President’s Message
Cool weather has arrived and houses are being decorated for Halloween. While we get ready for the upcoming holiday season, let us not forget the less fortunate.
Our November 3 Election Day BBQ will be here soon, and by now you have received your tickets. Be sure to buy your dinner(s) and sell any extra tickets to your friends and neighbors. Not only do you get a night off from cooking, but all profit will be given to various charities/non-profit organizations, either before or at our December potluck luncheon.
The slate of new officers/directors will be presented at the next meeting. The nominating committee has come up with an excellent board. The election will take place at the November meeting.
I am still looking for someone to completely take over the membership duties. A working knowledge of Excel and the ability to print mailing labels is essential. If interested please contact me.
I want to thank everyone who brought items for the food bank, Sheltering Arms, and school supplies. When I delivered the donations for the food bank, they were extremely happy. The food bank is very low and is cutting back the number of times a month a family can get food. So, please continue to bring items to the meeting, especially with the holidays coming.
Have a good month watching the leaves change and get ready to rake. Also remember that we still need workers and brownie bakers for the BBQ. You can sign up at the October 19 meeting. I hope to see you all there.
Carla Wascalus, President
U.S. Army Women’s Museum Curator
to Speak at October Meeting
by Carolyn Wray, Publicity
The featured speaker at the Monday, October 19, meeting of AARP Chapter 5239 will be Ms. Francoise Bonnell, Curator for the United States Army Women’s Museum in Fort Lee, VA. Ms. Bonnell has a Master’s Degree in History from SUNY Stonybrook. She is retired from the U.S. Army with 22 years service. She has been the Museum Curator for the past three and one-half years. She is also currently teaching history at John Tyler Community College in Chesterfield County, south of Richmond. She was born and raised in California.
Ms. Bonnell is responsible for the museum exhibits, which includes awards and decorations of US women in the military, the archives, films of women, and historical contributions of women in the military. She has also worked in several historical societies and as curator in historical homes, as well as other smaller museums.
The meeting will begin at 9:30 AM at the LOW Clubhouse with sweets and coffee followed by the program at 10 AM. This should be a most interesting and informative program. The U.S. Army Women’s Museum is located at 2100 Adams Avenue, Fort Lee, VA 23801.
Don’t miss this interesting meeting.
Election Day BBQ
by Dwight Mottet, Chief Chicken in Charge
Planning for the November 3 Election Day barbeque is in the final stages. You should have received a letter containing four $9 tickets for our Election Day barbeque. If you have not received your tickets, or if you need additional tickets, please call Jim Moore at 972-9355.
As you probably know, the barbeque is our major fundraiser, supporting our various local charities and community service projects. We intend to sell 800 dinners again this year. Please help by selling the tickets as soon as possible to assist in planning for the event.
Money can be turned in to Jim at the October meeting.
OCTOBER BIRTHDAYS
(Libra and Scorpio)
Charlotte Baker, Rose Bianco, Janet Bloom, Boyd Bowers, Joyce Bowers, Janet Buccola, Judy Carter, Irene Daehnke, Theresa Danoy, Dave Dietz, Sherman Embrey, James Fargo, Richard Fisher, Robert Girman, Chris Grimley, Janet Haase, Lee Anne Hamilton, Gloria Heath, George Lenwell, Marti Martin, Grace McEuen, Nell Meador, Agatha Mucciacciaro, Bernie Palowitch, Thomas Plummer, Bobbie Prees, Ruth Price, Brian Wares, Marti Williams, and Bobbie Gordon
NEW MEMBERS
Welcome to the following new members:
Stephanie G. Sloan, and Darlene Seyler.
SUNSHINE REPORT
Get-well cards were sent to: Roxanne Kessler, Connie Buttimer, Bill Walker, and Bob McFarland.
A sympathy card was sent to Tony & Tina Aris on the death their young grandson
If you know of a member who needs cheering up, contact Carolyn Durphy at 972-3306.
NOTES, BITS AND PIECES
Monthly Silent Auction
We always need new and gently used items for the auctions. Auction items for the October meeting will include a wonderfully collectible 17" doll (NEW) with a display stand from Croatia; a beautiful, handcrafted, mosaic wall mirror (15"x 21");a set of six hand-painted dessert plates, Christmas items and more. Please remember: All bids are made in dollar increments only, no coins (i.e., 25¢, 50¢, or 75¢)
Call Roxanne at 972-8364), Patti at 972-1370 or Carla at 972-3436 for pickup. Any donation will be greatly appreciated.
TRIAD Senior Conference
The Battlefield/Piedmont Regional TRIAD will hold its annual Senior conference on October 22 at the Madison Fire Hall, on Main Street in Madison. The conference will run from 9 AM to 2 PM, with registration starting at 8:30 AM. This free event will highlight talks on mortgage fraud and gangs as these topics relate to Seniors. Four speakers, including Attorney General Bill Mims, will present. Lunch is free and will be provided along with door prizes, give-aways and exhibitor tables.
Pictures Needed
by Nola Davidson, Scrapbook Editor
To keep the Chapter Scrapbook up-to-date, pictures taken on the various AARP trips are needed. If you don't want to share, I will make copies. Just identify the event and the people featured. See me at the meeting, call 972-8403 or email ndavid51691@verizon.net.
Health Care News
by Patti Batten
On September 24, the House voted overwhelmingly to eliminate the monthly premium increase for millions of Medicare patients next year. It voted 406 to 18 to send the bill to the Senate, which is expected to act soon.
A majority of Medicare recipients are already exempt from Part B premiums because a hold-harmless provision kicks in when there is no increase in Social Security. The standard premium for this year is $96.40 and would go to $l04.20 a month in 2010. The Congressional Budget Office projects premiums could go to $119.40. The House bill would eliminate all Part B premiums, using $2.8 billion in other Medicare funding.
Cost Of Doughnut Hole Drugs To Be Cut In Half
Medicare beneficiaries who fall into the Part D coverage gap will pay only 50% of the cost of brand name drugs in the gap instead of 100 % they now pay. Drug Manufacturers agreed to donate half of the cost of their brand name and biologic drugs to people in the gap with no cost to the government as part of the government health care reform that Congress will consider in the fall and could take effect in 2010.
The discounts would exclude people with high incomes (over $85,000 in 2009) who pay income-related part B premiums, and low-income people who qualify for Part D’s extra help benefit and already receive coverage throughout the year, with no gap.
Information in this article taken from the AARP Bulletin today
Legislative Report
by Pat Berry
Did you know…?
The Virginia General Assembly meets annually, beginning on the second Wednesday in January, for 60 days in even-numbered years and for 30 days in odd-numbered years, with an option to extend
annual sessions for a maximum of 30 days. Therefore, legislative news takes on a
rather general tone until the senators and representatives are called back into session. For example, state legislatures around the country are becoming older and more diverse according to new reports. Of the 7,382 men and women who serve in all 50 states, the average age of those lawmakers is 56, with nearly half being between 50 and 64. The number of women has increased from several hundred in 1969 to 1789 today, or 24 percent of all seats. The number of black members has increased from 169 in 1970 to 628 today. Hispanics represent 3 percent of all lawmakers today.
The 140-member Virginia General Assembly is somewhat less diverse. 87 percent of the sitting members are white and 13 percent are black. Men represent 83 percent of the combined state Senate and House delegates. Virginia is also older than the national average, with 62 percent being over 50 years old and 28 percent over 65.
The entire 100-member House of Delegates is up for election this fall, so don’t be surprised when you find yourself being bombarded with electoral information. Also, AARP Virginia and the League of Women Voters will be producing the first announced statewide broadcast gubernatorial debate on October 12. The debate will be moderated by Judy Woodruff and will feature an online component allowing voters to submit their own questions to the candidates. For those of you who are not political junkies, now might be a good time to bring the new Dan Brown adventure home.
