Volunteering

Dr. Kathleen “Kathy” Bond, AARP Missouri volunteer state president for the past three years, has relocated to California and had to sadly submit her resignation as lead state volunteer and member of the Executive Council. When announced, AARP Missouri State Director Craig Eichelman alerted the Council members and volunteers across the state with this missive. “It takes a special person to give of themselves as a true leader - the kind of leader who is available to other volunteers and who offers mentoring guidance to me in my role as State Director. Dr. Kathleen (Kathy) Bond is just that kind of leader. Knowing this, it is with mixed emotion that I accepted her resignation as volunteer State President effective immediately.

This year, AARP Foundation is again providing free tax filing assistance for taxpayers with low to moderate income through the AARP Foundation Tax-Aide program. AARP Foundation Tax-Aide, in its 46th year, is the nation’s largest free tax assistance and preparation service, giving special attention the older population. You do not need to be a member of AARP or a retiree to use this service.

Delegates to the Missouri Institute on Minority Aging statewide conference found plenty of helpful materials at an AARP exhibit there, thanks to a collaborative effort between the AARP Missouri state office and the Jefferson City AARP Chapter #4401. Volunteers for the Capital City's chapter staffed the exhibit for two days in Columbia and distributed scores of AARP booklets, fact sheets, and other useful give aways provided by the AARP Missouri state office.

Judy Sherry of Kansas City was the recipient of the 2014 AARP Missouri Andrus Award for Community Service – the Association’s most prestigious and visible state volunteer award for community service. She was honored in a celebration was held at the Community Christian Church on September 17 in Kansas City.

AARP Chapter 1270 of Wayne County is celebrating their 40th Anniversary this month! Chapter 1270, located in Piedmont, Missouri, is an active and vibrant organization that exemplifiesthe AARP Chapter slogan, 'To serve, not to be served'. Chapter 1270 participates in AARP's annual Day of Service, hosts educational programs for the community on health and fitness, and will sponsor a forum on brain health in 2013. Congratulations to Chapter 1270 for 40 years of community service!

Newly appointed member of the AARP National Board of Directors Joan Ruff of Mission Woods, KS was formally introduced to AARP Missouri and AARP Kansas’s volunteers and opinion leaders at three separate events in mid-December.

The AARP Missouri Andrus Award for Community Service 2012 honoree is Bob Sanders of Piedmont. Recipients of the prestigious award are honored for sharing their experience, talent, and skills to enrich the lives of their community members.

AARP Foundation Tax-Aide, the nation’s largest free, volunteer-run tax preparation and assistance service, is seeking volunteers across the state to help Missouri taxpayers who are seeking assistance preparing and filing their 2012 tax returns.