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Name: AARP
Location:
Christiansted, Virgin Islands
United States
My Websites:
www.aarp.org/vi
www.dividedwefail.org
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My Journals (41)

AARP VI Joins Coalition for Smoke Free Virgin Islands

AARP has joined the Virgin Islands Department of Health’s Tobacco Prevention and Control Program’s (TPCP) effort to introduce strong, alternative legislation aimed at completely halting smoking in public places throughout the VI. The new group, known now as the Coalition for a Smoke Free Virgin Islands (CSFVI) is working to encourage policymakers to go beyond the legislation presently under consideration which only creates designated locations where smoking can legally occur.

 
Although tobacco use among Virgin Islanders is surprisingly low, CSFVI wants a total ban of smoking. Because Virgin Islands businesses market tobacco products to visitors as one of their major tourist-related duty free items, VI health officials have serious concerns about Virgin Islanders either taking up the habit or being seriously harmed by exposure to the second hand smoke of visitors.
 
 
Officials from the neighboring Puerto Rico Smoking Ban Coalition have provided significant guidance to the group. Puerto Rico, shares the VI’s tourism and free port economic concerns, yet has recently enacted a very strong smoking ban law that has been able to withstand significant legal scrutiny.
Added: March 27, 2009
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AARP Discusses Key Issues with VI Legislators

The Virgin Islands State Office held its biennial Legislative Roundtable on Tuesday, March 10th on St. Thomas at Palms Court Harbor View. The event was attended by nine of the territory’s senators who gathered to hear AARP’s position on important healthcare and livable communities issues. 

 

The timing of this meeting was critical, as it provided the opportunity for Senators to hear how expected economic stimulus funds can immediately impact efforts to address a number of AARP’s key issues. These issues include health information technology (electronic medical records), Rx Affordability and transportation/mobility concerns. Position papers on other related issues were also shared with event attendees. 

 

Special thanks to Dr. Cora Christian, AARP’s National Board Member, not only for her presentation on Health Information Technology, but for successfully promoting the Roundtable event.

 

AARP graciously thanks Senate President Adlah ‘Foncie’ Donastorg (D) for partnering with AARP to coordinate and encourage the participation of the Senators. Those in attendance included Senator-at-Large Craig Barshinger (D); St. Croix Senators: Wayne James (D), Usie R. Richards (ICM), and Nellie Rivera O’Reilly (Ind); St.Thomas/St.John Senators: Carlton Dowe (Ind), Louis Patrick Hill (D), Patrick Simeon Sprauve (D) and Alvin Williams (D). 

 

Representatives were sent on behalf of Governor John de Jongh (D) and Delegate Donna M. Christensen (D). Members of the Governor’s cabinet and heads of other agencies that will benefit from legislative action in shared areas of concern also attended the Roundtable. Advocacy volunteers played a key role serving as moderator, hosts and issue speakers. The event resulted in legislators stepping forward and committing to work on AARP’s 2009 Legislative Agenda issues.

 

Call AARP Virgin Islands at (340) 713-2002 for more information.

Added: March 11, 2009
Views: 109 | Comments: 0 | Bookmarks: 0

AARP VI's Biennial Meeting with VI Legislators

 

AARP Virgin Islands will be hosting its biennial Legislative Roundtable on March 10th at Palms Court Harborview on St. Thomas. The Legislative Roundtable is an opportunity for AARP members to present their legislative agenda and recommend legislative initiatives to members of the 28th Legislature of the Virgin Islands. The event also affords legislators the chance to present their positions and inform AARP of potential legislation that they plan to propose.

 
AARP’s legislative agenda includes issues related to health care reform, economic security and livable communities. Specific projects within these areas are implementation of Health Information Technology; advocating for affordable prescription drugs; addressing pedestrian safety; promoting Visitability; and providing draft legislation for an automobile insurance discount for residents who complete driver safety courses.
 
Members of the Virgin Islands Legislature are presented with position papers on each of these issues during the Roundtable. Each senator will be afforded the opportunity to prepare a five-minute response. Listening to those responses in the audience will be AARP Virgin Islands advocacy volunteers and representatives from local organizations with similar legislative agendas. Governor John deJongh and Delegate Donna Christensen have also been invited to participate.
 
For more information about the Legislative Roundtable, contact the AARP Virgin Islands State Office at (340) 713-2002.
 
 
Added: March 2, 2009
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It's Time for Agrifest 2009!

AARP is proud to once again be a corporate sponsor of the 38th Annual Agriculture and Food Fair of the U.S. Virgin Islands (Agrifest). This annual three-day event, held over President’s day weekend, provides AARP the wonderful opportunity to meet and greet many of our members, and in the process, reaches out to those who want to learn more about AARP.

 

AARP’s red and white tent will be in its usual location near the Fair’s main entrance. This year, the tent’s theme sends the message that “We Need Livable Communities”, and displays some of AARP’s work to message this important community concern.

 

Livable Communities involves increasing affordable and accessible mobility and housing options and community services to meet the needs of the 50+ population through member engagement and influence of local level decision makers. AARP is seeking to ensure that there are adequate mobility options beyond driving, and that individuals who choose to drive are able to do so safely, through improved driving competency and better roads. In the Virgin Islands, there is much work to be done in this area.

 

AARP volunteers will also be collecting Divided We Fail pledges. There is a new pledge addressed to President Obama that asks him to continue addressing political gridlock and to keep his campaign promises to address healthcare and economic security issues. Be sure to come by and sign a pledge!

 

Agrifest is truly a wonderful occasion when the entire community comes out to celebrate our culture, family, food and fun! At the same time, there are a variety of educational issues and topics to learn about and benefit from.

 
We look forward to seeing you there!

 

Added: February 12, 2009
Views: 91 | Comments: 0 | Bookmarks: 0

AARP Virgin Islands Recognizes Delegate Donna Christensen

 

 
Delegate Donna M. Christensen was honored with a special plaque during a press conference held on Tuesday, January 13th in the AARP State Office. The Delegate was honored for her exemplary work to nationally spread AARP’s Divided We Fail (DWF) message and help the movement reach its national goals prior to the Presidential election. Dr. Cora Christian, AARP national board member addressed the press and volunteers about the future of AARP’s DWF initiative.
 
 
Two years ago Delegate Christensen became one of the first members of Congress to sign a DWF pledge. In doing so, she indicated that she was committed to working with fellow elected officials, regardless of party, to develop and implement policies that would provide Americans with access to quality, affordable health care and lifetime financial security. Shortly after signing the DWF pledge, Delegate Christensen began her public demonstration of support by being the only congressional representative to speak before a crowd of 3,200 AARP employees at a DWF rally on the steps of Congress.
 
The Delegate has proactively urged her Congressional Black Caucus colleagues to lend their support. During the 110th Congress 42 of the 43 CBC members signed DWF pledges largely due to the influence of the Delegate.
 
As the November 2008 elections neared, AARP had gathered pledges from Americans who pledged to support candidates who would give them action, answers and accountability on health and lifetime financial security. AARP also recruited support from 103 independent groups such as the American Academy of Family Physicians, the American Academy of Nursing, the American Hospital Association and the American Society of Pension Professionals & Actuaries.
 
But most significantly, DWF pledges and/or letters of support were received from 372 Members of Congress and 20 Governors; including the Virgin Islands’ own Governor John P. deJongh. These are the key policymakers who can make the difference.
 
Delegate Christensen’s ongoing effort to champion DWF among her colleagues is more important now than ever before. Her work to keep the dialogue with her colleagues going will include efforts to identify solutions, develop plans and press for implementation legislation on these issues.
 
AARP would like all Virgin Islanders to join us in publicly thanking Delegate Donna M. Christensen for becoming a catalyst for change for all Americans by becoming a dedicated Divided We Fail supporter.
Added: January 15, 2009
Views: 108 | Comments: 0 | Bookmarks: 0

2nd Annual National Conference on Health Disparities

December 4-7, 2008

Millions of Americans - primarily racial and ethnic minorities, those who reside in rural areas and residents of the territories - suffer disproportionate impacts from various diseases and conditions. The causes of these disparities often are easier to identify than to resolve. Minority, low-income and rural residents account for more than half of the "un" and "under" insured people in our nation. Their communities typically lack the resources and capacity to offer a full array of client-centered health services. Because they cannot gain access to affordable, high-quality care, many Americans experience premature death and disproportionate disability from preventable, treatable and manageable causes.

The University of the Virgin Islands (St. Croix Campus) is the site of the Second Annual National Conference on Health Disparities. While many think of the Virgin Islands as "an Amercian Paradise," residents face serious health-related and economic challenges. In the U.S. Virgin Islands, the poverty rate is 27.4% for individuals and 21.5% for families. This in in contrast to 12.3% for all persons in the U.S. (US Bureau of Statistics, 2006).

The second National Conference comes at a time when our country is poised for change, and there is a growing consensus and determination for reform of our country's broken healthcare system. Participants in the first National Conference on Health Disparities, held in 2007 in Charleston, SC, grappled with a number of fundamental health disparity issues: Where have we made progress? Where have we lagged behind? What should be our way forward? For the Second Annual National Conference, this conversation continues with new urgency and hope.

The Conference offers an extraordinary opportunity for a diverse group to interact, collaborate and form a vision for the future. We expect conference participants to leave St. Croix prepared and motivated to ensure that the elimination of health disparities is a central part of our nation's health care agenda! 

 Register Today!   
To register, visit the conference website at http://cell.uvi.edu/healthconference.html or call the UVICELL Center at (340) 693-1100.

Added: November 14, 2008
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AARP Virgin Islands Recognizes Outstanding Volunteers

AARP Virgin Islands will be holding its' Ninth Annual Volunteer Recognition Event on Saturday, November 8th, 2008.  This year, the event will be a luncheon held at Teddy's on St. Croix, Virgin Islands.

This is AARP's opportunity to recognize those volunteers and contributors who have worked hard to help achieve the 2008 state goals and objectives. The event showcases and introduces this year's Andrus Award Recipient, Luz E. Rodriguez of St. Croix. Outstanding volunteers have been chosen from each island's chapter and the Driver Safety Program, and will also be honored at the Banquet. 
 
This year's outstanding chapter members include Ena Berry from St. Croix, Emma Penn from St. John and Mavis Brady from St. Thomas. The AARP VI Driver Safety Program is also recognizing Clari Holmes of St. Croix, as the program's Instructor of the Year.
 
Local entertainment will include music by The Sleepless Knights, and the guest speaker will be Gwendolyn Hall Brady.
 
For ticket information, please call AARP Virgin Islands at (340) 713-2002. 
Added: November 6, 2008
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Coming Soon! CAREFORCE 2008

AARP Virgin Islands announces “CareForce 2008 ”, the territory’s largest free preventative health care screening event. This event provides an opportunity for residents to get free flu and pneumonia shots, along with other valuable healthcare screening such as blood pressure checks, blood sugar monitoring, dental exams, vision exams and foot exams. 

 

The dates and locations for CareForce 2008 are as follows:

  

St. Croix –     

October 20th (7:30 am – 6:00 pm) - Sunshine Mall (Frederiksted)

October 21st (7:30 am – 6:00 pm) - D.C. Canegata Recreational Center(Christiansted)

                       

St. Thomas -   

October 23rd (7:30 am – 6:00 pm) - Frenchtown Community Center

October 24th (7:30 am – 6:00 pm) - Lutheran Church of the Reformation

                   

St. John -        

October 23rd (8:00 am – 4:00 pm) - St. Ursula’s Senior Center

 

AARP Virgin Islands is once again partnering with the V.I. Medical Institute (VIMI), the V.I. National Guard, Hovensa, and United Health Group to provide our community with this valuable service.

 

We look forward to seeing you there!

 

Added: October 13, 2008
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Voices That Count Conference and Candidate Forum

 

AARP will be co-hosting the Virgin Islands University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities’ annual Voices That Count forum on Monday, September 29th and Tuesday, September 30th on the island of St. Croix and on Thursday, October 2nd and Friday, October 3rd on St. Thomas. The St. Croix event will be held at the Great Hall on the UVI campus. In St. Thomas the forum will be held at Holiday Inn – Windward Passage. Both events will begin at 8:30 a.m. each day and end at 4:30 p.m.
 
Jody Wildly,Outreach Program Manager, Office of Diversity Management and EEO, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services will be the event’s keynote speaker.
 
Voices That Count is an annual event coordinated by VIUCEDD and its partners. It has traditionally enabled the disabled community, caregivers, educators and family members of the disabled to voice their personal concerns about issues that impact their lives to policymakers that have the ability to make changes. This year AARP Virgin Islands has decided to co-sponsor the year’s event because many of the concerns experienced by the disabled are also shared by the elderly.  AARP also welcomes the opportunity to share information and garner support for the Divided We Fail initiative. 
 
During election years, residents make an extra special effort to attend the Voices That Count forum where they have the opportunity to present their concerns and hear what candidates would do to correct or improve conditions. This direct interaction serves two purposes. It allows the candidates to become familiar with the concerns of the disabled and aged populations and gives participants valuable pre-election information on where the candidates stand.
Added: October 3, 2008
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Nominate Someone You Know for AARP Andrus Award

AARP’s commitment to volunteer service can be traced back to the life and vision of our founder, Dr. Ethel Percy Andrus. Each year, AARP honors the legacy of Dr. Andrus with the AARP Andrus Award for Community Service, our most prestigious and visible volunteer award. The 2007 Andrus Award for Community Service recognized 53 unique individuals, one, (sometimes two) from each state, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, who have demonstrated the power to make it better in their communities in ways that are consistent with AARP’s mission, vision and commitment to volunteer service, and that inspire other to volunteer.

 

Like Dr. Andrus, these winners have a desire to bring ideas and dreams to life. Their work and achievements have positive impact on the lives of many.

 

Use this form to nominate your candidate for the 2008 AARP Andrus Award for Community Service.

http://assets.aarp.org/www.aarp.org_/articles/aboutaarp/AA2008NominationForm.pdf 

 

Read about the 2007 Winners http://www.aarp.org/about_aarp/community_service/andrus_award_winners.html 

 

Added: January 22, 2008
Views: 697 | Comments: 0 | Bookmarks: 0
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