Meet the AARP California Executive Council

California: About Your State Office

By: States: California | Source: AARP.org | August 1, 2007

Meet the AARP California Executive Council

The Executive Council is responsible for helping to set state priorities and to provide guidance on achieving those priorities. Each member brings uniquely valuable skills and experiences to AARP.

Jeannine English serves as AARP California State President. Prior to her appointment, English served for two years on AARP's National Policy Council, an advisory committee to the AARP National Board of Directors.

English came to AARP after a long and distinguished career in state government, including more than 10 years as executive director of the Little Hoover Commission, an independent state oversight agency created to investigate state government operations and promote efficiency, economy and improved service to the public. Most recently, English was appointed by Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez to represent the public as a member of the Board of Governors of the California State Bar.

As volunteer state president, English will lead the California Executive Council and work in partnership with State Director Tom Porter and in collaboration with other volunteers and staff to achieve AARP's strategic priorities in California.

English, who celebrated her 50th birthday by climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro (19,340 ft.), is an avid runner and cyclist who recently completed her second annual bicycle ride around Lake Tahoe (72 miles).

English and her husband, Howard Dickstein, have four sons, ranging in age from 14 to 29.

Thomas A. Porter joined the AARP as California State Director in September 1997. Prior to joining AARP, Porter served as executive director of the Public Interest Center for Long Term Care, which brought together a coalition of senior disability groups on important issues related to long-term care, placing particular emphasis on policies that encouraged independent living and reduced the need for institutionalization.

Porter has been working on issues relating to aging and long-term care since he became legislative assistant to the California Assembly in 1970. Over the next 20 years, he served in a number of positions in the Legislature, including Chief Consultant to the Assembly Committee on Aging and Long Term Care. He also served as legislative advocate for the California Alzheimer's Association.

As state director, Porter is responsible for overseeing all educational, community service and advocacy activities serving AARP's more than 3 million members in California.

Marvin Schachter, has been the chair of the Pasadena Senior Advocacy Council since 1995 and has also served as the president of the Advisory Council of the Los Angeles County Area Agency on Aging, as a member of the California Commission on Aging, and as a delegate to the White House Conference on Aging. He is also Vice President of the Menorah Housing Foundation.

Schachter's background includes teaching at various Universities and colleges, including Brooklyn College, University of Colorado, Columbia University, and Cambridge University (England). He is exceedingly active in his community and has held various positions in numerous organizations.

Schachter has been a spokesman for AARP as well as a lecturer on the senior community at the University of Southern California Andrus Center and for community and business organizations. He has organized and participated in senior housing conferences for various Southern California area agencies on aging. Schachter brings a wealth of expertise and is well poised to support the vision of AARP.

Jacquelyn Paige spent a long career with the State of California, serving four governors in various positions in the area of health and human services. For fourteen years, Paige directed the California Health Policy/Data Advisory Commission, a statutorily-mandated, bi-partisan commission that advises the Secretary of Health and Human Services, and the State Health Planning and Development Director on issues related to health policy, planning, public information, and education.

A prior gubernatorial appointment included five years service as Associate Secretary of the California Health and Human Services Agency, where Paige was responsible for local governmental issues and public relations. This work included liaison responsibilities to county health and human services leaders and associations, as well as constituents active in health and social service policy design and development affecting access to care.

Paige also served as Chief of the Office of Intergovernmental Relations for two years with the California State Department of Mental Health, working with county mental health directors, advisory groups, clients, and families.

Having worked with multiple gubernatorial administrations, Jacquie brings a wealth of experience in the fields of health, legislation, and related senior issues.

David Pacheco is the Director of the California Senate Fellows, one of the oldest and most distinguished civic education programs in the country.  It is a graduate fellowship program jointly offered by the Center for California Studies at Sacramento State University and the California State Senate.  David joined the Center in 2005 after a distinguished career with the California Legislature and as an academic administrator with the University of California.

David has served seven members of the Senate and Assembly since his arrival in Sacramento as a Jessie M. Unruh Assembly Fellow in 1978. He is a University of California annuitant and has been a member of the academic senates at UC Santa Cruz, San Jose State and Stanford Universities.  David holds advanced degrees in Education Administration from San Jose State University and Sociology of Education from Stanford University. He is the former Director of Communications and Intercultural Studies at UCSC Extension and is a former faculty/field studies coordinator at San Jose State University.

Bob Prath retired as a Navy Captain in 1991, after which he taught in the Sweetwater Union High School District. Following that, he was the Area Manager for Meals-On-Wheels Greater San Diego. He has also served as a HICAP counselor for over 10 years and has been an active volunteer with health advocacy, disaster preparedness, and intergenerational activities, as well as mobility and transportation issues. He is committed to projects that promote healthy aging and independent living. Bob has been a dedicated volunteer since 1995, earning the AARP California Andrus Award in 2007 for exceptional commitment the association. He has been a Regional Mobilizer, Regional Volunteer Leader, and most recently, the State Coordinator for Community Presence Teams, managing Regional Volunteer Leaders throughout the state. His leadership in this capacity has increased collaboration and communication among volunteers throughout the state. Bob and his wife Karen reside in Lakeside, California and can often be found volunteering side by side at AARP events.