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.
