New Executive Council Members Announced
Three familiar faces have been appointed to the state's volunteer Executive Council.
Georgianna Calabrese, Richard Ornauer and Jim Wilson will play key roles in the state's strategic planning activities as they don their latest AARP hats.
The three join AARP Delaware State President Charles Jackson and AARP Delaware State Director Jan Robinson, who also serve on the council, to help outline the state's priorities for the year 2004. In addition to their AARP Delaware duties, council members participate in issue training and association-wide ad hoc committees and task forces, as well as represent AARP Delaware on state-wide boards and commissions.
We welcome the wealth of experience (and familiarity with AARP) they bring to their new volunteer leadership roles.
Georgianna Calabrese
Executive Council Community Service Volunteer
Calabrese is no stranger to AARP Delaware's volunteer corps. In fact, she will simply be trading her Lead Advocate for Community Service hat for her new Executive Council "crown." In 2002, she received AARP's highest volunteer award—the AARP Andrus Award for Community Service.
Named for AARP founder Ethel Percy Andrus, the award acknowledges the recipient's contribution to the communities in which he or she serves. Calabrese received the honor for her work with CHEER, a senior support organization in Sussex County.
At CHEER, she delivered groceries to people who are homebound, helped older homeowners seek assistance for emergency home repairs and supported CHEER's many special events. But that is certainly not all she has accomplished.
Through her leadership, Delaware's largest chapter (now 700 strong) was founded, and her recent efforts have improved communication among chapters, bringing Delaware's 12 chapters into a valuable, unified force for service within the state. Fortunately for Delaware, Pennsylvania's loss of Calabrese when she retired from the state's school system became Delaware's gain. Again, we commend her for her work with AARP's volunteers and look forward to her continuing contributions.
Richard Ornauer
Executive Council Communications Volunteer
Fortunately for AARP Delaware, Ornauer will continue to wear his present hat as Associate State Coordinator for our AARP Driver Safety Program; he'll just have to stack a new one on top when he serves in his new role.
He has been championing our driver refresher program since 1993 and, last year, took top honors with "most classes taught" in a calendar year.
Along with State Coordinator Ted Ressler, Ornauer's persistence paid off as Delaware was selected to be the second state in the nation to offer the new four-hour refresher course to those who previously earned a standard eight-hour certification.
Now Delawareans who complete the abbreviated course will be eligible for a 15% discount on their auto liability insurance. And these days, every savings really counts.
As a practicing communications professional for more than 50 years, Ornauer undoubtedly brings a wealth of expertise to help AARP Delaware continue to raise awareness about the work of AARP and the Delaware State Office. Prior to his retirement, he served as Director of Communications for the New York State School Board Association in Albany. We welcome Ornauer's many years in news editing and radio writing to add to the growing AARP Delaware tool chest.
Jim Wilson
Executive Council Advocacy Volunteer
Although he may be a fairly new face representing AARP in Delaware's legislative hall, Wilson is no newcomer to the legislative process or the state's politicos.
In Wilson's "pre-retirement" life, his communication and leadership skills served him well, both on and off the legislative beat, during his career in education that spanned more than 30 years. From a classroom teacher in Newark to his rise to superintendent of the Cape Henlopen School District, Wilson's "people-centered and results-oriented philosophy" moved measures upward for his students and his district.
But like so many retirees, his initial retirement didn't last long. Shortly after receiving the "gold watch," he was approached to take an overseas assignment as the superintendent of the American International School in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Now that he is officially retired (or so he says), his activism is being directed on behalf of AARP. By working with others—"integration," as he so aptly calls it—he has already helped AARP Delaware increase consumer protections for owners of manufactured homes and nursing home residents. We look forward to Wilson's continuing contributions to help others and AARP find success in Dover.
Please join us in welcoming our three new Executive Council Volunteers.
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