Breaking Bread With State Lawmakers

Believing that state legislators would rather hear from constituents than lobbyists, AARP Arizona is bringing volunteers and lawmakers together this month to talk about issues of importance to residents 50 and older.

The Jan. 15 event on the Capitol lawn will bring out about 35 AARP volunteers, mostly from greater Phoenix, with a few from Tucson and Prescott.

The annual breakfast at the start of the legislative session is also a “chance for us to discuss AARP issues with legislators and their staffs,” said Virginia Brant, the AARP Arizona Advocacy Team chairperson. Volunteers will mix with elected officials and staffers to share stories about caregiving and the need to increase the number of tasks nurses can delegate to family caregivers.

Advocacy Team volunteers, who bring conviction and a wealth of experience to their efforts, receive guidance on issues from AARP Arizona staff members. They’ll be working hard to advance AARP legislative priorities during the session.

“We want to get a pulse on where they [legislators] are and where they may go on any given issue,” Brant said.

Interested in becoming an advocacy volunteer? Call 602-262-5180 or email sjennings@aarp.org to learn more. ­–Jonathan J. Higuera