AARP Speakers Bureau – Suba Saty
(Mar. 28, 2018) Catherine Read speaks with Suba Saty, facilitator for the AARP Speakers Bureau in Northern Virginia. The Speaker’s Bureau is a wonderful benefit for AARP members, as the discussion topics are wide and varied, and provide a rich resource of information. Saty is in charge of finding speakers and matching them with organizations and programs in the community.
Presentation topics include everything from understanding Social Security and Medicare, to the 5 Pillars of Brain Health, to Protecting Yourself from Identity Theft. The AARP website offers a full listing of upcoming talks, along with locations and registration information. AARP has recently forged a partnership with the Osher Lifelong Learning Center (OLLI), which is a part of George Mason University. Other speaking engagements take place at community centers throughout Northern Virginia, as well as in churches, synagogues and mosques. Anyone can request a speaker, but Saty notes that due to high demand they normally schedule engagements about 3-4 months out in the future. Speakers are also available to participate on panels for local conferences.
The Bureau is always looking for qualified volunteer speakers. If you have a specific expertise and are interested in getting involved, you can apply online to be vetted through the state office of AARP in Richmond. Once the application process is complete, the local Fairfax Bureau can be in touch to talk about how you can lend your specialized knowledge to local members.
In addition to the speaker series, AARP also has other local programming available to members. The driver safety course is given throughout the year, and can result in a small discount on car insurance premiums. AARP also offers year-round Tax Aid advice free of charge, and a Voter Engagement Program.
Several times throughout the year AARP will sponsor academies at local community centers, where there will be an entire day of programming featuring multiple topics. In June there will be a mini-academy at Walter Reed Community Center in Arlington and on September 8th the OLLI institute will host an all day seminar. Please visit the website for more details and registration information. You can also signup to get newsletters and email updates. You can also find AARP Virginia on Facebook and Twitter (@AARPVa)