NEW MEXICO – Dolores Halls
After a career at New Mexico State University, Dolores Halls is now a statewide advocate for residents of nursing homes and for senior citizens in general. As a key volunteer with AARP and a representative of the Las Cruces Retired Educator Unit and the American Association of University Women, she brings the issues of health and long-term care before the legislators and elected officials of Southern New Mexico. Halls has also been a presenter at events in Southern New Mexico, including the New Mexico Conference on Aging and other community and statewide conferences. She has organized and assisted with AARP exhibits at the State Senior Olympics and at community gatherings. An active member of the local Alzheimer’s Association, she assists with the organization’s annual walk and has served on numerous committees, including Planning and Zoning for the City of Las Cruces.
NEW YORK – Phyllis Hill Slater
Long Island native Phyllis Hill Slater has been a champion for women and minority business owners in the state and throughout the country. A small-business owner herself, she is dedicated to fostering and encouraging female minority entrepreneurs in the economic, social, and political fields. She founded the New York State Black Women Enterprise and co-founded the Euro-American Women’s Council. Both organizations have the common goal of achieving and advancing success in the small-business community of color and of increasing women’s access to leadership positions. Slater’s reputation has garnered national media attention, and her presidential appointments include the Welfare to Work Partnership, the Small Business Regulatory Fairness Board, and the National Women's Business Council. She recently served on President Obama’s Transition Team for Small Businesses. In 2007, Phyllis joined AARP New York’s Executive Council and her leadership, reputation, and expertise helped spotlight AARP’s work toward ensuring economic security, assisting older workers, and promoting the Divided We Fail initiative.
NORTH CAROLINA – Mary Cichocki
It was a stroke of good luck that Mary Cichocki, now chair of the AARP North Carolina Mature Workforce Speakers Bureau, happened to become involved with the state office of AARP–North Carolina when she did. Her professional background in career consulting and her natural instinct to help people matched perfectly with the goals AARP set for itself in reaching out to the 50-plus worker. She has been equally successful in convincing companies to try AARP’s Workforce Assessment Tool and to understand the value of older workers and the contributions they make to corporate history and mentoring. In these depressed economic times, she has been a lifesaver to many, providing workshops for large groups but also offering one-on-one counseling to the jobless. She brings a whole new aspect to AARP–North Carolina’s State Office service. She is inspired by the dedication to service she has encountered in both AARP volunteers and staff.
NORTH DAKOTA – Frances Koppang
Fran Koppang is posthumously named as North Dakota’s 2009 Andrus Award winner. Fran was an active community volunteer, never turning down an opportunity to make a difference in someone’s life. Her volunteer activities included the AARP Tax-Aide Program (administered by the AARP Foundation), the AARP Driver Safety Program, North Dakota Senior Health Insurance Program, Prescription Connection, Medicare Part D education and enrollments, MedCenter One Foundation, and Faith Lutheran Church. Fran’s zest for volunteering provided positive mentoring and support for other AARP volunteers, hospital volunteers, and church volunteers. Fran’s volunteer positions often benefited low-income families and seniors seeking health and support services. She was a determined advocate and tirelessly did research, made telephone calls, and wrote letters to meet the needs of those she assisted. Fran was a 12-year survivor of ovarian cancer who quietly wrote notes of encouragement, made phone calls, and otherwise supported others going through treatment and surgery.
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