Membership
Elder Law Center
Events/Training
Legislative Issues
Publications
Document Contents
Introduction
The Coalition of Wisconsin Aging Groups is a federation of local, area and statewide groups and individuals whose mission is:
- to advocate for the special needs of older persons;
- to assure that older persons are recognized as people of dignity and worth; and
- to affirm that older persons are partners in building the Wisconsin of tomorrow for people of all ages.
History
The Coalition of Wisconsin Aging Groups (CWAG), incorporated in 1978, was born out of an urgent need for advocacy at the state level of government. The State of Wisconsin has some of the best programs for older people in the country due, in large part, to laws and budgets approved by state government. CWAG plays a vital role in the process by voicing the needs of older people and empowering them to express their own views and concerns.
The Coalition of Wisconsin Aging Groups is a non-profit, non-partisan, statewide movement. Nowhere is the movement more alive than in CWAG's nine districts. Through grassroots advocacy, CWAG speaks in a unified voice on behalf of Wisconsin's older population. How do we know? We ask. CWAG's priority issues come directly from the platform developed by the network of member groups that governs our organization.
How the Coalition Works
CWAG functions through its member groups in nine (9) geographic districts. Groups in the districts meet individually at least twice a year and as a group at the annual convention where issues are discussed, the two-year platform is approved and/or amended and officers are elected.
The on-going program of information exchange between member groups, the governing board, and CWAG staff promotes the advocacy efforts of the organization. All CWAG members are invited to attend district meetings and the convention and are encouraged to participate in the grassroots advocacy process. All members of member groups have voting privileges at district meetings, where governing board representatives are selected and district leadership is developed.
A thirty-four (34) member governing board gives direction to CWAG activities. The Board, consisting of five elected officers, the immediate past president, the state legislative chair, and three persons from each of the nine districts, employs an executive director who is the primary CWAG lobbyist.
The Board sets policy, reviews and monitors the CWAG annual budget.
Who Belongs to CWAG?
Any citizen-based group of ten persons or more, in the State of Wisconsin, with concern for the aging may become a CWAG member group. Approximately 630 groups are currently members, representing 120,000 individual Wisconsin citizens. Persons of any age may become individual members; the fee for this type of membership is paid per household. CWAG invites persons interested in aging issues to join together to affirm their status as productive, equal partners in shaping the future of coming generations.
The Coalition of Wisconsin Aging Groups provides a variety of programs and services to its members and to Wisconsin's senior citizens. These are administered by two units of CWAG and funded by public and private grants, corporate sponsorship, public contributions and membership fees.
The Member Services unit provides coordination of the PartnerCare program , development and implementation of membership benefits and service to individual and group members. Member Services also provides consumer advocacy for the CWAG-endorsed Medigap policy, Value Plus. The annual convention and quarterly newsletter The Advocate is also coordinated by Member Services.
Member Services focuses on leadership development, information sharing and the empowerment of seniors to further establish and maintain CWAG's grassroots advocacy efforts.
Click here for complete information on membership options.
The Elder Law Center of CWAG
The Elder Law Center (ELC) is a legal services provider for the elderly, engaging in individual and group legal advocacy on issues affecting citizens over the age of 60, with special emphasis on the poor and vulnerable elderly.
With a staff of attorneys, benefit specialists and support staff, the ELC provides legal training and oversight to the benefit specialists in 58 Wisconsin Counties.
The ELC operates the Wisconsin Guardianship Support Center which provides training, educational materials and other support to judges, registers in probate, lawyers, social service workers and guardians. The Guardianship Support Center also operates a toll-free hot line to provide information and assistance on guardianship related issues. The toll-free line works on a call-back system. Staff returns calls as soon as possible.
The Elder Law Center also works on issues of consumer protection, elder abuse prevention and other legal issues important to the elderly. Community outreach and local, state and national education through training events and publications are integral components of the ELC's advocacy efforts.
Last updated: August 1, 1997
By: Gail Schwersenska