University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Archives Department.

Senior Action Coalition (Milwaukee, Wis.).

Records, 1960-1980.

UWM Manuscript Collection 23

7 cubic ft. (7 boxes)


ABSTRACT: Records of a volunteer organization which promoted the health and well-being of older adults and encouraged them to be politically and socially active. The collection includes committee meeting minutes, correspondence, news clippings, photographs, grant proposals, reports, film and videotape. Most of the records are those of its presidents, William Kesselman and Anne Sery. Especially well-documented are the Identification Cards program, tax reform meetings, and work with the Milwaukee County Commission on Aging.

ACCESS RESTRICTIONS: There are no access restrictions on the materials, and the collection is open to all members of the public in accordance with state law. However, the researcher assumes full responsibility for conforming with the laws of libel, privacy, and copyright which may be involved in the use of this collection (Wisconsin Statutes 19.21-19.39).

SCOPE AND CONTENT NOTE: Collection documents SAC's administration and volunteer activities from 1972-1980, including its planning, proposals, and operations in improving the quality of life for older adults living in the Milwaukee area.

SAC presidents William Kesselman and Anne Sery and the administrative directors created the majority of these records. The collection contains minutes from the board of directors and other committees.

The records document SAC's efforts to reduce bus fares for the elderly during off-peak hours in starting in 1973, and lobby for Milwaukee County to purchase the private bus transportation system in July 1975. There are extensive files on the development of preventive health screening through two pilot centers; work with the Milwaukee County Commission on Aging to establish a county-wide health screening program; tax reform efforts undertaken during the Bicentennial; the construction of bus shelters for elderly riders with the help of state representative Harout Sansarian; and lobbying of state and local politicians on legislation affecting drug costs and pricing.

Extensive files exist on SAC's Over 60 Identification Card Program with the Rotary Club of Milwaukee, which provided discounts to senior citizens in their purchases of participating business' products. There is also a significant amount of information regarding SAC's Volunteers In Service To America (VISTA) and Comprehensive and Employment Training Act (CETA) funding, and the results to the organization when that funding was cut.

The collection contains the scripts and videos of skits written and produced by SAC to highlight concerns of safety, crime and security to the elderly. There are files on the establishment and promotion of the Kesselman Senior Service Award for outstanding elderly community service in 1978 and 1979. Only limited information is available on the creation, preparation, and distribution of Life Alert Emergency Medical Information Packets, which were packages that were attached to the refrigerators of older adults containing information on health matters in case of an emergency. Newspaper clippings supplement the office records by providing an overview of the organization.

The records are arranged alphabetically by name, office, or by subject, and chronologically thereunder. Box 7 contains oversized and audio-visual material, including audio and video tapes of their skits and tax reform. Some of this material is unidentified.

ADMINISTRATIVE HISTORY NOTE: The Senior Action Coalition (SAC), organized as an outgrowth of the 1971 White House Conference on Aging, was an umbrella group for over seventy senior citizens groups in Milwaukee County, including recreational, civic, and religious organizations. Its purposes were to inspire the elderly to grow actively and continue to be vital forces in the community; and to work together to create meaningful social change that would promote the health, happiness and well-being of older adults. The coalition formally incorporated itself in the spring of 1973. Its membership included both volunteer and paid staff members. The organization originally started as an all-volunteer entity, but added government-funded personnel in 1975.

The Coalition dissolved on 30 June 1980 after its CETA funds were cut. The SAC had first received CETA funds in 1975 to obtain staff to assist the organization with office management, grant writing, and day-to-day activities. Its volunteer members began to drift away as a result, and when the CETA funds were cut, no one was there to replace the staff.

SAC Presidents were:

COLLECTION CITATION: This collection should be cited as:

Senior Action Coalition (Milwaukee, Wis.). Records, 1960-1980. UWM Manuscript Collection 23. University Manuscript Collections. Golda Meri Library. University of Wisconsin--Milwaukee.

ACQUISITION: Fannie Kesselman of the Senior Action Coalition donated the collection to the Golda Meir Library sometime before 1989.

PROCESSING: Mark Shelstad processed the collection in March-April 1992 in the Archives.

MARC RECORD SEARCH TERMS: The following terms were used in the online bibliographic MARC record to this collection:
UWM MANUSCRIPT COLLECTION 23 BOX FOLDER
Action News, 1974-1979 1 1
Ad Council, 1975-1976 1 2
Administration on Aging Proposal, 1976 1 3
Aging Literature, 1974-1980 1 4
American Lutheran Church Proposal, 1976 1 5
Annual Meeting, 1976 1 6
Annual Report, 1975 1 7
Area Agencies on Aging, undated 1 8
Articles of Incorporation and By-Laws, 1973-1979 1 9
Audio Tapes [SEE: Fireside Theater]
Bereavement Committee, 1977 1 10
Better Business Bureau, 1973-1975 1 11
Bicentennial Certification of Recognition, 1976 1 12
Bicentennial Commission, 1975-1976 1 13
Board of Directors, Lists, 1974-1975 1 14
Board of Directors, Meeting Minutes, 1973-1976 1 15-16
Bus Shelter, 1977 1 17
Bus Shelter, 1978-1979 1 18
Bus Shelter, Program, Sanasarian Donation, 1978 1 19
Bus Shelter, Site 2, 1978-1979 1 20
Card File Directory, 1975-1977 8
Campaign for Human Development Proposal, 1973-1975 1 21
Concerned Consumers League, Proposal, 1976 1 22
Concerned Consumers League, Report on Consumerism for Elderly, 1976 1 23
Census Data of Elderly in Milwaukee, 1970 1 24
CETA, Contract, 1975-1979 1 25
CETA, Correspondence, 1978-1980 1 26
CETA, Cutback, Persons Signing Petitions Against, undated 1 27
CETA, Miscellaneous, 1979-1980 1 28
CETA, Report Instructions, 1979 1 29
CETA, Title II, Financial Reports, 1977-1979 1 30
CETA, Title II, Approved Grants, 1977-1979 1 31
CETA, Title II D, Approved Grants, 1979 1 32
CETA, Title II D, Check Requests, 1977-1980 1 33
CETA, Title II D, Financial Reports, 1979 1 34
CETA, Title II D, Terminations and Applications, 1977-1980 1 35
CETA, Title III, Disclosure Statement, 1977 1 36
CETA, Title IV, Approved Grant, 1980 1 37
CETA, Title IV, Financial Reports, 1980 1 38
City of Milwaukee, Correspondence, 1972-1973 1 39
City Council Members and Aldermanic Districts, 1976 1 40
Coalition of Wisconsin Aging Groups, 1975-1978 1 41
Coalition for Balanced Transportation, 1976-1977 1 42
Commission on Aging, Adult Day Services Proposal Guidelines, 1976 1 43
Commission on Aging, Area Plan, 1979 1 44
Commission on Aging, Area Plan Summary, 1977 1 45
Commission on Aging, By-Laws, 1975 1 46
Commission on Aging, County, 1973 1 47
Commission on Aging, Creation, 1973-1975 1 48
Commission on Aging, Education Proposal, 1976 1 49
Commission on Aging, Handicap Regulations, 1978 1 50
Commission on Aging, Handicap Regulations, 1978 1 51
Commission on Aging, Identification Card, Program Assessment, 1978 1 52
Commission on Aging, Identification Card, Program Evaluation, 1977 1 53
Commission on Aging, Identification Card, Proposal, 1979 1 54
Commission on Aging, Identification Card, Minutes, 1975 1 55
Commission on Aging, Miscellaneous, 1975-1976 1 56
Commission on Aging, Newsletters, 1976-1978 1 57
Commission on Aging, Program Service Analysis, 1978 1 58
Commission on Aging, Program Specifications, Milwaukee County, 1979 1 59
Commission on Aging, Programs, 1974 1 60
Commission on Aging, Proposal Guidelines, 1975 2 1
Commission on Aging, Proposal Guidelines for Identification Cards and Traveling Teachers, 1979 2 2
Commission on Aging, Seed Money Proposal, 1976 2 3
Commission on Aging, Traveling Teachers Program Analysis, 1978 2 4
Commission on Aging, Community Advocates, 1977 2 5
Commission on Aging, Community Care Organization, 1975-1976 2 6
Comprehensive Employment and Training Act [SEE: CETA]
Concerned Consumers League, Proposal to Milwaukee Foundations, 1976 2 7
Concerned Consumers League, Report of Consumer Education for the Elderly, 1976 2 8
Corporate Forms, 1973-1974 2 9
Correspondence, 1972-1974 2 10-12
Correspondence, 1974-1975 2 13-14
Correspondence, 1975 2 15-16
Correspondence, 1975-1976 2 17-20
Correspondence, 1977 2 21-23
Correspondence, 1978 2 24-25
Correspondence, Dissolution, 1980 2 26
Crime Prevention, 1976 2 27
Crime Prevention, Program, undated 2 28
Crime Prevention, Skits, undated 2 29
Delegate Board Minutes, 1972-1980 2 30
Department of Health and Social Services Survey, 1975-1976 2 31
Deutsche, Henri, Traveling Teacher Program, UW-Milwaukee, 1980 2 32
Discount Program, 1974-1979 2 33
Discount Program, Milwaukee County, 1976 2 34
Elderly Organizations in Milwaukee, 1972 2 35
Emergency Medical Services Council, 1975-1976 2 36
Evaluation Forms of Programs, 1974 2 37
Executive Committee Meeting Minutes, 1973-1978 2 38
Fifth Anniversary, 1978 3 1
Financial Reports, 1974-1979 3 2
Fire Chiefs, undated 3 3
Fireside Theatre, Don't Crush the Dwarf, Hand Me the Pliers, undated [Audio cassette 2] 7 2
Fireside Theatre, How Can You Be Two Places At Once When You're Nowhere At All, undated [Audio cassette 1]7 2
Flyers, 1976-1978 3 4
Foundations, 1977-1978 3 5
Fund Raising, 1973-1975 3 6
Fund Raising, Proposals, 1975-1977 3 7
Funeral Practices, 1977 3 8
Future Milwaukee, 1976 3 9
Ganser, Herbert A., 1974 3 10
Generic Drug, Bills in Wisconsin, 1973 3 11
Generic Drug, Information, 1974-1976 3 12
Golden Buy Pass Discount, Program, undated 3 13
Golden Buy Pass Discount, Sign, undated 3 14
Governor's Conference on Aging, 1976 3 15
Great Lakes Senior Citizen Conference, 1975 3 16
Half-Fare Bus Rides, 1973 3 17
Health, 1973-1975 3 18
Health Committee, 1973-1974 3 19-20
Health Information Material, Multiphasic Screening, 1970-1973 3 21
Health Screening for the Elderly of Milwaukee, Social Development Commission Proposal, 1974 3 22
Health Screening Proposal, 1974 3 23
Health Services for the Elderly, State Plan, undated 3 24
Health Study Committee, Proposed Outline of Plans, 1973 3 25
Heating Payments, 1977 3 26
Housing, 1974 3 27
Housing, Brown Deer Study, 1973 3 28
Housing, Highrise 236 + 8, 1977-1978 3 29
Identification Card Program, Contractors Agreement, 1978 3 30
Identification Card Program, Radio Advertisement, 1979 3 31
Identification Card Program, Sites, 1979 3 32
Identification Card Program, Title IX Older Americans Act, undated 3 33
Installation Meeting, 1974 3 34
Insurance Malpractice and Preventive Screening, 1973-1974 3 35
Interest Area Surveys Issues, 1975 3 36
Interfaith Program on the Elderly, undated 3 37
Invitational List for Fools Parade, undated 3 38
Issues Questionnaire, Proposed, 1975 3 39
Junior League Proposal, 1978-1979 3 40
Kesselman Award, 1980 3 41
Kesselman Award, Door Prizes and Sponsor List, 1979 3 42
Kesselman Award, Letters and News Releases, 1979 3 43
Kesselman Award, Nominees, 1978 3 44
Kesselman Award, Nominees, 1979 3 45
Kesselman Award, Nominees, 1980 3 46
Kesselman Award, Publicity, 1978 3 47
Kesselman Award, Survey Returns, 1979 3 48
Leadership Training Seminar, 1973 3 49
Ledger, 1974-1979 3 50
Legal Services, 1975 3 51
Legislative Update, Center For Public Representation Bulletin, 1974 3 52
Letters to the Editor, Milwaukee Alliance of Concerned Citizens, SAC, Post Papers, 1975 3 53
Life Alert, Deutch, Sue, 1979 3 54
Life Alert, Endorsements, 1978 3 55
Life Alert, Expenses, 1979 3 56
Life Alert, Letters, 1979 3 57
Life Alert, Miscellaneous, 1979 3 58
Life Alert, Trademark Application, 1979 3 59
Line 911 Emergency Telephone, 1970-1976 3 60
Lins, Sister Mary Donata, 1979 3 61
Literature, Miscellaneous, 1974-1978 3 62
Logo, undated 3 63
Marquette University Talk, undated 4 1
Media Letters, 1973-1975 4 2
Media Letters, 1979 4 3
Medical Drugs Information, 1973 4 4
Medical Screening Newsletter, undated 4 5
Membership, 1975 4 6
Membership, Information, 1973-1975 4 7
Membership, Lists, 1974 4 8
Metropolitan Policy on Crime, 1976 4 9
Milwaukee Associates in Urban Development, 1975 4 10
Milwaukee Concerned Community Action Council, 1976 4 11
Milwaukee County Area Plan for Programs on Aging, 1975 4 12
Milwaukee County Preventive Screening Program, SAC Follow-Up, 1974 4 13
Milwaukee County Task Force on Aging Resolutions, 1973 4 14
Minutes of the Last Meeting, 1980 4 15
Miscellaneous, Correspondence, 1975-1978 4 16
Miscellaneous, Correspondence, 1979 4 17
Miscellaneous, Correspondence, 1980 4 18
Miscellaneous, Documents and Publications, 1980 4 19
Mondale, Walter F. Visit, 1976 4 20
National Council of Jewish Women Contracts, 1976 4 21
Nelson, Doug, 1979 4 22
Nelson, Mary, 1976 4 23
Newsclippings, 1972-1974 4 24-25
Newsclippings, 1975-1976 4 26-27
Newsletters, 1973-1979 4 28-29
News Releases and Publicity, 1979 4 30
Nursing Homes, Hillhaven Information, 1974-1975 4 31
Nursing Homes, Inspection Enforcement, 1976 4 32
Nursing Homes, Patients' Rights, 1975 4 33
Nutrition, 1973-1974 4 34
Officer Biographies, 1976-1977 4 35
Open Studio Channel 36, undated 4 36
Opportunity, University of Wisconsin Extension WISN-TV Program, 1976 4 37
Over Sixty and Safe, undated [Videoreel (1/2 in.)] 7 3
Over 60 Identification Card Program, 1976 4 38
Over 60 Identification Card Program, Advancements/Reimbursements, 1977-1979 4 39
Over 60 Identification Card Program, Contracts, 1977-1979 4 40
Over 60 Identification Card Program, Expenditure Reports, 1977-1979 4 41
Over 60 Identification Card Program, Publicity Material, 1977-1978 4 42
Over 60 Identification Card Program, Seed Money Proposal, 1976-1977 4 43
Over 60 Identification Card Program, Service Reports, 1977-1976 4 44
Over 60 Identification Card Program, Sites, 1979 4 45
Paramedic Information, 1976 4 46
Pavlik, John, 1960-1979 4 47
Penalties for Crimes Against Senior Citizens, 1975-1976 4 48
Personal Safety Skit, undated 4 49
Personnel Policy, 1975 4 50
Photographs, 1973-1976 4 51-52
Political Questionnaire, undated 4 53
Position Papers, 1974-1976 4 54
Preretirement Planning, undated 4 55
Preventive Health Care, 1973 5 1
Preventive Health Screening, 1974 5 2
Preventive Health Screening, Advisory Council, 1975 5 3
Preventive Health Screening, Material From and For Dr. Panagis, Commission of Health, 1974-1976 5 4
Preventive Health Screening, Proposal to Milwaukee County Commission on Aging, 1974 5 5
Preventive Health Screening, Position Paper, 1974 5 6
Preventive Health Screening, Report, undated 5 7
Preventive Health Screening, Resolution, undated 5 8
Proclamations of Senior Citizens Day, 1973 7 4
Project Turn Around, 1976 5 9
Proposal Writing, 1977 5 10
Proposals, 1975 5 11
Protect the Elderly Through Prevention Board, 1974 5 12
Protect the Elderly Through Prevention Board, Centers, Code Book, undated 5 13
Protect the Elderly Through Prevention Board, Clinic Report from 16th Street Clinic, 1975 5 19
Protect the Elderly Through Prevention Board, Record Keeping Materials, undated 5 14
Protect the Elderly Through Prevention Board, Report by Larry Brants, 1977 5 15
Protect the Elderly Through Prevention Board, Report Requests, 1977 5 20
Protect the Elderly Through Prevention Board, Set-up Materials, undated 5 16
Protect the Elderly Through Prevention Board, Student Field Report, 1975 5 17
Protect the Elderly Through Prevention Board, Training Materials, undated 5 18
Psychotropic Drugs and the Elderly, undated 5 21
Public Service Employees Manual, 1980 5 22-23
Publicity Material, 1975-1977 5 24-28
Publicity Material, 1979-1980 5 29
Press Releases, 1973-1980 5 30
Questionnaire, Milwaukee Retired Teacher's Association, 1976 5 31
Reader's Digest, 1974 5 32
Real Estate Exam Board Move, SAC Statement, 1976 5 33
Referral Directory for Senior Citizens, 1979 5 34
Representative Assembly Meeting Minutes, 1973-1974 5 35
Requests for Assistance, 1976-1977 5 36
Retired Protest, 1973-1974 5 37
Retirement Homes, 1975 5 38
Sansarian, Harout O., News Release, 1977 5 39
Schultz, Norma, 1975-1976 5 40
Security, Information, undated 5 41
Security, Programs, 1975-1976 5 42
Security, Projects, 1975-1978 5 43
Security, Proposals, 1975-1976 5 44
Security, Skits, 1975 5 45
Seed Money Report, 1977 5 46
Senior Action Coalition, Dissolution, 1980 5 47
Senior Action Coalition, Origins, 1972 5 48
Senior Action Coalition, Workshop Orientation, 1974 5 49
Senior Citizen Church Groups and Delegate Lists, 1977-1978 5 50
Senior Rally Day, 1973 5 51
Social Security, Disability Insurance Amendment, 1979 5 52
Solomon, Rita, 1979-1980 5 53
Speaking Engagements with Member Organizations, 1975 5 54
Staff Report, 1974 5 55
Steering Committee, 1974-1975 5 56
Strives to Improve Health of the Elderly, undated 5 57
Study Group Workshops, 1975-1976 5 58
Supervisory Districts, undated 5 59
Support Letters, 1973 5 60
Survey of Services Available to Milwaukee County Residents over 60, 1978 5 61
Tax Exempt Status, 1973-1975 5 62
Tax Reform, Booklets, 1976 5 63
Tax Reform, Responses, 1977 5 64
Tax Reform, Booklets, Summary Replies, 1976 5 65
Tax Reform, Correspondence, 1975-1978 6 1-2
Tax Reform, Correspondence, Miscellaneous, 1975-1976 6 3
Tax Reform, Correspondence, Program Report, 1976 6 4
Tax Reform, Correspondence, Revenue Sharing, 1974 6 5
Tax Reform, Correspondence, Skits, 1976 6 6
Tax Reform, Correspondence, Speeches, 1975-1976 6 7
Tax Reform, Correspondence, Town Hall Meeting, 1975-1976 6 8
Tax Reform, Correspondence, Town Hall Meeting, Statements and Chair's Remarks, 1975-1975 6 9
Tax Reform, Correspondence, Workshops, 1975-1976 6 10
Tax Reform, 1975 [Audio reel]7 5
Taxes, IRS and State of Wisconsin, 1980 6 11
Teachers, Retired, 1974 6 12
Transportation, Bill, 1975 6 13
Transportation, Elderly, Problems and Progress, 1975-1976 6 14
Transportation, Half Fare, Card Distribution, 1973 6 15
Transportation, Issue, 1973 6 16
Transportation, Study, undated 6 17
Transportation, Information, undated 6 18
Transportation, Resource Material 1972-1973 6 19
Traveling Teachers, Contracts, 1977-1980 6 20
Traveling Teachers, Evaluation Report, 1977 6 21
Traveling Teachers, Expenditure Report, 1977-1979 6 22
Traveling Teachers, Law Enforcement Assistance Administration, 1975 6 23
Traveling Teachers, Letters of Endorsement, 1976-1979 6 24
Traveling Teachers, Monthly Reports, 1979-1980 6 25
Traveling Teachers, Newsclippings, 1980 6 26
Traveling Teachers, Play Program, 1979 6 27
Traveling Teachers, Program Activity Narrative, 1977-1979 6 28
Traveling Teachers, Report of an Educational Outreach Program for Older Adults, 1979 6 29
Traveling Teachers, Service Reports, 1977-1979 6 30
Unemployment Compensation, Correspondence, 1978-1979 6 31
Unemployment Compensation, Deutch, Henri, 1979-1980 6 32
Unemployment Compensation, Information, 1976 6 33
Union Groups, 1978 6 34
United Community Services Proposal, undated 6 35
Videoreel (2 in.), Unidentified, 1976 7 6
Videocassette (U-matic), Unidentified, undated 7 7
Videotape, Paper Edits, 1975 6 36
Visiting Nurse Association Advisory Committee for Maintenance Level Care, 1976 6 37
Volunteers in Service to America, 1976 6 38
Volunteers in Service to America, Deutsch, Sue, 1976-1977 6 39
Volunteers in Service to America, Proposals, 1974-1975 6 40
Volunteers in Service to America, Quarterly Reports, 1974-1975 6 41
Volunteers in Service to America, Volunteers, 1975-1976 6 42
Volunteers, 1973 6 43
White House Conference on Aging, 1972-1981 6 44
Whip Inflation Now Monthly Financial Report, 1974-1975 6 45
Wisconsin Congress on Aging, 1978-1979 6 46
Wisconsin Humanities Commission Proposal, 1976 6 47
Workshop Orientation, 1974 6 48
Youth and Elderly Together, 1976 6 49

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