The 2022 AARP Maine Volunteer Legislative Honor Roll

The magic of AARP Maine’s work comes from YOU, our volunteers! Your untiring dedication to standing up for the rights of all older Mainers in your own communities, at the State House, and even down in D.C. has made a huge difference in the lives of your friends, your families, and countless others.

At AARP Maine, we believe that hard work shouldn’t go unnoticed. To celebrate the accomplishments of our volunteer advocates, we are proud to announce the 2022 Legislative Honor Roll.

IN THE PAPERS:
🌟Patricia and Allen Wright shared a Letter to the Editor of the Portland Press Herald advocating for the passage of housing bill LD 2003. The Wright’s stress the severity of the housing crisis statewide and ask legislators for bipartisan cooperation in “Amended housing bill small step toward addressing Maine crisis” (published 4/09).

🌟Roz Fisher wrote a Letter to the Editor to the Bangor Daily News sharing her experience as an older adult living in rural Maine experiencing sharp increases in electricity rates. She advocates for the support of bill LD 318 in “Protect Maine ratepayers from exploding utility bills” (published 4/05).

🌟Paul Armstrong wrote a Letter to the Editor to the Bangor Daily News regarding LD 318, a bill to provide Mainers with more cost options for keeping the lights on at home. Read his commentary on LD 318 in the LTE “Maine needs legislation to support utility customers” (published 4/01)

• Paul was also named as AARP Maine's Volunteer Advocacy Lead to spearhead many of our volunteer efforts in the state.
  

🌟Pamela Partridge wrote a Letter to the Editor to the Skowhegan Town Line in support of broadband expansion in Maine. She urges readers to take action in their communities by reaching out to county officials and signing onto Maine Broadband Coalition’s guiding values. Read her LTE “Support broadband expansion” (published 3/02).

🌟Rena Heath wrote a Letter to the Editor to the Bangor Daily News sharing her experience as a life-long advocate for the rights of Mainers, and the critical importance of her latest cause, prescription drug reform. Read her support for LD 1636 in the LTE “Support bill to reduce prescription drug costs” (published 2/22).

🌟Pamela Partridge was featured in a Central Maine News article about the increasing strain of covering heating and electricity bills for Mainers as utility prices skyrocket. Read her interview from her North Anson home here, “In a cold winter, Maine household budgets buckle under growing energy burden” (published 2/20).

🌟Star Pelsue published a Letter to the Editor in the Portland Press Herald detailing the importance of reliable and fast internet access to older Mainers. Read her story of connection and support for the American Rescue Plan in the LTE “Internet access crucial, especially to older people” (published 2/12).

🌟Phil Chin included a scam alert in his Letter to the Editor sent to the Advertiser Democrat. He focuses on the key ways Maine Veterans are more vulnerable to scams and the steps they can take to keep themselves and their families stay safe in “Protection Against Scams” (published 12/16). Phil also submitted testimony in favor of LD 1945, a biometrics privacy bill. Phil works hard on Fraud Watch Advocacy in the state of Maine. In addition to LTEs, he was included in a special feature in the Lewiston Sun Journal, raising awareness about increased cyber fraud in 2021 which hit the 60-plus consumer especially hard. Every second Thursday of the month from 10:00am-10:30, Phil co-hosts Fraud Watch with Phil and Pam, an interactive discussion on fighting fraud in Maine. Visit the official webpage to register for the next episode in the series!

IN THE COMMUNITY:
🌟Tuesdays At The State House aka TASH are weekly meetings for volunteers to get together and share updates and ideas, ask questions, and learn from advocate and policy specialists working on the issues that matter to older. For the past two years, TASH has been held remotely over Zoom with an average of 30 volunteer participants each week. On April 12, 2022, our TASH members went back to the State House for an in-person visit and met with Governor Janet Mills, Senator Troy Jackson, Speaker Ryan Fecteau, Senator Jeff Timberlake, and Senator Eloise Vitelli to discuss the issues important to Mainers 50+!

Thank you to our in-person TASH volunteers:

🌟Dozens of AARP Maine Volunteers became County Connectors to increase access to reliable high-speed internet in their communities. The County Connectors work at a grassroots level alongside AARP Maine and the Maine Broadband Coalition to engage lawmakers and county officials in conversations about the most equitable, cost effective, and sustainable ways of implementing broadband for all. Thank you to all the wonderful County Connectors in Maine!

AT THE KITCHEN TABLE:
🌟Kitchen Table Chats are volunteer-led small group discussions with representatives from across the state. Each virtual chat has only about 5-10 participants and is an excellent opportunity for our volunteers to engage with the elected officials representing their community at the State House. These chats run the gamut of topics, creating a conversation where “nothing is off the table!”
🌟Star Pelsue hosted Senator Ben Chipman on 4/16.
🌟Cheryl Huntley hosted Rep. Mark Blier on 3/28.
🌟Fran Day and Roz Fisher hosted Rep. Amy Roeder and Rep. Joe Perry on 3/16.
🌟Louise Theberge hosted Sen. Nate Libby on 2/28.
🌟Paul Armstrong and Pamela Corcoran hosted Reps. Jan Dodge, Paige Zeigler, and Sen. Chip Curry on 2/15.

ON COMMITTEES:
 🌟Jessica Simpson was confirmed by the Maine State Senate as Governor Mills’ nominee to the Maine Retirement Savings Board. Ms. Simpson, (née Linzer) is an expert in Social Security. She will now be at the forefront of implementing the Maine Retirement Savings Program, also known as Work and Save, to provide working Mainers with the opportunity to save for their future.

🌟Executive Council Member Carl Toney was appointed by Gov. Mills to the Advisory Council On Affordable Health Care. Mr. Toney will advocate for the interests of older Mainers during Council decisions on health care reform and affordability.


GIVING TESTIMONY:
🌟George Burgoyne submitted testimony in support of LD 2003: "An Act To Implement the Recommendations of the Commission To Increase Housing Opportunities in Maine by Studying Zoning and Land Use Restrictions.” You can read AARP’s full statement on the bill here.

🌟Pamela Corcoran testified in support of LD 1778 “An Act To Improve Health Care Affordability and Increase Options for Comprehensive Coverage for Individuals and Small Businesses in Maine.” You can read Pamela’s full statement here.

🌟Thank you to the number of AARP Maine volunteers who testified on LD 1636 “An Act To Reduce Prescription Drug Costs by Using International Pricing.” Lowering Rx prices is a priority issue for AARP Maine and we appreciate all our volunteers for raising their voices. Read AARP Maine’s official statement here.
🌟Betsy Martin: LD 1636
🌟Carl Bucciantini: LD 1636
🌟Paul Armstrong: LD 1636
🌟Terry St. Peter: LD 1636
🌟Vilene Farina: LD 1636

FROM THE DESK OF VOLUNTEER STATE PRESIDENT CARL BUCCIANTINI:
🌟Volunteer State President Carl Bucciantini and AARP Maine State Director Noël Bonam invited AARP Maine’s 200,000+ members to join them in conversation across the state as a part of a Virtual Listening Tour in March. Spearheaded by Carl, these events helped us share what AARP Maine has to offer and, most importantly, enabled us to hear about the concerns, needs and ideas of older adults across the state. Read Carl’s full recap of the tour.

🌟Carl also wrote a Letter to the Editor to several weekly papers urging lawmakers in Augusta to make vital changes to utility bill LD 318, remarking on potential unintended consequences of the bill in its (then) current form. Read the LTE “LD 318 not good for Maine electric customers” (published 3/28).

🌟Carl spoke to the Public News Service about the numerous social, emotional and health benefits volunteering can provide older adults. Carl spoke of his own passion for volunteering with AARP Maine and the countless opportunities provided to get involved in issues that matter (published 2/15).

🌟Carl joined State Director Noël Bonam in sharing AARP Maine’s legislative priorities for 2022 with the Bangor Daily News’s Editorial Board before the New Year. Please read “AARP Maine’s Legislative Priorities'' (published 12/21).

🌟Carl also jumped on the radio and joined the hosts of the Breakfast Club, Mark and Sara, on WIGY Radio to discuss his new role with AARP Maine and to share his vision and plans to serve Maine’s 50+ community over the next two years.