Info on AARP and director William D. Novelli

[KelleyKramer]

I'm sure by now you have heard about the current Medicare legislation passed by the house and pending in the senate.

The Republican sponsors of the bill are making much hay and pointing to the fact that the AARP has endorsed the bill, and are presenting this as proof that seniors are behind them.

But after some checking, things are not what they seem. It looks like the AARP is no longer an 'independent' advocacy group.

Turns out that William D. Novelli, the director of AARP is nothing short of a Republican product, with very close ties to the RNC and also close financial ties with many pharmaceutical and healthcare related corporations.

Before coming to AARP, he co-founded the public relations firm Porter Novelli, which was up to their eye-balls in spinning the public for Republican causes.

To be blunt, this guy is nothing but a right-wing hack, who specializes in spinning the truth.

Listed below is some info I lifted from the AARP forum (link included) that will give you a good start on the real Mr. Novelli.

The post includes a suggestion to google the words: Porter Novelli Republican. I did that, and if you are interested in this issue, that will tell you all you need to know that the leader of the AARP is knee-deep into Republican party partisan actions.

I'm not a senior, but if any of you are, I would encourage you to check this out and give serious thought to resigning from an organization run by a person who has a long history of direct financial ties that conflict with your personal health and well being.

I found this email on the AARP site listed as the one to contact William D. Novelli, its looks suspicious to me, but it might be worth a try... [e-mail]


Best!
Kelley

==============


http://community.aarp.org/n/mb/message.asp?webtag=rp-legislative&msg=3735.1&ctx=1

In June 2001 our elected Board Members of AARP, under the influence of Mr Novelli, changed our AARP Bylaws. Instead of having a AARP convention every other year, they voted to have new Board members appointed by the present Board. They create a nomination committee to propose new Board members. This in effect has taken out WE, the members from the voting process, and replacing us with Novelli.
If you look at many large organizations, and corporations you will find that when this method is used corruption often flourishes. This gives so much power to the CEO that they have created a self perpetuating dynasty.

Where did Bill Novelli come from ? He joined AARP in January 2000 as Associate Executive Director, Public Affairs. Mr. Novelli co-founded and was President of Porter Novelli, now one of the world's largest public relations agencies and part of the Omnicom Group, an international marketing communications corporation.

The following is some research I did this morning. You draw your own conclusions.

I would post each WEB site, but AARP is now removing any references in this Board. You can recreate my work by putting into the Google browser the following:
Porter Novelli Republican

Taken from the current Porter Novelli web site:

EDITED BY ADMIN: COPYRIGHT

[Cleita]

1. May I use some of this in a letter to my

senators about the AARP endorsement of this poisoned legislation?

[KelleyKramer]

4. Everyone is welcome to use this

Yes, absolutely you are welcome to use it.

And feel free to forward it to any of your friends for them to use it too.

[madfloridian]

2. Thanks for sharing that.

I was just at the boards, and I am just so upset at how they have done this.

[Myra]

3. Good info on a bad person KelleyKramer

Thanks.

[KelleyKramer]

7. Gotta keep on going

Looks like the Repubs are taking over every single citizen group in America.

They already own the media, they even own most of the voting machines.

Good grief, we've got to do something about it.

[hedda_foil]

5. Infuckingcredible!

So Novelli's replaced the whole damn AARP board with little bushbots of his very own choosing.

The AARP members on aren't taking this lying down! They sound like any group of energized DUers and they're organizing like mad. Here's a group they've put together to counter AARP: http://groups.msn.com/SAARP/_submitjoin.msnw

[KelleyKramer]

6. That link wants a password and sign up

If its not too much trouble, could you please give a quick summery?

Thanks
Kelley

[oasis]

8. Real good info. I'll try to remember to kick this

[xxqqqzme]

9. sent my AARP

email on Thursday demanding he resign if he wasn't going to represent the membership or remove his lips from squatter ass. I guessed that Novelli wan't relying on Medicare 4 health benefits since he was supporting this POS. Told them 2 remove my name from their membership list and stop sending me their lame-ass magazine.

[OneBlueSky]

10. there's a great article here if one of our crack writers . . .

would care to tackle it . . . this information should be given WIDE distribution . . .

[newyawker99]

11. KelleyKramer

Per DU copyright rules
please post only 4
paragraphs from the
news source.

Thank you.

NYer99
DU Moderator

[MaineDem]

12. Another FORMER member of AARP here

My renewal came in the mail the other day and I sent it back with a little note. I will not belong to any group that behaves this way.

I qualify for the group by being over 50 - and retired - although not eligible for Medicare yet. I'm appalled (I use that word so often now it's scary) at the lack of concern AARP is showing for the elderly of the US. And their name carries great impace with seniors. I've convinced my mother that just because they've endorsed this bill it is NOT a good deal for her. She's now spreading the word in her Seniors' building.