President’s Message
We are ending January with our first, and I hope last, snow of the year, but it was nice not to have to leave the house for a day. I am so pleased that we had such a huge turnout for our first program of the year. I believe the topic (Wal-Mart) was the big draw, but I hope that you will continue to support our programs. They won’t all be as controversial, but they will be interesting. We have a new program committee that is working very hard to bring us a variety of programs.
I am pleased to report that, as of this letter, we have 190 paid members. That is less than half of our ending numbers, but a very good start. Please remember to send your dues of $7 each to AARP Chapter 5239, P.O. Box 945, Locust Grove, VA 22508 or pay at the February 16 meeting.
Starting in February we will be sponsoring Frank Walker’s Orange County History lecture series based on portions of his book Remembering: A History of Orange County, Virginia. In order for this to be successful, I will need volunteers to help make coffee, set up chairs, the projector, and screen for Frank’s Power Point slides. There will be five lectures on Saturday mornings at 10 AM-Noon (set up probably around 9 AM). If you are available to help, even for just one Saturday, that would be great. I figure at least four or five people would do the job nicely. The lectures will be in the lower level of the Clubhouse. If you have not attended this series and plan to, then committing yourself to help will insure you attend. Please call me for more information or to volunteer. Even if you don’t volunteer please support the Chapter by coming to the lecture series, as I know you will learn a lot.
I am also please to announce that Patricia Berry has agreed to be our Legislative Chair and Patty Batten will continue as Medical Chair.
Have a loving Valentine’s Day, and don’t eat too much chocolate.
Carla Wascalus, President
Managing Stress for Seniors
by Carolyn Wray, Publicity
The February 16 meeting of AARP Chapter 5239 features Joan Vernikos, Ph.D., author of the G‑Connection: Harness Gravity and Reverse Aging and of Stress Fitness for Seniors, as the guest speaker. Joan is the former Director of Life Sciences at NASA. She is a very popular, much invited keynote speaker and after-dinner speaker. A pharmacologist, she held academic appointments and taught medical students at Ohio State, Wright State and Stanford Universities. Her research focused on the management of stress and coping. She was the leader of the ground research that developed the framework for under-standing how spaceflight and earth’s gravity affect men and women. She has published over 200 scientific publications, and her work has been recognized with numerous awards. This should be a very informative program.
The AARP meeting will be back at the LOW Clubhouse on February 16. Sweets and coffee will be served at 9:30 AM and the meeting will begin at 10 AM.
Free Income Tax Assistance
by Donna Jackson, LOW Coordinator,
AARP Tax Aide Program
Free Tax preparation and e-filing through the AARP Tax-Aide Program will be available beginning in February and continuing through April 11. LOW volunteers work in the Conference Room of the Holcomb Building. Appointments are avail-able on Fridays from 10 AM to 2 PM and on Saturdays from 9 AM to 2 PM.
Requirements include: Social Security card(s) or appropriate alternative(s), and official ID with picture, ALL W-2 and 1099 forms, other tax-related material, and a copy of your 2007 tax return. Call Joan Duy at 972-0350 for an appointment.
Mini White Elephant
At our regular monthly AARP meetings we will begin having Mini-White Elephant Silent Auctions. The success of these will depend on you, the AARP members, who will be both donators and buyers. We ask you to please go through your cabinets and storage closets and select gently used, nice treasures that you no longer use or really want and give them to this project. We can start collecting at the February meeting and begin the auctions in March.
Roxanne Kessler at -8364 and Carla Wascalus at -3436 will accept your donations. We will pick them up or you may bring them to the AARP meetings. Items and bid sheets will be on display during the social part of the meetings. Winning bids will be announced at the end of the meetings and you may then pay and take your new treasure home with you.
Legislative News:
Some of AARP Virginia’s 2009
General Assembly Priorities
· Protecting elderly from financial exploitation—AARP supports legislation to require mandatory reporting of suspected financial exploitation of frail and elderly when there is suspicion of these incidents in financial institutions.
· Health care initiatives addressing the nursing shortage—Presently, there is a serious nursing shortage in Virginia. According to the Governor’s Health Care Reform Commission, by 2020, there will be 23,000 fewer nurses than is needed in Virginia. Applicants for nursing schools are being turned away because of a lack of nursing educators. AARP supports legislation to increase the number of nurse educators in Virginia.
· Funding the Virginia Caregiver Grant Program—AARP Virginia has advocated the funding of the Caregiver Grant Program, which offers up to $500 to caregivers of Medicaid-eligible Virginians who need this care. AARP supports returning $500,000 to the Caregiver Grant Program in the 2009 budget.
· Public policy to coordinate, improve mobility for seniors across Virginia, and promote safety for mature drivers. AARP supports legislation to make on-line driver safety programs eligible for auto insurance discounts.
· Long Term Care Reform—According to AARP research, more than 80 % of Virginians want to remain in their own homes for as long as possible. However, Virginia spends 77 percent of its Medicaid dollars for nursing home care and just 23 percent for home- and community-based services. AARP will ask the General Assembly’s Joint Commission on Health Care to study how Virginia can re-balance the state’s long term care spending.
BIRTHDAYS FOR FEBRUARY
(Aquarius and Pisces)
Roger Anderson, Samuel Belinsky,
Helen Berra, Kathleen Bradford,
Kathleen Bradie, Mike Clune,
James Davis, Jeannie Dietz,
Jack Doherty, Leo Estrella,
Irving Grimes, Benjamin Jason,
Ed Kessler, Lincoln Klabo,
Norma Lanier, Jeanne Larsen,
Barbara Rakes,Robert Ridpath,
Nancy Sandleitner,
Bob Schafer, Barbara Scott,
Peggy Simpson, Alton Smith,
Joann Strawhun, Micky Talbott,
Clair Wescott, Sara Wilks,
Russell Williams, Patricia Witmer,
Jody Zogran
NEW MEMBERS
Welcome to the following new members:
Sheila Clark, Bob McFarland,
Patricia H. Witmer,
and Nancy C. Downie
SUNSHINE REPORT
Get-well cards were sent to: Joan Albertella, both Ruth & George Lenwell, Kathleen Martin, Marilyn Buttimer, and Bill Walker.
Sympathy cards went to the Don Crawley Family on his death, and to Helen Markart on the death of her sister-in-law.
If you know of a member who needs cheering up, contact Carolyn Durphy at 972-3306.
TRIPS AND TOURS
Newseum Tour—February 11. Last call for this informational trip. $58 pp includes admission to Newseum and round-trip transportation. Motorcoach leaves LL Clubhouse 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. Info: June at 972-2409
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:
Six-day Norfolk to Bahamas Cruise on Carnival, May 31. 6 days. Double Occupancy: Inside $658, Ocean view $828, Balcony $978; plus $9 fuel supplement/ day/person. Enjoy pristine beaches and international shopping in Nassau, Freeport. Info: Bob Johnson at 972-4358.
Alaska Discovery Cruise Tour August 16-28, 2009. Twelve nights on 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
