ST. PETERSBURG – Create The Good Florida is urging students to use some of their time during spring break to volunteer in their community.

“Student volunteers can make a huge difference during spring break,” said Lori Parham, AARP Florida state director. “Their idealism and energy often brings much needed help to organizations. A volunteer opportunity can be life-changing.”

Natasha Pytlik certainly didn’t plan to for her life to change during spring break. She began volunteering for Service for Peace, a service learning organization with a global peace perspective, in 2006.

“The work became a passion for me,” said Pytlik, who is now an AmeriCorps volunteer.

In 2009, Pytlik, a student at Florida International University, spent spring break in Nicaragua helping repair a local school. She also traveled to Guatemala in July 2009, but most of her efforts are directed to working with students in the South Florida community.

According to the Corporation for National and Community Service, 3.2 million students performed more than 300 million hours of service in 2009. Alternative spring break programs are gaining in popularity, often taking students to foreign countries to perform community service projects.

Though going to a different country for community service might seem “cool,” experts from national service organizations such as the American Red Cross are discouraging travel to Haiti or Chile, reminding students that food and water are still scarce.

Students don’t need to travel far or even commit their entire spring break week to volunteering to make a difference in people’s lives.

College students in South Florida will be helping Haitian refugees by volunteering at Miami’s Haitian Youth and Community Center of Florida.

AARP”s Create The Good (www.createthegood.org), an AARP effort to encourage its members and others to volunteer and participate in service to community, has a long list of volunteer opportunities around the state from one day to week-long commitments.

For example, the Community Improvement Organization in Hialeah (www.improvingourcommunity.org) needs help repairing a single mother’s home. Other opportunities include volunteering to serve meals in Tallahassee at the Ronald McDonald House (www.rmhctallahassee.org.)

“We encourage everyone – from college students to AARP members – to visit www.CreateTheGood.org to find self-directed ways to make a difference and to get ideas about how to serve their community,” Parham said.

Washington, DC – In an effort to step up its drive to assist workers 50+ struggling during this time of high unemployment around the country, AARP is sponsoring multiple career fairs specifically designed to help mature job seekers in 2010.  AARP will sponsor 48 career fairs in 19 states—including a special event in Atlanta on March 22—which have high unemployment rates of 10 percent or more for older workers.

The “Helping Experience Work@50+” events are free, and will offer workshops on promoting yourself at 50+, emphasizing tips and techniques for success in a competitive job market.  Career counseling will be available to assist job seekers in assessing their skills to identify the best employment opportunities.  Participants also will have the chance to interact with employers with job openings, as well as access to an internet café, where they can post resumes.  AARP will sponsor booths at each event, promoting free online resources that provide important tips and tools to help older workers succeed in their job search.

“AARP recognizes that millions of older Americans are trying to stay employed or get back on the job for a variety of reasons,” said Deborah Russell, AARP Director of Workforce Issues.   “Older workers continue to face difficult challenges in today’s economic downturn.  Many retirees have been forced back into the job market, due to decimated retirement nest eggs and skyrocketing health care costs.

“AARP is sponsoring numerous career fairs, as well as creating resources and other offerings to assist older workers who need jobs for their health and financial security,” Russell added.

The announcement of new career fairs across the nation comes as high unemployment persists among older workers.  The AARP Public Policy Institute recently reported that the February unemployment rate for age 55+ workers remained higher than in any month since the late 1940s.  In addition, 55+ unemployed workers spend a longer time that other groups looking for work, with an average of 35.6 weeks.

AARP is hosting the career fairs in collaboration with The Employment Guide, a leading national marketing services company that sponsors job fairs nationwide. Job seekers may register for specific fairs at www.aarp.org/realrelief or call toll-free 1-888-321-5349.  Participating employers, which must have job openings available at the time of the event, will include members of AARP’s National Employer Team, clients of the Employment Guide and other companies targeting boomers and older job seekers for job openings. 

AARP maintains a variety of programs to help workers 50+.  In addition to career fairs, AARP conducts web-based seminars for job seekers; sponsors the National Employer Team, which connects job seekers with employers; honors Best Employers for Workers Over 50; and, offers online job counseling.  In addition, the AARP Foundation provides a variety of direct services to help mature workers at or below the median income through its WorkSearch website.  For more information on the programs mentioned above, please visit www.aarp.org/realrelief.  About AARP

AARP is a nonprofit, nonpartisan membership organization that helps people 50+ have independence, choice and control in ways that are beneficial and affordable to them and society as a whole. AARP does not endorse candidates for public office or make contributions to either political campaigns or candidates. We produce AARP The Magazine, the definitive voice for 50+ Americans and the world's largest-circulation magazine with over 35.7 million readers; AARP Bulletin, the go-to news source for AARP's millions of members and Americans 50+; AARP Segunda Juventud, the only bilingual U.S. publication dedicated exclusively to the 50+ Hispanic community; and our website, AARP.org. AARP Foundation is an affiliated charity that provides security, protection, and empowerment to older persons in need with support from thousands of volunteers, donors, and sponsors. We have staffed offices in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. 

A list* of Dates, Cities and States for Helping Experience Work@50+ follows: 

Broward resident, Navy veteran joins AARP Florida Executive Council Former management expert Ken Reinhardt named to volunteer board

AARP Florida State Director Lori Parham announced Friday that Ken Reinhardt, a former management expert and Navy officer, has been appointed to AARP’s Florida Executive Council. The executive council serves as the “voice of AARP members in Florida,” representing hundreds of AARP Florida volunteers on a wide range of issues affecting Floridians 50+.

Reinhardt, 68, and his wife, Gloria, joined AARP as volunteer advocates in 2006 and became active in reaching out to legislators in Washington and Tallahassee to participate in outreach on issues affecting all Floridians 50+. The Reinhardts also help educate other volunteer advocates on specific state and national issues, and participate in AARP’s Speaker’s Bureau to provide information to the local community on a variety of subjects of importance to Floridians of all generations.

A native of Syracuse, N.Y., Ken is a graduate of the U. S. Naval Academy and Northwestern University’s Graduate School of Management. His career of 40 years included service in the Navy as a seagoing officer; operations and financial management positions in the airline industry; and roles as an engineering and manufacturing manager in the Chicago area and South Florida, before retiring from General Electric.

AARP is a nonprofit, nonpartisan membership organization that helps people 50+ have independence, choice and control in ways that are beneficial and affordable to them and society as a whole. AARP does not endorse candidates for public office or make contributions to either political campaigns or candidates. We produce AARP The Magazine, the definitive voice for 50+ Americans and the world's largest-circulation magazine with over 33 million readers; AARP Bulletin, the go-to news source for AARP's 40 million members and Americans 50+; AARP Segunda Juventud, the only bilingual U.S. publication dedicated exclusively to the 50+ Hispanic community; and our website, AARP.org. AARP Foundation is an affiliated charity that provides security, protection, and empowerment to older persons in need with support from thousands of volunteers, donors, and sponsors. We have staffed offices in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
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WASHINGTON—AARP CEO A. Barry Rand released this statement today following President Obama’s remarks on health care reform.

“Last week, as Congressional leaders and White House officials from both political parties gathered to renew bipartisan discussion on health care reform, AARP offered to help them continue progress by lowering the external political pressure that can prevent compromise.  We pledged to rein in our activities in the public debate as long as they continued to work together constructively.  Both sides deserve some credit for exchanging ideas and shared priorities, however it is clear that there is no bipartisan solution in sight.

“While we are disappointed, we are re-engaging in the public debate because health care reform is too important to remain silent.  We will continue fighting for the priorities of our members and their families, including protecting guaranteed Medicare benefits, lowering prescription drug costs by closing the Medicare Part D ‘doughnut hole’ coverage gap, stopping insurance companies from denying affordable care based on age or pre-existing conditions, and increasing access to home- and community-based services so older Americans can get the services they need to live in their homes.”

Washington, DC –AARP Executive Vice President Nancy LeaMond  released this statement following the Senate’s vote on two amendments, sponsored by Senators Sanders and Burr, to provide $250 in economic relief for millions of older Americans, veterans and persons with disabilities who continue to struggle through these difficult economic times. 

“AARP is deeply disappointed that the Senate was unable to find common ground to  pass needed economic relief for 57 million retirees, veterans and people with disabilities whose Social Security benefits are frozen this year.  In fact, their monthly checks have remained flat at a time when health care costs are rising dramatically.  Older Americans spend 30% or more of their income on health care and these costs are expected to continue to rise again throughout 2010.

“While it is clear that Democrats and Republicans agree that older Americans need relief during these difficult economic times, it is increasingly frustrating to watch lawmakers, armed with compelling stories of their constituents who are struggling to make ends meet, not take action for older Americans.  Congress must be able to come together and provide assistance for millions of Americans in a responsible way.

“AARP will continue to press Congress and the Administration to pass legislation to provide support for millions of older Americans as soon as possible.”

For more information, please contact AARP Media Relations at 202-434-2560.

About AARP

AARP is a nonprofit, nonpartisan membership organization that helps people 50+ have independence, choice and control in ways that are beneficial and affordable to them and society as a whole. AARP does not endorse candidates for public office or make contributions to either political campaigns or candidates. We produce AARP The Magazine, the definitive voice for 50+ Americans and the world's largest-circulation magazine with over 35.7 million readers; AARP Bulletin, the go-to news source for AARP's millions of members and Americans 50+; AARP Segunda Juventud, the only bilingual U.S. publication dedicated exclusively to the 50+ Hispanic community; and our website, AARP.org. AARP Foundation is an affiliated charity that provides security, protection, and empowerment to older persons in need with support from thousands of volunteers, donors, and sponsors. We have staffed offices in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Tallahassee, Fla. – As Florida lawmakers gear up for a 2010 legislative session in the third year of a historic budget crisis, AARP Florida is urging state lawmakers to protect the state’s economy and residents, and to help smaller Florida businesses compete on a fair basis with out-of-state competitors. 

“Florida’s most urgent challenge right now is to revitalize our sputtering economy,” said Lori Parham, AARP’s Florida state director.  “Our 50+ population represents a powerful potential economic engine that could help that revitalization occur.  For this strategy to work, we must ensure Florida has the infrastructure that will attract relocating retirees – adequate health and long-term care choices, livable communities, options for mobility and laws that protect consumers.”

In 2010, Florida lawmakers are facing difficult budget choices.  This year’s budget concerns are made worse because Florida has already cut spending by $6 billion in previous years. Midway through the state’s next fiscal year, the federal stimulus funding will diminish unless continued by Congress.

AARP has joined several other organizations in calling for the Legislature to clear the way for Florida to participate in a nationwide, voluntary organization to improve the fairness and efficiency of tax collection, the Streamlined Sales and Use Tax Agreement. This would bring in hundreds of millions of dollars annually in needed revenue in future years by allowing businesses to voluntarily register with the state to collect and remit unpaid taxes already levied on Internet and other remote-commerce purchases.  This agreement would help Florida businesses, especially smaller businesses, by having out-of-state competitors collect and remit the same sales taxes on Internet and other remote sales that Florida-based businesses already do.

Additionally, AARP Florida will ask lawmakers to approve an alternative to managed health and long-term care for Floridians that offers the promise of better outcomes at the same or lower cost as current approaches.  In 2009, the Legislature required the Agency for Health Care Administration to propose two “medical home” pilot projects for consideration in 2010. The “medical home” approach helps coordinate care more effectively.  AARP will play a prominent role during the development of the recommendations to ensure adequate consumer representation.

AARP Florida also will ask lawmakers to help older Floridians receive home and community based long-term care services (HCBS).  

Is Progress Energy of Florida trying to pull a snow job on consumers in the SunshineState?  That’s a question some consumer advocates are asking. 

Recently, the Florida Public Service Commission turned down a Progress Energy request for a $500-million-per-year-plus rate increase.  Progress Energy executives responded by saying that, in response, the company would have to cut back on needed infrastructure investments. 

Independent experts say this request was all about profitability: Progress Energy expects consumers to believe that because commissioners capped the rate of return at 10.5 percent, instead of accepting the 12.54 percent profit Progress Energy was requesting, the company will be forced into a pauper's position.

“This is an outrage. Florida consumers are battling the toughest economy in a quarter-century, unemployment rates are high, and Florida ranks fourth among the states in home foreclosures,” AARP Florida State Director Lori Parham said.

The company's "base-rate" requests had nothing to do with nuclear power plant construction or changing fuel costs, AARP experts noted. The PSC's ruling has no effect on Progress Energy of Florida's ability to recover the cost of a new nuclear plant - in advance of construction. “For the company to argue otherwise is, at best, inaccurate,” Parham said.

“Florida utilities executives now have an opportunity to demonstrate creative, positive leadership in their field and take a hard look at expenditures and figure out how to make the best use of their available income. It is unfortunate that it seems utilities executives are using this PSC action as an opportunity to punish ratepayers or to weaken the state's electric-power grid.”

Progress Energy of Florida is trying to pull a snow job on consumers in the SunshineState.

That consumers are expected to believe that the Public Service Commission's recent decision to deny rate increase proposals of more than $500 million will force Progress Energy to cut state infrastructure is absurd.

Independent experts say this request was all about profitability: Progress Energy expects consumers to believe that because commissioners capped the rate of return at 10.5 percent, instead of accepting the 12.54 percent profit Progress Energy was requesting, the company will be forced into a pauper's position.

This is an outrage. Florida consumers are battling the toughest economy in a quarter-century, unemployment rates are high, and Florida ranks fourth among the states in home foreclosures.

The company's "base-rate" requests had nothing to do with nuclear power plant construction or changing fuel costs. The PSC's ruling has no effect on Progress Energy of Florida's ability to recover the cost of a new nuclear plant - in advance of construction. For the company to argue otherwise is, at best, inaccurate.

Florida utilities executives now have an opportunity to demonstrate creative, positive leadership in their field and take a hard look at expenditures and figure out how to make the best use of their available income. It is unfortunate that it seems utilities executives are using this PSC action as an opportunity to punish ratepayers or to weaken the state's electric-power grid.

FT. LAUDERDALE, FL – AARP and the NFL Players Association (NFLPA) today announced they will work together to encourage volunteerism, service, community involvement and giving back. As part of this new alliance, former and current NFL players will join AARP Create The Good to become service ambassadors in their local communities through a variety of activities in 2010.

The NFLPA and AARP made the announcement today at the annual NFLPA Super Bowl press conference in Ft. Lauderdale. Host of Super Bowl XLIV, CBS NFL Today and AARP’s Community Ambassador, James “JB” Brown has been involved with the Create The Good initiative since its launch in 2009 and will help recruit players for service initiatives throughout the year.

“We are excited about this new collaboration between AARP and the NFL Players Association. All NFL players, both active and retired, believe in the importance of giving back to their communities and AARP's Create The Good initiative will allow our players to continue the good work they do alongside the fans who cheer them on,” said DeMaurice Smith, NFLPA Executive Director.

AARP Create The Good (www.CreateTheGood.org) is a network of people sharing tools and ideas to help make a difference on their own or in larger groups in their communities. It is powered by AARP and the AARP Foundation’s more than nine million volunteers, donors and activists.

Beginning in April 2010—National Volunteer Month—NFLPA players will participate in Create The Good service activities in 17 communities around the country. The NFLPA will also work with Create The Good on two additional national service events scheduled later in 2010.

“There’s a new spirit of service sweeping the country and Americans of all ages are rallying to improve our country and our communities,” said Barbara Quaintance, SVP of AARP’s Volunteer and Civic Engagement Office. “By bringing players out into the communities, we hope to engage more and more people and get them motivated to lend a helping hand.”

The NFLPA has a history of encouraging its players to give back to local communities, and for the last seven years has partnered with JB to recognize those who exemplify dedication and commitment to team and community with the JB Awards. Each year, a select group of players are invited to the NFL Players Gala Featuring the JB Awards, an awards presentation hosted by JB himself to honor their individual contributions to their communities.

Now, through Create The Good, the NFLPA and JB are once again teaming up to provide opportunities for people in communities nationwide to join current and former NFL players and get involved in community projects.  In the coming months, Create The Good and the NFLPA will announce additional details about the events scheduled in 2010.

“I couldn’t be more thrilled to see AARP and the NFLPA come together on such an important and critical topic,” said Brown. “I’m proud to be part of Create The Good and as AARP’s national Community Ambassador, I look forward to working with the NFL Players Association to help spread the message about the importance of getting involved and taking action.”

CreateTheGood.org offers local volunteer opportunities as well as ideas for self-directed activities and how-to videos for simple service projects people can organize on their own, like weatherizing homes, starting healthy walking groups, fighting fraud, preparing for a hurricane and other needs.

Washington , DC —The AARP Foundation today announced a call for entries to its fourth annual Women’s Scholarship Program. The scholarships will provide funds to women 40+ who are seeking new job skills, training and educational opportunities to support themselves and their families. Up to 100 scholarships ranging from $500 to $5,000 will be awarded, depending on financial need and the cost of the education or training program. 

“The AARP Foundation is committed to elevating opportunities for women,” said AARP Florida State Director Lori Parham. “Since its beginning, the program has provided valuable resources that have enabled more than 350 deserving women to have access to the educational tools to advance their professional goals. We are thrilled to be offering the program again this year.”

While many individuals benefit from the work of the AARP Foundation, research shows that women are disproportionately at risk of having insufficient funds in the second half of their lives due to lower earning and different work patterns. The AARP Foundation created the Women’s Scholarship Program in August 2007 to help women 40+ overcome financial and employment barriers by allowing them to participate in education and training opportunities they could otherwise not afford. In 2009, 108 women from all across the country were awarded more than $345,000 in educational scholarships.

Interested applicants can submit their application online beginning February 1, 2010 at www.aarp.org/womensscholarship . The application process closes on March 31, 2010. Scholarships will be awarded in early summer 2010.

Scholarships are available to eligible individuals with moderate to lower incomes and limited financial resources. To be eligible for the scholarships, applicants must:

• Be female age 40 or older (as of March 31, 2010);
• Be a U.S. Citizen
• Be able to demonstrate financial need; and
• Be enrolled in an accredited school or technical training program within 6 months of the scholarship award date.

Priority is given to women in three categories: those raising the children of another family member; those in low-paying jobs with no career opportunities and who are missing either a retirement benefit and/or health insurance; and those who have been out of the workforce for more than five years. Scholarships may be used for any course of study at a public or private secondary school, including community colleges, technical schools, and four-year universities.  Funds are payable to the institution and may be used to pay for tuition, fees, and books.

Scholarship winners will be chosen by an independent selection committee established by the AARP Foundation. They will be chosen on the basis of financial need, personal circumstances and achievements, educational goals, and the likely impact of the scholarship on their lives and their families and communities.

The scholarship program is made possible by the AARP Foundation with generous support from Wal-Mart Foundation and the AARP Foundation Women’s Leadership Circle cabinet.