Arkansas Governor Mike Beebe Signed the Divided We Fail Pledge at AARP Volunteer Awards Event
By: Source: AARP.org Date Posted: 2007-11-12 15:51:50.971838-05:00
Governor Mike Beebe recognized the achievements of AARP Arkansas' top volunteers at our annual appreciation event held at the Governor's mansion Nov. 1. Then, he won applause from AARP National Board member, Cora Christian, M.D., state office staff and about two hundred AARP Arkansas volunteers when he signed the Divided We Fail pledge with a dramatic stroke of the pen on large, poster-sized version of the pledge.
The local affiliates of the ABC, NBC and CBS television stations covering the event captured the signing.
Dr. Christian praised the governor for his commitment to support candidates who openly discuss solutions to the challenges of lifetime financial security and affordable, quality health care in the United States. Seizing the momentum set by the governor signing the pledge, she went on to emphasize the urgency and vital importance of the Divided We Fail effort with a rousing, motivational address to the volunteers.
State President Billie Ann Myers, State Director Maria Reynolds-Diaz, Executive Council member Roby Robertson and Dr. Christian jointly presented Arkansas' 2007 AARP Andrus Award for Community Service to James Smalley of Little Rock, and AARP Arkansas' annual Distinguished Service Award was presented to Dennis and Theresa Hutcherson of Maumelle.
Smalley was the lead volunteer advocate working for AARP's successful Choices in Care campaign during the 2007 session of the Arkansas General Assembly. After helping to recruit "boomers" to a new AARP chapter in Maumelle, the Hutchersons went on to hold leadership positions in the chapter, central region of the state, state and national levels.
Following the presentation of awards to volunteers, the audience enjoyed the AARP "Stand Up for Yourself" video featuring Aretha Franklin and a PowerPoint presentation featuring photographs of successful volunteer activities around the state during 2007.
Dr. Christian and the State Director met with leaders in the aging community of the state, who also signed the Divided We Fail pledge.
These leaders include the Chief Executive Officer of the Arkansas Foundation for Medical Care (AFMC) the Quality Assurance Organization, some officers and staff; directors of the Arkansas Medical Society and the Arkansas Academy of Family Physicians as well as a delegate to the National Academy; a nurse practitioner from the Delta Center on Aging, and a geriatrician who provides physician services in the homes of elders in central Arkansas through a special program called House Calls.
Plans were made to post the Divided We Fail information on the AFMC Web site with a request that all staff sign the pledge electronically. The physicians also discussed presenting information on Divided We Fail to the President of the American Medical Association in time for the group's delegate meeting.
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