Happy Holidays from State Director Morie Smile

What a year 2014 proved to be! Members across the state enjoyed presentations on brain health and healthy behaviors. In Fort Collins, CSU students coached older Larimer County residents on how to use their technology, and in Mesa County, high school honor students turned the generational tables, offering technology assistance to an eager crowd. Throughout the year, AARP CO Caregiving ambassador Jane Barton offered advice and insights into healthy Caregiving and creating Caregiver support groups, which is a major AARP priority. In October, the volunteer Executive Council leadership and staff hit the highway to the lovely Western Slope where State President Terri Potente showed us her hometown and we marched in the Fruita Fall Festival and introduced attendees to Life Reimagined! On the advocacy front, a cadre of 25 highly skilled volunteers and staff took to the halls of the Capitol to advocate on bills supporting older Coloradans. Two new Executive Council members joined our ranks, Lorri Orwig of El Paso County and Jill Taylor of Larimer County, ensuring AARP representation remains geographically diverse. Local discounts abound and thousands of members enjoyed myriad cultural offerings including but not limited to: walks around the Denver and Grand Junction Botanic Gardens; approximately, 1,000 AARP members took us up on the offer to take them out to the Ballgame and enjoyed a beautiful day watching the Rockies; plays at the Arvada Center and Denver Center for Performing Arts; a symphony with Grand Junction’s Rockestra; the AARP supported Larimer County Silvertones; Movies for Grown-Ups; the Starz Film Festival; and, much more!

In 2015, we aren’t slowing down and we hope you will use your AARP membership and stay in touch with us through social media where we will share upcoming activities in which we hope you will join us. From the entire staff and Executive Council I wish you a safe and joyous holiday season.

Morie Smile, Director AARP Colorado