Picnic…Honors…Swimsuit Time
The relaxed, easy-going “Sweet Summer” is at long-last about to be with us. This means it’s time for enjoying the daily warmth and “slow-down” attitude of our daily grind.
Our Chapter’s Annual Picnic is scheduled for Monday, June 20, in the Lion George Lewis Pavilion at Sweetbriar Park. The Chapter will again provide the hamburgers and hot dogs, and lemon-ade. Members will provide the side-dishes, salads, and desserts to be shared by all. Food lines will open at 11:30 AM, so please arrange to have your foods at the Pavilion some time before then for setting out on the buffet tables.
June is also the time for submitting our nominations of Chapter members and groups to LOWA for their annual Honor Awards, “designed to recognize individuals and groups for volunteer contributions to the welfare of Lake of the Woods residents.” We did an informa-tional emailing on the Honor Awards recently to members.
Nominations close Thursday, June 30, and awards are presented at the annual LOWA meeting on Labor Day weekend. Nomination forms (fully filled out with reasons why the nominee should be honored) are available at the Holcomb Building or online at www.lowa.org . Or you can email your nominations to me Doodoo1066@Verizon.net to coordinate through the Chapter Nominations Committee, and we’ll handle submitting everything to LOWA for their consideration.
And June means “Swimsuit Time” at our pools and lakes. And that brings an unhappy “oh-oh” from many of us when we first put on our swim suits. If re-adjusting your eating habits is in order to better fit a swimsuit, log on to www.mypyramid.gov and then click on “MyPyramid Plan.” Fill in the requested details to find the best amount of each food group you should eat daily to be slim, trim, and svelte.
Finally, a guy was sitting at the Fareways Snack Bar, looking sad as he sipped his coffee. A friend saw him and asked, “What’s wrong? Why are you looking so gloomy today?”
“My wife and I got into a fight and she said she wouldn’t talk to me for a month.”
“What’s wrong with that?” the friend asked.
“The month is up tonight!”
Dick Martin, President
AARP Annual June Picnic
by Carolyn Wray, Publicity, AARP Chapter 5239
AARP Chapter 5239 will hold its annual picnic on Monday, June 20, rain or shine at the Lion George Lewis Pavilion in Sweetbriar Park. This popular event will start at 11:30 AM. Hamburgers, hot dogs, beverages, paper goods, and utensils will be provided by the AARP Club. Members are requested to bring their favorite potluck dishes, casseroles, salads, or desserts to share with everyone.
This is a very special social event for all to meet and greet old friends and meet new ones. It is fun to share stories and new jokes and good food. Please come and bring a friend.
JUNE BIRTHDAY--(Gemini and Cancer)
Sal Buccola, Connie Buttimer, Ida Cangelos, Philip Carmona, Lucy Churchill, Robert Cooke, Marva Culp, Ralph Daehnke, Richard Durphy, Nell Grimley, Marian Hamilton, Joanne Hewitson, Sibyle Jenks, Roxanne Kessler, Chuck King, Rina Lacey, William Mason, Nancy Miller, Jan Moore, Eugene Ostlund, June Pataky, Craig Rains, June Romedy, Bonnie Rowan, Judy Schrage, Sheila Souther, Donna Stanford, Marilyn Gramm Sunkel, Ginny Thoms, John Trach, Sandy Wemmerus, and Carolyn Wray
NEW MEMBERS
We welcome Martha Foote, Jane Wilde, Jim and Jan Lemieux, and Joe Wright who joined as new members in May.
SUNSHINE REPORT
A sympathy card was sent to Dick Berra on the loss of his wife Helen.
Get well cards were sent to Kathleen Brady and Kathleen Martin.
If you know of a member who needs cheering up, contact Carolyn Durphy at 972-3306.
AARP Day of Service
by Bob Johnson, Volunteer Coordinator
Wednesday and Thursday, May 18-19, were our Volunteer Service days. First, thanks to all of you who volunteered and accom-plished a huge service to our community.
While the final report and pictures are not tallied yet, I’m sure we met our goal of 10% participation by our members. Many were off to graduations of children, grandchildren, and even great-grandchildren, which proved family comes first.
Just a reminder to leaders of the projects—please send me a report of your accomplish-ments and even your challenges for next year’s planning. Photographers—send me the pictures or give them to me on a CD.
From what I know already, we served TRIAD, the SAFE house in Culpeper, and the Wilderness Battlefield by doing tasks they either could not do or did not have the time or resources to do. Bonnie Boelke stepped up to the challenge to do lunches and had wonderful assistance from others. Speaking for myself, the lunches were absolutely the right thing at the right time!
I’ll get a report and some pictures out later, but until then, THANKS to all!
NOTES, BITS AND PIECES
Silent Auction by Patti Batten
Thanks to Ruth Wallace, Diane Weller & Jean Molinari for doing the Silent Auction for the month of May. I understand they made over $100.
We will not have a silent auction in June, due to the picnic. You may bring your new or gently used items for the July silent auction to the picnic, or call Patti at 972-1370 to have them picked up.
Email Guru Sought
Wanted – Email savvy member who would be willing to keep chapter email list up to date and to periodically send out notices of interest to members. AARP Chapter 5239 uses emails to alert members to upcoming events and happenings.
Joe Diamondstein, who has served our chapter as newsletter editor and as email contact for many years, has decided to step down. Out thanks to Joe for his dedication to keeping our chapter well informed.
What is Woods Cares?
by Janet Terry and Jeanette Embrey,
Co-Chairs of AARP's Woods Cares
Woods Cares is a group of AARP volunteers helping individuals within or near Lake of the Woods who are shut-ins, caregivers of shut-ins, or those in need for Some other reason. We have been serving our community members for the past 10 years. There are approximately 45 AARP members who have volunteered their time and/or talents. These individuals are all over the age of 50. Most of them are 60-, 70-, and 80-year-olds, who continue to be of service to their neighbors.
Services provided in the past have consisted of transporting people to doctor's appointments, dialysis or cancer treatments, the grocery store, or beauty appointments, and picking up prescriptions, or running other errands. Other helpful tasks have included simple plumbing repairs, small appliance repairs, raking leaves, and transporting trash to the compactor. We have also visited with shut-ins to give their caregivers a break. This list represents a sample of what you may need us to do for you. Remember, this is a free service.
If you would like to be a volunteer or know of someone who has need of our services, please contact one of our committee persons, and they will endeavor to find a person to help. Right now we are in urgent need of additional volunteers to drive several persons to dialysis weekly. With enough volunteers, each person would only need to drive once a month or less. For information and/or to volunteer, please call: Gail at 972-7436; Pat at 972-9223, Marion at 972-4085; Jeanette at 972-0726; or Janet at 972-1957.
Any help you can offer will be greatly appreciated. Our AARP motto is, "The Power to Make it Better."
LEGISLATIVE REPORT
by Pat Berry
With all the other headlines shrieking at us about the world situation, it’s likely that you missed the passage of the Patient Self-Determination Act of 1990. With that piece of legislation, Congress affirmed the right of every citizen to document his or her future healthcare wishes in writing with an “advance directive.” And now the Virginia Department of Health is preparing on online registry for advance directives that will offer secure storage of documents that protect your legal rights and ensure your medical wishes are honored if you are unable to manage your own care.
Such a registry would verify the type of care you want extended during an incapacitating condition, identify the person/people who can make decisions for you, communicate your wishes to those involved in your care and provide documentation for these personal health care decisions.
MORE ON THE SHINGLES VACCINE
by Sandie Frame
Sally Lyddane wrote to tell me that Medicare Part D coverage does pay a portion of the cost of the Zostavax. You have to have the prescription written by your M.D., as for any other drug, then send it in to your Part D provider. They send the vaccine to your physician, in your name, and then you get it from your physician.
I am not sure whether Part B will pay any part of the fee for the administration of the vaccine. Sally’s Part D provider had a co-pay of $40. Another source is the Health Depart-ment. Previously they were giving it free; however, this time they will be charging $200 for the vaccine. You can check to see if there will be any change in that policy. Their number is 672-1291.
Dick Brady found out that if you are being cared for under the VA umbrella you can get the vaccine from them. Walgreen’s has an ad on their window that they now provide the vaccine and will accept Medicare Part D. You can check with them to see what steps you have to take before receiving the vaccine through them. If anyone else knows of other sources, please let me know and we can let others know at the next meeting.
It’s Getting Closer
by Dick Bradie, New York Picnic Committee
What’s getting closer, you may ask? The New York Picnic, of course. Because of the 10-year Anniversary of the 911 tragedy, and since all Americans have been touched by the events of that dark day in 2001, we are inviting everyone to the NY Picnic. Ticket sales will commence soon (contacts for purchase of tickets will be announced in an upcoming Lake Currents) and will continue until we have reached the maximum for the Sweetbriar Park Pavilion. Remember the date—September 10, 2011, starting at Noon. Our caterer, Elmwood at Sparks, will be supplying the meal. The $15 ticket price includes the meal, a souvenir journal, and all supplies and decorations. The meal will be two salads, two entrées, breads with spread, and dessert. Coffee will be supplied; you are encouraged to bring any other drinks you would like to have.
Any profits realized will be donated to Sheltering Arms in Orange
Highlights of the May Meeting by Pam Nalls
- Roberta “Bobbie” Prees will again be leading the AARP team for the July Cardboard Boat Race, which benefits the Lake Youth Foundation. Volunteers are needed for construction. Please contact Bobbie at 972-4225.
-Dwight Mottet, Chair of the Chicken BBQ Committee, announced that Tom Hamilton will again serve as Co-Chair for the annual November Election Day BBQ. Dwight noted that this function requires approximately 120 member volunteers and has previously raised around $2,500 for charity. So, get ready to lend a hand for this important charity event.
-The Silent Auction took in $147.
-Paul Tobin conducted the 50/50 drawing; John Trach was the winner of $53.50.
-June 20 is the annual AARP picnic to be held at Sweetbriar Pavilion and commencing at 11:30AM.
