Nancy Coghill is a CARP Ambassador and part of the team at our Call Centre. In her regular columns, she offers advice on how best to work with CARP.

 

The Benefits of Your CARP Membership

 

I joined CARP when I was still in my fifties and working full time. I wanted to belong to an association that would speak up for me as I entered my retirement years. That was the primary reason for becoming a CARP member – having an organization that was going to advocate for me and defend me as I went through the stages of retiring and aging. And for so little money too. Even now, a CARP membership costs as little as $19.95 annually. 

 

CARP has had many successes with its advocacy, of course, but after joining, I learned that CARP partnered with many organizations to offer discounts and promotions with the kind of savings that could pay for that membership ten-fold. Today, members have access to discounts on everything from eyeglasses and hearing aids to retail and travel savings. 

 

Thinking of retirement budgeting? CARP also recommends partners which provide insurance products of every kind – like individual health & dental, auto & home, life and, let’s not forget, pet insurance! – and other financial service providers. Need a new phone or phone plan? That’s another of the discounted services you have access to as a member. 

 

There is a long list of benefits and partners. Just click on the benefit you are interested in for more information – and then click on the red button Claim This Benefit. Follow the instructions for that particular retailer.

 

Be sure to stay on top of our many benefits and partners by periodically checking the Member Benefits page on carp.ca. 

 

Then there are our volunteer-run local chapters. We do not have chapters in every major centre yet, but that’s our goal – something we can achieve with your help. So please step up to volunteer and we will help you get a chapter started in your region. Most chapters offer educational meetings and events, social outings and spearhead local advocacy campaigns for seniors. CARP’s various local chapters are listed on the website.

 

And if you happen to live in or are visiting the Toronto area, come to the ZoomerPlex and visit the MZTV Museum of Television, down the hall from the CARP offices in Liberty Village. Limited free parking is available. This is one of the world’s most comprehensive collections of TV receivers and showcases the development of the television device itself. The exhibit includes TV sets that once belonged to Elvis and Marilyn Monroe.

 

So if you thought your membership was just about supporting our advocacy,  really it is much more than that; there’s the chance to connect with other members in our Chapters, and many opportunities for savings on products and services recommended for you!     

 

And here is one closing tidbit about the benefits of your membership: An individual emailed us to say he found a wallet and the only identification in the wallet was a CARP card. He emailed us a picture of that card and we were able to look it up in our database, contact the member and advise her that this person had dropped her wallet off at a local fire station. She contacted the fire station and they delivered the wallet to her as she had mobility issues! Happy ending all around. The member contacted us to thank everyone concerned.