Offline
Background
Location:
Montgomery, Alabama
United States
Work:
AARP Alabama
Hometown(s):
Montgomery, Huntsville, Mobile
My Websites:
www.aarp.org/al

My Journals (36)

 

AARP has been selected as a member of Alabama’s team for the upcoming Nursing Education Capacity Summit in June in Arlington, Va.  The summit will bring together teams from 17 states to explore strategies to increase nursing education capacity in four areas:  partnerships and resource realignment; policy and regulation; increased faculty capacity and diversity; and education redesign. Of the 17 state teams, only Florida and Alabama will include AARP representatives.
 
“We’re delighted to be invited to this table,” says Joan Carter, AARP’s state director.  “This initiative gives AARP an opportunity to help shape the future as well as increase our effectiveness in several of our projects, particularly workforce development, automatic 401(k) participation and DWF issues such as enhancing the financial security and health care for our members.”
 
According to Bill Hawkins, associate state director for advocacy outreach, AARP’s involvement with the summit team is a continuation of healthcare workforce activity that began earlier this year, and that will continue for several years.
 
“In April, we partnered with UAB to address findings of a recent Institutes of Medicine report, “Retooling for an Aging America: Building the Health Care Workforce,” which brought to light the crisis we could be facing in the healthcare industry.
 
“We recognize the impact a shortage of healthcare workers could have on our state, both to individuals and to our state’s economy, and we plan to continue working with industry leaders and policy makers to find a solution,” Hawkins said.
 
The June summit is sponsored by The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation; the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration; the Center to Champion Nursing in American and the Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration. 
Added: July 1, 2008
Views: 319 | Comments: 0 | Bookmarks: 0

  After eight terms in Congress, Terry Everett, R-Rehobeth, is retiring, leaving a vacant seat and one of the most hotly contested political races in Alabama this year. Everett represents Alabama’s Second Congressional District, which encompasses the counties of Autauga, Barbour, Bullock, Butler, Coffee, Conecuh, Covington, Crenshaw, Dale, Elmore, Geneva, Henry, Houston, Lowndes and part of Montgomery.
 
To help voters make an informed decision before going to the polls, AARP Alabama, WSFA-12 News in Montgomery, Troy University and the National Federation of Independent Business are sponsoring a series of candidate forums. The first will be broadcast live on WSFA, and the second and third, in Troy and in Dothan, will be open to the public.
 
For information about the forums, call AARP Alabama at 866-542-8167. To submit a question for the candidates, e-mail alaarp@aarp.org.
 
7-8 p.m., Friday, April 18
WSFA Live Televised Forum
 
1:30-3:30 p.m., Monday, April 21
Troy University, Hawkins-Adams-Long Hall of Honor
601 University Ave., Troy
 
10 a.m.- 12 p.m., Tuesday, April 29
Troy University at Dothan Sony Hall
502 University Drive, Dothan
Added: April 8, 2008
Views: 664 | Comments: 0 | Bookmarks: 0

                                                                                                                                               

AARP SEEKS “ANDRUS AWARD FOR COMMUNITY SERVICE” NOMINEES
Annual Award Recognizes Those Who Make a
Powerful Difference in their Community
 
AARP Alabama is seeking nominations for its 2008 AARP Andrus Award for Community Service, which honors those individuals who are sharing their experience, talent and skills to enrich the lives of their community members. 
 
“Volunteerism is clearly a new way of looking at retirement for older Americans. Many are finding that they want to remain active and involved and that volunteerism fulfills this need and the desire to help others,” said AARP Alabama State President Ray Warren. “Through this recognition, AARP encourages members and prospective members to use their skills and assistance as a way to remain vital as well as make a difference in their community.”
 
The screening of nominees will be performed by a local committee and involves a range of criteria, including positive impact on the lives of individuals age 50 and over, improvement of the community in or for which the work was performed, and inspiration of others to volunteer. The award recipient will be announced on or about September 1, 2008.
 
AARP Andrus Award for Community Service nominees must meet the following eligibility requirements:
 
·        Nominees must be current AARP volunteers or AARP members; or must have been AARP volunteers or members during 2007.
·        The accomplishments, achievements or service on which the nomination is based must include the year 2007, but it need not be exclusive to 2007.
·        Couples or partners who perform service together are also eligible, however teams are not eligible.
·        The accomplishments, achievements, or service on which the nomination is based must have been performed on a volunteer basis, without pay.  
·        The accomplishments, achievements or service on which the nomination is based must reflect AARP’s priority issues of Health, Livable Communities and/or Economic Security.
 
Please contact Melissa Monte at 866-542-8167 for further information and a nomination form. The application deadline is June 2, 2008.
 
The AARP Andrus Award for Community Service is an annual awards program developed to honor individuals whose service is a unique and valuable contribution to society. Last year, AARP recognized 53 outstanding individuals from around the country.
 
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. We produce AARP The Magazine, published bimonthly; AARP Bulletin, our monthly newspaper; AARP Segunda Juventud, our bimonthly magazine in Spanish and English; NRTA Live & Learn, our quarterly newsletter for 50+ educators; 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.
 
 
                                                            ###
 
Added: March 10, 2008
Views: 773 | Comments: 0 | Bookmarks: 0

Recently, AARP Alabama staffers spoke to a gathering of more than 350 Chiefs of Police, law enforcement educators, FBI Special Agents and Deputy U.S. Marshals about Divided We Fail and about AARP’s financial security programs.
 
The group was attending the bi-annual meeting of the Alabama Association of Chiefs of Police (AACOP). The meetings are held to provide the group’s more than 500 law enforcement executive members with state-of- the-art training, continuing education, legislative support and other services.
 
According to Associate State Director for Community Outreach Deidra Lemons, DWF was a natural fit. “Law enforcement personnel from around the state told us they’re worried about long-term financial security, and about having access to affordable, quality health care for all officers and their families.
 
“These brave men and women know they could be put in harm’s way on every shift. So, while it’s important for everyone to think about and plan for the future, these officers are probably forced to think about it more often than most,” Lemons said.
 
During the same meeting, Associate State Director for Advocacy Outreach Bill Hawkins talked about automatic 401k withdrawal programs, and about AARP’s work to protect Alabamians from identity theft.
 
“The response was great. This group understands the need for education to prevent ID theft, and we walked away with several potential collaborators,” Hawkins said.
 
After the DWF presentation, Lemons said she was approached by officers who signed pledge cards, and took extras for officers in their departments.
 
 
 
 
Added: March 10, 2008
Views: 760 | Comments: 0 | Bookmarks: 0

AARP Alabama last week distributed more than 750 Divided We Fail Pledges, spoke live to thousands about DWF during a radio remote; and had the mayor sign the DWF pledge during the Senior Expo in Scottsboro, Ala.
 
The event, in its second year, targeted people age 50-plus, and was designed to acquaint them with the facilities and services available to help enhance their lives, according to AARP Alabama Associate State Director for Advocacy Outreach Bill Hawkins.
 
"While most of these resources are available to them on a day-to-day basis, this event is the only time each year they can access all of these organizations and services in one place and in one day.
 
“AARP's focus was Divided We Fail. We not only want them to know about DWF, we want them to take that knowledge to the polls, so we were also encouraging them to vote," Hawkins said.
 
Hawkins also spoke with the group about AARP’s financial security workshops, and a free shredder event encouraged consumer protection.
 
More than 60 exhibitors – from commercial and non-profit health organizations; police and fire departments; churches; financial institutions; and a number of other businesses and community organizations- provided information and gifts during the day-long event.
 
Hawkins said the event, which was co-sponsored by AARP's Jackson County Chapter and the Jackson County Council on Aging, was a great example of AARP’s ability to touch the lives of older Alabamians.
 
“The Expo was held on a snowy and unusually cold day, especially by Alabama standards, in a somewhat rural area. But, by working with community leaders and partnering with other agencies, we had a turnout comparable to that of large cities. That’s the power of what we do,” he said.
 
Added: March 10, 2008
Views: 728 | Comments: 0 | Bookmarks: 0

After eight terms in Congress, Terry Everett, R-Rehobeth, is retiring, leaving a vacant seat and one of the most hotly contested political races in Alabama this year. Everett represents Alabama’s Second Congressional District, which encompasses the counties of Autauga, Barbour, Bullock, Butler, Coffee, Conecuh, Covington, Crenshaw, Dale, Elmore, Geneva, Henry, Houston, Lowndes and part of Montgomery.

 

To help voters make an informed decision before going to the polls, AARP Alabama, WSFA-12 News in Montgomery and Troy University are sponsoring a series of candidate debates. The first will be broadcast live on WSFA, and the others, in Dothan and Troy, will be open to the public.

 

For information about the debates, call AARP Alabama at 866-542-8167. To submit a question for the candidates, e-mail alaarp@aarp.org.

 

7-8 p.m., Friday, April 18

WSFA Live Televised Debates

 

1:30-3:30 p.m., Monday, April 21

Troy University, Hall of Honor

601 University Ave., Troy

 

9 a.m.- 11 a.m., Tuesday, April 29

Troy University at Dothan Sony Hall

227 N Foster St, Dothan

Added: January 24, 2008
Views: 913 | Comments: 0 | Bookmarks: 0