đź’ť Valued Seniors & Veterans: We hear you, and we honor you as members! Introducing New Senior & Veteran Membership Tiers đź’ť
Last week, after sending out a message with invites to NWFF’s holiday parties and jokes about us turning 25—finally “off our parents’ insurance and starting to exercise”—I received a sobering message from Joan, a local Forum supporter, calling attention to our lack of a senior membership tier.
“As a group, we seniors are being pressured by steep property taxes on homes we bought long ago, priced out by rising rents, and stressed by employment discrimination and stagnant social security payments. […]
“I want to remind you that mine is the generation that first supported Seattle’s cultivation of small scale arts venues, and we have not lost our love of cinema or support for non-mainstream efforts.
“All in all, I am offended by NWFF’s failure to acknowledge a meaningful and discriminated minority group, and to support them through the offer of a senior membership category… I respectfully suggest that you should reconsider your oversight.”
Joan’s well-worded, thoughtful request called to mind a visit I had had with another senior in our artistic community, who shared that she was an educator for decades but retired far too early to be financially secure. I remembered conversations with friends about how unprepared we (individually, and as a society) are to provide for older generations, especially as healthcare, housing, and insurance costs skyrocket. I thought of my own parents, who are seniors, and how much they have given.
To address a long-standing community need, NWFF is making our lowest priced membership ($35) available to Seniors and Veterans.
Our rates will now be:
* Dual and Family memberships are valid for friend-groups and “chosen family”! |
Yes, NWFF is an organization that invests in future generations… but make no mistake: many of our most valued supporters are seniors. Seniors are a major part of our community of Forum “regulars,” often engaging us in rich, meaningful conversations. We program repertory art house gems like Susan Sontag’s Duet for Cannibals, and arts documentaries like Leaning into the Wind: Andy Goldsworthy and our current run of Celebration, in large part because we know older audiences will have a unique appreciation for them.
Thank you, Joan, for reaching out, and for being bold enough to speak for so many. During this holiday season, we at NWFF wish you all wellness and warmth.
Vivian Hua (華婷婷)
Executive Director
vivian@nwfilmforum.org
Since 1995, NWFF has been a cozy and adaptive venue that curates extraordinary cinematic experiences for innovative creators and curious patrons of the arts. As we enter our 25th year of service to Seattle, any contribution you make will go a long way in helping us continue to thrive.
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