President's Letter
“The Coming ‘Holiday Time”
November opens the annual joyous “Holiday Time”—Thanksgiving in November and Christmas in December.
AARP Chapter 5239 will finalize its participation in National AARP’s “Keep Social Security Strong” program during the second week of November. This is a drive to collect signatures decrying the idea by some Congressional members to cut Social Security in order to reduce the Federal deficit.
If this makes your blood boil—especially after the recent announcement that no Cost of Living increase will be given Social Security beneficiaries for the second year in a row—you should sign our Chapter’s signature list. We must return our signatures by November 10, so they will NOT be available at our Monday, November 15, monthly meeting.
You must contact Chapter Secretary Pam Nalls (972-5253 or email pnalls@Verizon.net ) to work out how best to quickly sign our list.
In other news, we want to give a sincere “Thank You!” tip of the hat to George Webb, who stepped forward at the October meeting to volunteer to take over from Joe Davidson as “Transport Custodian” of the Chapter’s large projection screen. Joe handled these duties for the past four years or more and also earns our hearty “Thank You!” for his past service.
Finally, two friends who hadn’t seen each other for some months, were chatting over coffee. One said, “this morning, I waded across a raging river, escaped from bears in the woods, marched up and down a mountain, stood in a patch of poison ivy, crawled out of quicksand, and climbed up an enormous tree!”
“Wow!” said the impressed friend, “you must be a great outdoorsman.”
“No, I’m just a lousy golfer.”
Dick Martin, President
Dr. Peter Rainey, to Speak About Early LOW History
by Carolyn Wray,
Dr. Peter G. “Pete” Rainey will be the guest speaker at the November 15 AARP, Chapter 5239 meeting in the Clubhouse. A Lake of the Woods resident, Mr. Rainey spent two sea tours on U.S Navy destroyers and a 20-year career as an Engineer Duty Officer. He has now written and published Germanna Road, it is a three-hundred year history of Eastern Orange County.
He became interested in his Virginia roots when the Navy assigned him to Arlington in 1974. He is a self-taught amateur historian of Virginia History. After he moved to Lake of the Woods, his neighbors, one a retired college professor of history, started researching why anyone would want to start a recreational community in the Wilderness. His program will review the first 20 years at LOW. Oral history has been collected from early members and staff. The memories of those no longer living here have been recorded in club newsletters and association files. This should be a most interesting presentation whether you are a newcomer to Lake of the Woods or a long time resident. Dr. Rainey will bring a copy of his book Germanna Road for the silent auction.
The meeting will begin with sweets and coffee at 9:30 AM with program at 10 AM. We encourage you to come and bring a friend.
Election of 2011 Officers and Directors
The elections of the 2011 Officers and Directors will be held during the November 22 meeting the following are the nominees:
President: Richard Martin—Incumbent
Vice President: Richard Bradie—Incumbent
Secretary: Pan Nalls—Incumbent
Treasurer: Richard Durphy—Incumbent
Directors:
Pierre Payett—Incumbent 3rd term
Roxanne Kessler—Incumbent 2nd term
Katherine Causby—1st term
Lucille Churchill—1st term
Bob Johnson—1st term
SUNSHINE REPORT
George Lenwell and Ruth Hood - Thinking of You. Ralph Scheuerman, Dick Bradie, Marion Jacobeen and Hank Lewis - Get Well. Ruth Lenwell - Sympathy
If you know of a member who needs cheering up, contact Carolyn Durphy at 972-3306.
NOVEMBER BIRTHDAYS
(Scorpio and Sagittarius)
Ellie Baughman, Dante Binotto
Dick Bradie, Ellie Brown
Tony Brown, Laurel Buongiovanni
Marilyn Buttimer, Joe Davidson
Carol Dionne, Daniel Ferguson
Ruth Fraser, William Grogan
Mary Hudak, Don Larsen
Helen Markart, Richard Martin
Mary Nolan, Joe Sauro
Ed Scoon, Ken Tilliman
Ann Walker, Laurie Wares
Carla Wascalus, Karen Woods
NEW MEMBERS
Welcome to new members:
Daniel and Coralaine Ferguson
Hong Ha Nguyen
NOTES, BITS AND PIECES
If you shop at Office Depot and do not use a Worklife Rewards Card, please give your receipt or a copy to Ruth Hood, Jim Moore or Carla Wascalus and they will enter the appropriate information (no personal information) in our account. We earn cash back which we use towards the printing of this newsletter.
TRIAD News
RAD Class by Dick Bradie
R.A.D. Seniors is a unique safety program for senior men and women who want to take charge of their lives. There are many dangers out there that target seniors, and R.A.D. is designed to give seniors confidence and skills to face everyday challenges.
R.A.D. is not physical ed or self defense and it’s not boring lectures. However , after the classes, seniors feel better physically and mentally because it teaches seniors about real life situations, such as frauds, scams, home invasion, physical attacks, out and about safety and many other issues. Physical defense is taught based on seniors’ balance and lack of mobility.
Classes are free and the Instructor is certified and sponsored by the Sheriff’s Department and TRIAD.
Each “class” consists of seven (7) sessions on Thursdays from 7:00 PM to 8:45 PM. Only 5 seniors to a class, and couples are encouraged. We have already had 1 “class”, and there is one ongoing right now. A third “class” is already full for the new year. Sign up now for the spring sessions: all sessions are held in LOW. We don’t want to miss this opportunity to protect our seniors. Call Dick/Kathleen Bradie at 308-5507 for more info and to sign up.
Monthly Silent Auction
We are accepting any donations that you may have for the auction on November 15th, especially holiday items, or items that are suitable for holiday gift-giving.
Please remember to donate your new and gently-used, clean items in good shape,and no missing parts: Call Patti at 972-1370, Ann at 972-3326, or Joyce at 972-4176 for pickup, or bring your donations to the meeting.
Thanks to your generous donations, the October auction earned $177.00 toward our charity donations. We will not have a silent auction in December.
Legislative News
by Pat Berry
By the time you read this copy of “Perspectives” the voting will be over and candidates will be packing their signs and closing down their election operations. However, casting your vote for a particular candidate shouldn’t be the end of your civic participation. The first step to being involved is obviously to keep informed. The second step is to let your opinion be known. The State of Virginia has made it easier for you to share that opinion with our representatives in the General Assembly in Richmond by providing a link on their website: http://legis.virginia.gov/. Once you are there, you can choose the link to “Who’s My Legislator” for information on how to identify the proper representative. Who's My Legislator also gives you the ability to email your Delegate or Senator as well as contact information for your representatives in the US House of Representatives and US Senate. In addition, a biographical page on each delegate and senator is available from the General Assembly's homepage. With a few simple clicks of the mouse, you can contact your representative about a particular issue before the Legislature takes action on it. The 2011 Regular Session of the Virginia General Assemble will convene on Wednesday, January 12, 2011. Why not become an active participant in the legislative process?
Medical News
by Sandie Frame
Another set of exercises for men and women to strengthen and tone your upper arm triceps.
1. Overhead triceps extension: Sit in a chair with a pillow or rolled towel behind your lower back. Start with a light weight (a two pound dumbbell or a 28 oz. can of food) and hold with both hands. Raise your hands over your head and keeping your upper arms close to your head bend your elbows and lower your hands down behind your head. Slowly raise your arms back up over your head towards the ceiling. Hold for two seconds. Work up to 3 sets of ten done three times a week on non-consecutive days. Gradually increase the weights also. You can use change in a sock, closing off the end with a safety pin or rubber band, as a substitute for a weight. Use lots of change to make it heavier and heavier over time.
2. Triceps dumbbell kickback: This is done best with a real dumbbell but the sock with coins can work too. Kneel on a bed or bench (or two non armed dining room chairs placed side by side to form a bench. Place you left leg on the back of the bench, left arm towards the front so you are leaning over part way. Do not lock your standing leg, relax. Take a two to three pound weight in your right hand. Bend your elbow 90 degrees and hold close to your side. Now straighten that arm backwards. Hold for one or two seconds and return to the starting position. The goal is 3 sets of ten three times a week on non-consecutive days.
If this is too confusing I will have pictures at the Health Table for our next meeting.
Highlights of the October 18, 2010
Meeting by Pam Nalls
-Dick Martin urged all to sign petitions supporting the National AARP Chapter’s Challenge to KEEP SOCIAL SECURITY STRONG. The National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform, which was appointed by President Obama, will provide recommendations by December 1st for reducing the Federal deficit. Everything is on the table including Social Security. Petitions supporting no reduction in social security benefits have been provided at our past two meetings. Visit www.aarp.org/stregthensocialsecurity for more information.
-Carla Wascalus presented the Nominating Committee’s list of candidates to fill three openings on the Board of Directors for 2011. The nominees are: Katherine Causby, Bob Johnson and Lucy Churchill. Voting for the three Director positions will occur at the November meeting with installation to occur at our December meeting.
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
October Newsletter
President's Letter
Another Month of Outstanding Chapter Success
AARP Chapter 5239 racked up success after success during September.
· Our September 11 AARP Food Drive was a rousing success—Full details are given elsewhere in this issue.
· On September 6, our immediate Past President Carla Wascalus won the prestigious Warren K. Lodge Award for Outstanding Service at the LOWA Annual Meeting.
· And at our September 20 monthly meeting, we began working on AARP’s “National Chapter Challenge to keep Social Security strong.”
This is a signature-gathering project to “send a message to Washington” that “Social Security shouldn’t be used to reduce a deficit it didn’t cause.” It seems that many members on the National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform “are talking about cutting Social Security to reduce the deficit.” Commis-sion recommendations are due by December 1. AARP is asking chapters all across the country to collect signatures on “Keep Social Security Strong” petitions for presentation to members of Congress and the President by November 15.
Chapter Secretary Pam Nalls is in charge of our drive. She collected dozens of signatures at our September meeting and will be on hand again at our October 18 meeting. If you can’t make the next meeting, but want to add your name to this important effort, contact Pam at 972-5253 or email pnalls@Verizon.net to arrange your signature contribution.
Finally, a man walks into a bar and orders a dozen drinks to be placed in a row in front of him. He shook his head and wept loudly as he drank. Suddenly he cried out to the bartender, “I shouldn’t be drinking this with what I’ve got!”
The sympathetic bartender said, “Oh, you poor man, what have you got?” The man answered: “Only one dollar.”
Dick Martin, President
AARP to Hear Discussion on Estate Planning
by Carolyn Wray, Publicity, AARP, Chapter 5329
The guest speaker at the Monday, October 18, AARP Chapter 5239 meeting will be Attorney James P. Seidl, who will be speaking on Estate and Tax Planning. Attorney Seidl has practiced Estate Planning for fifteen years and has prepared over 2,500 estate plans to date.
Mr. Seidl holds a degree in Master of Laws in Taxation from the College of William & Mary and a Juris Doctorate degree from the Antioch School of Law in Continuing Legal Education in Estate and Tax Planning. Mr. Seidl is also a graduate of the Living Trust Educational System and a member of the National Network of Estate Planning Attorneys. He has completed many advance courses on Life Insurance Trusts and Family Limited Partnerships and an approved instructor for Estate Planning for insurance professionals. He is licensed to practice law in Virginia, Maryland and the District of Columbia and before the United States Tax Court.
The meeting will begin with sweets and coffee at 9:30 AM and the program will begin at 10 AM. This should be a very interesting and educational program. We encourage you to come.
The Chicken Bar-B-Q Is Coming
Our Illustrious Chicken-In-Chief (with Oak Leaf Clusters), Dwight Mottet, reports that ticket sales have been brisk for the Election Day Bar-B-Q. Please bring ticket sale proceeds to the October 18 meeting or contact Jim at 972-9355 for ticket information.
As you probably know, the barbeque is our major fundraiser. Your annual dues pay for the Chapter's administrative expenses, while our annual fundraiser supports various local charities and community service projects.
We still need about six volunteers to spend about an hour on the phone to determine the wishes of members who were sent tickets but have not responded by October 22. Additional member volunteers are needed to help with the site/table preparations, food service, post-event clean up activities, brownie baking, and particularly with the chicken cooking. Although historically, it is usually the men who are the chicken chefs, women are invited to share the outside BBQ grill cooking duties. These folks are critical to having the delicious chickens available in an adequate and timely manner. It is not a simple task, although Master Chefs Harvey Miller and Mike Pulice make it look easy.
More than 100 volunteers are needed to cover this event. The activities begin at 7:30 AM with receiving and storing the pre-cooked chickens and are completed with the 6 PM cleanup activities.
Volunteers are encouraged to sign up at the October 18 membership meeting, or contact me directly at 972-3204 or at dwightmottet@aol.com. In my absence, please contact Tom Hamilton, at 972-9779 or leeanneh68@msn.com
AARP Chapter 5239 racked up success after success during September.
· Our September 11 AARP Food Drive was a rousing success—Full details are given elsewhere in this issue.
· On September 6, our immediate Past President Carla Wascalus won the prestigious Warren K. Lodge Award for Outstanding Service at the LOWA Annual Meeting.
· And at our September 20 monthly meeting, we began working on AARP’s “National Chapter Challenge to keep Social Security strong.”
This is a signature-gathering project to “send a message to Washington” that “Social Security shouldn’t be used to reduce a deficit it didn’t cause.” It seems that many members on the National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform “are talking about cutting Social Security to reduce the deficit.” Commis-sion recommendations are due by December 1. AARP is asking chapters all across the country to collect signatures on “Keep Social Security Strong” petitions for presentation to members of Congress and the President by November 15.
Chapter Secretary Pam Nalls is in charge of our drive. She collected dozens of signatures at our September meeting and will be on hand again at our October 18 meeting. If you can’t make the next meeting, but want to add your name to this important effort, contact Pam at 972-5253 or email pnalls@Verizon.net to arrange your signature contribution.
Finally, a man walks into a bar and orders a dozen drinks to be placed in a row in front of him. He shook his head and wept loudly as he drank. Suddenly he cried out to the bartender, “I shouldn’t be drinking this with what I’ve got!”
The sympathetic bartender said, “Oh, you poor man, what have you got?” The man answered: “Only one dollar.”
Dick Martin, President
AARP to Hear Discussion on Estate Planning
by Carolyn Wray, Publicity, AARP, Chapter 5329
The guest speaker at the Monday, October 18, AARP Chapter 5239 meeting will be Attorney James P. Seidl, who will be speaking on Estate and Tax Planning. Attorney Seidl has practiced Estate Planning for fifteen years and has prepared over 2,500 estate plans to date.
Mr. Seidl holds a degree in Master of Laws in Taxation from the College of William & Mary and a Juris Doctorate degree from the Antioch School of Law in Continuing Legal Education in Estate and Tax Planning. Mr. Seidl is also a graduate of the Living Trust Educational System and a member of the National Network of Estate Planning Attorneys. He has completed many advance courses on Life Insurance Trusts and Family Limited Partnerships and an approved instructor for Estate Planning for insurance professionals. He is licensed to practice law in Virginia, Maryland and the District of Columbia and before the United States Tax Court.
The meeting will begin with sweets and coffee at 9:30 AM and the program will begin at 10 AM. This should be a very interesting and educational program. We encourage you to come.
The Chicken Bar-B-Q Is Coming
Our Illustrious Chicken-In-Chief (with Oak Leaf Clusters), Dwight Mottet, reports that ticket sales have been brisk for the Election Day Bar-B-Q. Please bring ticket sale proceeds to the October 18 meeting or contact Jim at 972-9355 for ticket information.
As you probably know, the barbeque is our major fundraiser. Your annual dues pay for the Chapter's administrative expenses, while our annual fundraiser supports various local charities and community service projects.
We still need about six volunteers to spend about an hour on the phone to determine the wishes of members who were sent tickets but have not responded by October 22. Additional member volunteers are needed to help with the site/table preparations, food service, post-event clean up activities, brownie baking, and particularly with the chicken cooking. Although historically, it is usually the men who are the chicken chefs, women are invited to share the outside BBQ grill cooking duties. These folks are critical to having the delicious chickens available in an adequate and timely manner. It is not a simple task, although Master Chefs Harvey Miller and Mike Pulice make it look easy.
More than 100 volunteers are needed to cover this event. The activities begin at 7:30 AM with receiving and storing the pre-cooked chickens and are completed with the 6 PM cleanup activities.
Volunteers are encouraged to sign up at the October 18 membership meeting, or contact me directly at 972-3204 or at dwightmottet@aol.com. In my absence, please contact Tom Hamilton, at 972-9779 or leeanneh68@msn.com
OCTOBER BIRTHDAYS
(Libra and Scorpio)
Charlotte Baker, Rose Bianco,
Janet Bloom, Boyd Bowers,
Joyce Bowers, Janet Buccola,
Judy Carter, Irene Daehnke,
Theresa Danoy, Sherman Embrey, James Fargo, Richard Fisher, Bobbie Gordon, Chris Grimley,
Lee Anne Hamilton, George Lenwell,
Grace McEuen, Nell Meador,
Agatha Mucciacciaro, Eleanor Palowitch,Thomas Plummer,
Bobbie Prees,Ruth Price,
James Taylor Brian Wares,
Marti Williams
NEW MEMBERS
Welcome to new members: Zoila Ortega, Marthaellen Hoffman,
Barbara Drumheller, Walter Piotrowski,
Richard & Wilda GeltmanArt Sunkel,
Marilyn Gramm, Nora Simpson
SUNSHINE REPORT
A get-well card was sent to Sandy Wemmerus and Thinking-of-You cards were sent to George Lenwell and John Hughes.
If you know of a member who needs cheering up, contact Carolyn Durphy at 972-3306.
(Libra and Scorpio)
Charlotte Baker, Rose Bianco,
Janet Bloom, Boyd Bowers,
Joyce Bowers, Janet Buccola,
Judy Carter, Irene Daehnke,
Theresa Danoy, Sherman Embrey, James Fargo, Richard Fisher, Bobbie Gordon, Chris Grimley,
Lee Anne Hamilton, George Lenwell,
Grace McEuen, Nell Meador,
Agatha Mucciacciaro, Eleanor Palowitch,Thomas Plummer,
Bobbie Prees,Ruth Price,
James Taylor Brian Wares,
Marti Williams
NEW MEMBERS
Welcome to new members: Zoila Ortega, Marthaellen Hoffman,
Barbara Drumheller, Walter Piotrowski,
Richard & Wilda GeltmanArt Sunkel,
Marilyn Gramm, Nora Simpson
SUNSHINE REPORT
A get-well card was sent to Sandy Wemmerus and Thinking-of-You cards were sent to George Lenwell and John Hughes.
If you know of a member who needs cheering up, contact Carolyn Durphy at 972-3306.
NOTES, BITS AND PIECES
AARP/Ruritan Food Drive
by Kathi Martin and Pat Berry, Co-Chairs
We held a very successful food drive, resulting in the collection of over 60 bags of groceries, plus several cases of cereal and vegetables. This equaled about 700 pounds of food! Also, $705 was donated.
We are very appreciative of the help we received from Sandie Frame, Pam Nalls, Grace McEuen, Ruth Pavlik, and Dick Martin at the collection point, the Getmans for the use of their truck, Alan Berry for driving and unloading, and Karen Cakouros for help with sorting.
This was community action at its most powerful!
AARP Election Guidelines
With the coming of Election Day on Tuesday, November 2, Chapter members should remember some rules and guidelines regarding AARP-member activities in political activities:
· AARP, both national and local, identifies itself as being non-partisan and does not give money to candidates or parties.
· If you are known locally as an AARP leader, you must not participate in political events that may be construed as an AARP endorsement of a particular candidate.
· You may not wear a campaign button, sticker or T-shirt or speak in support of a given candidate at an AARP event or while wearing AARP clothing.
· Without AARP identification, members may give money, post a yard sign or bumper sticker, and volunteer to work in campaigns.
Want To Help “Scare” Trick-Or-Treaters?
Do you enjoy dressing up in scary costumes on Halloween? Do you get a kick out of dressing as a witch or monster to give the little darlings a nice “shiver” when they come to your door Trick-Or-Treating?
LOWA Activities Director Sylvia Zelinsky wants groups of residents to set up a scary setting inside portable canopies or tents, which she plans to put together in a “Haunted Trail” for the annual Treats for Kids Halloween event on the Clubhouse Point. The “Haunted Trail” will be a dark walk-through area that the kids will follow to get candy treats…while hopefully being scared out of their wits by mysterious spooks.
Sound like fun? Want to be a part of it? If so, call Sylvia at 972-9680 Ext. 2 or email her at activities@LOWA.org to let her know of your participation and to get full details.
TRIAD News
Free Shredding Event on Saturday, October 16, from 9 AM to 12 PM at StellarOne bank across Route 3. This is a great way to destroy sensitive papers that are no longer needed. Call Dick/ Kathleen Bradie at 540-308-5507 for more information.
Monthly Silent Auction
We are accepting any donations that you may have for the auction in September.
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 Ann at 972-3326 for pickup, or bring your donations to the meeting. Many, many thanks. The September auction earned $172 toward our charity donations.
Legislative News
by Pat Berry
Registered Voters who will be voting on November 2—just a reminder that federal and state law require all voters to provide some identification (ID) at the polls, or sign a statement, in order to vote at the polls. Please come prepared to show that you are you. Also, we would like for you to become familiar with the three constitutional amendments appearing on the ballot in November:
HB16 provides for a referendum on the approval of a proposed constitutional amendment relating to property exempt from taxation. The proposed amendment allows the General Assembly to authorize localities to establish their own income or financial worth limitations for purposes of granting property tax relief for the homeowners not less than 65 years of age or permanently and totally disabled. The Constitution presently requires a showing that the homeowners granted property tax relief bear an extraordinary tax burden on the property in relation to their income or financial worth as provided by the General Assembly by state law.
HJ33 provides property tax exemption for certain veterans. It directs the General Assembly to exempt from taxation real property that is the principal residence of a veteran (or widow or widower of a veteran) if the veteran has been determined by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs or its successor agency pursuant to federal law to have a 100 percent service-connected, permanent, and total disability.
HJ34 places a limit on taxes or revenues and the Revenue Stabilization Fund. It increases the permissible size of the Fund by 50 percent; i.e., from 10 percent to 15 percent of the Commonwealth’s average annual tax revenues derived from income and sales taxes for the preceding three fiscal years. By way of explanation, the more common name for this fund is the “rainy day fund” which was created to counter shortfalls in revenues.
Hopefully this information will help you make your decisions and pull the right lever or press the right button on November 2.
Medical News
by Sandie Frame
I just received three new publications from AARP. These are all related to The New Health Care Law:
· Protect Against Health Care Fraud
This scam is another that falls along the lines of those covered by our last speakers and offers many of the same cautions but related to insurance type scams and other health care issues.
· The $350 Doughnut Hole Rebate
This is for people who have Part D and reach the gap in their prescription drug coverage discussing the $250 rebate.
· Improvements to Preventive and Wellness Benefits.
Previously no benefits were available for overall well examinations. New benefits will be available for Medicare enrollees.
Stop by and pick up the flyers from the Health Table. I also have some flyers left from the series of How The New Health Care Plan Can Work For You.
AARP/Ruritan Food Drive
by Kathi Martin and Pat Berry, Co-Chairs
We held a very successful food drive, resulting in the collection of over 60 bags of groceries, plus several cases of cereal and vegetables. This equaled about 700 pounds of food! Also, $705 was donated.
We are very appreciative of the help we received from Sandie Frame, Pam Nalls, Grace McEuen, Ruth Pavlik, and Dick Martin at the collection point, the Getmans for the use of their truck, Alan Berry for driving and unloading, and Karen Cakouros for help with sorting.
This was community action at its most powerful!
AARP Election Guidelines
With the coming of Election Day on Tuesday, November 2, Chapter members should remember some rules and guidelines regarding AARP-member activities in political activities:
· AARP, both national and local, identifies itself as being non-partisan and does not give money to candidates or parties.
· If you are known locally as an AARP leader, you must not participate in political events that may be construed as an AARP endorsement of a particular candidate.
· You may not wear a campaign button, sticker or T-shirt or speak in support of a given candidate at an AARP event or while wearing AARP clothing.
· Without AARP identification, members may give money, post a yard sign or bumper sticker, and volunteer to work in campaigns.
Want To Help “Scare” Trick-Or-Treaters?
Do you enjoy dressing up in scary costumes on Halloween? Do you get a kick out of dressing as a witch or monster to give the little darlings a nice “shiver” when they come to your door Trick-Or-Treating?
LOWA Activities Director Sylvia Zelinsky wants groups of residents to set up a scary setting inside portable canopies or tents, which she plans to put together in a “Haunted Trail” for the annual Treats for Kids Halloween event on the Clubhouse Point. The “Haunted Trail” will be a dark walk-through area that the kids will follow to get candy treats…while hopefully being scared out of their wits by mysterious spooks.
Sound like fun? Want to be a part of it? If so, call Sylvia at 972-9680 Ext. 2 or email her at activities@LOWA.org to let her know of your participation and to get full details.
TRIAD News
Free Shredding Event on Saturday, October 16, from 9 AM to 12 PM at StellarOne bank across Route 3. This is a great way to destroy sensitive papers that are no longer needed. Call Dick/ Kathleen Bradie at 540-308-5507 for more information.
Monthly Silent Auction
We are accepting any donations that you may have for the auction in September.
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 Ann at 972-3326 for pickup, or bring your donations to the meeting. Many, many thanks. The September auction earned $172 toward our charity donations.
Legislative News
by Pat Berry
Registered Voters who will be voting on November 2—just a reminder that federal and state law require all voters to provide some identification (ID) at the polls, or sign a statement, in order to vote at the polls. Please come prepared to show that you are you. Also, we would like for you to become familiar with the three constitutional amendments appearing on the ballot in November:
HB16 provides for a referendum on the approval of a proposed constitutional amendment relating to property exempt from taxation. The proposed amendment allows the General Assembly to authorize localities to establish their own income or financial worth limitations for purposes of granting property tax relief for the homeowners not less than 65 years of age or permanently and totally disabled. The Constitution presently requires a showing that the homeowners granted property tax relief bear an extraordinary tax burden on the property in relation to their income or financial worth as provided by the General Assembly by state law.
HJ33 provides property tax exemption for certain veterans. It directs the General Assembly to exempt from taxation real property that is the principal residence of a veteran (or widow or widower of a veteran) if the veteran has been determined by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs or its successor agency pursuant to federal law to have a 100 percent service-connected, permanent, and total disability.
HJ34 places a limit on taxes or revenues and the Revenue Stabilization Fund. It increases the permissible size of the Fund by 50 percent; i.e., from 10 percent to 15 percent of the Commonwealth’s average annual tax revenues derived from income and sales taxes for the preceding three fiscal years. By way of explanation, the more common name for this fund is the “rainy day fund” which was created to counter shortfalls in revenues.
Hopefully this information will help you make your decisions and pull the right lever or press the right button on November 2.
Medical News
by Sandie Frame
I just received three new publications from AARP. These are all related to The New Health Care Law:
· Protect Against Health Care Fraud
This scam is another that falls along the lines of those covered by our last speakers and offers many of the same cautions but related to insurance type scams and other health care issues.
· The $350 Doughnut Hole Rebate
This is for people who have Part D and reach the gap in their prescription drug coverage discussing the $250 rebate.
· Improvements to Preventive and Wellness Benefits.
Previously no benefits were available for overall well examinations. New benefits will be available for Medicare enrollees.
Stop by and pick up the flyers from the Health Table. I also have some flyers left from the series of How The New Health Care Plan Can Work For You.
AARP Chapter 5239 Board Meeting
Monday, September 13, 2010
by Pam Nalls, Secretary
OLD BUSINESS:
· Dick Martin extended congratulations to Carla Wascalus for being the recipient of this year’s prestigious Warren K. Lodge Community Service Award. The award was presented at the LOWA Annual Meeting on September 6.
· Following discussions related to the Travel Committee’s Proposed Policies, it was decided that the Travel Committee would continue to review/ finalize this documentation for presentation to the Board at its next meeting.
NEW BUSINESS:
· This year’s Nomination Committee members were selected and are as follows: Carla Wascalus, Pierre Payette, Dick Bradie, Pam Nalls. Carolyn Wray will also be asked to serve on the committee and Dwight Mottet will serve in an advisory capacity. Among its duties, the committee will be working on selecting nominees for three new Directors to replace Ruth Hood, Ruby Horvath and Dwight Mottet.
· The Board discussed a request received from the Rapidan Better Housing Agency for AARP’s financial support ($200) to provide a wheelchair ramp at the home of an individual living in LOW. The Board voted to table consideration of this matter until further information could be obtained. Dick Martin will follow-up on this subject.
· Hank Lewis presented a request received from Connie Buttimer and Sylvia Zelinsky for AARP’s participation (members dress up/operate a candy give-away table) at the Halloween party on the Clubhouse Point on Sunday, October 31. The Board elected to have Hank present this at the general AARP meeting on September 20 where he could ask for those interested to volunteer to help at this event.
· Perspectives:
Staples will continue to be used to seal the newsletter prior to mailing. A recommendation to switch from using staples to stick circles was deemed to be too expensive and labor intensive. It was decided that a new member will be added to the AARP’s committee listing which appears in the monthly newsletter – the Silent Auction Committee will now be included.
· Ruth Hood advised that school supplies collected by the AARP had been delivered.
· Eastern Piedmont Regional VOAD (Voluntary Organization Active in Disaster) – The Board voted to table discussion regarding AARP working with VOAD and other organizations to create a shelter within LOW until the next Board meeting.
Monday, September 13, 2010
by Pam Nalls, Secretary
OLD BUSINESS:
· Dick Martin extended congratulations to Carla Wascalus for being the recipient of this year’s prestigious Warren K. Lodge Community Service Award. The award was presented at the LOWA Annual Meeting on September 6.
· Following discussions related to the Travel Committee’s Proposed Policies, it was decided that the Travel Committee would continue to review/ finalize this documentation for presentation to the Board at its next meeting.
NEW BUSINESS:
· This year’s Nomination Committee members were selected and are as follows: Carla Wascalus, Pierre Payette, Dick Bradie, Pam Nalls. Carolyn Wray will also be asked to serve on the committee and Dwight Mottet will serve in an advisory capacity. Among its duties, the committee will be working on selecting nominees for three new Directors to replace Ruth Hood, Ruby Horvath and Dwight Mottet.
· The Board discussed a request received from the Rapidan Better Housing Agency for AARP’s financial support ($200) to provide a wheelchair ramp at the home of an individual living in LOW. The Board voted to table consideration of this matter until further information could be obtained. Dick Martin will follow-up on this subject.
· Hank Lewis presented a request received from Connie Buttimer and Sylvia Zelinsky for AARP’s participation (members dress up/operate a candy give-away table) at the Halloween party on the Clubhouse Point on Sunday, October 31. The Board elected to have Hank present this at the general AARP meeting on September 20 where he could ask for those interested to volunteer to help at this event.
· Perspectives:
Staples will continue to be used to seal the newsletter prior to mailing. A recommendation to switch from using staples to stick circles was deemed to be too expensive and labor intensive. It was decided that a new member will be added to the AARP’s committee listing which appears in the monthly newsletter – the Silent Auction Committee will now be included.
· Ruth Hood advised that school supplies collected by the AARP had been delivered.
· Eastern Piedmont Regional VOAD (Voluntary Organization Active in Disaster) – The Board voted to table discussion regarding AARP working with VOAD and other organizations to create a shelter within LOW until the next Board meeting.
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