Although the St. John Chapter of AARP of the Virgin Islands got its start 23 years ago, it only became official 20 years ago. To celebrate, about 25 members gathered at Nazareth Lutheran Church Thursday.
“The fact that the St. John chapter has been around for 20 years is definitely a great milestone,” said Sherilyn Pogson, the senior operations specialist at the AARP of the Virgin Islands headquarters in St. Croix.
Pogson lauded the members for their community outreach efforts and said they set the St. John chapter apart from other chapters.
When this chapter organized, Kortwright Worrell served as its first president. Sam Morch was vice-president, Elaine Sprauve the secretary and Florecia George the treasurer.
Worrell was at the meeting but his deafness prevented him from speaking. Other past presidents did have a few words for the members.
Madeline Sewer said that when hurricanes hit, AARP members volunteered with the American Red Cross to help their fellow St. John residents.
Yvonne Wells called her presidency a good experience. She said she was newly retired from her job with the local government and her post as president opened many doors for her.
Oswin Sewer said he was just 50, the usual age to join AARP, when he became president.
“It seemed like everyone was my mom’s age,” he said.
Sally Browne said the organization had better funding during her presidency so she was able to travel to Atlanta and Washington, D.C.
Beverly Biziewski is the current president. She’s served six years and said she’s supposed to step down after that long a period of service. However, no one has agreed to take over as president for the next year, so members will take turns leading the meetings.
Biziewski and member Margie Labrenz entertained the group with a rousing rendition of “Toot, Toot, Toot.” The song, written in 2005 by St. John resident Chris Clark to the tune of “Jingle Bells,” pokes fun at the trek many St. John residents make to St. Thomas to go shopping.
“Oh what fun it is to back onto the barge,” they sang, referring to the mode of transportation many residents use to get to St. Thomas.
From there, it’s on to Tutu Park Mall, shopping for Christmas presents and back home to St. John.
Biziewski said she once sang this song in earshot of tourists, who were totally puzzled by the words.
“It’s a song you really have to live here to understand,” she said.
