Minnesota Senior Federation. Metropolitan Region

The Metropolitan Region of the Minnesota Senior Federation, known earlier as the Metropolitan Senior Federation, sprang from an August 11, 1972 meeting of the Greater Metropolitan Federation which recognized that, although there were a large number of Twin Cities senior citizens organizations, there was no single advocacy group "strong enough to exert sufficient pressure to accomplish needed changes to improve the lifestyle of the seniors." 1 To unite these various groups, the Metropolitan Senior Federation founding convention was held on January 31, 1973. In attendance were nearly 500 delegates from 47 senior citizen groups.

In its first year of activity, the Metropolitan Senior Federation lobbied for lower property tax rates and the repeal of Minnesota's Old Age Lien Law. It also established the first of its health programs by introducing a discount buying agreement with a national retail pharmacy chain and by negotiating a comprehensive health insurance program with Mt. Sinai Health Plan. In its second year, the Metropolitan Senior Federation opened an office headquarters, sponsored a rally protesting injustices in social security benefit adjustments, established a second health plan with Samaritan Hospital, and began efforts to organize a statewide organization which was formally founded in 1977 as the Minnesota Senior Federation.

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