BOUNTIFUL — The South Davis Chapter of the American Association of Retired People (AARP) recently celebrated its 30th anniversary during its monthly meeting at the Golden Years Senior Center in Bountiful. County and State officials from the AARP presented the chapter with a plaque commemorating the event.

The AARP was established as a nonprofit organization aimed at helping individuals 50 years and older improve and enjoy their lives to the fullest. Members of the AARP enjoy travel discounts, meal discounts at restaurants, entertainment discounts, as well as myriad other discounted rates on various items and services.

The AARP also provides members with helpful hints and classes on how to improve health, relationships, manage money, improve personal growth, and home and garden tips. The South Davis Chapter of the AARP focuses its meetings on how members can educate and become better informed about the world and community they live in. These meetings specifically focus on social, moral, economic and political issues the majority of the time.

The South Davis Chapter of the AARP invites speakers to come and meet with the group the third Tuesday of every month at the Golden Years Senior Center at 12:30 p.m. These speakers are typically prominent leaders in the community who vary in vocation and frequently include members of opposing political views. The Chapter President, Devirl Stewart, commented: “We have interesting meetings, and every once in a while we’ll have someone get in a fight with the speaker.” The South Davis Chapter consists of people from all walks of life and expertise which encourages in-depth conversations with the speakers where there is hardly a dull moment.

Stewart, stated that the challenge of being the Chapter President comes in getting people to attend the meetings, which usually includes about 30 members. But the rewards are worth the effort, according to Stewart. He said the presentations and getting to know the speakers that he wouldn’t normally get to meet and talk with have been a joy and have helped his chapter learn and grow.