaneAge staff worked with AARP staff in the national office and in the state of Maryland, seeing first-hand how volunteers lobby legislators, help the low-income manage their money, and foster fellowship by gathering in groups called chapters. DaneAge staff returned to Denmark with more than two dozen concrete ideas for their advocacy and volunteer management efforts. AARP staff gained insights into how to foster greater multicultural partnerships. In another immersion week, DaneAge publications editors benefited from wide-ranging discussions with the professionals who write, edit and design AARP The Magazine, the world s largest-circulation magazine with more than 24 million copies distributed to AARP member households. They also met with AARP Services Inc. staff responsible for overseeing product and service marketing, and AARP staff responsible for producing television and radio shows, working with the news media and maintaining the Association s website. As a result, DaneAge staff returned to Copenhagen with plans to revamp its publications strategy, including creating distinct magazines focused on lifestyle, current news and regional events.

5 H e w h o i s a f r a i d o f a s k i n g i s afraid of learning. Danish proverb AARP Global Network President Ladan Manteghi (front right) and DaneAge CEO Bjarne Hastrup (center) led the negotiating team that welcomed DaneAge as the network s first charter member. Cultivating Future Members One of the highlights for the AARP Global Network in 2007 was gathering decision-makers from 25 organizations in 16 countries who represent the needs, interests and dreams of people age 50+. With the help of founding member AARP, and charter member DaneAge, we organized a three-day workshop in The Netherlands, in the university town of Utrecht. The purpose of the workshop was to give organizations interested in joining the Network the experience of what it would be like to have at their disposal access to direct counterparts in other countries who do the same work they do, and from whom they can gain ideas and expertise. Together, participants in the workshop dealt with common challenges such as: How to reach baby boomers more effectively by identifying what they really want and need; How to develop products and services that fill gaps in the marketplace; and How to influence governments to create age-friendly policies, or modernize existing social insurance programs. At the workshop, a new organization for mature people in Singapore benefited from a number of informative and productive conversations with the events management teams of two of the world s most popular and successful expositions for the 50+ population AARP Life@50+ AARP s National Event & Expo and the Dutch 50 Plus Beurs Exposition. The AARP Global 3

6 The Global Network s workshop in Utrecht, The Netherlands gathered decision-makers from around the world. 4 Network workshop, held in conjunction with the Dutch expo, created this opportunity, which led to the Singaporeans taking home tangible ideas to implement for their first-ever exhibit in The Network will continue to expand its membership targeting countries such as Australia, France, Germany, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, India, Japan, Singapore and Mexico, among others. These countries are advanced in the size of, and focus on, the aging of their citizenry. Most of them have organizations that provide a variety of benefits from advocacy to activities for socializing to discounts. Others are planning to create an organization that gives voice to this segment of their population. The AARP Global Network is a resource that can help strengthen new and existing groups. Reciprocal Privileges One of the most significant advantages of the AARP Global Network is the reciprocal privileges members of our organizations can receive when they visit each others countries. Starting in early 2008, the new AARP Global Network logo will begin appearing in the publications and on new or renewed membership cards for members of both AARP and DaneAge. This will enable AARP and DaneAge members to have access to special benefits and discounts made available in each others countries by both organizations. The AARP Global Network reciprocal membership program also strengthens each organization s brand, positioning us for further advances within the 50+ marketplace worldwide. I envision a future where the AARP Global Network membership card is the key that opens the door to benefits and values internationally from a membership meeting in Aarhus, to a hotel discount in San Francisco, to a special car rental package in Rome, and so on. In this way, we ll create ties between members around the world. Bjarne Hastrup CEO, DaneAge

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