August Newsletter

NOTICE
The Post Office charges AARP for all returned mail. If you have your mail forwarded to an alternate address during the year, and you want to receive your copy of Perspectives at that address, send your new/temporary address to Carla at cpw_low@yahoo.com or call 972-3436. Give the months you will be away and Carla will restart your Perspectives at the LOW address.
We mail during the first two weeks of the month.

President's letter

“She Dun Us Proud”
Bobbie Prees “brought home the bacon” for Chapter 5239 in the Cardboard Boat Regatta July 24. She paddled “Pingu III - AARP” to a run-away First Place in the Category 5 segment of the races, easily beating USS LOW Veterans and Luau (Fun Bunch) entries.
Bobbie built the cardboard boat herself, with some design and construction help from several other AARP members. This was her third entry in the annual races and her first win.
Congratulations, Bobbie! And you did it in record time…in scorching 103-degree heat! We’re all very proud of you.
Our Chapter’s next “Volunteer Event” will be the Saturday, September 11, Special Food Drive. This is the Second Annual Food Drive to help stock local food pantries, sponsored by AARP and Ruritan Clubs. Food Bank Chairperson Kathi Martin and her assistant, Pat Berry, will be asking for volunteers to help out, for special food donations, and for cash donations at the August 16 regular monthly meeting.
Cash donations are needed by the Food Banks we serve to purchase meats and other supplies as needed from their suppliers. It’s important that you make the checks out to the Wilderness Food Pantry or Sheltering Arms or whichever group you prefer—but then give our AARP Food Committee the checks for distribution. This will give our Chapter a September 11 “Cash Donation Total” which could help us win even more money for charity from sponsors AARP/Ruritan.
Our August meeting (Monday, July 19) will be another “Don’t Miss” event. Guest Speaker is Jim Foote, the founder of Lake of the Woods. Foote is a very humorous and factually-informed speaker about how he put together the idea for Lake of the Woods and how it developed during the early development days of the late 1960’s and ‘70’s. Read the speaker article which follows for more details.
Finally, Old Age is when you still have something on the ball, but you’re just too tired to bounce it!
Dick Martin, President

Searching for LOW’s Roots
by Ruth Hood, Editor, Perspectives
If you have ever wondered how a community the size of LOW came to life in the midst of the Wilderness of Orange County, you won’t want to miss the August meeting. Jim Foote, the point man in 1966 for U. S. Land, Inc., will be speaking about the development of Lake of the Woods. He researched both Spotsylvania and Orange Counties for an area of natural valleys, which also had a stream that could be dammed up to create a lake, providing a valuable recreation area. He ultimately selected Orange County, and the rest is history.
Mr. Foote had already created a recreational lake property, when a chance meeting at a Cadillac dealership in the Midwest with 35-year-old Thomas A. Perine, Board Chairman of U. S. Land, Inc., led to his involvement with the founding of Lake of the Woods. Mr. Foote went on to purchase the 15 properties comprising Lake of the Woods and oversaw the early years of intense construction to provide roads, the Clubhouse, the Pro Shop, pools, and other amenities. Mr. Foote’s sense of humor and storytelling ability will make this program memorable.
Join us in the Great Hall of the Clubhouse on Monday, August 16, to hear Mr. Foote’s presentation about the history of LOW at 10 AM. Everyone is invited to attend.

THIS MONTH’S BIRTHDAYS
(Leo and Virgo)
Marie Barrett, Pat Berry, Al Bisset, Gerlinde Carmona, Kasee Charest,
Jim Danoy, Philip DeSimone, Larry Ervin, Lee Frame, Mary Hadley,
Carroll Hamilton, Lynn Hein, Betty Hughes, Robert Johnson,
Connie LeMay, Ruth Lenwell, Virginia Lynch, Eileen McFarland,
Marilyn McKay, Vera Moody, Dorothy Mosso, Gerald Mueller,
Margaret Ostlund, Joan Parnell, Larry Petersen, Mike Pulice,
John Rueckert, Ralph Scheuermann, Sarlene Seyler, Marcia Shorten,
Emily Slunt, Charles Taylor, Harold Thompson, and Patricia Watterworth

NEW MEMBERS
Welcome to new members: Joann Batten and Ruth Wallace.

SUNSHINE REPORT
Get-well cards were sent to Carolyn Lewis, George Lenwell, and John Hughes. A card was sent to the Beardens on the death of Bill’s dad.
If you know of a member who needs cheering up, contact Carolyn Durphy at 972-3306.

FALL FOOD DRIVE PLANNED
by Kathy Martin and Pat Berry
AARP Chapter 5239 is partnering with local Ruritan clubs to sponsor a community food drive on Saturday, September 11, in support of the Wilderness Food Pantry. This project is part of an AARP initiative entitled “Create the Good,” helping improve peoples’ lives in as little as five minutes, five hours, or five days. Chapter members will be collecting contributions for those families in Orange County who rely on the services provided by the Food Pantry. If you prefer to donate money, please make checks payable to “Low Lions/Lioness Wilderness Food Pantry.” These will be collected and delivered to a Lions representative.
On Monday, July 19, individual members took home a grocery bag with the suggestion it could be gradually filled with non-perishable items in time to be returned at the September meeting. Volunteers will also make the bags available to shoppers at Bloom on September 11 for additional donations. A clip board will be sent around at the meeting on August 16 asking people to sign up for a one-hour shift on that day from 10 AM to 2 PM. If you weren’t able to attend the meeting on July 19, look for Kathi Martin or Pat Berry in August and get your very own plain brown wrapper. Questions? Call Kathi at 972-5242 or Pat at 972-3763.

NOTES, BITS AND PIECES

BBQ Tickets Coming Soon
by Jim Moore, BBQ Ticket Chair
Election Day is just around the corner on November 2. Once again AARP members will be asked to sell four tickets for our Chicken BBQ Dinner. Since this is our club’s biggest fundraiser, everyone needs to pitch in and help get all 800 tickets sold. Selling tickets should be easy, since most residents know what a good dinner they will be getting. All pertinent information is included on the tickets, which will arrive by mail in early September. If you need more than four tickets, they will be available at the September 20 meeting. For information contact Jim at 972-9355,


Donate School Supplies for OC Kids
by Ruth Hood
Orange County schools will be opening September 7, so what could be a more perfect time to donate school supplies so all our local students have everything they need to further their education? This is the time to shop—the stores are having “Back to School” sales right now, and many things are available at reduced prices. The supply lists for OC Schools are available at http://www.ocss-va.org/, click on supply lists on right. Guidance Counselors distribute donated items using the free-and-reduced lunch list to identify appropriate students.
You could supply needed items for one elementary student: a plastic school box containing a glue stick, scissors, a pink eraser, a box of 24-count Crayola crayons, and two #2 pencils.
Or you can supply multiples of those items or other things needed in bulk by either elementary or middle school students: black “marble” notebooks (stitched); large glue sticks; 3x5 cards; colored pencils; handheld pencil sharpeners; yellow highlighters; pocket folders with fasteners; 1” three-ring binders; packages of loose leaf paper (wide ruled, three-hole punch).
Supplies can be brought to the August 16 meeting and will be distributed to OC schools. If you need more information, contact Ruth Hood at 972-3249 or email rhhood@verizon.net.

Monthly Silent Auction
We are accepting any donations that you may have for the 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. Proceeds from July auction $119.

Legislative News—“Webinar”
by Pat Berry
Do you say that you’ve never sent a text message? Do you say that “tweeting” is for the birds? What would you say if I asked if you would be interested in attending a “webinar” on what you need to know about the new Health Care Law? AARP will be hosting 60-minute webinars through December 1 to provide information about the law and resource materials you might need for making personal decisions. Here is the up-coming schedule for programs of interest—and all you need is a computer with Internet access, a mouse and a little confidence.
· Things You Need to Know About the Health Care Law
· Getting Coverage Through High-Risk Pools
· Deciding What to Do This Medicare Open Season
· Improvements to Long-Term Care
Pre-registration is required for participation and you begin that process by going to http://www.aarp.org/. Click on “Health,” then “Health Care Reform,” and scroll down to “Health Care Law Resources – Webinars.” Each webinar will include a question-and-answer period with experts. In addition, you can download resource materials and take online polls. Won’t your family be impressed?

Medical News
by Sandie Frame
Strengthening your foot muscles can lessen foot pain. A podiatrist offered these suggestions for simple stretching and flexing.
1. Sit on a chair with bare feet flat on floor. Raise the front of your feet off the floor with toes high, then move your toes to the right dropping them back to the floor. Now raise your heels up and swing them to the right dropping them back to the floor even with your toes. Next repeat those actions moving to the middle then to left. Repeat five times ending with your feet back at the middle.
2. Place a washcloth flat on the floor with you feet on it. Pull the cloth up by curling your toes. Release the cloth and spread your toes as wide as you can. Repeat five times.
3. Lay on your back and loop a towel under one foot. Keeping your knee straight, pull your toes toward your head, hold for five seconds. Now push you toes against the towel and hold for five seconds. Relax. Next pull the side of the cloth on the outside of your foot so your foot bends inward; hold for five seconds. Then, pull the cloth on the inside of your foot and bend your foot in that direction; hold for five seconds. Repeat five times. Repeat all actions with the other foot.

Highlights of the July 19, 2010, Meeting
by Pam Nalls, Secretary
· Volunteers are needed for AARP’s annual November 2 Election Day BBQ Chicken dinner. Dick Martin has a sign-up sheet.
· The Chapter received a thank you note from Sheltering Arms thanking our members for their continuing support to the Wilderness Food Pantry. Lee Frame announced later in the meeting that Sheltering Arms grants are significantly down this year; continuing support for their activities is greatly needed.
· Thank you to Sandie Frame for providing handouts on the new Health Care Program.
· The Cardboard Boat Race is scheduled for July 24 at 1 PM. Roberta “Bobbie” Prees is leading the way for this year’s AARP entry – it’s a Penguin boat!
· September 11 is the date for the AARP/Ruritan Wilderness Food Pantry event. Kathi Martin and Pat Berry are spearheading our efforts.
· Nola Davidson appealed for scrap book pictures of AARP activities. She reminded us that this will provided a historical record of our Chapter. Dick Martin advised that the Chapter continues to need a photographer. If interested, please contact Dick.
· Carolyn Durphy announced two chairs (one red, one blue) were left behind at the June AARP picnic. Contact Carolyn if they belong to you.
· The next meeting is Monday, August 16, 2010.