Millions of twenty-somethings may have their iPods or cell phones in hand – but that doesn’t mean that seniors don’t have a thing or two to show them when it comes to using technology. Backed by support from Wire One, AARP – the non-profit, non-partisan organization with more than 35 million members age 50 and over – is making innovative use of video and audio conferencing for both day-to-day business operations and to deal with rapidly-moving legislative issues.

During the 2003 debate over Medicare prescription drug legislation, for example, AARP relied on videoconferencing to keep the information flowing to its 1,800 employees and 160,000 member volunteers. The legislation was high-profile, complicated and controversial, and AARP made frequent use of its 65 video endpoints – in its Washington, DC headquarters, regional and state offices – to share information and to allow staff and volunteers to ask questions and raise new issues. Even employees and volunteers who weren’t able to get to a video endpoint were able to participate, says Young Smith, AARP’s manager of voice communications, thanks to Wire One’s ability to seamlessly integrate audio and video in one conference.

In the midst of a very fast-moving debate, says Smith, “these regular, two-way conversations enabled us to keep everyone informed so that we could speak to the public with one voice.” This year, Smith says, AARP is doing the same thing with the debate over social security.

Videoconferencing at AARP is not reserved only for high-profile legislative issues. Quite the opposite, in fact: the organization uses it for a host of everyday tasks. AARP’s five regional offices hold regular joint videoconferences, and senior management uses it to collaborate on financial spreadsheets. Purchasing uses the technology to negotiate corporate contracts with partners, while AARP’s IT department conducts daily national video meetings to coordinate computer and database management policies. And human resources has come to rely on it for interviewing potential employees and for conducting performance reviews.

Several AARP offices in large states also use videoconferencing for staff meetings. In New York State, for example, where AARP has three offices, videoconference staff meetings are held every Monday. “Our people love it,” says Smith. “It means staffers from upstate New York don’t have to drive into Manhattan for the meeting.”

Not surprisingly, videoconferencing is a big hit with AARP staff members. “People appreciate how simple it is to use,” Smith says. “They don’t have to do anything, they just show up, and they’re talking to people across the country.”

While AARP’s staff appreciates the convenience, the savings in travel costs is making videoconferencing a hit with the organization’s management. AARP estimates that videoconferencing saved it a minimum of $1.5 million in travel expenses in 2004, Smith says.

AARP is now in the process of implementing video over IP – acknowledgement, says Smith, that videoconferencing has become an essential communication tool for AARP, improving communication with its members, and helping its staff work together and stay informed. And that’s an example that people of all ages can learn from.