Barbara Samuells
Co-Founder
After raising two daughters and celebrating a 40th wedding anniversary, Barbara Samuells was winding down a career as a CPA and college professor and anticipating a peaceful retirement. However, when she heard the politician’s proposals to fundamentally change our healthcare, and heard she would be “allowed” to keep her doctor, she knew this was not politics as usual. When she heard 535 billion was being cut from Medicare, she knew no one would be able to keep their doctor and Seniors would be the first to suffer.
A dinner table conversation with two favorite Super Seniors, her Mom and Dad, about the uncertainties of this healthcare reform ignited that inner voice for action and she founded the 912 Super Seniors. The 9 principles and 12 values of the 912 Project were familiar lifelong guidelines to the Seniors who came together on April 15, 2009, in the first local Super Seniors group. They shared concerns, questions and information with goals of educating themselves and others and empowering Seniors to act to preserve the freedoms and prosperity of America.
After Barbara spoke on the Glenn Beck show about the 912 Super Seniors, the outpouring of interest pushed the development of the 912 Super Seniors website and the establishment of other local 912 Super Seniors groups
Mary Jo Schroeder
Co-Founder
Mary Jo Schroeder retired in 2008 after teaching elementary school for 39 years in a Catholic school in northwest Ohio. She has ten younger siblings, two children of her own and also nine grandchildren, not to mention five step-children, 14 step-grandchildren, and six step-great grandchildren. She has a bachelor’s degree in education from Bowling Green State University in Bowling Green, Ohio, and a master’s degree in education from Wright State University in Dayton, Ohio. One morning several years ago on his radio show she heard Glenn Beck say that what is happening in our country is not so much about the adults but the children and what kind of world we will leave behind for them. That was all it took! Her involvement and interest in our government and its inner workings began at that point. For Mary Jo, it is all about the children and making sure that their world is as free and as unfettered as hers was as a child.
Greg McNeice
Board Member
Following a 25 year career as a bioengineer in Canada, Greg immigrated to America in 1993 to accept a position in medical research. Following his retirement he became an American citizen in 2001. During his bioengineering career he had the pleasure of living in Providence RI, Santa Monica CA, Galveston TX and Greenville SC. These sojourns gave him the opportunity to live and sample four very different American lifestyles. Having lived and been educated in Canada and Great Britain both socialistic countries, he was able to draw direct comparisons between the pros and cons of these political systems. His choice was like that of many immigrants to America – the land of opportunity and individual liberty. It was not until Glenn Beck left CNN and went to FoxNews did Greg realize the real importance of his chosen citizenship. With four children and eight grandchildren, half in Canada and half in the US his focus turned sharply to the Tea Party and 912 movements. Living now in Estero Florida he is a area representative for the Naples Tea Party, member of the SWFL912Project and a standing resource for the SWFL912SuperSeniors. He is quick to remind others that if they choose to drink Kool-Aid don’t get too close!
Rose Goodstone
Board Member
Rose and her husband Alan started photographing weddings in 1969, while Alan worked full time for Wisconsin Electric Power Company, and Rose worked for IBM as a secretary.
The years passed quickly as they raised their two children. Rose was a full time mom and active volunteer while the children were growing up. She was a Girl Scout Leader, PTA President, and member of many School Board and Superintendent committees for the Franklin School District.
Alan and Rose both attended many photography classes, seminars and conventions to learn and keep up with their part-time trade of photography. Conducting business out of their home for the first 15 years on a part-time basis, gave way to opening their full time portrait studio in 1984, in Franklin, Wisconsin. They have photographed hundreds of modeling children, as well as families, high school seniors, business portraits, and weddings.
Alan and Rose are actively involved in their professional associations. They have been recognized and honored with numerous awards for their service, and photographic excellence. Rose was President of their local photographic association as well as the Franklin Chamber of Commerce.
They retired in December, 2008. Their philosophy for success in business has always been but a few major ideals: a strict code of ethical conduct, providing the best possible quality in their products, outstanding personal service, and their belief in a friendly and caring atmosphere for all their clients.
Hi my husband and I live out in the wilds of Onalaska, WA. It takes us about an hour to drive anywhere close, and I have chronic health issues that sometimes leave me bedridden. I would love to join one of these groups or see if there are enough seniors here to get a group going, even in my home. How do we do this, or interact with another group, based on our circumstances. Also I need advice. We have a Medicare Advantage Plan, and as we have many prescriptions, since december we can’t get our prescriptions refilled, as the carrier turns them down in lieu of cheaper meds, or meds that must be authorized. The delays in their decisions are causing us to be without meds for weeks till they decide what meds we will get, as opposed to what the doctor orders. My husband Eric had a Heart Attack two years ago, so I am worried about him. I am chronically ill also, have a lot of meds. I have complained to the Insurance Commission, who took no notice, so don’t know where to turn next for help. Can you advise are we alone or is this the new norm?
I feel so bad for you and your husband. Maybe you need to move closer to the city so you are around people. Do they have Senior Housing Agencies around you that you can contact to move into one. My mother lived in one and it was respectable and comfortable. She paid her rent by what her income was. Every year she had to show them all her savings accounts, etc. and then they would calculate her rent for the next year.
I also would contact your local Senator or Representative’s office. I’m sure they would have someone to help you or direct you. That’s why they are there!
Have you gone to the FreedomConnector.org site to see what groups are near you. You just put your location in and see what comes up.
Hope that helps a little!
I have written many letters to our Senators and Representatives. Here are some of them. Note, I have two email addresses
M. SUE BALDWIN-O’DEA
213 ALPINE DR.
GODFREY, IL 62035
618-467-6365
Sbodea43@gmail.com
In the event of a government shut-down, do not stop payment of Social Security checks.
Respect for our older citizens has been lost. The first thing the Government wants to do is take away from those least able to provide for themselves, the low income elderly. Their opportunity to find extra sources of income through work is very limited because of discrimination in hiring older workers or because of health issues that prevent them from working.
I recall when studying Gerontology in College a finding by researchers. It was determined by studies that the level of respect shown to the elderly in a Society directly reflects the strength of that Society. Where there was reverence shown to the elderly, there was strength in that society and where that was lacking there existed a crumbling society. Likewise, disrespect for life through abortion is also reflected in a corrupt society.
As an example of so many older citizens like myself , a widow, living on Social Security and a small 401k that keeps diminishing with the stock market, no Social Security check would be genocide
My house would go into foreclosure. While waiting for forced eviction, my electric would be turned off and my water would be shut down. My food would have to be thrown out because of no refrigeration. Depending on the weather, I could freeze to death or die of heatstroke. One of the medications I take, Synthyroid, would be stopped which can lead to a coma.
I have no family nearby. Two in Indiana , one in Cincinnati, one in Nevada and one in Boston. Two of my family members are quite a bit older than I am.
Ask your fellow Senators if this is what you want to do to Senior Citizens. If this is what you do, I can promise you will have to pay for this eventually.
Sue Baldwin-O’Dea
No response to this one:
M SUE BALDWIN-O’DEA
213 Alpine Dr.
Godfrey, IL 62035
618-467-6365
Sbodea43@gmail.com
Charles Johnson Director
Riley Portia Adm. Assist.
Illinois Dept on Aging.
Dear Sir:
After numerous attempts to obtain some assistance, faxes, phone calls and email starting in the second week of January, I am taking this request to you. No one has responded to my requests.
I am sending copies of my Ameren statement and the results of an audit of my home energy use. With the size of this bill and the Governor’s plan to stop the Circuit Breaker program, I am at risk of losing my home and becoming dependent on State Aid.
I applied for the Weatherization program with the County but they have a 12 month waiting list. I cannot afford to wait that long. My home is 51 years old, no insulation in the walls and very little insulation in the attic.
I live on $1269 a month Social Security. Last September, I lost my job as a school bus monitor due to the amount of days I had to take off when my husband was on Hospice from April 2009 to June 2010 when he passed away. Since I only worked 20 hrs a week, I wasn’t eligible for the Family Leave Program.
I am trying to find a program that would pay for the needed weatherization of my home so I can reduce these high heating bills.
If you could find a way for me to get this assistance, I would really appreciate it.
With appreciation,
Sue O’Dea
This is a note to all Senior Citizens in this country.
Let’s face it folks, anyone of us old enough to be on Social Security and Medicare are facing the real threat of genocide. I don’t care whether you speak to a Republican or Democrat official, they will deny the truth.
If you pay attention to the talking heads, read the editorials or listen to the debates, it all boils down to one thing. Middle income and low income Senior Citizens unable to work because of health or lack of work are considered a liability in this country.
While our government officials scratch their heads trying to find a way to implement a way to take away our support systems without our taking notice, the bottom line is they are going to do it. I don’t care if you are listening to local news, NBC, CBS,ABC, Fox or any other talk or news show, you can hear them beat around the bush with this subject. Take this as a warning, if you are not independently wealthy…..you are dead. I just hope my time comes quickly so I don’t have to die in the streets.
S.B. O’Dea
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