Maui resident
elected new
AARP president

Marie Smith is eager to lead the
nationwide group to effect change

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By Gary T. Kubota
gkubota@starbulletin.com

WAILUKU >> Maui resident Marie Smith said she is excited about being chosen as national president of the American Association of Retired People and hopes to push for social change, including Medicare coverage for prescription drugs.

Smith, elected to the position last month at a board of directors meeting in Washington, D.C., begins her term next month, first as president-elect for two years, then as president of the 35 million-member organization for two years starting in 2004.

The group acts as an advocate in national, state and local governments for issues important to its members, who are age 50 and up. The organization also publishes the magazines Modern Maturity and My Generation.

Smith, 62, who has served as a volunteer on numerous boards and commissions, said it seems like she has been preparing her whole life for this role.

"Everything seems to be leading to this," she said.

Smith, an African American, said she did not let racial obstacles stop her from succeeding.

She recalled her frustration at being unable to find a summer job while attending Fisk University in Nashville, Tenn., because of racial discrimination.

In 1961 during the civil rights movement, roaming bands of racist thugs invaded the campus of her college.

"Almost every step of the way, there was an obstacle. But I didn't see it as an obstacle. I don't think I saw it as anything. This is life happening." Marie Smith AARP president-elect and Maui resident, recalling the civil rights movement of the '60s

"Almost every step of the way, there was an obstacle. But I didn't see it as an obstacle. I don't think I saw it as anything. This is life happening," she said.

Smith said that after graduating from college, she worked in various cities as a manager for the U.S. Social Security Administration before transferring from San Francisco to Maui about 25 years ago.

She retired about 15 years ago and has worked with her husband in operating Aina Anuhea Tropical Garden in Kahakuloa.

Smith is past president of the African American Heritage Foundation of Maui and past president of the Maui Volunteer Center.

She also worked as a volunteer with AARP's Women's Initiative Program before moving into leadership positions in the organization and being elected to its national board of directors in 2000.

She also served on the advisory board for the Maui County Office on Aging and the Hawaii Commission on the Status of Women.

Smith said she wants to help elderly people who have difficulty affording medicine.

She said she once saw an elderly man on Maui unable to get the prescription drugs he needed to maintain his heath because the medication was too expensive. He had to wait for his next pension check before he bought the medicine.

"This is a disgrace," she said.

Smith said that while working for the Social Security Administration, she began to understand the importance of a pension and how women find themselves without adequate retirement benefits.

She said women are often paid less than men for doing the same job, and the disparity is eventually reflected in retirement income.

Smith said women also are more likely to leave their jobs to raise children and care for family members, reducing the number of years they work for retirement.

She said part of the solution is "getting in folks' faces" and correcting the inequity.

"It's getting better," she said. "The statistics are slowly improving."

Smith to share personal views

The future president of the American Association of Retired People is one of two Maui County residents who will be speaking Wednesday in recognition of Women's History Month.

Marie Smith will be joining artist and author Pat Masumoto of Gallerie Ha in sharing their personal views and life stories from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Cameron Center Auditorium in Wailuku.

The free event is sponsored by the Maui County Committee on the Status of Women.

For more information, call Joan Dawe, 572-9528, or Sandy Percy, 891-8215.