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About CWAG
Elder Law Center
Events/Training
Legislative Issues
Publications
Document Contents
- Introduction
- Group Membership
- Individual Membership
- Lifetime Membership
- Business Sponsorship
- Frequently Asked Questions
Introduction
Looking for a way to be involved in the political process and have an impact on the issues that affect you? Ready to join CWAG but confused about your options? CWAG gives you three ways to affiliate with and support the organization. The first, and oldest category, is group membership.
Group Membership
Group membership is CWAG’s foundation because it provides the governance and priorities for the organization. It is available to any citizen-based, non-profit group of ten persons or more in Wisconsin -- at a cost of just $25 annually. Each group receives vital information about state legislative issues through a selected group representative. In addition, member groups are also entitled to send one voting delegate (although others are encouraged to attend) to CWAG’s district meetings and annual convention where issues are discussed, officers elected and platforms approved. The types of organizations that become CWAG member groups are diverse. They include senior centers, nutrition sites, AARP chapters, church groups, county offices on aging, professional retirees, statewide associations and many, many others.
Individual Membership
Individual membership opens the door to an information network for folks all over the state. Individual members receive the latest legislative information along with a variety of other benefits like our outstanding prescription drug discount at a cost of just $15 per year. What’s even better is that an individual membership covers two people per household. So two people can take advantage of the benefits of membership. Anyone can become an individual member -- regardless of age. In fact, our members range in age from over 100 years to just over 15 months old! Take this opportunity to become an individual member. Simply fill out and return the application on this page.
Lifetime Membership
You asked for it and now it's finally here -- lifetime membership. CWAG developed the Lifetime Membership category for people who wanted the option of a one-time payment to CWAG for their membership benefits. No more renewal notices! And "lifers" have the great distinction of being a member and supporter of CWAG for life.
Lifetime membership is available to individuals who are 60 years of age or older. Its benefits cover two people per household although the primary member must be a least 60 years of age or older.
Lifetime members are eligible for all of the benefits of membership enjoyed by individual members for the rest of their lives. As individual membership benefits change and increase, so do those benefits to lifetime members. Like individual members, lifetime members have no voting rights in CWAG but are given special recognition in the "CWAG Advocate" once each year.
Lifetime membership is available for a one-time payment of $150.
Interested in becoming a lifetime member? For more information, contact CWAG's Membership Services Unit at:
5900 Monona Dr., Ste. 400
Madison, WI 53716-3554
608/224-0606Or, e-mail cwag@midplains.net.
Business Sponsorship
Supporting Wisconsin communities is a concern for all of us. Businesses and other for-profit organizations with a special interest in supporting their communities and the elderly who live there, can join with CWAG to build a better Wisconsin for people of all ages. Through business sponsorship, CWAG offers an opportunity for businesses to contribute to the advocacy work that CWAG does on behalf of older citizens. Large businesses (26 or more employees) contribute $100 annually. Small businesses (25 or fewer employees) contribute $50 annually.
So find the membership category that works best for you -- or choose more than one by encouraging groups you belong to, friends with an interest in legislative issues, or businesses who serve older customers, to connect with CWAG through membership or sponsorship. We’ll keep them informed and give them opportunities to lend their voices to the issues that concern them most. For more information or to get applications for group membership or business sponsorship contact us at:
Coalition of Wisconsin Aging Groups (CWAG)
5900 Monona Drive, Suite 400
Madison, WI 53716-3554PHONE: 608/224-0606
FAX: 608/224-0607Frequently Asked Questions
For groups ...
For individuals ...
For businesses ...
Of general interest ...What is the Coalition of Wisconsin Aging Groups and why should our group join?
The Coalition of Wisconsin Aging Groups (CWAG) is a statewide federation of organizations joined together to advocate on behalf of older persons in Wisconsin. Its primary functions are advocacy and education which, in turn, empower older persons to act on their own behalf. The benefits to groups and individuals who join CWAG are:
- the opportunity to address issues, through CWAG, that they would like to change and
- the enormous amount of education they receive through publications, training and the annual convention that CWAG sponsors.
What do we get for our annual membership fee?
The representative named by your organization will recieve information on issues affecting the elderly, including Federal and State legislation and budgets. On an annual basis, CWAG publishes seven to ten "Legislative Update" and "Action Alert" bulletins, as well as a quarterly newspaper, the "CWAG Advocate." They provide the most concise, accurate and timely information available on state issues of concern to the elderly. Also, CWAG has information available on health care, property taxes, income security and other subjects of interest. This information is sent to individual members, member groups and business sponsors. In addition, group members are invited to attend interesting, informative district meetings and have a voice in selecting district representatives on CWAG's governing board. Your group representative could be elected to the governing board if he/she is interested and shows leadership potential. Finally, your group may send one voting delegate to CWAG's annual convention where officers are elected and a statewide platform is adopted. Your group can send as many people as it wants to participate but only one delegate, elected by the group, can vote. In short, for a modest membership fee, your group can be part of an effective statewide coalition working for a better quality of life for all Wisconsin citizens.
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If I'm already a member of a CWAG member group, why should I become an individual member of CWAG?
There are a variety of reasons but, perhaps most important, those becoming individual members are supporting the work of CWAG and, in the process, are educating themselves and others on the issues most important to older persons in Wisconsin. This isn't the only reason. Individual members receive a number of benefits including receiving the "Legislative Update," "Action Alert" and quarterly "CWAG Advocate." Members also receive a personalized membership card, are able to take advantage of CWAG's new prescription drug discount program, have the opportunity to receive a CWAG MasterCard with no annual fee and a low interest rate, and have access to a variety of free and discounted publications on topics of interest to older persons. Individual members get all the information, including notices of district meetings and the annual convention, mailed directly to their homes which means that they do not have to rely on others to get accurate and timely information.
Why does CWAG endorse the Value Plus supplemental insurance policy?
CWAG, with Blue Cross and Blue Shield United of Wisconsin, developed the Value Plus Medicare supplemental insurance policy to give older persons in the state a quality Medicare supplement policy. CWAG endorses the policy because it believes that Value Plus is an excellent policy with many benefits for those in need of a supplemental policy. Some of the unique features of Value Plus, such as simplified claims processing, have put pressure on other insurance companies to improve their Medigap policies.
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Why should my business become a business sponsor of CWAG?
Businesses are concerned about the communities in which they do business and the citizens of those communities. Business sponsorship gives them the opportunity to receive the same information sent to CWAG groups and individual members so they can be informed on issues affecting the senior citizens who reside in their community. In addition, business sponsors receive a window decal that they can post at their businesses to let the community know of their support for Wisconsin's senior citizens. Business sponsors are also listed in CWAG's annual convention program book and in the "CWAG Advocate."
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What is "ownership by grassroots?"
CWAG was started by older adults for older adults. CWAG's grassroots, in the simplest terms, are the members who belong to each of the local member groups. An organization is owned by the decision-makers and those who contribute their loyalty to the purposes of the organization. This loyalty is expressed by following through on the decisions made by the governing board at the annual convention, attending and participating in district meetings and taking every opportunity to present the accomplishment and value of the organization to others. Grassroots fundraising is money raised by member groups to help defray CWAG's expenses. This includes donations by member groups, paying more than the basic membership fee, encouraging individual membership, soliciting donations from other groups or businesses, and selling convention program book ads, raffle tickets, CWAG pins, etc.
CWAG is a grassroots organization because governing board members are elected by the member groups, issue forums are held to get feedback on concerns and priorities of older citizens in Wisconsin and a platform is adopted by the voting membership every two years at the annual convention. This is also called a "from the bottom up," rather than a "from the top down" decision-making process.
Is a non-profit, tax-exempt organization like CWAG allowed to lobby?
Yes. The real question is: how much? Generally, a non-profit, tax-exempt organization may lobby if it doesn't spend more than 20 percent of its resources (budget) for direct (e.g. meeting with legislators by CWAG staff) or grassroots (e.g. writing, printing and mailing "Legislative Updates" encouraging people to contact their legislators) lobbying. CWAG has never exceeded 10 percent of its budget for lobbying purposes.
What is the difference between CWAG and AARP (American Association of Retired Persons)?
While it is true that both CWAG and AARP are advocacy organizations for senior citizens, there are some striking distinctions between the two organizations. The major difference is that CWAG is a Wisconsin organization concentrating primarily on state issues; whereas, AARP focuses most heavily on national issues.
CWAG and AARP are non-competitive and, in fact, cooporate on mutually important issues. Many AARP members belong to CWAG member groups and are CWAG individual members and vice versa.
Last updated: July 25, 1997
By: Gail Schwersenska