Albany Driver Safety Volunteer Honored

“The epitome of demonstrating the power to make it better in his community through volunteer service,” is how Jim Jones, AARP Oregon’s Andrus Award winner for 2011, is described in the nomination form.

See Also: Find Volunteer Opportunities Near You

The AARP Andrus Award is named in honor of Dr. Ethel Percy Andrus, who founded AARP. The award pays tribute to individuals who, like our founder, have generated positive social change in the world around them and emulate her philosophy: To serve, not to be served.

Jones is an active Driver Safety Program Instructor and District Coordinator from Albany, Oregon.

A high impact volunteer who doesn’t limit his activities to just one program or age group, Jones has logged in over 3500 volunteer hours through the Retired Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) since 2003. And he devotes anywhere from 10-30 hours per month with the AARP Driver Safety Program in Linn and Benton Counties.

Jones is the "go to" volunteer for many organizations within the area where he lives, which encompasses two counties and three major communities – Lebanon, Albany and Corvallis. He has improved the community and enhanced the lives of hundreds of residents through his regular volunteer work with Lebanon Seniors and Law Enforcement Together, Court Appointed Special Advocate, Bicycle Education Program, Cast with a Cop, Linn county Fair, National Night Out, VFW, Start Making a Reader Today, and Albany Veterans Day Parade. He worked with the Boy Scouts of America since 1966, having been in all Cub Scout and Boy Scout leadership positions. He was District Commissioner for Calapooia District and is currently an Assistant District Commissioner. He is an active member of the American Legion and the Fleet Reserve Association.

A retired Senior Chief Petty Officer, U.S. Navy, with 23 years service, Jones credits his wife, Jan, for her support of all of his many volunteer activities. And, he supports Jan in her role as an AARP Tax Aide volunteer.