A Message from State Director Jesse Salinas

Spring is a time for new growth and beginnings, and with the change in seasons, AARP Alabama is changing too.

Among those changes, Joan Carter retired after 10 years as state director. We wish Joan well as she enters her “what’s next?” phase of life.

At the beginning of 2012, I came on board as your new state director, and was excited and overwhelmed by the good things happening at AARP. What was more amazing was the group of volunteers and members who drive our work.

In coming back to Montgomery, I’m coming home in a way. My last position was with Points of Light in Atlanta, but I am a proud 1995 graduate of the University of Alabama. And, what better way to start a year than with my alma mater winning a national championship? Of course, I also have to give a nod to my Auburn friends and point out that I’m returning to a state with back-to-back national championship teams.

At AARP, we plan to continue that winning tradition throughout 2012.

Much of our time and energy will be devoted to protecting your hard-earned Social Security and Medicare benefits. But, as with everything we do at AARP, we need your perspective. So, beginning in early March, we will visit cities throughout the state to gather input on the issues. If you can’t make it to one of our meetings, AARP has an online questionnaire available.

We need your help because this is election year. We want to tell the candidates what you’re thinking. At the same time, we will let you know their positions on Social Security and Medicare. AARP has always been and will always be non-partisan. We don’t support candidates, we support the legislation and issues that improve the lives of our all 50+ Americans.

AARP’s activities are designed to improve the lives of the 50+ population, whether through legislation or in your own home. If you’re thinking about spring cleaning, you might also take a look at AARP’s Home Fit guide. We will be visiting home and garden shows and expos throughout the state this year to talk with people about ways to stay in their homes longer, and we will let you know where we’ll be by posting to our blog.

I could go on and on, but luckily, we have our web site, Twitter and Facebook pages, to keep you up-to-date on the issues affecting you and the ways you can be involved. You can like us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter. Let us know if you want to continue receiving this newsletter, and if it’s time to renew your membership, we hope you will.

Yours in service, Jesse Salinas.