May Blooms With Volunteer Opportunities
May is blossoming with all kinds of projects and activities that demand the full participation of our AARP Chapter 5239 membership to truly succeed. For example:
· Monthly meeting “setup/takedown” crews—We goofed at the April 19 meeting. We have promised the Clubhouse we would return the Ballroom and President Room that we use for our meetings to exactly how we found them. Well, through a combination of missteps and oversights, we didn’t. We’ve got to plan and make advance arrangements so this doesn’t happen again—or we could well lose our Clubhouse meeting privileges.
The obvious first step is to create a group of volunteers to be at the Clubhouse by 8:30 AM the morning of the monthly meeting, to set up the necessary chairs and tables, and then return them all to storage after the meeting. The work isn’t too hard and demanding; it just needs member commitment and consistency.
Bill Walker is our Meeting Committee Chairman (972-1375 phone or email wowrewLOW@AOL.com). Sign up with Bill for the months you can help. It doesn’t have to be every month, just the months you think you’ll be free—once a quarter, twice a year, whatever. If we can get 6-8 volunteers each month, we’ll be on our way to solving this problem. Please help. Don’t just dismiss this as “let somebody else do it.”
· Wednesday and Thursday, May 19, 20, “Day of Service”—Bob Johnson, our Chapter’s new Director of Day of Service activities, is doing a bang-up job. He’s lined up about a dozen charitable groups that will welcome help from our volunteers on May 19 and 20. The list and sign-up sheets will again be circulated at May’s meeting. The duties run a wide gamut, from inside paperwork to outside light exercise.
Our goal is to have at least a total of 50 member-volunteers work at the charity of their choice for the day. See Bob’s article on page 2 for further details.
· And long-term, we have the AARP/Ruritan/Food Pantries “Day of Giving” on Saturday, September 11. This is the Second Annual such day of donating food to local food pantries, to help the poor and unemployed in our local and surrounding area. Last year, Chapter 5239 donated 10 bags of food to the Wilderness Food Pantry. This year, we hope to at least double that number to 20 bags.
Chapter Food Chair Kathi Martin is developing a work-committee, which will solicit and gather appropriate food items and cash donations especially for September 11. To serve on this special food-gathering committee, volunteer to Kathi Martin at 972-5242 or email kak1066@Verizon.net.
Dick Martin, President
The Subject: Challenges of Aging
by Carolyn Wray, Publicity, AARP Chapter 5239
Chris Miller, Aging Together Resource Project Manager, will be the speaker at the May 17 AARP meeting in the Clubhouse. Ms. Miller has 25 years of experience in community services for adults and children with disabilities. She is responsible for coordinating the efforts of the partnership’s locally-based county teams, and regional workgroups, and for supporting the efforts of individual partners working to enhance or expand services for older adults in the region
By 2020 one in every four persons will be over the age of 60 and will face both benefits and challenges. Older adults have a wealth of experience, skills, talents, resources, and good common sense, which can benefit the entire community. There are challenges to address as we consider what will make our communities supported and nurturing places as we grow older. Orange County is taking the time to get feedback from a broad sampling of local citizens and organizations to help in planning for 2010 and onward.
Not only are we in LOW aging together, but we have grown children who will be entering this group soon.
THIS MONTH’S BIRTHDAYS
(Taurus and Gemini)
Patricia Batten, Pat Bisset, William Bradford, James Buongiovanni, Evadine Cooper,
Joe Diamonstein, Larry Eiben, Robin Farrell,
Linda Fisher-Kavanagh, John Gamble,
Alice Grgas, Gloria Hutt, Ramona Lamon, Arthur Lieb, Clive Louden, Rani Manhard,
Harvey Miller, Linda Ogletree,Pierre Payette, Val Protiva, Edwin Roessler, Barbara Rueckert, Kathy Saladino, Albert Sanborn,
Doris Scoon, Michele Smith, Bob Spencer, Lillian Thompson, Lucille Tompkins, and Susan Wright.
NEW MEMBERS
Welcome new member Kathy Saladino, who joined in March:
SUNSHINE REPORT
Get-well cards were sent to get wells: Barbara Rueckert, Thomas Curry, Noah Rakes, Helen Markart and Rose Bianco
If you know of a member who needs cheering up, contact Carolyn Durphy at 972-3306.
Day of Service Plans for May 20
by Bob Johnson, Volunteer Coordinator
The American Association of Retired People (AARP) has designated Thursday, May 20, 2010 as “Volunteer Service Day.” Members of LOW Chapter 5239 will participate, but we invite others to join us.
This year we will have two days of service. Wednesday May 19:
· Services to Abused Families (Culpeper), Chair Bob Johnson. Volunteers will help with yard work, replace screens in windows and doors, and clean carpets with a steam cleaner (supplied). We need several volunteers with “tool belts.”
· Wilderness Food Pantry, Chair Betty Beck,
Thursday, May 20
· Dogwood Village (OC Nursing Home), Chair Barbara Ehlen. Volunteers will assist residents with normal tasks and plant flowers in raised flower beds. It would be nice for us to bring annuals or perennials to plant.
· OC Animal Shelter, Chair Betty Hughes. Volunteers will wash bowls and towels, walk dogs, try to convince cats they are not in charge. The shelter is closed to the public on Thursdays but there still is work to be done. Volunteers are still needed.
· OC Historical Society, Chair Paul Carter. Volunteers will tend the yard by pulling weeds and trimming. One or two more volunteers would be nice.
· Sheltering Arms, Chair Marion Jacobeen. Volunteers are needed for light tasks (wash windows, organize tool shed, organize pantry), medium tasks (paint two rooms and heavy duty tasks (Carpet installed in basement (carpet is there), fix lawn mower (broken). We need many more volunteers—with “tool belts”.
· Carriage Hill Nursing Home, Chair Ann Howard. Volunteers will coordinate Bingo for residents. We need to be there 9-11:30 AM. Bring small things for the residents to win (stuffed toys, etc.).
· Wilderness Battlefield Shelter, Chair Bob Johnson. Volunteers will be cutting and pulling vines and brush around the Wilderness shelter and Saunders field. Gloves and eye protection are required but will be provided if needed. Wear heavy shoes (no flip-flops) and long pants (and shirt if cool).
· We have ample volunteers for TRIAD, Chair Bradies; photographers; and lunch preparation Chair Carla Wascalus.
If you have questions or would like to volunteer, contact Bob Johnson at 972 4358 or email bjohn913@comcast.net
Monthly Silent Auction
Please remember to donate your new and gently-used items in great shape: NO missing parts, clean (no dirt or grease), and no tears or ragged edges. Call Patti at 972-1370, Carla at 972-3436, or Roxanne at 972-8364 for pickup, or bring your donations to the meeting. Many, many thanks!
OC TRIAD 9th Art of Aging Expo
by Dick Bradie, Orange County TRIAD
Be sure to head out on Tuesday, May 18, to the Orange Assembly of God Church on Route 15, just south of Orange for the 2010 Expo! There will be exhibitors from all over our area, who will be able to answer your questions about senior issues and to supply you with literature and give-aways. There will be door prizes, and a free lunch. The doors open at 9:30 AM; festivities begin at 10 AM, and the EXPO ends at 1 PM.
At 1 PM the Community Conversation begins and goes until all senior issues have been discussed and noted. Remember that the conversation is for older adults to let their voices be heard. It’s all free and open to the public!
Legislative Report
by Pat Berry
I know most of us have just finished sending off tax documents for 2009 and are breathing a sigh of relief that the process is over for the fiscal year. However, it’s never too early to be thinking about how to be smarter for next year’s exercise. The U.S. Department of Energy has a great website for you to explore at http://www.energy savers.gov/ with information on how to save money and energy at home. There are a lot of general money-saving information on appliances, lighting, and water heating, and also a link to residential incentives specifically in Virginia. Go to the DOE website and click on the box that shows a map of the USA with the legend “Rebates for Energy Star Appliances.” Proceed to click on the state of Virginia. There you’ll find information on the state plan to implement a mail-in rebate program to help residents replace old, inefficient appliances with new, efficient ENERGY STAR® qualified appliances.
Another valuable site is http://www.dsireusa,org. Again you select the state of Virginia from the map on the screen to find information on other state programs. For example:
“Virginia allows a four-day sales tax exemption on Energy Star products of $2,500 or less per product, purchased for non-commercial home or personal use. Beginning in 2007, this exemption—a 100% exemption from the state sales and use tax—applies to sales occurring during the four-day period that begins each year on the Friday before the second Monday in October and ends at midnight on the second Monday in October. “
A little knowledge can lead to additional savings next tax season.
Highlights of March 15, 2010, Meeting
by Pam Nalls
· Carla Wascalus provided the following:
--details on the DAR May 22nd Ft. McHenry trip
--if your monthly Perspectives arrived with a red address label, then your yearly local AARP dues have not been paid
--presented Ruth Hood the AARP 2009 Volunteer of the Year award for her service to the AARP as editor of Perspectives.
· Hank Lewis has a sign-up sheet for those able to help in setting up/taking down chairs/tables for the monthly AARP meetings.
· Gil and Lucille Churchill led a discussion regarding the AARP’s June picnic.
· Bob Johnson, coordinator for AARP’s Day of Service, provided an update. Sign-up sheets are available for volunteers to work on May 19 or May 20.
· The goal for the second annual AARP Ruritan Food Drive on September 11 is to collect 20 bags of food for donation to local food pantries.
· Paul Tobin announced that Marie Barrett won $48.50 in the 50/50 drawing.
· Roxanne Kessler announced the silent auction produced $118 for charity.
· Next month’s AARP meeting will be held on Monday, May 17.
