AARP Kentucky Volunteer Newsletter January-February 2019

January-February 2019

A Word from the State President

Charlotte Whittaker

I have been blessed in my life to have been given many opportunities to volunteer. We were taught at an early age that it is better to give back than to receive. 2018 was certainly a year of history in the making across the Commonwealth. Our AARP volunteers provided many hours of volunteer service.

I am so honored to be the President of AARP Kentucky. I have been involved with AARP for some 20 years in different roles. I have seen the difference AARP makes when it comes to local, state, and national advocacy, and I have seen the successes our advocacy efforts have brought to our 50+ population across Kentucky. We are about advocacy from local town hall meetings, to lobby day in Frankfort, to walking the halls of Congress to share our needs across the nation.

2019 will bring our volunteers to a new level as we empower people to choose how they live as they age. Our social impact agenda will include: Health Security, Caregiving, Healthy Living, Financial Resilience, Savings and Planning, Work & Jobs, Social Security, and Fraud.

We will encourage all our members to live vibrant lives.

As we begin our volunteer work for 2019, I encourage each of you to get involved. Our Bowling Green, Louisville, and Lexington teams need new volunteers. Our 11 chapters across the Commonwealth provide many hours of volunteer work in their communities; several are providing opportunities to help their local veterans. 2019 is the year for you to get involved and make a difference! Looking forward to many NEW volunteer efforts with AARP Kentucky this year.

2018 Andrus Award Results

Aneshia Gray

The 2018 recipient of Kentucky’s Andrus Award for Community Service was Robert McCool of Richmond. Robert has been a volunteer with the Madison County Rescue Squad for more than 30 years. He has served as an EMT, rescue squad technician, squad training officer, and has been a volunteer firefighter since 2005. He currently serves as the Assistant Chief of the Kirksville Volunteer Fire Department in addition to his rescue squad duties. Robert has recruited and trained hundreds of volunteer rescue personnel across the Commonwealth.

Diana Morgan of Dry Ridge was honored as the runner-up. Diana has been a volunteer with Bluegrass Care Navigator’s 11th Hour Program for over 15 years, where she sits at the bedside of hospice care patients. In addition to her work with Bluegrass Care Navigators, Diana has volunteered with the Dry Ridge Fire/EMS Department for the last 10 years, the Kentucky Citizen’s Foster Care Revision Board as Board Chairperson, and the American Red Cross as a leader in disaster response for more than 20 years.

State President Charlotte Whittaker, State Director Ron Bridges, and Executive Council Members Dr. Merrylyn Moran Smith and Charles Williams presented awards to both recipients and AARP Kentucky’s donation of $2,000 to Madison County Rescue Squad and $500 to Bluegrass Care Navigators in honor of their outstanding volunteers.

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Kentucky Kernels

Jan/Feb 2019

Louisville Community Team Year in Review

Tihisha Rawlins

The Louisville Community had a fantastic year. With a goal of having at least one educational or outreach event each month, the team shot into action and conquered the goal. The volunteers averaged two events per month, although some months had 3 events; several events were part of a series.

In terms of educational events, the team led a Secure Your Retirement series, a caregiving summit, and a seminar on writing your first novel.

Outreach events included Movies for Grownups, an ice cream social, and a bourbon tasting, to name a few.

For our advocacy work, the team spearheaded the writing teams to complete the Age Friendly Louisville action plan, and began work with workgroups to ensure the action plan is achieved. We also participated in a press conference with Mayor Fischer as we unveiled an improved intersection thanks to a Community Challenge Grant from the AARP National Office.

Members of our team also met with Congressman John Yarmuth and Congressman Thomas Massie during the recess to discuss advocacy issues important to our members.

Finally, the Louisville Community Team led the effort to return AARP Kentucky to the Kentucky State Fair.

The AARP presence at the fair centered on the message: Be the Difference. Vote. Volunteers and staff collected over 1200 signed voter pledges.

It’s been a great year and we’re looking forward to 2019 .

Three Things about AARP Kentucky in 2018

Dr. Merrylyn Moran Smith

First thing, volunteers make AARP shine across Kentucky. From my colleagues on our Executive Council to statewide volunteers serving locally as Chapter leaders, Tax-Aide and Driver Safety volunteers, our volunteers are living AARP’s Founder’s mission to “Serve and Not be Served.”

Secondly, volunteers’ countless hours of local service is how AARP makes meaningful impact for life at 50+ across our Commonwealth. In 2018 on a cold rainy day, I was proud to see our volunteer team in Lexington delivering consumer fraud prevention by shredding tons of personal documents. At the Kentucky Horse Park, another rainy downpour didn’t stop volunteers and State Director Ron Bridges from showing up to greet guests at the Lexington Smooth Jazz Fest. AARP Kentucky’s first Mayoral Candidate Forum in Lexington was an exceptionally bright and shining moment. In Louisville, volunteers organized and delivered faith community awards, as well as fun ways supporting family caregivers, and making Louisville even more age-friendly. Volunteers and our State President Charlotte Whittaker are growing and leading outreach to veterans in Bowling Green. Our AARP South Region is fortunate to have leaders like my friend and colleague Dr. Brenda Hatfield. Our week with the Kentucky Executive Council and Dr. Hatfield at Welcome Home Veterans Celebration with AARP Tennessee is another great example of shared learning and AARP collaboration.

Finally, AARP didn’t invent volunteering, but it’s unique in its ability to provide its volunteers and advocates with the tools, training, and resources to make life better for its members, their families, and all Kentuckians at every age. In 2019, I look forward to working with my Executive Council friends, our local volunteers, and being a part of AARP in Kentucky. It’s an exciting time at AARP and I plan to help inspire and channel the desire of our volunteers to “give back” to their local communities and make AARP shine brighter.

Jan/Feb 2019

Kentucky Kernels

ADUs in Lexington

Page 3 Scott Wegenast

EH-DE-YU - isn’t a foreign word, but ADU’s (Accessory Dwelling Units) are quickly changing aging in place across the nation. Living independently is what most everyone wants as we age and that’s why AARP Livable Communities is making change possible - nationwide.

Using a grant from the 2018 AARP Community Challenge, Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government and Age-Friendly Lexington created an Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) design competition with the University of Kentucky’s College of Design. The competition aimed to create a new vision to introduce the ADU housing concept to the public. Like many cities, Lexington is faced with suburban sprawl and a shortage of affordable housing stock. Lexington is considering amending its zoning to allow for accessory dwelling units. Commonly known as “granny flats,” ADU’s offer new accessibility and affordability for persons aging in place or those with disabilities.

A total of 17 original designs were submitted in the competition nine from students and eight from Alumni, now working professionals. Winners of the Accessory Dwelling Unit competition received cash prizes. Lexington-Mayor Elect Linda Gorton, Age-Friendly Lexington, LFUCG officials, AARP volunteers, students, faculty, and alumni attended the award ceremony. The competition was the result of a community collaboration with the College of Design, Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government Division of Aging and Disabilities, Age-Friendly Lexington, Senior Services Commission, and local AARP volunteers.

Age-Friendly Lexington is supporting efforts to amend local zoning laws and allow for expanded growth of the ADU model. Funds awarded from the 2018 AARP Community Challenge “Quick Action Grant” supported the juried completion and are being used to design a “One Stop” resource manual on ADU requirements for residents and builders. Learn more about ADU’s, here: Accessory Dwelling Units.

A Visitor’s Experience with AARP Kentucky

Rita Combs-Sterrett

In October and November I had the privilege of sharing my home with a friend visiting from Puerto Rico. Maria Perez-Wullart and I met a day after hurricane Maria struck the island on Sep. 20, 2017. It was just a coincidence that she was standing by a gate to their property, Casa Matilda, a large and beautiful rest home for elderly clients, when my sister-in-law and I were greeted by her and three excited dogs. Over the period of a month, when there was no way off the island, Maria and I became great friends.

This October, I received the call that she would like to come visit me. I was delighted because there was so much I wanted to share and show her in Louisville and Kentucky. I did not realize that we would be a part of the important press conference at 9th and Muhammad Ali on Nov. 30th. The highlight of the event was that Maria had a chance to meet AARP State officers, the Mayor, Metro Council Members, AARP local volunteers, and concerned community leaders. The announcement that AARP had received a $10,000 grant to improve the intersection and crosswalk at that location to make it safer for pedestrians, particularly those elderly citizens in nearby areas, was relevant to Maria. Her experience and concerns for the needs of older people, especially those with mobility issues, being addressed by local citizens and community organizations was beneficial. She expressed that this was something that she could take back and share as a focus for those in Puerto Rico that are still in the process of rebuilding.

Later that evening, you can imagine our excitement, when we saw the TV coverage of the event and could say ,we were there and that AARP made a difference.

Mt. Washington Chapter Bill Harned

AARP Kentucky 10401 Linn Station Road, Suite 121 Louisville, KY 40223 1-866-295-7275 Staff: Ron Bridges — State Director Tihisha Rawlins — ASD Grassroots Initiatives Scott Wegenast — ASD Communications Eric Evans — ASD Advocacy & Outreach TBD — ASD Advocacy & Outreach Rachel Fautz — Sr. Operations Associate Aneshia Gray — Sr. Program Assistant

The Mt. Washington Chapter raised and donated $5,346 to eight local charities in 2018.

Our food bank, homeless shelter, volunteers at veterans hospital, and CASA were among those assisted.

Becky Klusch/ Dick Trowbridge AARP Foundation Tax-Aide started in 1968 with just four volunteers working at one site. Today our 35,000 IRS-certified volunteers help taxpayers file their taxes at over 5,000 sites across the United States. And it’s completely free!

www.youtube.com/AARPKY @aarpky

facebook.com/aarpkentucky

Over the last 50 years. We have helped more than 50 million taxpayers get the tax credits they deserve.

Tax-Aide sites will begin opening Feb. 1 and are ready to help you prepare your federal and state returns.

There are over 60 sites in KY, with about 16-17 in the Louisville Metro area, including southern Indiana.

Find us in your area at www.aarp.org/money/taxes/aarp_taxaide There are many, many changes – both for the federal and Kentucky returns. Kentucky has moved to a flat tax of 5% and made a number of other changes.

When going to a Tax-Aide site, it is important to take the following items:  Government issued photo IDs for taxpayers. Social Security Cards or comparable documentation for you, your spouse (if applicable) and all dependents.  Income related documents: W2, Unemployment compensation statements, SSA 1099, 1099R, and other 1099 forms showing interest, dividends or other income.  Expense related documents: Checks and forms showing federal and state taxes paid, 1098 forms, documentation of medical, dental, charity, or business expenses, any vehicle and property taxes, and mortgage interest paid. Receipts for expenses need to be in reasonable order and legible.  Brokerage statements or other documentation showing the cost basis (purchase price) and date purchased for all securities or property sold or transferred during the tax year.  A check with your name printed on it for direct deposit/debit of any refund/balance due. A check in your checkbook is acceptable. A canceled check is not required. Deposit slips are not acceptable.

Other helpful documents to bring:  Please provide a copy of your last year’s tax return. The data on the last year’s return is needed to complete the new tax return if you had itemized deductions the previous year and received a refund or have a capital loss carry forward.  If you receive a pension or annuity from a former employer, please bring the date that you began to receive payments. (In some cases, this is required)  Be sure to bring any tax forms related to your health insurance, i.e. 1095-A, B, or C. Visit the Louisville Tax-Aide website for more information: www.aarp-tax-aide-lou.org