Meet AARP Massachusetts Executive Council Volunteers
By: Source: AARP.org Date Posted: 2007-06-19 15:35:31.909564-04:00
The AARP Massachusetts Executive Council provides strategic direction for AARP at the state level in the areas of advocacy, communications and community service. Its members include the state director, Deborah Banda, and five volunteers led by the state president, Charles Desmond. Each member brings uniquely valuable skills and experience to AARP.
State President
Charles Desmond has been state president since January 2006. Desmond brings a wealth of experience to the position. He is currently Executive Vice President of the Trefler Foundation, a local philanthropic organization dedicated to urban education reform. Prior to joining Trefler, Desmond had a lengthy and distinguished career at the University of Massachusetts - Boston, holding a broad range of administrative and executive level positions, including Associate Chancellor for School/Community Collaboration and Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs. He holds a doctorate in instructional leadership and a bachelor degree in sociology. He is also a former Fulbright Fellow.
Desmond served in the U.S. Army, receiving both a Silver Star and a Bronze Star for service in Vietnam.
Executive Advocacy Volunteer
James J. Callahan, Jr. is Professor Emeritus at the Heller School for Social Policy and Management at Brandeis University. He directed an NIMH mental health services research training program and headed the University's Policy Center on Aging for more than 20 years. He is former Secretary of the Massachusetts Department of Elder Affairs.
Callahan is the founding chair of the steering committee of the National Academy on An Aging Society, a fellow of the Gerontological Society of America, and former board member of the American Society on Aging. He has received leadership awards from the Gerontological Society of America, Massachusetts Gerontological Society, Massachusetts Health Council, Boston College School of Social Work, and the Gerontological Section of the American Public Health Association.
Callahan is author and editor of numerous publications in the field of social welfare and aging policy.
Executive Communications Volunteer
Jack F. Agnew is senior counsel at MS&L;, Boston's largest full service public relations firm that he co-founded with Lewis Carter in 1978. His client responsibilities include strategic communications planning, creative counseling and crisis management. He also heads up the media preparation and presentation training for MS&L; clients.
Prior to starting Agnew, Carter, McCarthy, he was director of creative services for WBZ-TV in Boston; director of public relations for Westinghouse Broadcasting Company in San Francisco and director of advertising, promotion and public relations for Scripps Howard Broadcasting in Memphis, Tennessee.
In addition to his marketing and communications work, Agnew serves on various non-profit boards including the Salvation Army, Boys & Girls Clubs of Boston, Big Sister Association of Greater Boston, Art Institute of Boston at Lesley University and the Weston Friendly Society.
Executive Community Service Volunteer
Judy Goggin is Senior Vice President for Civic Ventures, a national non-profit organization dedicated to improving the image of aging in America. Civic Ventures works to expand the opportunities for older adults to contribute to their communities through significant service and civic engagement. She is also a member of the Coming of Age Steering Committee for Massachusetts. Prior to joining Civic Ventures in July 2001, Goggin spent more than 18 years with Elderhostel.
Goggin serves on several national advisory boards including the Lifelong Access Project of the American Libraries Council and Wisdom Works, a program of the National Council on Aging. She has served on the board of the American Society on Aging and chaired the constituency unit for older adult learning, LEARN.
Goggin writes and speaks nationally on lifelong learning, civic engagement and encore careers.
Executive Volunteer, Life@50+ | AARP's National Event & Expo
Louise Myers is a longtime AARP volunteer having served in many capacities throughout the years, including Health Advocacy Coordinator, Voter Education Program Coordinator, Minority Affairs Specialist, and Disability Initiative Specialist. Myers currently provides valuable outreach to diverse organizations and communities, and represents AARP Massachusetts on the Multicultural Coalition on Aging.
She is also on the board of Minuteman Home Care, Chelmsford Council on Aging, and National Caucus on Black Aging. Myers is active with the Hearing Loss Association of America, and many other community and social organizations, as well as being an ambassador for Elderhostel.
Myers retired from the Social Security Administration with 32 years of service.
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