The 176 members who make up Gilchrist County’s AARP chapter logged 37,000 volunteer hours in 2010, leading the group to be named the #1 AARP chapter in the state of Florida.
State AARP president Doug Heinlen attended Chapter #2133’s monthly meeting on Tuesday to recognize the chapter for its significant accomplishment.
“All I can say about your chapter is, ‘Wow!’” Heinlen said. “You are the epitome of what AARP on the local level is all about.”
According to Heinlen, AARP’s core mission is to be an organization that promotes aging with dignity and purpose. Open to individuals 50 and older, AARP has 93 chapters in Florida.
Gilchrist County’s chapter was selected from some 25 chapters who applied for the #1 award.
Doug Heinlen, state AARP president and Randy Durden, Chapter 2133 president.
“It’s inspirational for me to come out and see a group like you,” Heinlen said.
Along with a plaque, Chapter #2133 received a gift certificate for a sheet cake from Publix, and a table topper.
A sea of chapter members, many wearing AARP t-shirts, clapped as Heinlen presented a plaque to chapter president Randy Durden.
According to Durden, who accepted the award, one of the 2010 goals the chapter set out to achieve last year was to become the #1 AARP chapter in the state.
As Durden pointed out, Chapter #2133 has numerous volunteer opportunities for seniors to get involved in. Volunteers are always needed to report on social events, health events in the community and activities important to seniors taking place in the tri-county area. Volunteers are also needed to call members to remind them of upcoming meetings and special needs, and send get well cards or sympathy cards to families experiencing a difficult time.
“I think we can stand with anyone in the state on volunteer hours,” Durden said. “A lot of people helped this chapter receive this award.”
