History of South Austin AARP Chapter 2426

The Beginning of a South Austin AARP Chapter

In September of 1975, at a Defensive Driving class, the idea of a South Austin AARP Chapter was born when Mr. and Mrs. Dock Oliphant asked Mr. J.O. Musick ?When are we going to have our own Chapter in South Austin??  The correspondence that follows on these pages shows some of the work that went into laying the foundation for the South Austin Chapter of which we are now all so proud.

The first meeting was held at First Federal Savings and Loan Association at 2404 Taos on September 30, 1975. Since there was only a small group initially, a future organizational meeting was scheduled for October 30, 1975 at 2:00p.m. in the Community Room of the Bank of Austin (now the Bank of America), 2501 S. Congress, Austin, Texas.

Mrs. Elizabeth B. Loessberg from San Antonio, Assistant to the AARP State Director, conducted the meeting and 106 people signed the register.  Ms. Loessberg explained the origins of the AARP and what it stands for as well as the workings and programs it conducts. The motto of the AARP is: ?TO SERVE, NOT TO BE SERVED?.

To be an officially sanctioned Chapter, four officers are needed: President; Vice-President; Secretary and Treasurer.  A motion was made by Mrs. Angus McDonald to apply for incorporation. Mr. George Spiillman made a motion that Charter membership be held open for three months, that is, anyone joining during the first three months be considered a ?Charter Member?.  The standards by-laws of the AARP state that is a non-profit organization. Chapter meeting should be held at least 8 months out of the year and a motion was made by Mrs. Harris that 20 people constitute a quorum for a valid meeting. All motions carried.

The following officers from the Central Austin AARP Chapter 108 were present to assist:

Mr. & Mrs. Noel P. Amstead,

Mr. J. O. Musick,

Mr. W.S. Bussey, 

The following members of Chapter 108 were also present:

            Mr. and Mrs. H.F. Adlam

            Mr. and Mrs. Aubrey Chisolm

            Mrs. Violet Harris

            Mr. and Mrs. F.S. Newton

            Mr. and Mrs. D.B. Oliphant

The following were also present and expressed interest in forming a South Austin AARP Chapter:

            Mr. and Mrs. A.D. Krause

            Mrs. Marcella Reissig

            Mr. and Mrs. W.B. Sharp

            Mr. and Mrs. L.M. Slaughter

Also Mr. Lyle Hamner and Mrs. Agnes Yeager of San Antonio were present. 

New Chapter officers were elected and dues were set at $2.00 each or $3.00 for husband and wife.  The meetings of the new South Austin Chapter are to be held the third Wednesday of each month and the first three months are to be open for the charter members.  Much work went into planning this meeting and the results were great.

After a break for coffee and cookies, Mrs. Loessberg and Mrs. Yeager had to depart for San Antonio and Mr. Amstead, presiding over the meeting, named the following steering committee:

            D.B. Oliphant, Chairman

            Violet Harris, Publicity

            F.S. Newton, in charge of securing meeting place

            Mr. and Mrs. L.M. Slaughter, Greeters

Mesdames Sharp, Reissing, Krause and Oliphant volunteered to work the registration table

Mr. Newton went to work immediately and secured a meeting place. The next meeting will be held on October 30,1975 at 2:00 p.m. in the Community Room of the Bank of Austin, 2501 S. Congress Avenue.

The following officers for the initial regular meeting were nominated and elected:

            President: Dock. B. Oliphant

Vice-President: L.M. Slaughter

            Secretary: Mrs. Bea McDonald

            Treasurer: Mr. W.M. Sharp

Board of Directors:

            Mrs. Violet Harris

            Mrs. Pearl Slaughter

            Pauline Weidt

Anna Browning

            Barbara McKittrick

            Bea Longshore

The first REGULAR meeting of the new South Austin AARP Chapter was held at the Salvation Army Community Center, 1001 Cumberland Drive on November 19, 1975. Eighty-Five (85) people registered and fifty-nine (59) joined the Chapter and paid their dues. The meeting was called to order by the President, Dock B. Oliphant. The Invocation was given by the Vice-President, Lee M. Slaughter, who also led the group in the pledge of allegiance to the flag.  The minutes were taken and new business was taken care of, such as the appointment of Ms. Pauline Mathis as Chairman of the committee to plan the December program.  President Oliphant announced that the December meeting would be moved to the Colonial Inn Motel, 3909 South Congress due to a previous booking on the third Wednesday at the Salvation Army site.

Mrs. Loessberg as well as Mr. Norman B. Avenell and his wife were also with us at this meeting and Mr. Avenell gave a most interesting talk on things to do to assure the success of the chapter and answered several questions from the floor.

The following invocation was given:

Our heavenly father, we are grateful for this wonderful day and the privilege to meet with each other to form this chapter.  We ask your divine guidance to lead us on the path of righteousness in all of our undertakings. Bless us all and give each of us the desire and courage to do what is called upon for us to do. These things we ask in thy Holy Name.

Amen.

Membership

When the chapter was formed in 1975, 59 members joined.  Membership shot up to 180 in 1976.  We found no records for membership between 1977 and 1982.  In 1983 there were 43 members.  There is no explanation for the drop in membership.  Where data exist, membership seemed to fluctuate from the low of 43 to a high of 73 in 2005.  Since 2005, it has fluctuated between 64 and 69.

Dues

From 1975 until 1996, dues were $2.00 for individuals and $3.00 for couples.  In 1996 dues were listed at $3.00.  The first year that those over age 85 were listed as exempt from payment of dues was 2000.  In 2001 dues increased to $5.00 with those over age 85 exempt.

Meeting Place

The first meeting was held at the Salvation Army Community Center.  In 1976, meetings were held at the Colonial Inn at 3909 South IH 35.  In 1983 meetings here held at the South Austin Recreation Center.  Beginning in 1991 meeting location was Dittmar Recreation Center.  In 1995, the chapter began meeting at its current location, South Austin Senior Activity Center at 3911 Manchaca Road.

Officers and Board Members

No records have been found for the years 1978, 1979, 1980, and 1981.

With the exception of the year 2000, when the office of president was vacant, and there were 2 vice-presidents, a full set of officers was elected each year. There is no record of the names of board members for the years 1995, 1998, and 1999.  From 3 to 5 board members are listed for all other years for which records exist.

Community Service Activities

From the beginning of the chapter, members collected and distributed toys, canned goods and other items for those in need, and often volunteered their time for various community activities.  In 1986, the chapter held their first ?Christmas in July? party for people residing in local care centers or nursing homes.  This activity has continued for over 20 years, sometimes under the name of ?Everybody?s Birthday Party? or  ?A Victorian Tea Party.?  In 2001 the number and variety of community service activities increased significantly.  Whether this is a result of better record keeping, or an actual increase is unknown.

Programs

The one program that has occurred every year for which there are records is the December luncheon or potluck. Amazingly for the over 20 years for which there are records, an average of 10.62 programs per year were provided!  The predominant reason for not having a program was that the speaker cancelled or didn?t show up.  There have been no speaker cancellations since 2000.  The programs have been varied and fall into the following broad categories:

Information about Austin/Texas/History:  51

Entertainment: 39

Health/Fitness: 38

Safety/Crime Control for seniors: 28

Travel/Self-Improvement: 25

Services for Aging Adults: 22

Finances: 15

Legislation: 15

AARP Initiatives: 12

End of Life Issues: 12

Volunteering: 10

Youth/Education: 9

Financial Records

We found financial records for only 5 of the first 10 years of the chapter?s organization.  Beginning in 1983, treasury balances for each year were found.  The following table shows the average balance in the chapter treasury from 1975 to the present.

The lowest recorded balance of $51.60 occurred in 2000.

The highest recorded balance of $1200.21 occurred in 2008.

The first year the balance in the treasury exceeded $500 was 2001.

The first year the balance in the treasury exceeded $1000 was 2004.

Charitable Contributions from the Treasury

The first recorded charitable contributions from the treasury were made in 1983.  From 1983 until 2008, a total of $2842.54 in contributions was made from the chapter treasury.  Some consistent contributions were:

In 1996, the first contribution of $50 to the Fan Drive for the Elderly occurred.  Since 2000, the Chapter has made an annual contribution of $50 to the Fan Drive for the Elderly.

In 1997, the first contributions of $50 each were made to Blue Santa and Brown Santa.  Beginning in 1999, with the exception of 2003, $50 each has been contributed annually to Blue Santa and Brown Santa. 

The first contribution to the Capital Area Food Bank was made in 2001.  Contributions to the Food Bank were made in 2006, 2007, & 2008.

Fund Raisers

The first recorded fundraiser was in 1993 when a bake sale was held.  Proceeds were  $100.

In 1998 a Pass the Hat Fund Raiser was held for a memorial to the Senior Food Program in memory of Frances Dungan.  Proceeds were $230.

In 2002 a fundraiser was held to benefit Faith United Methodist Church program for multidisabled, deaf persons.  Proceeds were not recorded.

In 2003 a book sale was held.  Proceeds were not recorded.

In 2008 the Chapter held a raffle of prizes contributed by members.  Net proceeds were $708.42.

Andrus Award Nominees

The AARP Andrus Award is named in honor of Dr. Ethel Percy Andrus, who founded AARP. Dr. Andrus was a dynamic woman who recognized the value of older people. Her pioneering efforts to enrich and improve the quality of life for older Americans have prompted millions to emulate her philosophy: To serve, not to be served.

Records show that the chapter nominated individuals for the Andrus Award three times:

2002:  Eloise Harriss-Teas and Barney Fero

2003:  Bill Althenn and Ray Vaughn

2008:  Pat Thomas and Ray Vaughn

AARP Community Service Award Nominees

This award honors the service of an individual chapter member who has contributed to the chapter?s overall success in their community.

Records show the following nominations:

1987:  Vernon McGee

1994:  John Conrado and Bill Althenn

2000:  John Conrado (Southern Region Winner)

2004: Prissy Phillips

2006: Ray Vaughn

2007: Pat Thomas

2008: Ed Gonzales and Margaret Rightmire

Other Awards Noted in records

In 1995 Flossie John received the Senior Volunteer Award

In 1998 John Conrado received an RSVP Award

In 2000 Bette Morgan received an RSVP Award

Volunteer Hours

Records of the hours members volunteered for AARP and the community began in 1992.  Except for 2004, when no records were found, volunteer hours reported by chapter members totaled an amazing 40,799.75!

The average number of volunteer hours reported for the years 1992-1999 was 1352.75

The average number of volunteer hours reported for the years 2000-2008 was 3747.28

The lowest number of volunteer hours reported was in 1995 with 921 hours reported.

The highest number of volunteer hours reported was in 2005 with 4558 hours reported.