Community

It’s panic time. Christmas and Hanukkah are here and the frenzy of holiday shopping, checklists and bills is mounting. It’s a time of good cheer, smiling faces, and good will to all. Sorry folks, but it’s also time for the Grinch! The scammers are out and about spreading holiday gloom in a number of ways so let’s take a look at the short list of do’s and don’ts. (sorry if some of this may sound familiar but reminders do not hurt).

Elliott Greenblott of Brattleboro, VT has been named as the 2016 winner of the AARP Andrus Community Service Award. AARP’s most prestigious volunteer honor, the award is named for AARP founder, Dr. Ethel Percy Andrus, an educator and tireless advocate of community service and volunteerism. Andrus coined the motto, “To Serve, Not to be Served,” which remains part of the AARP credo to this day.

Laura McDonough of Burlington has been appointed as Senior Operations Administrator at AARP Vermont. In her position she will be responsible for budget analysis and financial management, office operations and event coordination across the state. She will support AARP’s work around advocacy, outreach and education and community service to include social impact campaigns that improve the quality of life for all Vermonters as they age.

Due to the tragedy that occurred this weekend resulting in the loss of five teens from the Waterbury area, the AARP Gubernatorial Debate tonight at the DoubleTree Hotel in So. Burlington has been cancelled. As a close member of that community, Sue Minter and her family will be attending a vigil at Harwood Union High School this evening. Our thoughts are with the families and all the victims. It is a sad day for all of us. Both campaigns agree that tonight is a time to put politics aside.

Need help with computers?

Cars have changed. So have the traffic rules, driving conditions, and the roads you travel every day. Some drivers age 50-plus have never looked back since they got their first driver's licenses, but even the most experienced benefit from brushing up on their driving skills.

AARP Tax-Aide, the nation’s largest free volunteer-run tax counseling and preparation service, is seeking volunteers to assist in tax preparation. Tax season, AARP Tax-Aide volunteers help prepare federal and state tax returns for low and middle income taxpayers with special attention to those 60 and older. Volunteers of all backgrounds are welcome and some computer skills are an extra bonus. You do not need to be an AARP member nor a retiree and no prior experience in tax preparation is necessary. All ages are welcome. Volunteers are needed not only to calculate taxes, but to greet taxpayers to keep the site running smoothly.

Meet the next Vermont Governor!

Sometimes all it takes to make a difference is a little nudge. That’s what happened when AARP Vermont elected to support a small educational program in Burlington serving New American parents and grandparents. A modest grant from AARP Vermont to Parent University leveraged real progress in reaching a population that was largely ignored. The sponsorship was critical to the program’s success over the past year and helped it reach older adults among the New American population, providing valuable education while engaging them in the school community. This school year, 55 parents, guardians and grandparents graduated from the program having participated in at least 3 classes a week for over 6 months.

AARP Launches “Watch Your Wi-Fi” Campaign to Increase Consumer Awareness and Engage Businesses