AARP Texas Names Two New Executive Council Members

AARP Texas is pleased to welcome two new Executive Council members – Annette Fuller of Lake Dallas and Norma Estella Reyes of San Antonio. They join a volunteer leadership team that’s integral in shaping the strategic vision and initiatives of AARP in the Lone Star State, including our work on behalf of more than 2.4 million AARP members in Texas.

Like other Executive Council members, Fuller and Reyes bring deep community connections, a strong understanding of the needs of Texans, years of professional and leadership experience, and a passion to serve others.

Fuller is a lifelong journalist with a firm understanding of how governments operate and an interest in lifting the voices of others. Born and raised near Winston-Salem, N.C. and a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, she spent more 30 years reporting and editing at major daily newspapers throughout the country as well as media training in Africa and Asia.

Fuller’s Texas journalism background includes having worked as a senior reporter for The Dallas Morning News and managing editor for the Denton Record-Chronicle. She was editor of Where to Retire Magazine, a now-closed nationwide guide based in Houston that informed readers on retirement destinations. More recently, she was editor of the Denton County Magazine.

She spent two years under a contract with the U.S. Department of State to work with Algerian journalists, helping raise their publications to international standards. She also worked as a copy editor and media trainer at the English-language China Daily in Beijing.

Fuller said her interest in volunteering with AARP Texas was sparked by an email invitation to get involved. “It woke me up to the fact that we all need to be active and work for what we believe in,” she said.

Born in Kingsville, Texas, about 45 minutes southwest of Corpus Christi, Reyes is a longtime social worker turned government administrator with strong ties to community officials, including Tribal leaders, in many parts of Texas and other states.

Reyes is a daughter of a homemaker mother and a father who served in World War II as a U.S. Navy submariner and who, after the war, worked at the Naval Base in Kingsville, Texas. He later started his own plumbing business.

A graduate of Texas A&M Kingsville University, Reyes worked for 16 years with the Texas Department of Human Services. She went on to work as a chief of staff for Ciro Rodriguez when he was a member of the Texas House of Representatives. After Rodriguez’ election to Congress, Reyes served as his district director. She also worked as a special assistant to a Bexar County Commissioner. She retired in 2020 after spending 13 years with the Federal Emergency Management Agency as a liaison with numerous government agencies throughout a multi-state region. During her time with FEMA, she coordinated activities and communications with more than 60 offices of elected officials and 68 Federally Recognized Tribal Nations.

Reyes got involved with volunteerism with AARP in San Antonio during the pandemic. “I was always used to being involved and advocating for someone,” she said. “It’s a service kind of thing. (Volunteering with AARP) was perfect. I love doing the volunteer work. It fulfills me. We help out and do things in the community, and AARP treats its volunteers well.”

Other current members of the AARP Texas Executive Council include: State President Charlotte McKenzie of Frisco, Dorothy "Sissy" Byrd of El Paso, Dr. Beverly Gor of Bellaire, Reynaldo Ortiz of McAllen, Eddie Orum of Houston, Rob Schneider of Austin, and Kenny Scudder of Odessa. AARP Texas Director Tina Tran co-leads the group with McKenzie.

“We are delighted to welcome Annette Fuller and Norma Estella Reyes to our Executive Council,” said Tran. “Their vast experience and dedication to community service complement perfectly our goal of improving the quality of life for older Texans and their families. We look forward to their fresh perspectives and innovative ideas that will surely strengthen our initiatives.”

AARP Texas strives to make your voice heard by advocating for what is important to older Texans and their families and by giving others a say on matters of importance and public policy. We work with local organizations, city and town officials to make Texas communities more livable and greater places to age with dignity and purpose.

To learn more or to get involved in our advocacy or community service outreach, please contact AARP Texas at aarptx@aarp.org.