AARP Alaska announces appointment of Terry Snyder as new State President

ANCHORAGE, AK -- Ken Osterkamp, AARP Alaska State Director is pleased to announce the appointment of Terry Snyder of Palmer as Alaska’s new volunteer State President. This position is the top volunteer role in Alaska for AARP, which is Alaska’s largest membership organization with more than 86,000 members.  The appointment was made by Carlos Brandenburg, AARP Regional Volunteer Director for the West Region.

Terry has resided in Alaska for 40 years, and is well known and respected in the community for her community activism and advocacy.

While raising her children, Terry had a twenty year career in tourism as a travel consultant, human resources director, vice president of operations and as a sub-contractor with her own thriving travel constituency of a large businesses and personal travel clientele. During her long career in the travel and hospitality industry she was able to build a strong network of colleagues, business customers and friends. From 2000 – 2004, she co-owned and operated Big Lake Lodge.

Terry describes herself as someone who has always had a keen in interest in working for her community. She has the ability to work in collaborative environments with diplomacy and tact. She has worked with a variety of individuals in moving projects through to completion.

"I've been on boards and commissions with some amazing seniors who have had professional lives and who are now volunteering for their communities,” said Terry. “We should do more of that; we should bring more people together. Now, being part of an organization that has that ability to gather up that expertise and give back to our communities is exactly where I want to be. I’m excited to be AARP Alaska’s volunteer State President.”

“This is a great fit for AARP,” said Ken Osterkamp, AARP State Director. “We really appreciate the passion Terry has for helping her fellow Alaskans. She recognizes the importance of what we are working on for our 86,000 members, including preserving Social Security and Medicare, financial security and expanding Medicaid.”

The organizer of the successful Smoke Free Palmer campaign in 2012, Terry has also co-chaired Schools Yes!, a successful Mat Su Borough bond election in 2006; served as an organizing member of Yes for Kids and Jobs! school bond campaign in 2011; held the Eco-Tourism position on the Mat Su Borough Real Property Asset Management Board from 2006 – 2010; served as the public member on the Mat Su Borough Salaries and Emoluments Board from 2009 – 2012; team member of the Big Lake Community Council Area Comprehensive Plan in 2006; and regularly attends Mat Su Borough Assembly and other public meetings in the Valley.

In addition to her duties as AARP Alaska’s new volunteer State President, Terry will continue her work with the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACSCAN) as the Mat-Su coordinator for Smoke-Free Workplaces.

Terry replaces Rosemary Hagevig of Juneau, who served as AARP President from 2008 – 2014.