Montano: Celebrating Leadership and Service At The Volunteer Summit

AARP Wyoming Photo

AARP Wyoming’s 2025 Volunteer Leadership Summit was a time of learning, celebration, and inspiration as volunteers from across the state came together to prepare for another impactful year of service. The summit focused on leadership development; new training opportunities, including numerous hands-on experiences with AI; and the exciting volunteer initiatives planned for 2026. One of the most meaningful moments of the event was the presentation of the 2025 Andrus Award for Community Service, AARP’s most prestigious volunteer recognition. This award honors individuals who embody the spirit of AARP’s founder, Dr. Ethel Percy Andrus, whose motto, “To serve, not to be served,” continues to guide our mission to uplift and enrich communities across the state and nation.

This year’s Andrus Award winner was Carla Crayton, whose dedication and leadership have made a lasting difference in her community. We also proudly recognized two outstanding nominees, Tim Sheppard and Charlie Simineo, whose commitment to volunteerism reflects the best of AARP’s values and purpose.

In addition to the individual awards, we celebrated the Wyoming Community Service Partner of the Year, presented to the Sheridan YMCA. The Sheridan YMCA has been a steadfast partner in community engagement, hosting the Sheridan Community Action Team’s Community Shredding Machine – a resource that helps residents safely dispose of documents containing personal information. The YMCA also welcomes AARP’s Walking Group, which meets twice a week, providing free and inclusive opportunities for community members to stay active and connected. Next year, it will serve as the site of our six in-person fraud prevention trainings with Officer Liz Shafer. Over the years, the YMCA has also served as a Souper Bowl food drive drop-off site, supporting local hunger relief efforts.

This year, we were honored to welcome Bob Stephen and Monica DuBois from AARP National, who support AARP’s National Caregiver Program. Caregiving remains one of AARP’s primary areas of focus. AARP Wyoming has created a Caregiver DIY Training Kit designed for communities to use in supporting caregivers and their families. The Sheridan community’s caregiver series, launched in 2023, served as the model for this training kit, which is now shared statewide and nationally. You can download it at aarp.org/caregivingWY

In keeping with this focus, we also recognize the importance of Wyoming’s 211 Caregiver Help Line – a valuable information and referral resource that allows caregivers to connect directly with a live person to find guidance and support within their community. Just dial 2-1-1. Thirty states support this program, and AARP is a partner.

The 2025 Leadership Summit at the Ranch at UCross was a great success, combining learning, recognition, fun, and community connection in a setting that truly reflected the spirit of AARP’s service and leadership. If you’re interested in learning more about becoming an AARP Wyoming volunteer, please contact me at smontano@aarp.org