AARP Alabama

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Dust off those tennis racquets, pick up the walking and running pace, and swing that bowling ball! It's time to get ready for the 2014 Alabama Senior Olympics events that begin April 26 and end June 7, as part of the Alabama Sports Festival, Inc.

Our volunteers all bring a unique set of experiences and talents to AARP. Gail Hahn’s knowledge of safety training, and her talent for teaching in a way that is engaging to her class participants, have made her an invaluable part of AARP Alabama’s Driver Safety program.

National Volunteer Week is April 6 – 12, 2014, and it has special significance for AARP Alabama. We are fortunate to have skilled and committed volunteers who are making life better in communities around our state every day. We could not do what we do without them!

If you are under age 65 and not currently eligible for Medicare or Medicaid, it's important to understand your insurance options in Alabama. The deadline to sign up for health insurance for this year to avoid paying a penalty is March 31, 2014. We strongly urge all Alabamians who are currently without health insurance to go to www.healthcare.gov to determine your eligibility for private insurance and subsidies.

Dr. Martha Poole Simmons receives AARP Alabama’s most prestigious Volunteer award for Community Service

Need help preparing your taxes? From Feb. 1 – April 15, AARP Foundation’s Tax-Aide program provides free tax preparation help to people with low to moderate incomes. About 175 trained volunteer tax specialists provide service at more than 40 sites throughout Alabama.

For nearly a year, the Alabama Public Service Commission (PSC) held informal meetings to look into the rates and profits of Alabama Gas, Alabama Power and Mobile Gas. The result: Back-room deals between the PSC and the monopoly utility companies that continue to put massive profits before people – and leave Alabamians to pay the price.

In Alabama, electric and gas customers still pay some of the highest bills in the South, while Alabama’s big utilities reap some of the highest allowed profits in the country. Following nearly a year of informal meetings by the Public Service Commission (PSC) on the rates and profits of Mobile Gas, Alabama Gas, and Alabama Power, the status quo remains with Alabamians seeing little if any relief on their utility bills.

Please join AARP Alabama, the University of South Alabama and the Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce as we host your candidates for Congress. Learn where candidates stand on important is sues. The event will be from 7 to 8 p.m., Monday, October 21, at The Mitchell Center, University South Alabama, located at 5950 Old Shell Road | Mobile, AL 36688.