The ROOST - The Place for All Things Volunteer

OVE AARP Roost News Interviewer Doretha McCoy interviews Loria Hubbard, ASD Tennessee and Mitch Mitch Olszewski, Volunteer. They share information on the GrandFamilies Council (a group of grandparents who are raising their grandchildren) and the GrandFamilies Professional Panel (a group of professionals from across the state who work with the GrandFamilies Council).

OVE AARP Roost News Podcast Co-Lead, Lillian S. Lee interviews Encore Creativity for Older Adults members Dr. Mary Ann East, Suzanne LaFollette-Black, Angela Burns, and Vickie Knowles share the story of Encore. They cover the mission of lifelong long learning, wellness, time commitments and the fun aspect. Contact Information:info@encorecreativity.org and/or suzannelafolletteblack@gmail.com

Roost News Team member Judee Barone speaks with staff and volunteers of the Ethel Circle - An AARP Community. The guests share the origin of the Ethel Circle, the purpose, the activities, and how to become a member.

Roost News Team member Nancy McCammon Hansen speaks with Emily Gordon, AARP Director of Community Engagement, Fort Wayne, and Mike Roeger, Advocate for AARP Indiana on their advocacy work to make cities in Indiana a better place to live.

Roost Team member Doretha McCoy chats with Volunteer Portal Training Specialists, Jeanne VanDivender, NC Volunteer and Laurie Roland, GA Volunteer about their role as a Volunteer Portal Training Specialist (VPTS).

AARP Staff, Mike Kulick, Office of Community Engagement, Rosa Calarco, Associate State Director for AARP NC, Alan Ormsby, AARP Utah, and Scott Wegenast, AARP KY. They shared the many programs that are in place to support the AARP Staff and Volunteers in Rural communities.They also shared how to contact the Office of Community Engagement for more information. The OVE AARP Roost Team interviewer was Curtis Springstead, NJ Volunteer.

AARP Staff, Mike Kulick, Office of Community Engagement, Rosa Calarco, Associate State Director for AARP NC, Alan Ormsby, AARP Utah, and Scott Wegenast, AARP KY. They shared the many programs that are in place to support the AARP Staff and Volunteers in Rural communities.They also shared how to contact the Office of Community Engagement for more information. The OVE AARP Roost Team interviewer was Curtis Springstead, NJ Volunteer.

For Volunteer Month, we're taking a peek behind the scenes with the Roost News team! Staffer Tara Shaver returns to the mic to interview the team to learn what brought them to The Roost News Podcast and learn more about their backgrounds, interests, and more. We went a little long on this one, folks, but we think you'll dig it!

ASD Outreach, Jackie Boland, coordinated a Social Security event. Volunteer Speaker, Bill Staton attended the event and followed it a few weeks later with a community workshop for pre-retirees.To honor Social Security’s 90th Anniversary, the staff and volunteer team held a “Volunteer Round Up,” to update the team about the 90 day campaign, engage them in thinking through the campaign, obtain useable images and video for Social Media, involve them in story-telling, and discuss how to embed Social Security in other activities through listening posts, sweepstakes, Plinko and a photo booth.

ASD Outreach, Jackie Boland, coordinated a Social Security event. Volunteer Speaker, Bill Staton attended the event and followed it a few weeks later with a community workshop for pre-retirees.To honor Social Security’s 90th Anniversary, the staff and volunteer team held a “Volunteer Round Up,” to update the team about the 90 day campaign, engage them in thinking through the campaign, obtain useable images and video for Social Media, involve them in story-telling, and discuss how to embed Social Security in other activities through listening posts, sweepstakes, Plinko and a photo booth.

AARP Virginia, Associate State Director for Communications, Ginger Thompson along with volunteers Evan Jones, and Larry Lipman share information about the AARP Virginia Virtual Volunteer Newsroom.They share their story providing the below: • Organization • How to get involved • Onboarding process • How to stay involved...and much more....

The AARP TN State Office shares their effective three-step plan for on-boarding prospects who become active volunteers. They also share best practices for engaging, supporting, and keeping volunteers.

The Office of Volunteer Engagement’s Volunteer Helpline provides personalized customer support to current and prospective AARP volunteers. If you have a question about volunteering with AARP and are unsure who to contact, the Volunteer Helpline is a great place to start. *Please note that the Volunteer Helpline focuses specifically on volunteer needs and is separate from AARP’s Membership Services Help Center and AARP’s ITS Help Desk.

In this episode, AARP Roost News Team member Curt Springstead speaks with representatives of AARP Do It Yourself and Do It Yourself Plus programs better known by their abbreviations DIY and DIY +. These programs are designed to help states create Speakers Bureau programs to share information of value to the 50+ community.

AARP Friendly Voice Center Program was established in April 2023 emphasizing volunteer engagement and community support. The volunteers are vetted for the program and selected after a two-week mentorship period with one of our Friendly Voice leadership team members. There are English/Spanish speaking volunteers and scripts that provide a list of conversation starters, i.e., hobbies, travel, work, family and fun questions. The conversations help to strengthen compassion while maintaining firm boundaries and adhering to AARP policies.

Judee Barone, Co-Lead for the Roost News Podcast conducts a News Brief interview with Mark Fetterhoff, Senior Advisor of the Fraud Helpline. Mark provides the top ten scams that the AARP Fraud Watch Helpline has received in the first quarter of 2025.

Roost News Team member, Doretha McCoy interviews Antoine Cook | AARP California Associate Director, Advocacy & Community Engagement, Volunteer Patricia Smith and Volunteer, Rey Neal on the L.A. Steppers Walking Group which incorporates Healthy Living, Livable Community, and lots of fun with partnerships from various community resources. They discuss this program being their longest running program for volunteers and surviving the pandemic by using zoom. Now, no longer using zoom, they continue to have excellent volunteer engagement.

This podcast covers the cities of Medford and Eugene, Oregon. The various programs in Eugene, Oregon are highlighted as volunteers partner with their Oregon Staff Partner, Carmel Synder. This podcast also covers the partnership with the AARP Oregon State Office and the St. Mark Christian Methodist Episcopal Church St. in Eugene, Oregon. They have collaboration and partnership opportunities for community which engage community members in conversations, which impact the community. Special guests: Carmel Perez Snyder, Director of Community Outreach and Advocacy for AARP Oregon, Dr. Geneva Craig, lead volunteer in Medford, Oregon, and Rev. Deleesa Meashintubby, community partner and pastor of St. Mark CME Church in Eugene, Oregon.

Ms. Michelle Becote-Jackson shares accomplishments for (OVE) Office of Volunteer Engagement in 2024 and focus areas for 2025. She thanks volunteers for working closely with staff partners to put multiple programs into action under the Office of Volunteer Engagement.

PROGRAM CONCEPT: AARP Liaison for Caregiving InitiativesProgram OverviewThe AARP Liaison for Caregiving Initiatives program “Care Connectors” aims to build a robust network of volunteers who serve as essential connectors between AARP’s National Office, State Offices, and their local community. These volunteers will play a key role in supporting family caregivers through resource dissemination, program coordination, and ensuring that national caregiving priorities are adapted to effectively meet the needs of their community.Monica shares with Roost News Podcast Team member Nancy McCammon Hansen, information on the role of the AARP Liaison for Caregiving Initiatives Program, as well as information on the importance of caregiving and the role of caregivers.