CALIFORNIA – Joy Leibbrandt
Chapter President Joy Leibbrandt has helped and will help thousands of current and future AARP members through her intricate role in establishing the AARP Information Center in San Diego. Joy provides education and information on AARP priorities to those visiting the center. She was a key volunteer in the implementation of AARP activities that furthered its Social Impact agenda. This involved efforts against Social Security privatization, Medicare prescription-drug education, candidate forums, health-care reform in California, Divided We Fail events, and (currently) Health Action Now. In addition to volunteering at AARP events and activities, she plays an active role in AARP’s advocacy efforts, including legislative visits, calling from phone banks, making e-mail and telephone contacts, and writing letters. Through her AARP chapter efforts, she works closely with the California State Office and engages AARP members in the organization’s Advocacy efforts and educational outreach.
COLORADO – Don and Elsie Johnson
In 1989, Elsie and Don Johnson were instrumental in establishing AARP Chapter #3664-Green Mountain. Since then, they have served in various officers’ roles within their chapter and the Denver Metro Council. Most recently, they have been true leaders with the Divided We Fail initiative, staffing events weekly—and, when needed—they have helped out with last-minute requests. They have been a mainstay for tai chi at the Denver Botanic Gardens, AARP’s Sack a Seed Program, and the Dictionary Days event. Not only do Elsie and Don volunteer many hours with AARP, but they continue to give back to their community in other ways, by donating food and other items every week to the Jefferson County Action Center and the Battered Women Agency. They have also been known to help neighbors who have lost their spouses to remain independent.
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA – Doris E. McCannon
Doris McCannon’s years of volunteer work include leadership activities in local chapters, a six-year stint on the AARP D.C. Executive Council, service on presidential-selection committees for AARP state offices, and work with the AARP Volunteer Talent Bank as a Volunteer Referral Specialist. Currently she is the Chapter Leadership & Volunteer Liaison for the AARP D.C. Office. As liaison, she is the direct link between the D.C. State office and the District’s core AARP volunteers—the AARP D.C. leaders and the AARP D.C. Ambassadors. Doris’s list of civic activities is equally long: She is a D.C. Experience Corps volunteer, Armstrong High School Alumni Association’s Scholarship Committee’ chair, Northwest Boundary Civic Association President, former chairperson of the D.C. Neighborhood Planning Council Number five, and Ward Four Planning Commission member. Recently Doris installed digital-TV conversion boxes for older community members as part of a collaborative project between AARP’s Create the Good and the D.C. Office on Aging.
FLORIDA – Dr. Beatrice Braun Spring Hill resident Beatrice Braun, M.D., currently serves on the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC), the Area Agency on Aging board, the Florida Department of Elder Affairs Advisory Council, and she volunteers as a physician at a local clinic providing indigent care. Dr. Braun founded the Florida SHINE (Serving Health Insurance Needs of the Elders) program, which provides free, unbiased insurance counseling to Florida elders, caregivers, and family members, to help them understand Medicare, Medicaid, prescription assistance, long-term-care planning and insurance, and other health-care issues. Previously a missionary, Dr. Braun was recognized on World Health Day by the South Korean Prime Minister for her 18 years of medical service to the people of South Korea.
preview