79. William Arnone, CEO, National Academy of Social Insurance, on the Value of Social Insurance and Why Need to Understand It and Protect It

What is social insurance? Who does it benefit? Answer: Everyone!In this episode of Associations Thrive, host Joanna Pineda interviews William Arnone, CEO of the National Academy of Social Insurance. William discusses:What social insurance is – Social Security, Medicare, unemployment insurance and workers compensation. The US government pools risks across the entire country and then provides universal benefits to people in need.How the Academy is the largest community of scholars and experts on at least one area of social insurance.The Academy’s membership process: you can’t just join, you must be nominated.How the Academy of nonpartisan. The Academy does the research and lets others advocate.Bill’s winding journey as a staff in Congress, running an area agency on aging, serving as Board Chair of the Academy, and then becoming CEO of the Academy.The questions to ask yourself when considering a job and when thinking about your legacy: Is what you’re doing meaningful and does it have impact?The skills you need to run a think tank: legal training, fundraising skills, communication skills, and so much more!The Academy’s intentional efforts to diversify the membership, including considering life experience as a form of expertise.During this election season, the Academy wants the discussion about social insurance to be based on evidence, and not ideology.How the Academy has a newsletter that anyone can sign up for to become better educated about the issues surrounding social insurance.How there are holes in the social safety net, including programs for people who are part of the so-called “gig economy.”.References:NASI website