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History

The organization was initially known as the Consultation of Older and Younger Adults for Social Change.[2] The group’s main goals included changing the mandatory retirement age and seeking an end to the Vietnam War.[3] In 1972, due to their growing numbers and success, a New York talk show producer nicknamed them the Gray Panthers.[2] The name was later adopted by the group. The group currently operates under a system of participatory democracy designed to allow their members to have a say in the group’s direction.[4] While previous office locations have included Philadelphia, PA, the national office of the Gray Panthers moved to its current location in Washington, DC in 1990.[5] In 1992 former national Head Start administrator Jule Sugarman accepted the position of Interim executive director of the Gray Panthers, then on the brink of insolvency, to help the group reorganize its by-laws, its board of directors, and its fundraising.[6] Although their slogan is “Age and Youth in Action,” the group is still seen by many as meeting the needs of only senior citizens.[7] The Gray Panthers are celebrating their 40th Anniversary Year of Activism in 2010.

Gray Panthers' Founding

In August of 1970, Maggie Kuhn convened a group of five friends, all of whom were retiring from national religious and social work organizations. This first "Network" of friends gathered to look at the common problems faced by retirees — loss of income, loss of contact with associates and loss of one of our society's most distinguishing social roles, one's job. They also discovered a new kind of freedom in their retirement — the freedom to speak personally and passionately about what they believed in, such as their collective opposition to the Vietnam War. Gathering with college student opposed to the War, this new group, self-named the Consultation of Older and Younger Adults for Social Change met to discuss their common beliefs and values in Philadelphia. One year later more than 100 people joined their Consultation.

The Gray Panthers is an organization which was founded in August of 1970, by Maggie Kahun. Maggie and her core group of friends were preparing to retire from non-profit work field, when they noticed the problems which affected them directly. A startling number of retirees were faced with the loss of income, loss of communication with the outside world and jobs. Although they faced a harsh reality that they may or may no longer play an essential role in society, they discovered a new freedom. They began to speak to college students about their beliefs and even encouraged them to walk with them in their walk of "change". The group of friends wanted to be bigger than their retirement and wanted to accomplish more goals than they'd ever imagine. The group quickly became one of which supported social change. The newly improved group became known as the Consultation of Older and Younger Adults for Social Change. The group quickly became well known and grabbed the attention of more than 100 people the following year of their first meeting.

Gray Panthers' Growth

This new group began meeting and acting. Early on, a New York TV talk show producer nicknamed the group the Gray Panthers for the groups' lively, quick witted, controversial and action-oriented manner. The name stuck and was quickly adopted by the media, especially after Maggie's "unscheduled" speech in 1972. Maggie was asked to fill in at the last minute for someone unable to speak during the 181st General Assembly of the United Presbyterian Church in Denver. From that one speech, the Gray Panthers were born, with calls flooding in from around the nation to the Philadelphia based headquarters of the fledgling organization. As their exposure increased due to media attention for activities that ranged from joining with students for peace in Vietnam, to co-sponsoring the "Black House Conference on Aging" calling attention to the lack of African-Americans at the first White House Conference on Aging, to the street theater skit at the American Medical Association's conference in 1974 calling for "Health Care as a Human Right," the newly dubbed Gray Panthers created quite a stir and a strong following.

Soon after the group's first meeting, the group began meeting and acting with others that shared their common interest. The group was praised for it's lively and goal oriented manner. The name "The Gray Panthers" derives from a New York TV talk show producer who though the group was similar to that of the Black Panthers, yet took a much more subtle approach to solving issues. In 1972, Maggie was asked to make an "unscheduled" speech during the 181st General Assembly of the United Presbyterian Church in Denver. The speech that was made would be the speech to put the organization on the map. People called into the Philadelphia headquarters to ask questions and gain more information on the unheard of group. The group took part in activities such as rallying for peace in Vietnam, to attending conferences on aging. The groups also believed that "Health Care was a Human Right", which gave the Gray Panthers a strong group of supporters.

Gray Panthers Organize

Outgrowing their mid-Atlantic base, The Gray Panthers launched a national organization comprised of local "Networks," each of which had a leader, known as a "Convenor," relating back to the organization's founding of convening a network of one's friends and associates. Throughout the seventies and early eighties the Gray Panthers grew, as one of the few multi-issue, intergenerational organizations directly and publicly challenging the status quo from a progressive, even radical, point of view. In 1985, they opened their first public policy office in Washington, DC, and in 1990 centralized most functions there. After Maggie's death in 1995, only one month after the tenth biennial convention honoring her legacy, the national organization struggled with its mourning and loss of its charismatic leader. However, through the dedication of the national Board of Directors and its Chair, Charlotte Flynn, the national organization survived. In 1997, the national Gray Panthers Board of Directors, responding to Members' needs, hired a new Executive Director. The national staff was re-organized and supplemented with a deputy director, director of public policy and media and the first full-time grassroots organizer. At the Eleventh Biennial Convention in September, 1997, a new Board of Directors, including a new Chair, were sworn in as the Gray Panthers prepare to head into the next years of age and youth in action.

The Gray Panthers launched a national organization comprised of local networks, expanded and tackled more issues; resulting in the group becoming known as a multi-issue group, challenged the status quo of the seventies and early eighties and became known for its progressive and semi-radical nature. The current headquarters for the Gray Panthers is in Washington, DC.

Mission

Work for social and economic justice and peace for all people.

Vision

Create a humane society that puts the needs of people over profits, responsibility over power, and democracy over institutions.

Values

Honoring Maturity: The concept of aging takes into account an individuals growth during their entire life span, from birth to death in personal development, social involvement, and self fulfillment.

Unifying the Generations: Recognition that generations are formed by different histories and cultures, but a common respect holds them together.

Active Engagement: Civic participation and responsibility are fundamental to achieving goals of social and economic justice.

Participatory Democracy: The Gray Panthers belongs to its members. The members define the organization's values, purpose, and the issues in which we place collective energy.

Health Care

Dave Brown and Joao Cunha, members of the group, point to the Gray Panthers as instrumental in the effort to popularize health care over the past twenty years.[7] Their goal is “to create and fund a single-payer, nonprofit and universal health care system.” [8] They also encourage a “health consciousness” system as opposed to the current “disease orientation” where the focus will be on preventative care.[5] The organization has filed several suits targeting pharmaceutical companies whom they allege to have blocked competition over generic drug production. In the past, they have filed a class-action law suit against Bristol-Myers Squibb, a pharmaceutical manufacturer, for alleged damages the company caused in delaying competition for BuSpar, a brand-name anti-anxiety drug.[9] The suit was the first of its kind in seeking damages for the unlawful blocking of generic competition by a drug company. The Gray Panthers were also in the courtroom when they brought a class action suit in order to change Medicare regulations.[10] The case, Gray Panthers v. Schweiker, occurred in 1980. The group saw that the current way older patients were notified that their Medicare reimbursements were denied was an unconstitutional violation of their due process rights, arguing that the notification was laden with jargon and thus difficult to understand. While they lost the initial court case, they were successful on appeal. "Stop Patient Abuse Now" (SPAN) was launched by the group in 2001. It represents over 125 national, state, and local organizations representing patient rights. Other issues relating to healthcare that the Gray Panthers stand for include the legalization of medical marijuana, a patient’s bill of rights, and barriers to stem cell research to be lifted.[8] The Gray Panthers have also taken a stand on the past arms race during the 1970s and 80s.[5] To the Gray Panthers, this issue is closely related to that of health. Recently, they have taken a stand against the possibility of war with Iran and encourage its members to contact their legislators in regards to the issue.[11]

Health Care is one of the most important issues that The Gray Panthers stand for. They have worked to popularize the issue over the past twenty years. Their goal is “to create and fund a single-payer, nonprofit and universal health care system.” They focus on the world becoming more conscious of the healthy living. The group had filed several law suits within the past few years, many of which had to deal with unlawful acts by drug companies. An important case which made the Panthers stronger and gain more attention was the Panthers V. Schweiker case of 1980. The Panthers argued that Medicare violated their rights because they were failing to notify elder patients of their reimbursements, which was declared unconstitutional because of their due process rights. A campaign nicknamed (SPAN) which stands for "Stop Patient Abuse Now", was launched in 2001. The campaign was designed to represent patient's rights. The Gray Panthers have also worked to legalize medical marijuana, designed a patient’s bill of rights, and fought for the elimination barriers of stem cell research.

Other Issues

In addition to the issue of health care, the Gray Panthers focus on both the environmental and anti-war movements. They oppose the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. The organization holds that environmental pollution affects mostly people who are poor, women and children, racial minorities and people living in developing countries, and argues that corporations responsible for such pollution should be held accountable to cleaning up their environmental messes. The Grey Panthers believe that the U.S. Government should work towards developing alternative energy sources, while creating new jobs. Other issues the Gray Panthers have taken action against include those relating to ageism. The Gray Panthers see aging as something to be considered positively. In the past, the Gray Panthers united with Ralph Nader's Retired Professional Action Group (RPAG) in order to monitor the hearing aid industry.[2] The groups joined in 1973, the same year that RPAG released to the public, ‘’Paying Through the Ear," [12] a report documenting acts of unscrupulous sales practices in the hearing aid industry. Furthermore, A National Media Watch Task Force was established by the Gray Panthers in 1973, designed to track ageist stereotyping. Their presence persuaded the National Association of Broadcasters to create guidelines for monitoring age discrimination in the media and to encourage sensitivity of the media in the matter. The Gray Panthers have also influenced the area of housing. They advocate house-sharing and intergenerational living and affordable adequate housing for all.[5] In addition, they support expanding the number of subsidized rental units available to low-income persons [8] The Gray Panthers form a national organization of local networks.[2] The group gained official NGO (Non-governmental Organization) status at the United Nations in 1981. The Gray Panthers have seven representatives at the UN participating in various committees and conferences.[13] Over the years the Gray Panthers have made use of various tactics. One such tactic utilized includes guerrilla theater.[5] In 1974, during a picket of two hundred nuns with wheelchairs and crutches outside the annual American Medical Association (AMA) conference, four Gray Panther members dressed as medics rushed over to the conference’s main entrance to make a house call on “the sick AMA.” Another member dressed as “the sick AMA” was assisted by the “medics” from the entrance to a nearby ambulance. The medics attempted to resuscitate and examine his heart, but were distracted by pulling out wads of dollar bills. In 2003, the Gray Panthers took out a full page ad in newspapers around the country including The Washington Post and The Washington Times asking federal officials to stop awarding federal contracts to MCI WorldCom.[14] The group was outraged at the US government’s reaction to that fact that MCI WorldCom committed one of the largest corporate frauds in American history. The ad was sparked by the announcement that the federal government was giving MCI WorldCom a multimillion dollar contract for a wireless network in Iraq. However, controversy arose when it was found out that the money for the ads was raised by Issue Dynamics Inc., a consultancy firm which was acting for Verizon Communications, one of Worldcom's competitors. The group defended their actions by stating that they “have no objection to using the enemy to bring down the enemy.”

As of right now, my article consists of headings with information derived from my references below, and sub headings with summaries of which I will expand upon later.

References

"Age and Youth in Action." Gray Panthers. Web. 03 Oct. 2011. <http://www.graypanthers.org>. "Gray Panthers." Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Web. 03 Oct. 2011. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gray_Panthers>.