Community

Chuck Betts of Keokuk has been named AARP Iowa State President with responsibility to lead the Association’s Iowa Executive Council, working closely with AARP Iowa State Director Kent Sovern, Iowa staff and volunteers in their efforts on behalf of AARP’s approximately 370,000 members in Iowa.

AARP Iowa State President Chuck Betts has announced three new Executive Council members for 2018—Brena Corona of West Des Moines, Judi Pierick of Des Moines, and Phil Tetzloff of Marshalltown. The AARP Iowa Executive Council is a team of volunteers from across Iowa who provide leadership to support the implementation and execution of AARP priorities statewide.

Beginning February 1 and continuing through April 17, AARP Foundation is providing free tax assistance and preparation through its Tax-Aide program. AARP Foundation Tax-Aide, celebrating its 50th year, is the nation’s largest free tax assistance and preparation service. Since its inception, the program has served more than 50 million taxpayers.

Ila Plasencia of West Des Moines was named the 2017 recipient of the AARP Andrus Award for Community Service — the Association’s most prestigious and visible volunteer award — at AARP Iowa’s annual volunteer recognition event in Des Moines on Nov. 8. She is the first Latina recipient of the Andrus Award in Iowa. In addition to the award, Plasencia received a check for $1,000 to donate to her charity of choice, the Midwest Educational Resources Development Fund.

AARP Iowa State Director Kent Sovern was honored earlier this month with the 2017 Planning Advocate – Engaged Citizen award from the Iowa Chapter of the American Planning Association (APA-Iowa) during the Upper Midwest Planning Conference in Dubuque. This award honors an individual who has advanced or promoted the cause of planning the built environment in the public arena.

AARP Iowa is working with employers to help them understand and support employees who also serve as unpaid family caregivers. The goal is to identify resources that can help not only caregivers but employers, as well.

AARP loved being a part of the fun during RAGBRAI XLV in Spencer on July 23! We had a great time welcoming more than 1,000 of the 10,000 riders who participated in this 45th anniversary celebration of the Register’s Annual Great Bike Ride Across Iowa (RAGBRAI) as they rode in at the end of their 62-mile Day One ride from Algona to the Clay County Fairgrounds for Spencer’s “Kick Your Wheels Up” celebration.

Like all Iowans, the AARP Iowa office loves the Iowa State Fair and is so excited for it to begin! AARP will be hosting a booth throughout the entire fair, August 10-20, 2017. Make sure to stop by our booth in the Varied Industries Building and learn more about caregiving and to find out what AARP is doing in Iowa to support family caregivers. At our booth you can connect with AARP staff and volunteers, sign our petition and win a free blinking safety light!

Aug. 14, 2017 is Veteran's Day at the AARP booth at the Iowa State Fair! Veterans are invited to visit our booth and pinpoint where they served on our map. We will also be giving Veterans special AARP Challenge Coins to express our gratitude for their service.

Looking to Get Fit This Summer? Become a MLK Jr. Park Walker!