shAARP Talk: Observations from AARP

Welcome Jennie! We look forward to reading your blog posts and seeing what exciting things lie ahead in your tenure as AARP's president.

Welcome! I went to the AARP convention in Boston this year. I am only 49, but I went to cover it for my boomer blog. I had a blast, and never thought I would. AARP makes me not that afraid to get older.

i think we need to startsome sort of trips and events for the boomers. i'm 56 and a disabled vietnam veteran. i would like to work with aarp or any others to start a program for meeting on a weekly basis.to have cook out and picnic events. maybe a beach day. also a trip for a nature walk. maybe twice a year bingo andthe casino. we need more to keep us active and something to look forward to. and if we need funds than we can also have events to raise funds like when we were young in school.i just want to throw that out there for comments and see how much feed back i get in reguards to it. thanks james contarino.

Volunteering has become a way of life for my family. We volunteer at our school, church, and through community projects, so we view everyday as a "Day of Service" and kudos to AARP for sponsoring such programs.

I have been a North Texas Master Naturalist for over 4 years now and have done numerous presentations for folks of all ages in an effort to educate them on the importance of caring for and learning about our natural resources and wildlife. I am also involved in a program which helps at risk teens, ages 10-17 yo who have been assigned to a juvenile detention facility become trained in a skill that will keep them out of the criminal justice system.

The more folks we can get involved in volunteer activities throughout the U.S. the better our communities would be. There are so many members with skills that our youth would benefit from. Volunteering once a month can change a child's life forever.

Careful "healthy drinkers" not all off us might find the suggestion for a glass of wine per day all that healthy. As a Reconvering Alcoholic of 18 years "I AM POWERLESS OVER ALCOHOL" never in all my years of drinking did I ever find it possible or desireable to have ONE drink. One was never enough nor was a thousand. Anyway on May 8, Volunteer Day I will be 270 miles away from my home serving my State Church Conference as I serve on the Chemical Dependency Summer School and the Chemical Dependency Ministies Committes and that is the time for our quarterly meetings. On Wednesday the 7th I will spend my day at a Drug and Alcohol Rehabiliataion Facility serving as Chaplain and 2nd thru 5th step advisor.
Most of the time I still work as an architect and free-lanch artist.
By the way I am just a youngster at 69. Have a great time serving others no matter what you chose to do to use your God given skills. God bless to all volunteers! GG

This May 8, Fred and I will be doing what we have done for the last 14 years, researching the developed campgrounds of a national forest or national grassland. This year we will be researching the Butte Valley and Crooked River National Grasslands first then heading to the Tongass and Chugach National Forests. This will bring out total of national forests researched to 153. We have done all this research with our own nickel and provide the collected information to the public free of charge on our website, www.forestcamping.com.

Fred, my husband, and I are having a debate over whether or not our efforts should be considered a "Volunteer Effort". I say it is and he claims it is not. Your opinion.

Am a volunteer AARP Job Search Facilitator 3 hours a week.

1. I have only right ear can hear and left eye can see.
2. I am senior and a fribomygia patient.
3. I like to know what I can do on the day of the 8th of May from my home?
4. I need a finical consortand for free advice. Who is in the centrol or south San Diego area.
5. Is there an AARP office in the San Diego area?
6. Just like you; I am Chinese and American citizan.
7. I was born on 1929 and live alone. I hope there will be group travel to the out of town comventios. I don't like to travel alone.
8. Thank you.

I really like the new Make a Difference part of your website. Lots of great ways to get involved in my community... My neighbor and I walk each day, so we are talking about doing the local walking audit one on May 8th.

Just to respond to Suzi Dow's post above about researching national parks. Yes, I think you are volunteers! And it sounds like a resource that is very useful to a lot of people.

As a member of Rotary, we have an annual "Paint your Heart Out"
program. This year we painted 15 houses (25 in past years) for citizens who are homeowners and unable to do the work themselves. We have been doing this program for 15 years now and have painted over 300 homes now.
John O'Connor

Dearest Jennie & James Contarino,

First let me welcome, our new Madam President. It is a small world. I live in a seniors community, RYDAL PARK in Jenkintown, Pa. I recently join our elementary school pen pal group. Her name is Jenny and she has moved away from the school. She is from Korea.

I would love to share with her, how I read about you today. If I can locate her and make a connection, would you mind, if her family agrees, connecting with
her? I have no biological children, only loads of God Children of previous professions, such as Job Corp/AmeriCorp, etc. Hope to hear from you soon.

Next, I want to commend James Contarino for his concern for needs of people in wheel chairs. I have been in a chair about six years, with limited services. My life has not been the same.

I have joined Easter Seals and find them to be a great resource.

Due to being in our computer lab, I do not have my AARP files close by. I joined DIVIDED WE FAIL, please
give my best to the staff. I hope, they have not forgotten me (forgot his name),as they have been very supportive over the past years.

Hope to hear from you all soon and any one interested in traveling in wheel chairs/class action suits.

Vi

Congratulations on your new position as AARP President. It is wonderful to have a registered nurse in such a prestigious position. I am sure you will do a great deal to promote the nursing profession and to provide service and education to the public.

Susan,
If you want to volunteer on May 8th and cannot leave your home, I recommend AARP's 50 Ways to Make a Difference.
http://www.aarp.org/makeadifference/volunteer/articles/50_ways_to_make_a_difference.html
There are many ways you can help without leaving your home.

Vi,
Thank you for your comment. We are here to support you. Email me at dearjennie@aarp.org. so we can figure out how to assist you.