The Willow Glen Resident Photograph by George Sakkestad Gray Party: Paul Handel and Bob Francis stand in front of the new Willow Glen AARP office. A pre-opening party is planned for Jan. 20. Local seniors look forward to an informative new year Volunteers gear up for opening of Bay Area's only AARP information center By Mary Spicuzza On the surface, the corner of Willow and Bird streets in Willow Glen shares few similarities with Minnesota's daunting four-story Mall of America. Yet the American Association of Retired Persons has decided to import one of the most popular features of America's largest mega-mall, its successful AARP Information Center, to this humble corner of the Glen. Although AARP's center won't celebrate its grand opening until April, volunteers are already busily preparing for an opening reception that will take place on Jan. 20. The information center will offer a wealth of resources for seniors, aimed at helping AARP achieve its goal of assisting older Americans. The group is committed to ensuring that retired persons continue "lives of independence, dignity and purpose." The AARP has 30 million members nationwide, with more than three million in the Bay Area. The Willow Glen Chapter, founded in 1996, is one of nine chapters in the Silicon Valley region. It has 45 active members, and is quickly growing. "One of the most important things is having different literature available," says Bob Francis, associate state coordinator for AARP's community operations. "We try to help seniors stay informed about any and all issues affecting them." The center will offer AARP literature including pamphlets demystifying HMOs and other health care options, teaching seniors to protect themselves from elder abuse and telephone fraud, and sharing information about employment opportunities. Services like tax aid and 55 Alive--a driving program for seniors--will be available. A new center also means new opportunities for getting involved in AARP political activities, mainly following legislation to ensure protection of seniors' rights. With ribbon-cutting festivities months away, scheduled for April 21, local volunteers are busily laying groundwork. Phone lines were attached last week, and local AARP members are now getting the word out about the center. Francis says they're hoping for a huge turnout at the Jan. 20 recruiting event, which will also be an open house for those interested in previewing the space. Training and recruitment events are also scheduled for February and March. The new office, the only AARP information center in the Bay Area, shares the privilege of being one of four sites in California. Other centers have opened in San Diego, Santa Barbara and Sonora. According to Francis, the area's large number of seniors means a larger and more sophisticated center for Willow Glen. AARP officers recently appointed Helen Brown, a two-year member of the Campbell chapter, as information center coordinator. Brown has served as a chair for long-term health care and community service committees. "We're hoping to stimulate interest in the community," Brown says. "If we can get enough steam, I think we can really affect the entire community of Santa Clara County." For more information on the Jan. 20 recruiting event or the new information center, call 275-1666. [ Back to Contents Page | Willow Glen Resident Home Page | Archives ] This article appeared in the Willow Glen Resident, January 6, 1999. ©1998 Metro Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved.