Japhet Els

"Keep moving," my grandfather said to me, one arm raised as he shuffled down the hallway out of the kitchen.

AARP has a long history of working with members and volunteers during election season. Between now and Election Day in November, we're looking for a few key volunteer leaders to help manage our campaigns and elections work in communities around our incredible state.

AARP Maine is now accepting nominations for our 2018 Andrus Award for Community Service, which honors 50+ Mainers who are sharing their experience, talent, and skills to enrich the lives of their community members. The Andrus Award is AARP’s most prestigious and visible volunteer award.

We're excited to continue Dirigo Speaks 2017! The lineup this year has been fantastic and we appreciate all of you who have come out to join us at the Bangor Public Library. Please stay tuned here for upcoming announcements and details on more speakers and local events.

Last summer, we led a small troupe of volunteers and staff up to a small farm in Houlton, Maine in the hopes of doing our small part in lessening the burden that thousands of older Mainers face each day when it comes to the most basic of needs: hunger.

Just because it's chilly outside, doesn't mean we don't know how to have a good time! We're working in your neighborhood and hope you'll join us. Here are some of the fun opportunities we have coming up that we hope you'll join us for. All are welcome!

While we work on many issues at the state level here in Maine, we also work on national issues. These are the issues that impact all 50+ community members. Right now, a couple of these issues are front-and-center with the transition to a new Presidential administration and Congress. For instance, Medicare.

We're excited to announce the launch of AARP Maine's new speaker series, " Dirigo Speaks." Partnering with the Bangor Daily News, we're thrilled to present a new platform for Maine leaders and regional news-makers to share opinions, ideas and perspectives on what's happening (and not happening) here in the Pine Tree State.

Tip O'Neil, the Democratic Speaker of the House of Representatives during the '80s is thought to have coined the phrase, "Social Security is the third rail of American politics." O'Neil, of course, was referencing the electrified third rail of a train track and relating it to an issue that is so charged that is therefore untouchable by politicians, else they suffer politically. That's how important the Social Security program and policy was to American leaders thirty years ago. But is it today? Is Social Security as well-respected and fought for today by our elected leaders as it was years ago? We're not so sure.

Each month in several communities around Maine, our volunteers and members get together to check-in and figure out ways to begin making an impact in their own communities. Whether it's part of our Livable Communities and Age Friendly work or related to our strong state advocacy campaigns, there's a wealth of opportunities worth plugging into. These coffees are your chance to get connected and hear a bit more about how to help your communities benefit from some of this important work.