Members of the WashingtonWilkes Chapter AARP met Monday, March 13, at the Wilkes County Senior Citizens Center.

Members received copies of the Chapter's Census and Activities Report for 2005. Chapter membership was reported as 36 members. Members contributed 537 volunteer hours in Chapter-sponsored community service in 2005. The most popular community service project was Nursing Home Support.

The Chapter sponsored three educational meetings on Medicare Part D with 76 people attending. Other programs sponsored by the Chapter were Health and Wellness, Independent Living, In Home, Living Wills and Advance Directives. Members assisted the local Lions Club by collecting and contributing used eyeglasses for Lions International and members participated in Advocacy/ Legislative in support of issues important to all senior citizens.

Wilkes Chapter members have started out the year 2006 by making and sending 300 Valentines for Veterans to the Veterans Hospital in Augusta for patients in the Hospice Unit. In February the Chapter sponsored an AARP Safe Driving Course for the community with a full class of 32 completing the course.

Chapter members voted to support the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life to be held on May 5. Materials were distributed and plans made for fundraisers. Since many members are already on other teams, the group will support the Senior Center Team and other teams already formed.

The next meeting will be April 10 at 2 p.m. at the Senior Center. All members of the National AARP are invited to become members of the Wilkes County Chapter.