RSVP announces 2013 leadershipThe Executive Board of the Nevada Alliance for Retired Americans held its first quarterly meeting for 2013 in Carson City. The officers are: Scott Watts, president, Linda Hooper, recording secretary and Jo Etta Brown, treasurer. There are 16 Executive Board members from Northern and Southern Nevada and 25 chapters. The Nevada Alliance for Retired Americans has a membership of over 17,000 and is a member of the National Alliance for Retired Americans. There are over 3 million members representing 39 states. Discussion centered on the threats to Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid, which have received national priority by the Alliance. Our message is simple: No cuts to Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security. This message resonates in the Alliances’ campaign for Lobby Week held from Feb. 18 through Feb. 22. Members of the Alliance nationwide will be making appointments with their respective members of Congress. The theme for senior issues is “Let’s Not be the Last Generation to Retire”.At the state level, the Nevada Alliance for Retired Americans will work closely with state senators and Assembly members regarding senior issues, with a focus on protecting Medicaid. Without this program, large numbers of Nevada seniors would face the possibility of not having any medical services.Retirees and workers must remain vigilant against long-standing threats to seniors’ health care and economic security. Our economic problems are not caused by Social Security, Medicare or Medicaid benefits. Social Security has not added one dime to the deficit. There are many challenges for retirees in 2013, and by being focused and working together we can protect what we have worked so hard for, and make certain that future generations have a viable Social Security program.Thank you for tremendous holiday supportRon Wood Family Resource Center would like to thank the businesses and community for their generosity during the 2012 holiday season! Donations to support youth and families that suffer from food insecurity amounted to 79,792 pounds of food through December 2012.Ron Wood also serves as the Toys for Tots distribution center for our community. We were able to serve approximately 4,100 disadvantaged children in 2012.The outpouring of support from our beautiful community is amazing! The center appreciates every can of food, every toy, every volunteer and every dollar we receive. Serving our community is our pleasure and we would like to extend our gratitude to one and all!Joyce BuckinghamExecutive Director Ron Wood Family Resource CenterChristmas Gift Wrap was a successThe Rainbow Girls of Carson City would like to thank this community for the support of our annual Christmas Gift Wrap. For more than 20 years, Carson Assembly #7 Order of the Rainbow for Girls has wrapped presents in the Carson Mall. It has always felt like a service to our community and because of the generous donations we receive, is also our biggest fundraiser of the year! We extend our deepest gratitude to the management of the Carson Mall for continuing to find a space for us year after year. Thank you to all of the people who seek us out at our gift wrap booth as part of their Christmas tradition. Rainbow Girls are young women between the ages of 11 and 20 who are learning leadership skills and the value of service. Thank you for giving them this opportunity to serve you. See you next year at the Carson Mall.Susan HoffmanCarson City