Dukes Receives AARP Award for Community Service
By: Source: AARP.org Date Posted: 2004-11-01 00:00:00-05:00
Marysville resident Joe Dukes has been selected to receive AARP Washington's 2004 Andrus Award for Community Service, AARP's most prestigious volunteer award. The award symbolizes that individuals have the power and ability to make a difference in the lives of others.
Dr. Ethel Percy Andrus founded AARP over 45 years ago with the philosophy, "To Serve, Not to be Served."
Each year, AARP recognizes extraordinary individuals throughout the nation who emulate that philosophy by bringing a lifetime of experience and leadership to serve others.
"Joe exemplifies the wonderful community service spirit of our AARP volunteers," said AARP spokesperson Jason Erskine. "AARP has long valued the important contributions volunteers make to their communities, neighbors and the programs they serve."
Dukes will accept the award at a special reception Dec. 8.
AARP recognizes Dukes for improving the lives of thousands of people through his volunteer work, particularly in his role as the statewide volunteer coordinator for the Fraud Fighter Consumer Information Campaign. The program has trained more than 2,300 volunteer Fraud Fighters at 12 community forums throughout the state.
"We hope to make Washington State the single hardest state in the nation to rip off older adults," said Dukes. "We're putting con artists on notice that they can't make a living in Washington State by scamming our older citizens."
In addition to his contributions to AARP, Dukes has achieved an outstanding record of community outreach successes to diverse audiences. He is a retired law enforcement professional and served as Director of the Association of Deputy Sheriffs. He organized the Mount Zion Baptist Church Security Ministry in Seattle and served as the Chief of Security for seven years. Dukes was appointed by the Governor to serve as a member of the Washington State Council on Aging for a two-year term ending in 2002, and he currently serves as a member of the Snohomish County Council on Aging, State Long-term Care Ombudsman Advisory Board and the Greater Marysville Tulalip Chamber of Commerce.
"I would like to thank Jim Cummins, past president of Marysville AARP Chapter #2308, and its members for recognizing my contributions in community service and for submitting my name as a candidate for the Andrus Award," said Dukes.
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