Huntington Chapter is Divided We Fail Champion

By: State: West Virginia

The AARP Huntington Area Chapter #5405 has earned $500 for the group by collecting 1,105 signed pledge cards and becoming a Platinum Champion in the Divided We Fail 2008 Chapter Champion Challenge.

Dolly Rozzi, Huntington Area Chapter #5405 President, said she knew collecting 1,000 pledge cards would not be easy, but she was up to the challenge from the start.

"Our philosophy is to go for the top, and to do the best," Rozzi said. "We aim high and we aim to be the best. From the first meeting after hearing about the Chapter Champion Challenge we knew we would go for Platinum."

The Divided We Fail Chapter Challenge was introduced at the time of the Primary Election in May to create unique and fun ways for chapters to get involved in Divided We Fail efforts. Chapters were encouraged to promote Divided We Fail through different mediums in their community. Participants were asked to participate in activities promoting Divided We Fail, distribute Divided We Fail lawn signs, invite speakers to meetings, participate in the AARP Day of Service, and to collect signatures on Divided We Fail pledge cards.

Groups were rewarded monetarily based on the extent of their efforts in obtaining: Champion, Silver Champion, Gold Champion or Platinum Champion status.
The Huntington Area Chapter #5405 is the only AARP chapter in West Virginia to become a Platinum Champion. According to Rozzi, the Huntington chapter is fortunate to have many members who came together to meet this goal.

"All of our members wanted to cooperate from the beginning," Rozzi said. "Our members were so excited and enthusiastic about this challenge. We are so fortunate to have St. Mary's Hospital as a corporate sponsor, allowing us to use their space for our meetings, and providing us with food. Because of them we have around 300 members, and usually at least 100 at each meeting."

"We really have great programs that we do in our chapter," said Monika Rowe, Divided We Fail chairperson for the Huntington chapter. "Our members always leave meetings with a smile."

"It was important for our members to take responsibilities on themselves, and to be aggressive in getting signatures," Rozzi said. "Our members Carol Leadmon, Monika Rowe and Jane Cleghon worked together getting signatures all throughout St. Mary's Hospital, and they kept a constant count."

Rozzi, who obtained 450 signatures herself, said she took her pledge cards with her wherever she went.

"I took my cards to the beauty salon, Wal-Mart, the mall—everywhere was an opportunity," Rozzi said. "Everything that was asked, we over-did it. We wanted to do more than was required, to ensure the best job was done."