PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
The time has changed and the election is finally over. After another successful Election Day BBQ, everyone will be preparing for Thanksgiving. We have a lot to be thankful for, not the least of which is that our chapter has been named VIRGINIA CHAPTER OF THE YEAR FOR 2008. Our board was able to put together six pages of accomplishments that our chapter did from September 2007 to September 2008. This would not have happened without all the volunteering that our members do. THANK YOU ALL. I will be going to the All Volunteer Awards ceremony on November 19, in Charlottesville. I will tell you all about it later.
I realize that the current economy is hard on all of us, some more than others, but we can be grateful that we live in such a wonderful and caring community. The tough times have not, and will not, prevent our chapter from continuing to give back to the community.
At the November meeting you will vote for your Officers and Directors for 2009. The slate is listed later in the newsletter, but if anyone is interested in holding an office, please contact Carolyn Durphy, Chair of the nominating committee on 972-3306
I want to send a special thank you to Dwight Mottet and his BBQ Captains: Jim Moore, tickets; Joyce and Boyd Bower and Harvey Miller, servers and cooks; and Ruth Hood and Carolyn Wray, publicity for the great job they all did. But of course they could not have done it without your help, whether it was working, baking brownies or just purchasing and selling tickets. Thank you all.
I am looking forward to seeing many of you at the November meeting.
Carla Wascalus, President
Senior Care is Topic of November Meeting
by Carolyn Wray, Publicity, AARP, Chapter 5239
Karl Karch, franchise owner of Home Instead Senior Care will be the speaker at the November 17 meeting of AARP, Chapter 5239. Home Instead is a licensed, home-care organization that employs caregivers to assist older adults by providing non-medical companionship, home-helper and personal care services. His business is to help older adults stay in their homes, wherever they call home, for as long as possible, and it provides respite care for overworked family caregivers.
Passionate about senior issues, Karl speaks often to a variety of local and church groups, civic clubs and other organizations. He also writes senior care articles for a monthly community magazine serving the Fredericksburg area.
The program will be held on Monday, November 17, at the LOW Clubhouse. Sweets and coffee will be served at 9:30 AM, and the program will begin at 10 AM. We encourage you to come and hear another excellent program that is of importance to us. The Program Committee continues to present excellent speakers.
Nominating Committee Report
by Carolyn Durphy, Chairperson,
Committee Members: Hank Lewis, Carolyn Wray, Betty Hughes and Kathleen Bradie
The following slate was presented and accepted by the membership.
President - Carla Wascalus,
Incumbent
Vice President - Dick Martin,
Incumbent
Secretary - Helen Markart,
Incumbent
Treasurer - Linda Wight,
Incumbent
Directors:
Pierre Payette, Newly Nominated
Ruth Hood, Incumbent
Ruby Horvath, Incumbent
Dick Bradie, Newly Nominated
Dwight Mottett, Incumbent
Jim Danoy, Past President (not an elected position)
The election will take place at the November meeting.
Chapter 5239’s Blogby Carla Wascalus
have created a blog/WebPage (it is a blog because it’s free and easy to create) for our chapter. I hope that those of you with Internet access will check it out. I will update it during the month as items of interest come up. We will still send out email notices and continue to publish the Perspectives. I will include portions of the Perspectives in the blog so you can refer to it during the month in case you misplace your copy. Also included are links to various AARP WebPages as well as other links that I think will be of interest to you. If anyone has suggestions for the blog, please let me know. This is really your blog. Please bookmark it or add it to your favorites. The address is: www.locustgroveaarp.blogspot.com
WANTED
Refreshment Committee People
Do you like having coffee and sweets at the meetings. If so, then volunteer to be on the Refreshment Committee. We are looking for two to four good people to take over in January. The main duties are getting to the meeting site early and making and setting out the coffee and the sweets that are brought by the members. Contact the Bradies at 308-5507 for more information or to volunteer.
NEW MEMBERS
Welcome to the following new members:
Shelley Gravel, Judith T. McAnn, Brian and Laurie Wares
BIRTHDAYS FOR NOVEMBER( Scorpio and Sagittarius)
Charlotte Banas—William Bauer
Dante Binotto—Dick Bradie
Ellie Brown—Laurel Buongiovanni
Tony Brown—Marilyn Buttimer
Pat Cassese—Joe Davidson
Carol Dionne—Edith Fulton
William Grogan—Mary Hudak
Don Larsen—Helen Markart
Richard Martin—Joe Sauro
Darrow Strain—Ken Tillman,
Laurie Wares—Carla Wascalus,
Elizabeth Wiley—Karen Woods
SUNSHINE REPORTTo paraphrase Dean Martin, we send cards, lots and lots of cards, at least we want to. If you know someone who has lost a loved one, had an operation, has been injured, sick, down with a bad case of the flu, or just needs cheering up, contact Carolyn Durphy at 972-3436 or Helen Markart at 972-2672.
Get Well cards were sent to: John Campbell, Delma Roessler, Jane Tobin and Bob Pfile.
Sympathy cards went to: Bonnie Boelke and Dante Binotto
NOTES BITS AND PIECES
AARP Driver Safety Course
by Bob Sherba, LOW Lions
The LOW Lions are again sponsoring AARP’s Driver Safety Program on November 13-14. This program is a refresher course designed for older drivers. The course takes into consideration physical changes, such as diminished vision and hearing and slowing reaction times, which occur as we age, and points out ways to compensate for these changes.
The two-day course will be held in the Holcomb Building Conference Room from 9 AM to 1 PM each day. The cost is $10 per person. Persons completing the course are eligible for a discount on their auto liability insurance. This discount is good for three years; therefore, the course should be retaken at the end of that time in order for the discount to continue. For reservations, call Bob at 972-0783 or Al at 972-9938.
AARP Tax-Aide Program Seeks Volunteers for 2009by George Duffy, LOW Coordinator,
AARP Tax-Aide Program
The AARP Tax-Aide program is gearing up for another tax season. This program provides free income tax preparation for low- and middle-income individuals/families. Are you a computer literate, attentive-to-detail individual who is interested in giving back to the community? We will be conducting a five-day training program for new counselors in December. If you are interested in volunteering or just would like more information, contact George Duffy at 972-8109.
Shredder Eventby Dick Bradie, TRIAD
Stack up all those old documents that have cluttered up your homes for so long. The Locust Grove Committee of the Orange County TRIAD is sponsoring a Shredder Event from 11 AM to 2 PM on November 22, Clubhouse lower level parking. Proshred, a northern Virginia firm, conducts free shredding as a community service. They will be here with a truck (where the actual shredding takes place) and a van with bins to cart the documents to the truck. This is free, and folks can drop off their documents and leave or they can park and watch the shredding operation.
Donations will be accepted and any proceeds will go to TRIAD for the purchase of products for seniors, i.e, Motion Detector Night Lights, Power Failure Flash Lights etc. Plastic bags and cardboard boxes are not digestible by the shredder, so they need to be emptied when you arrive and you can take the bags/boxes home to store more detritus. Credit cards and CDs are allowed to satisfy the hunger of the shredder. Paper clips and staples are also OK. Traffic control will be accomplished by TRIAD volunteers and members of the LOW Vet’s Club.
LOW Crafter's Schedule Big Bazaar/ Bake Sale November 15by Rosemary Walker
Come to The LOW Church on Saturday, November 15 from 8 AM to 1 PM to view craft items for sale.
TRIPS AND TOURS
Southern Holiday Festival of Shows—Bus tour to Myrtle Beach, December 1-4. $405 pp/double occupancy. Four days/three nights; includes three Christmas shows, including Le Grande Cirque; backstage tour of the Alabama Theater; tour of Charlestown, SC; wine tasting. Info: Ruby at 727-7579.
Mediterranean Cruise—July 3-15, 2009. From $4156 pp/double occupancy. Price includes Round-trip airfare from Dulles, 12-day cruise on the Ruby Princess from Venice to Barcelona via Athens, Istanbul, Mykonos, Naples, Capri, Rome, Florence, Pisa and Barcelona. Info: Ruby at 727-7579.
Coming in 2010: Oberammergau Passion Play; Tour of Germany and Austria. $2,759 pp/double occupancy (plus airfare) Info: Ruby at 727-7579.
Other tours offered to AARP members by outside groups:
One day on your own in New York City, Saturday, November 22, $99 pp. Bus leaves F’burg 4 AM, arrives NYC approx. 10:30 AM; leaves NYC promptly at 7:30PM, back in F’burg approx. 12:30 AM Info: Carol Zacheis at 972-6945 or cell 540-848-5305
Alaska Discovery Cruise Tour August 16-28, 2009. Twelve-nights Holland America Line. Cabin prices from $3,748 to $6,078. Price includes: round trip air from Dulles to Anchorage and back from Vancouver, 3-day, 2-night stay in Anchorage allowing tour of city, visit to Alaska Native Heritage Center; a 2-night experience in Denali National Park, Tundra Wilderness Tour. Info: Skip Poole at 972-7354
Highlights of October 20, 2008Regular Meeting
Dr. Rebecca Bigoney Board Certified Internist and Collaborating Physician/Senior Care Services Department Mary Washington Hospital gave a talk regarding Prevention Services Recommended for People age 65 and older. It was very informative for the audience that was present.
The Rappahannock Regional Library in Fredericksburg is developing programs for seniors.
President Wascalus announced that our Chapter was named AARP Chapter of the year. She and her husband will be attending a banquet in Charlottesville November 16 to receive the honor for the chapter.
Carolyn Durphy announced the new slate of candidates for 2009.
Dwight Mottet said he had enough workers for the Chicken Bar BQ and enough brownie bakers.
The Driving Course for seniors will be presented November 13 and 14.
The 50/50 was won by Bob Johnson – $74.50.
Articles Needed for Charitable Causes
Rosemary is still collecting used & unused Christmas and all occasion cards; coupons for education, such as Betty Crocker, Pillsbury, and Campbell's soup labels. Rosemary is also looking for fishing rods for the veterans at the Perry Point Veteran's Hospital in MD.
Betty Hughes needs the following items for the OC Animal Shelter: towels, blankets, canned cat and dog food and kitty litter. She will also be collecting eyeglasses for the Lions Recycling Center
Items for Sheltering Arms and donations for the Food Bank can also be brought to the meeting. The Food Bank is asking for boxes of “Helpers”—hamburger, tuna and chicken.
A special thank you goes to all those who save these items for charity.
