YOU Can Make the Older American's Act Better!

The Older Americans Act (OAA) is due for reauthorization in 2011. The National Council on Aging (NCOA) asks the question, "How can we make it better?"  The NCOA wants YOUR voice at the table—and they’ve made it easy for you.  The Exchange is their exciting new Web site where you can have your say.

1. Go to The Exchange and register by clicking on the Login or Register link in the upper right hand corner. 
2. Type in an email address, set a password and then click on the New User? link.
3. Fill out the registration information. 
4. Display Name is the name that will show up when you make any comments on ideas.  NCOA recommends that you use your real First Name and Last Name.  They also recommend that you include your Organization Name as well if that's applicable.  So mine is Mary Catherine Dabrowski, Havertown Ctr. (I had to abbreviate Center because my name is so long!)
5. Then click on the Create an Account button and you're all set.

Now that you have an Account, you can vote on ideas!  Click on the Ideas Tab. There you can read all the various ideas.  If you find an idea that you like, click on Green Arrow button that says Promote (to the left of the Idea Title).  For example, I voted for this idea:

Test Community Resource Centers
Pilot test, evaluate, and disseminate “one-stop shop” resource centers where older adults and their families can gain access to all available public and private benefits and services.

Or you can find Ideas by topics.  Just go to the left hand sidebar and click on a topic.  For example, I clicked on Senior Centers and then voted for this idea:

Create a Senior Center Modernization Fund
Create a senior center modernization fund to foster senior center innovation, leadership, and capacity-building.

Vote for ideas that You would like to see made possible. Vote on what You think are the best ideas for OAA reauthorization. And, if You have an idea—post it. Click on Post and "describe your idea in detail."