Meet the New Volunteer State President: Doug DeGroot

Doug DeGroot of Sioux Falls recently began his term as the volunteer state president for AARP South Dakota.

In this role, Doug will collaborate with the AARP South Dakota state office team and volunteers across the state to advance the AARP vision, mission and strategic priorities.

DeGroot retired in 2019 from a 20-year career as a commercial loan officer, which followed a 20-year career in sales. He has served in volunteer roles with the Greater Sioux Falls Chamber of Commerce and with Project CAR, where he has been a volunteer driver and is the current board chair.

 “Doug has been a valued volunteer with AARP South Dakota, including serving on our volunteer Executive Council, and we are excited to see him assume this leadership role,” said Erik Gaikowski, AARP South Dakota state director. “He has a passion for helping people live their best lives and has already made a positive impact as a presenter on fraud topics and as a policy advocate at the state and federal levels. I look forward to working alongside Doug as we continue our effort to be a leader in issues important to South Dakotans 50-plus, such as financial security, livable communities, caregiver and veteran outreach and voter engagement.”

As AARP South Dakota’s volunteer state president, DeGroot will also chair the volunteer executive council, comprised of volunteer leaders from across the state. Gaikowski says AARP South Dakota is currently looking for new members to join the council and encourages anyone who is interested to visit www.aarp.org/sd to learn more about this opportunity.

 “My personal mission has always been to elevate good work, facilitate positive change and make an impact,” DeGroot says. “AARP is important to me for many reasons, but especially because of their nonpartisan approach to tackling issues that are important not only to older adults, but also to South Dakotans of all ages. I am excited about this opportunity to work with AARP South Dakota to empower people to choose how they want to live as they age.”

Doug and his wife Shawn are originally from the Sioux Falls area and returned in 2016 after time spent in both Rapid City, SD, and Fort Collins, CO. The DeGroots have five children, eight grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren. They enjoy travel, outdoor activities, music, friends, family and community.

DeGroot succeeds Jill Franken, who served as AARP South Dakota’s volunteer state president since 2022.

Franken was asked to serve as the Regional Volunteer Director in AARP’s Central Region, where she will provide leadership and guidance to foster relationships between AARP staff and volunteers and to enhance volunteer engagement. The Central Region includes North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma, Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin and Arkansas.