Portlano Prss Hralo/Spcial Sction Thursoay, Jun 6, 2C3 B'

By JANL MARGLSSON
!!20-AINE#OMMUNICATIONS$IRECTOR
AARP consistently strives to
be tlere lor its nenbers just as
we lave since our incetion nore
tlan 50 years ago.
Vlat you nay not know is
tlat AARP was lounded by a
retired sclool teacler, Dr. Ltlel
Percy Andrus. In addition to be-
ing a sclool teacler, Andrus was
tle hrst lenale ligl sclool rin-
cial in tle state ol Calilornia.
Sle saw hrstland tle econonic
liglt ol retired educators in tle
ost-Deression era.
Since Medicare did not be-
cone available until 1965, and
ensions were neager, nany
retired teaclers at tle tine lound
tlenselves living in overty dur-
ing tleir so-called golden years.
Uon discovering tlat one
ol ler retired colleagues was so
oor sle was actually living in a
clicken coo, Andrus took ac-
tion. Arned witl tle beliel tlat
everyone las tle riglt to age witl
dignity, sle began a canaign to
rovide allordable nedical insur-
ance lor retired educators.
Several years later, tle hrst-
ever grou lealtl insurance
coverage was ollered to retired
teaclers nationwide. Finally, in
1958, at tle age ol 73, Andrus
lounded AARP.
Andrus saw AARP as nucl
nore tlan a gateway to lealtl
insurance lor older Anericans.
Sle believed tlat eole`s older
years slould be an oortunity
lor new growtl and articiation
in society.
Sle relerred to AARP as an
arny ol uselul citizens wlo lad
tle ability, tle exerience and tle
desire to ronote and enlance
tle ublic good.
Sle gave us tle notto tlat still
guides us today. To serve, not to
be served.
Here in Maine, AARP las an
olhce in Portland, but our work
sans tle entire state. Our tean
consists ol hve AARP stall, six
AARP claters, and 230,000
nenbers, nany ol wlon serve in
volunteer and leadersli roles in
tle organization.
During eacl state legislative
session, our stall and volunteers
are at tle state louse in Augusta
alnost every day. Ve neet witl
legislators, attend learings, and
deliver testinony, hglting on
issues tlat natter to Mainers and
tleir lanilies.
Tlese issues include access
to lone and connunity-based
services, allordable rescrition
drug costs, lower energy costs,
tle rotection ol vital services lor
low-incone older and disabled
residents, hnancial rotection and
consuner lraud to nane a lew.
Ve collaborate witl nany
state and local connunity leaders
and organizations on issues ol
concern to older Mainers sucl as
transortation and lousing. Our
connunity service and outreacl
initiatives, ioneered and nan-
aged by volunteers, lave toucled
nany older Mainers in signihcant
ways.
On tle national lront, AARP
is connitted to rotecting Social
Security and Medicare. Ve consis-
tently reacl out to and work witl
olicynakers on botl sides ol
tle olitical aisle to hnd answers
tlat nake sense. Il you would
like to lollow or get involved in
our work on lederal issues, go to
www.aar.org.
AARP also las several ro-
grans available in tle state tlat
are oen to nenbers and non-
nenbers alike. One ol tle nost
oular rograns, tle AARP
driver salety course, is ollered
tlrougl AARP Foundation.
Available in erson statewide
as well as online, tle AARP driver
salety course reviews basic skills
and rules tlat can kee even tle
nost exerienced drivers sale on
tle road. For nore inlornation,
go to www.aar.org}driversalety
or call 1-888-227-7669.
AARP was lounded by one
wonan wlo was deternined to
nake a dillerence in tle lives ol
otlers. As Andrus wrote in one
ol AARP`s earliest ublications,
Our connunity is tle lace
wlere we as older individuals can
be tle nost ellective.
Tlis is art ol Andrus`
extraordinary legacy, and today
AARP continues to clanion
tlat lilosoly, enowering our
nenbers to ursue tleir goals
and dreans.
For nore inlornation about
AARP Maine, call 1-866-554-5380,
go to www.aar.org}ne or send
us an e-nail at aarne0aar.org.
Ve look lorward to learing lron
you!
!!20CONNECTS
WITH-AINERS
ACROSSTHESTATE
207-85-0210 - 54 York $I, PIe 1, kennebunk
vvv.DenlureSc|ul|cnlc|ne.ccm
'images courtesy of Dentsply
koberl D. Po|ermo, LD, CD7 - Over 40 Yeors Exper|ence
IJ!I SCI!JICS
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Over IIme, a persons mouIh changes. RecessIon occurs In Ihe jawbone o Ihe gum
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lree Ccnu|lcl|cn - l|ncnc|ng /vc||cc|e
Cver 0 yeors ogo, Dr. Elhel Percy Andrus lounded AARP becouse
she wos lnsplred lo help olhers. AARP hos conllnued her work lo
empower Amerlcons lo pursue lhelr gools ond dreoms. AARP ls
moklng o dlllerence ln Molne lor lomllles where ll ls needed mosl
rlghl here ol home.
"What we do,
we do Ior all."
Dr. Ethel Fercy Andrus
Leorn more oboul AARP ln Molne ol
oorp.orgJme
Portland Press Herald/Special Section Thursday, June 6, 2013
AARP connects
with Mainers
across the state
By JANE MARGESSON
AARP Maine Communications Director
AARP consistently strives to
be there for its members just as
we have since our inception more
than 50 years ago.
What you may not know is
that AARP was founded by a
retired school teacher, Dr. Ethel
Percy Andrus. In addition to be-
ing a school teacher, Andrus was
the first female high school prin-
cipal in the state of California.
She saw firsthand the economic
plight of retired educators in the
post-Depression era.
Since Medicare did not be-
come available until 1965, and
pensions were meager, many
retired teachers at the time found
themselves living in poverty dur-
ing their so-called "golden years."
Upon discovering that one
of her retired colleagues was so
poor she was actually living in a
chicken coop, Andrus took ac-
tion. Armed with the belief that
everyone has the right to age with
dignity, she began a campaign to
provide affordable medical insur-
ance for retired educators.
Several years later, the first-
ever group health insurance
coverage was offered to retired
teachers nationwide. Finally, in
1958, at the age of 73, Andrus
founded AARP.
Andrus saw AARP as much
more than a gateway to health
insurance for older Americans.
She believed that people's older
years should be an opportunity
for new growth and participation
in society.
She referred to AARP as "an
army of useful citizens" who had
the ability, the experience and the
desire to promote and enhance
the public good.
She gave us the motto that still
guides us today: "To serve, not to
be served."
Here in Maine, AARP has an
office in Portland, but our work
spans the entire state. Our team
consists of five AARP staff, six
AARP chapters, and 230,000
members, many of whom serve in
volunteer and leadership roles in
the organization.
During each state legislative
session, our staff and volunteers
are at the state house in Augusta
almost every day. We meet with
legislators, attend hearings, and
deliver testimony, fighting on
issues that matter to Mainers and
their families.
These issues include access
to home and community-based
services, affordable prescription
drug costs, lower energy costs,
the protection of vital services for
low-income older and disabled
residents, financial protection and
consumer fraud to name a few.
We collaborate with many
state and local community leaders
and organizations on issues of
concern to older Mainers such as
transportation and housing. Our
community service and outreach
initiatives, pioneered and man-
aged by volunteers, have touched
many older Mainers in significant
ways.
On the national front, AARP
is committed to protecting Social
Security and Medicare. We consis-
tently reach out to and work with
policymakers on both sides of
the political aisle to find answers
that make sense. If you would
like to follow or get involved in
our work on federal issues, go to
www.aarp.org.
AARP also has several pro-
grams available in the state that
are open to members and non-
members alike. One of the most
popular programs, the AARP
driver safety course, is offered
through AARP Foundation.
Available in person statewide
as well as online, the AARP driver
safety course reviews basic skills
and rules that can keep even the
most experienced drivers safe on
the road. For more information,
go to www.aarp.org/driversafety
or call 1-888-227-7669.
AARP was founded by one
woman who was determined to
make a difference in the lives of
others. As Andrus wrote in one
of AARP's earliest publications,
"Our community is the place
where we as older individuals can
be the most effective."
This is part of Andrus'
extraordinary legacy, and today
AARP continues to champion
that philosophy, empowering our
members to pursue their goals
and dreams.
For more information about
AARP Maine, call 1-866-554-5380,
go to www.aarp.org/me or send
us an e-mail at aarpme@aarp.org.
We look forward to hearing from
you!
Over 50 years ago, Dr. Ethel Percy Andrus founded AARP because
she was inspired to help others. AARP has continued her work to
empower Americans to pursue their goals and dreams. AARP is
making a difference in Maine for families where it is needed most-
right here at home.
Learn more about AARP in Maine at
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