Genevieve Whitaker

A dozen AARP VI volunteers joined AARP VI State Office staff bright and early on Wednesday, September 11 th to participate in the 12 th recognition of AARP’s National Day of Service. They gathered to work on “Operation Paperback”; a special project that provides reading materials to soldiers overseas.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

AARP VI wants you to know that some in Washington are pushing a proposal that would reduce the cost-of-living allowance for Social Security, cutting benefits not just for future recipients, but for current ones, as well. It’s called the chained CPI (Consumer Price Index), and it’s a terrible idea – and especially harmful to women, who rely more on Social Security to meet their basic needs.

New jobs and new revenue streams were all part of the focus of the discussions held on the UVI campus in St. Thomas as Judith Enck, Regional Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator took part in a recycling stakeholder meeting in late February.

On Saturday, February 16, 2013 AARP VI staff met with Delegate Donna Christensen at her St. Croix Ag Fair Booth to urge her to oppose cuts to our state’s Social Security COLA and veterans’ benefits that would occur if a measure known as Chained CPI were adopted. The visit by AARP VI follows weeks of letters, events, advertisements, petitions, a new Chained CPI Calculator, e-mails and phone calls asking Congress not to cut Social Security benefits and to have a separate conversation about Social Security’s future.

Currently, during the pandemic, AARP Virgin Islands staff are working remotely and the office is closed. Once we return to normal operating hours we will be open Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

AARP Virgin Islands is once again making preparations for a major volunteer event! That event is officially known as the St. Croix Agricultural and Food Fair or Ag Fair to most. It is the ultimate good time for both young and old alike. “Ag Fair,” according to AARP State Director, Denyce Singleton, “Is the event everyone plans to attend. Whether it is to volunteer at the AARP VI booth or to take advantage of the sights and sounds of the fair, there is truly something for everyone.”

Where should the line be drawn on the Legislature funding itself? What are legitimate Legislative expenses? Unfortunately, there is no system of checks and balances to oversee the Legislature’s financial practices. There is no way to assure that the public’s interest is being served by the expenses created by the Legislature’s budget for itself.

Few retirees of the VI Government Employees' Retirement System (GERS) were aware of the multitude of changes proposed in Bill 29-0099 submitted to the Legislature for consideration back in August. However, toady many concerned current employees and retirees are now trying to learn more about what can be done to help the system achieve solvency.