Happy New Year!
It has been a very successful year for our chapter, and I am looking forward to another great year. We ended the year with 441 members, and I hope that all of you will renew so that we can continue to grow.
It is that time of year to renew your dues. The dues are now $7 per person; this is the first dues increase in the 10-year history of the chapter. The dues barely cover the cost of printing and mailing the newsletter. In addition, we have Insurance that we are required to purchase, and the June picnic and the December potluck cost over $500. Please look at the budget carefully to see what we have spent this year. In reality you get your money back.
I am very pleased to announce that Gil and Lucille Churchill and Alice Grgas have volunteered to take over the refreshment committee from Kathleen and
At the December meeting I presented certificates of appreciation to our many wonderful volunteers. Some of you were not there, so I will bring them to the January meeting. A list of names appears later in this newsletter.
I am now in need of one or two people to be the Legislative and/or Medical Chairperson. If you are interested, please contact me. Patti Batten, who has been chairperson for the past several years, will gladly explain what it involves and will help. I do need a name by the end of January to send into AARP
Please note that the January 19 meeting will be held at the Community Center because the Clubhouse is closed. Keep warm while I am in
Carla Wascalus, President
AARP Chapter 5239
Funds Distributed in 2008
Through your volunteer efforts at our fund raising events this past year, we were able to give $5874 to 13 different organizations.
LOW Fire & Rescue $1100
Project Lifesaver - TRIAD 300
AARP Foundation 250
Culpeper Safe House 250
Sheltering Arms in
Friends of the Wilderness Battlefield 200
Orange Senior Nutrition Center 500
Lions Wilderness Food Bank 1000
Orange County 4H 195
Orange
LOW Fun Bunch (Senior Group) 100
Graffiti House 250
$5874
Lee Frame, OC District 5 BOS Rep,
to Speak in January
by
Lee Frame, Board of Supervisors representative for District 5, will be the guest speaker at the January 19 meeting at the
Lee has been active in many
Sweets and coffee will be served at 9:30 AM and the meeting will begin at 10 AM. This should be a very inform-ative and interesting meeting. We hope to see you at the first meeting of the New Year. Remember, the meeting will be at the Community Center since the Clubhouse will be closed.
(Capricorn and Aquarius)
Joan Albertella, Billy Bearden, Ed Brown, Chris Burr, Katherine Causby, William Charest, Don Crawley, Alberta Diamondstein, Joan Duy, Rosalind Gantz, Gay Grant, Carol Hein, Marie Johnson, Marguerite Jones, Karen Kovarik, Angelo Laviano, Nancy Leslie, Leonard Maselli, Judith McCann, Jim Moore, Toby Musatow, Olga Patnode, Dick Phillipo, Sandra Plummer, Skip Poole, Harry Sandford, Frances Settlemire, Elaine Spencer, Joseph Spero, Richard Stephens, Bill Walker, Bill Wemmerus, Carolyn Wright, Lucille Yery, Carol Zacheis
NEW MEMBERS
Welcome to the following new member: Mary L. Hensel
SUNSHINE REPORT
Get-well cards were sent to: Don Crawley, Frank Jacobeen, and Bob Sherba.
If you know of a member who needs cheering up, contact Carolyn Durphy at 972-3306.
Would you like to come to the monthly meeting, but can’t drive? Call Woods Cares, and they will find someone who will be happy to pick you up and take you home.
Legislative Update
by Patti Batten
AARP Virginia celebrates General Assembly successes in 2008. Virginians 50+ will benefit from AARP Virginia supported legislation enacted during the 2008 General Assembly session including:
Coordination of long-term care services
Strengthening safeguards against identity theft
Expanding utility-rate setting oversight
Authorization of a study to support systems for family caregivers
Transportation was a big topic last year. A special session was wrapped up after meeting only 6 days with nothing accomplished.
On the national level, a 15-member National Commission on Surface Transportation infrastructure financing is the second group in a year to call for increasing the federal gas tax by 10 cents a gallon and the diesel tax by about 12 to 15 cents a gallon to help pay for the upkeep of roads. The commission will also recommend that states raise their fuel tax rates and make greater use of toll roads and fees for rush hour driving.
Healthcare reform will also be on the agenda for the new administration in
We are seeing more and more physicians’ offices refusing to accept insurances and/or not accepting new Medicare patients.
The new President and Congress have promised to address healthcare reform early in their first year. Your committee will be looking forward to keeping us informed of these issues that concern all of us, and report to you in future articles.
TRIPS AND TOURS
Newseum Tour—February 11, 2009. $58 includes round-trip trans-portation and admission to Newseum. Motorcoach leaves LL parking lot at 9 AM; returns at 5 PM. Seven levels of galleries, 15 theaters, Wolfgang Puck restaurant and food court. Come experience how news is made and relive the unforgettable moments in history.
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
Coming in 2010:
Other tours offered to AARP members by outside groups: Occupancy: Inside $658, Ocean view $828, Balcony $978; plus $9 fuel supplement/day/pe
Six-day Norfolk to Bahamas Cruise on Carnival, May 31. 6 days. Double
rson. Enjoy pristine beaches and international shopping in
Notes, Bits and Pieces
Certificates of Appreciation
(To be picked up at the January meeting):
John Campbell, Trish Campbell,
Membership Renewal Now Due Please note that if you joined for the first time from September to December of 2008, your 2009 dues are paid. Also, several people paid twice last year, so they do not owe 2009 dues. Check with Linda Wight. You may pay your $7 dues at the January meeting or mail a check made payable to “AARP Chapter 5239” to AARP 5239,
Articles Needed for
Charitable Causes
Betty Hughes needs the following items for the OC Animal Shelter: towels, blankets, canned cat and dog food and kitty litter. Betty is also collecting eye glasses for the Lions eye glass recycling program.
Items for Sheltering Arms and donations for the Food Bank can also be brought to the meeting.
A special thank you goes to all those who save these items for charity.
Highlights
The elf members of the club arrived early this morning and worked magic. When the attendees arrived, the tables were set in the Community Center, the decorations were neatly in place, and all had happy faces.
The potluck meal was delicious and, as much as we tried, we could not finish all of it. Kathleen and Dick Bradie were the Chief Elves in charge. Ralph Scheuermann played the accordion during dinner and everyone appreciated his entertainment.
The increase in dues to $7 was announced by President Wascalus, and she explained the reasons for it.
The new Board Members were installed by Past President
President Carla announced to whom charitable donations were made this year and distributed 45 certificates to various members.
The 50/50 was won by Roxanne Kessler
Next Meeting Will Be At Community Center-
Happy New Year!
