AASP Mail Box

Some letters we have received

 

  
   

Praise for AASP's work

Dear Sir or Madam,

I enclose my annual membership contribution of $50.  I recognize that the task of advocating the rights of single persons is a difficult one, given the current political climate.  I commend your efforts.  I do not require any contribution gift.

John K.
Iowa

Thanks from a student


AASP,

Thank you for all the work you do on behalf of single people. Your web site was of great help for a project I did to complete my Masters degree. Through it I found that Buffalo, NY has a single majority and has been a great relief to know that organizations like AASP work hard to recognize the value of single people in the world. Not all of us choose to have a family, not all of us can, but we do a lot to make the world a better place.

Mike S.
New York

Focus more on solo singles

AASP,

I have decided to renew -- but it seems as if AASP is geared to unmarrieds who live in traditional settings.  What about singles who live alone, either by choice or circumstance?  Is it still a taboo (even for AASP) to live alone?

Joan B.
California

Need more scholarly research on singles

Dear Mr. Coleman,

I am a member of AASP.  I read with great interest our last newsletter.  Please keep up the good work.  Your sincere efforts do not go unnoticed by me.  Way to go.

I was so very thrilled to see the news about Dr. DePaulo on receiving the grant to study singles from the Marchionne Foundation.  This is a great undertaking and I am excited.

True there are no textbooks about people who are single, no scholarly journals devoted to the study of singles, and no conferences organized exclusively for the discussion of scholarship on singles, etc.!  How sad of this fact in this day and age of modern society.

I am a life long single person, by choice and live child-free as well.  There is no polyfidelity -- new models for relationships, etc. in my life.  I love living single.

Aspasia F.
Arkansas

Few tax cuts for singles

Dear Sirs,

I see that once again, where we have a U.S. Congress, U.S. Senate, and Whitehouse administration made up of mostly married persons, the single people of the U.S., which they are supposed to represent also, were ignored once again.

Is it a coincidence that most of the lawmakers are married, rich, with children, and have a lot of stock dividends, and the tax cuts passed were slanted to mostly benefit people that are rich, married, with children, and stock dividends?

I think we're experiencing a new form of discrimination backed by lawmakers.

I would like to join AASP. I only heard about it today. However, I'd like to hear what AASP's plans are to address the tax cuts that were passed yesterday before I do. If it seems that there is a realistic plan in place, then I'll team up with you.

Thank you very much for your time.

Respectfully,

Michael B.

 (Ed. Note.  After hearing about our trip to Congress in September and our ongoing outreach to elected officials, Michael joined AASP.  He sent another message with his donation.  It appears below in italics.)

Thank you for your prompt response. I will join AASP today. I do feel discriminated against. This is the second time, under two administrations, that tax laws favored married people, especially with children.

I don't mind paying my share for parks, schools, and for other public ammenities (mostly used by children or families), but I should not have to pay more.

You have another member today. Again, thank you very much.
 

 		 
 

 

 Solo travel without a 'single supplement'

Tom,

I received a brochure from the University of Chicago Alumni Association advertising one of their trips with a highlight on the title page saying "Single Travelers Pay No Supplement."
(A "singles supplement" is a surcharge that some hotels and travel packages charges to a person traveling alone, since many packages are based on dual occupancy rates.) 

I don't know if this is a one time thing, or if all their trips are not taking this position.

I thought you might want to publicize this if it is new or unique.  Their e-mail address is alumni-ed@uchicago.edu or (800) 955-0065.

Kay Trimberger
California

Annual conference for AASP members

Hi Tom,

I continue to be interested in AASP and want to, once again, offer to help organize the 1st National Conference of AASP which, hopefully, will happen in the next year or two.

My particular interest is the sociology of single life, social design, quality of life issues, pride, overcoming stigma, etc.

I can imagine a lively event with singles prominent in public life as keynoters, workshops in tracks such as finances, politics, culture, research -- and a lot of fun activities as well.

Keep me posted.

Niela Miller
Massachusetts


Health club discounts for married couples


Do you address the issue of club memberships? I am tired of subsidizing the married couples, who pay 25% less per capita than the singles at my health club. And their kids get in free. Meanwhile, the club says the place is overcrowded so the guest fee has gone from $10 to $25. They screw us for being alone then make it harder for us to have companionship...
 

Believe it or not, this bothers me more than workplace discrimination, and my workplace is not enlightened on this issue.

mgk
e-mail
 

Restaurant bias against solo diners

Hello,

Can there really be an organization that addresses the issues of singles?  I almost don't want to believe it.  

I'm a happy middle-aged single woman.  This morning I was, once again, discriminated against when I went to a diner for breakfast.  Parties of two or more who arrived after me were seated.  I was finally offered an unwanted seat in the smoking section.  I asked for "no smoking".  I left fuming over this ongoing problem.  

I found your website as I was looking around to see just what my rights were as a single and a consumer.  I am a well-paid professional and have only myself to spend my money on.  I would think that retailers and restaurateurs every where would be vying for my disposable income.  

How did you come to create this organization?  I might consider joining.

Zink
e-mail


AASP logo displayed on re-singled website

AASP,

 
As a divorced man for 4.5 years, my desire to reach out to other single againers has resulted in my publishing a web site that proudly bears the AASP banner on every page.  I consider the AASP site to be one of the finest on the Internet to assist single people.
 
Please review my site at http://www.resingled.com
 
It is designed to encourage and assist those who go through divorce.  I am also building a Nationwide Singles Group Directory on the site as well so that resingled people can locate others like themselves in their own area.
  
Vincent