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Delegate Information
WHCoA Policy Committee Votes to Approve Resolutions 
On November 22, 2005, the WHCoA Policy Committee voted unanimously to approve 73 resolutions to send to the WHCoA delegates for their review. These resolutions are based on public input solicited by the WHCoA over the past 15 months from testimony and reports submitted at nearly 400 Listening Sessions, Solutions Forums, Mini-Conferences, and Independent Aging Agenda Events as well as general public input that has been received by the WHCoA. Though these resolutions reflect diverse opinions and are not specifically endorsed by the Policy Committee, the Policy Committee believes that they accurately reflect the emerging issues, interests, and concerns of individuals who participated in these events as well as the unsolicited input from across the country.
Delegates will be asked to vote on up to 50 resolutions and develop implementation strategies that they believe are the most important for current and future generations of seniors.
The resolutions are being finalized and prepared for printing. They will be mailed to the delegates early next week. The resolutions will also be posted on the WHCoA website.
Information for Delegates on the Resolution Development/Public Input Process
Later this fall delegates will receive a number of resolutions that have been developed by the WHCoA Policy Committee based on the public input solicited by the WHCoA over the past year. Testimony and reports from close to 400 Listening Sessions, Solutions Forums, Mini-Conferences and Independent Aging Agenda Events involving more than 125,000 people and from unsolicited general input have been received by the WHCoA. The input has provided the Policy Committee with an opportunity to learn what is on the minds of those with an interest in the future of aging in the United States, and provided the basis for the development and refinement of the WHCoA agenda.
The resolutions are being sent to delegates in advance to give them time to study them carefully. When delegates come to the WHCoA, they will be asked to vote on 50 resolutions that they feel are the most important for current and future generations of senior citizens. Delegates will be asked to keep in mind as they deliberate that the 2005 WHCoA has a statutory mandate to focus on baby boomers as well as current seniors. This mandate is reflected in the theme for the 2005 WHCoA which is “The Booming Dynamics of Aging: From Awareness to Action.”
Implementation Strategies/Action Plans
As important as the resolutions are, their implementation strategies are equally essential. A significant amount of delegates’ time will be dedicated to developing action plans for each of the chosen 50 resolutions which will identify strategies that can be executed at the Federal, State, and local governmental levels, as well as throughout industry, communities, and by individuals. This is the first WHCoA to have a strong focus on developing realistic action plans to ensure that delegates’ efforts are successful. This process reflects the belief of the WHCoA that the work of the WHCoA will continue beyond December 14, 2005 when the WHCoA formally ends. The WHCoA wishes to ensure that the efforts of the delegates and the WHCoA be quickly translated into meaningful policies and policy changes that will improve the quality of life for millions of older Americans today and tomorrow.
Delegate Travel - Action Required!
Notice to all delegates: Please book your travel as soon as possible in order to maximize the chance of getting the flight most convenient for your travel schedule as well as the most cost efficient!
Update for Delegates making travel arrangements:
The schedule for the 2005 White House Conference on Aging is being finalized. However, to assist delegates as they arrange for travel with ESI Travel (8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Central Time Monday through Friday at the following toll-free number: 1-866-510-9653), the tentative schedule for the Conference includes pre-conference activities that begin on Sunday, December 11 at 1 p.m. The first plenary session for the 2005 WHCoA will begin at approximately 9 a.m. on Monday, December 12. The Conference will conclude on Wednesday, December 14 after lunch.
Updated Travel Information for Delegates
The 2005 White House Conference on Aging (WHCoA) is pleased to announce that travel arrangements for WHCoA delegates (who have been notified by the WHCoA of their delegate status and have registered for the WHCoA) may be made by calling ESI Travel from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Central Time Monday through Friday at the following toll-free number: 1-866-510-9653 or by visiting the following website at [www.esitravel-dc.com/whcoa/index.htm]. ESI Travel is the only travel agency that delegates (who wish to have their travel expenses covered by the WHCoA) may use in making arrangements to travel to the WHCoA.
All delegates will be contacted by the WHCoA in writing (email or regular mail) shortly to announce the travel agency information. ESI Travel will be making only transportation arrangements. Hotel reservations for all WHCoA-registered delegates must be made directly with the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel by calling the following toll-free number at: 1-800-266-9432. (Hotel reservations only).
The WHCoA encourages all delegates to contact ESI Travel and the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel as soon as possible to arrange for lodging and travel to the historic 2005 WHCoA.
At Large Delegates, selected by the WHCoA Policy Committee
At Large Delegates, selected by the WHCoA Policy Committee, have been notified of their selection. Names are posted here.
Please note: "For Delegates Selected and Notified by the WHCoA"
AT LARGE DELEGATES TO THE 2005 WHCOA
At-Large Delegate Application Form |
Deadline for At-Large Delegate Applications has now passed. At Large Delegates, selected by the WHCoA Policy Committee, have been notified of their selection. Names are posted here.
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1200 delegates will have the honor of participating in the 2005 White House Conference on Aging (WHCoA) in Washington, DC. These delegates will vote on resolutions and develop implementation strategies to be presented to the President and Congress to help guide national aging policies for the next decade and beyond.
Governors of all 50 States, the U.S. Territories, Puerto Rico, and the Mayor of the District of Columbia, Members of the 109th Congress, and the National Congress of American Indians will select the majority of the delegates to participate in the 2005 WHCoA. The deadline for submission of their delegate and alternate names was April 15, 2005.
The balance of the delegates will be selected by the WHCoA Policy Committee. These “At-Large” delegates will represent national aging and other allied organizations, baby boomers, academic institutions, business and industry, disability, non-profit and veterans’ organizations and others with a stake in the aging of America. Because of the tremendous opportunity that the WHCoA presents for the future of aging policies in our nation, the 2005 WHCoA is seeking visionary and thoughtful delegates who will make significant and tangible contributions to this historic event. The WHCoA wishes to ensure that the delegates represent a broad cross section of the U.S. population so that the concerns and issues of current as well as future seniors receive appropriate attention.
The 2005 WHCoA is authorized by the Older Americans Act Amendments of 2000 (Public Law 106-501). Specifically with regard to delegates, P.L.106-501 states that “the delegates shall be selected without regard to political affiliation or past partisan activity and shall, to the best of the appointing authority’s ability, be representative of the spectrum of thought in the field of aging. Delegates shall include individuals who are professionals, individuals who are non-professionals, minority individuals, individuals from low-income families, representatives of Federal, state and local governments and individuals from rural areas. A majority of the delegates shall be 55 or older.” The WHCoA is also authorized to focus on issues related to the aging of today and tomorrow, including the 78 million baby boomers born between 1946 and 1964.
The Policy Committee will seek to achieve an appropriate balance by selecting delegates to fill gaps that may exist after gubernatorial, congressional and the National Congress of American Indians delegate and alternate selections are made. Delegates should anticipate that their time spent in Washington, D.C. will be extremely busy, and that their individual and collective efforts will result in a significant contribution to help shape U.S. aging policies for the next decade and beyond.
NOTE: The information requested will be used to select persons to serve as delegates to the 2005 WHCoA. Furnishing of the information is voluntary. Failure to do so, however, may result in the denial of delegate status. Access to the submitted information is limited to Policy Committee to the WHCoA. The legal authority for the collection of this information is Public Law 106-501, Title II, November 13, 2000 (Older Americans Act Amendments of 2000) and 5 U.S.C. App. 2 (Federal Advisory Committee Act)
Governors, Members of Congress and National Congress of American Indians receive Information on WHCoA Delegate Name Submission
On April 6, 2005, Governors, Members of the 109th Congress and the National Congress of American Indians were provided with information on how to electronically submit (using a secure page on the WHCoA website) their selection for delegates and alternates to the 2005 White House Conference on Aging (WHCoA). In addition, information was provided that travel expenses for the delegates will be covered by the WHCoA, although the delegates must use a government travel service soon to be identified. The deadline for submission of delegate and alternate's names is April 15, 2005.
Information on Delegate Travel Expenses Available
Delegate travel expenses will be paid by the WHCoA, but the delegate must use a government travel agency soon to be identified. More details will be available shortly.
Deadline for WHCoA Delegate Selection by Governors, Members of Congress and the National Congress of American Indians extended to April 15, 2005.
The deadline for submission of delegate names for the 2005 White House Conference on Aging (WHCoA) by the Governors of all 50 States, the U.S. Territories, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the District of Columbia, Members of the 109th Congress and the National Congress of American Indians has been extended from March 15, 2005 to April 15, 2005. Notification to these individuals is underway. The next formal communication to these officials from the WHCoA will contain information on how to enter their delegates' (and alternates') names "on-line" on the WHCoA website (with contact information and short biographical information) as well as travel and other important information about the 2005 WHCoA.
On December 1, 2004 the Policy Committee for the 2005 White House Conference on Aging (WHCoA) voted to invite 1200 delegates to participate in the 2005 WHCoA. The majority of the delegates will represent the Governors of all 50 States, the U.S. Territories, Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia; Members of the 109th Congress, and the National Congress of American Indians. On January 31, 2005, the Chairman of the WHCoA Policy Committee Dorcas R. Hardy sent letters to these officials informing them of their ability to select delegates to the WHCoA and setting a deadline of March 15, 2005. Formal designation of delegates will not occur until these officials receive and complete WHCoA Designation and Registration materials which will arrive in a separate mailing.
The balance of the WHCoA delegates will be selected by the Policy Committee. The procedures for consideration by the Policy Committee for these delegates will be provided on the WHCoA website shortly.
A total of 200 delegates has been divided among the States, the U.S. Territories, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and the District of Columbia. Each State will receive a minimum of two delegates to select and each U.S. Territory, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and the District of Columbia will get to select one delegate. Additional State delegates are based on each State's percentage of individuals (age 55 and older) compared to the nation's total population of persons age 55 and older.
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