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Next stop: France

Leigh Swanson, who devoted nearly a quarter of her life to military service, is getting close to another “once-in-a-lifetime” experience that’s also wrapped around the armed forces experience.

Swanson, who lives in Bremerton, is one of 12 veterans who will travel to France this fall for visits to Paris and the beaches of Normandy to learn about the country’s intersecting history of World War II and art.

It will be a nine-day educational and cultural junket organized by Road Scholar, a not-for-profit organization that is a virtual university of the world by offering adventures for adults throughout the United States and in 100 other countries. Swanson’s trip is just for military veterans (active-duty or retired) and their travel companions.

From Sept. 28 to Oct. 6, the itinerary will include visits to the Musée de l’Armée (Army Museum) in Paris and a field trip to the Memorial de Caen, commemorating World War II’s “Battle for Caen.” The travelers will learn about the wartime occupation and liberation of Paris, famous impressionist French painters, and artwork that was protected and lost during the war.

Perhaps the most impactful day will be when the group visits Omaha Beach, walking in the footsteps of soldiers who landed there as part of D-Day invasion by Allied troops June 6, 1944, and the Normandy American Cemetery, where they will participate in a ceremony honoring the soldiers who died in the historic battle.

“This will be a once-in-a-lifetime occasion for the group,” said  Amale Bourhim, Road Scholar’s operations director in France. “Not only will we have a deeper study of the military history of every site we visit, but simply the experience of learning together with fellow veterans is sure to create camaraderie and a bond that will be memorable.”

Many Road Scholar participants on adventures of all kinds are veterans who are drawn to the opportunities to combine travel with military history, said Maeve Hartney, the organization’s chief program officer.

That was Swanson’s reaction when she heard about the Normandy trip. She knew immediately she’d be on it.

“Regardless of age, sex, or branch of service, there’s a bond that connects all veterans,” she said. “I’ve always wanted to visit Normandy, and the opportunity was too good to pass up.”

Swanson served in the Navy from 1979 to 1994–six years of active duty, and then in the Naval Reserve until her early retirement in 1994 as a lieutenant commander. She was a judge advocate (lawyer), launching her legal career.

“Looking back, 44 years down the road, joining the Navy was the single best decision I’ve ever made,” she said.

Swanson has become a regular traveler with Road Scholar. Starting in 2019, she has learned about ancient tribal cultures at Capitol Reef National Park in Utah and hiked Oregon’s Central Coast in 2022. She also has participated in online Road Scholar programs and lectures on subjects ranging from Greek gastronomy to African drums.

For the trip to France, she’ll be joined by her sister, Jeanie Ziegler. Of her four siblings, Swanson thought Ziegler would have the time and interest, and she was right. After Road Scholar announced last November on Veterans Day that the trip was available, “I called her and asked if she’d like to go to France. It took her about 20 seconds to say, ‘Sign me up,’” at least partly because she has visited Normandy once before and is “grateful” for a chance to do it again, Swanson said.

About 100,000 people a year sign up for Road Scholar (roadscholar.org) trips, all of which are focused on experiencing life and the world at any age. Financial aid is available for participants who need some help paying.

srmedia by — August 15, 2023 in Spotlight

In an age of identity politics, it’s hard to believe that ageism still runs rampant. But while more employers are joining the fight against many forms of discrimination, such as race, gender, and sexual orientation, ageism remains an issue in workplaces nationwide.

Changing working conditions, climbing prices, and debate about raising the retirement age are luring older Americans back to work, forcing a reckoning with deep-rooted bias that impacts nearly half of all employees over age 40..

To understand age discrimination and how it’s changed since similar research in 2021, Seniorliving.org surveyed 1,203 Americans about their experiences with ageism in the workplace. Their ages ranged from 40 to 60-plus, and 54 percent of them were women.

The survey concluded that age discrimination is widespread, underreported, and begins earlier than most might expect, according to Seniorliving.org. For instance:

  • 47 percent of workers over 40 have experienced age discrimination or ageism, at companies of all sizes and to males and females.
  • The typical age when age discrimination first begins is about 45.
  • Though federal statistics show age discrimination has decreased over the last decade, nearly a third of discrimination reports go unreported. This is often because victims worry that nothing will be done.
  • 52 percent of older workers said if they were to actively look for new jobs, their age would negatively impact their job searches.

Age-based employment discrimination was outlawed by the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA) of 1967, which applies to private companies with 20 or more employees and all government agencies. Specifically, the law protects workers over age 40 against discrimination in any aspect of employment, including hiring, firing, pay, job assignments, promotions, layoff, training, and benefits.

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) investigates and enforces the law while recording all reported violations. Since 1997, the EEOC has received nearly 500,000 age discrimination claims. That number is about one-fifth of all employment discrimination claims. However, there has been a downward trend in age discrimination claims in recent years. Federal age discrimination claims fell nearly 9 percent from 2020 to 2021, and are down 45 percent over the past decade.

These numbers only tell part of the story, though. Seniorliving.org’s study revealed 49 percent of people who experienced on-the-job age discrimination reported the occurrence to a manager or to human resources. Additionally, many workers may be unaware of their rights and suffer discrimination without seeking protection. As the ADEA also prohibits harassment based on age, derogatory remarks that create offensive work environments or drive adverse employment decisions are also considered unlawful discrimination.

Forms of age discrimination reported by workers include assumptions about ability to learn new skills (the most-reported form at 19 percent), missed raises or promotions, less-desirable assignments or projects, bias in hiring and recruitment, reduced work hours, ageist harassment, remarks or jokes, and job losses through firing or layoffs.

In cases of businesses pressuring older workers to resign or retire, Chiquita Hall, an employment attorney, said employers “are pushing them out with an overwhelming amount of new changes. This has resulted in more forced resignations, buyouts, and terminations disguised as layoffs.”

States with the highest  number of age-based charges are Nevada, Maine, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Mississippi, and Illinois, according to EEOC statistics from 2021.

Source: Seniorliving.org, a research and resources site for economic and social issues affecting older adults.

srmedia by — August 15, 2023 in Spotlight

By Omar Kaywan

The window to plan a summer vacation is closing rapidly. According to data from NerdWallet, travel prices have increased 17 percent. But taking a trip this summer doesn’t have to mean letting it drain your retirement account. Here are a few tips on how to keep travel costs to a minimum.

Book in advance.

Traveling is only going to get more expensive. If you’re booking a flight, it’s important to start looking now and keep an eye out for any deals. Around two months out from your trip will give you the best prices on flights. While it might seem like a good idea to book a hotel room at the last minute in hope of securing a sweet last-minute deal, you may find yourself without a place to stay at your destination. Book in advance as well and call the hotel to see if they’ll give you the deal once it goes live.

Choose off-peak days.

If you’re able to, travel on the least common travel days such as the middle of the week. If you’re flying, you’ll likely get a cheaper plane ticket, and you may just miss the sudden gas price increase that weekend travelers have to grumble and groan about their entire trip if you’re driving. Choosing the days you’re traveling can have a huge impact on cost.

Get travel insurance.

While you may have found the best prices on flights, hotel rooms, rental cars, etc., your entire trip can be turned upside down by illness or travel interruptions. Travel insurance that can help you get a refund or another flight if you experience trouble while traveling. Instead of wasting money on a trip you can’t even go on, you could use your refund to book another trip.

Use and sign up for loyalty points.

Major hotels and most airlines have rewards programs that can help pay for your trip or stay. If you’re really looking to cut costs, redeem your miles and use your loyalty points. You can also look at what rewards your credit card offers for travel and use points from there to pay for airfare, hotels and other qualifying travel expenses. Sometimes if you first sign up for a loyalty reward program, you get welcome offers such as 10 percent off.

Take advantage of senior discounts.

Check if you’re eligible for senior discounts. Some resorts and packages offer them for travelers as early as age 55. If you’re signed up for senior memberships such as AARP, you should also utilize the travel discounts available.

Omar Kaywan is co-founder of Goose Insurance, a provider of travel insurance and other insurance products.

srmedia by — August 15, 2023 in Lifestyle, Home, Adventures

  • The average flight to a popular summer destination in the U.S. costs $413 and lasts about four hours.
     
  • The Los Angeles metroppolitan area is the most attractive destination on the West Coast, and the Washington, D.C. metro area is the most attractive on the East Coast.
     
  • Florida and Texas are home to the mosttop summer destinations in the U.S., each with at least two metro areas in the top 15. Oppositely, California has some of the least popular summer destinations.
     
  • The metropolitan area with the lowest nightly rate for a three-star hotel room is Houston, Texas ($28), nine times less expensive than Portland, Ore.’s $254. 
  • Source: Wallethub.com   
srmedia by — August 15, 2023 in Lifestyle, Home, Adventures