Sample Newsletter articles

One way that you or your organization can participate in “Wake Up, Washington!” Month is by telling your newsletter subscribers about the month.  Below are two examples of newsletter articles that introduce “Wake Up, Washington!” month and encourage individuals to contribute to the story bank.  Please use or adapt the text for your newsletter and help spread the word.

Newsletter Sample #1

Make Your Voice Heard!

Do you or someone you know worry about how you’re going to make it in retirement?  Do you have neither a traditional pension nor a 401(k) to supplement Social Security?  If you have a 401(k) plan, did your 401(k) account lose a lot of money during the recent recession?  Even if you have a good pension, are you concerned about your children’s retirement future?

If you answered “Yes” to any of these questions, you are not alone.

More than half of American households are at risk of not having enough money in retirement, according to the Center for Retirement Research.  Polls show that most Americans are extremely concerned about their retirement future, but lawmakers and opinion leaders simply aren’t paying attention.  That’s why [name of group] is participating in “Wake Up, Washington!” Month, a speak-out on retirement security.  The Month, which runs from September 15 to October 15, will be a time for Americans across the country to tell lawmakers to keep their hands off of Social Security and to fix the nation’s patchwork private retirement income system.

If you are concerned about your retirement future, take part in “Wake Up, Washington!” Month and make your voice heard.  Activities for the Month include submitting your story to the story bank, blogging about your retirement concerns, and using Twitter and Facebook to post messages about retirement insecurity

We are looking for a wide range of stories for the story bank from people of all ages and from all walks of life:  people who don’t have a pension or a 401(k) plan and who will rely mostly or solely on Social Security; people who just have a 401(k) plans and have not saved enough or who lost a lot in the recent recession; and we want the good stories, too, from those with a guaranteed pension who will be able to make ends for retirement.

If you’d like to be heard, you can submit your story in writing or you can send in a video or audio recording of yourself talking about your concerns. You can interview a friend or a family member about whether they think they’ll make it for retirement – or, if they are retired, whether they have enough money to make ends meet.

Working Americans deserve a secure, comfortable retirement and they deserve a retirement system that they can count on.  Make your voice heard!  If you would like to tell your story or if you have questions, please send an e-mail to info@retirement-usa.org.

Newsletter Sample#2

Make Your Voice Heard!

With traditional pensions under attack, health care costs rising, and an uncertain economy, even workers with guaranteed pensions are concerned about their retirement.  Others who may feel secure about their own retirement finances are concerned about their children’s retirement future, as fewer employers are offering guaranteed pensions and 401(k)s fluctuate with the stock market. More than half of American households are at risk of not having enough money in retirement, according to the Center for Retirement Research.  Polls show that most Americans are extremely concerned about their retirement future, but lawmakers and opinion leaders simply aren’t paying attention.  That’s why [name of group] is participating in “Wake Up, Washington!” Month, a speak-out on retirement security.  The Month, which runs from September 15 to October 15, will be a time for Americans across the country to tell lawmakers to keep their hands off of Social Security and to fix the nation’s patchwork private retirement income system. If you are concerned about your retirement future, take part in “Wake Up, Washington!” Month and make your voice heard.  Activities for the Month include submitting your story to the story bank, blogging about your retirement concerns, and using Twitter and Facebook to post messages about retirement insecurity.  Visit www.Retirement-USA.org for more information. We are looking for a wide range of stories for the story bank, from people of all ages and from all walks of life: people who don’t have a pension or a 401(k) plan and who will rely mostly or solely on Social Security; people who just have a 401(k) plans and have not saved enough or who lost a lot in the recent recession; and we want the good stories, too, from those with a guaranteed pension who will be able to make ends for retirement. If you’d like to be heard, you can submit your story in writing or you can send in a video or audio recording of yourself talking about your concerns.  You can interview a friend or a family member about whether they think they’ll make it for retirement – or, if they are retired, whether they have enough money to make ends meet.

Stories can also be sent to the Retirement USA Story Bank c/o Pension Rights Center 1350 Connecticut Ave., NW, #206 Washington, D.C.  20036