President’s Letter
Well, here we are heading for autumn; but with the crazy weather we’ve been having, we don’t know whether we will have temperatures hotter than July or 24 inches of snow. Ok, we’ll work our way through it, especially when we can experi-ence such exciting and inspiring efforts of our own members.
Commodore Bobbie Prees showed determination, pluck, and just plain Olympic greatness when she edged out the second place boat in the recent Card Board Boat Regatta. The VETs boat, the USS LOW VETS, came awfully close to winning, but Bobbie persevered. The crews of all the boats deserve kudos for their boat designs and tenacity. By the way, Bobbie’s boat PINGU II and the VETS Destroyer tied for Peoples’ Choice entries.
As we head into the later part of the year, we have a lot to look forward to. Kathi Martin will be heading up the Wilderness Food Pantry Drive, Bob Johnson is setting up the Day of Service, and Tony Aris will be working out the kinks of the CarFit Program to bring us a necessary and important event. Also, we have the Christmas Luncheon in December. One year our little grand-daughter said that she liked the AARP picnic luncheon because “Homemade Grandma food is so good!”
To go back to the boat race and things naval, let me tell you a story about my brother. When he was in the Navy, his tough old Navy Chief snarled at him one day, “I suppose after you get discharged you’ll be waiting for me to die so you can pee on my grave.” “Not me, Chief,” my brother said, “Once I get out of the Navy, I’m never going to stand in line again.”
See you on August 20 for our next meeting.
Dick Bradie, President
Retrospective of Life in a Small Town
by Dick Bradie, President, AARP Chapter 5239
John Amos, an accomplished writer and a native of this area, will be the speaker at our Monday, August 20, meeting to talk about life in this area of Virginia. He writes a column in both the Orange County Review and the Free Lance-Star entitled “Every Now and Then.”
Mr. Amos is a native of our area who currently resides in Woodberry Forest in Madison County. He graduated in 1980 from the University of Virginia. Mr. Amos has taught high school English for 32 years in independent schools, primarily at Woodberry Forest School in Madison County.
His essays frequently center around the need to preserve community, the power of remembering,
and the beautify of simple things. Many of us will nod in agreement if he mentions his regrets about the disappearance of literacy and old-fashioned news reporting.
SUNSHINE REPORT
A Get-well card was sent to Mary Lou Roth and a Thinking-of-You card to Ruby Horvath.
If you know of a member who needs cheering up, contact Carolyn Durphy at 972-3306.
August Birthdays
(Leo and Virgo)
Marie Barrett, Pat Berry, Anne Boyd, Helen, Brewer, Gerlinde Carmona, Kasee Charest, Judy Chess, Alice Clune, John Connon, Jean Ann Daniels, Philip DeSimone, Larry Ervin, Lee Frame, Mary Hadley;
Lynn Hein, Betty Hughes, Robert Johnson, Martha Keys, Gloria Kidwe, Connie LeMay, Ruth Lenwell, Virginia Lynch, Marilyn McKay, Vera Moody, Gerald Mueller, Margaret Ostlund,Joan Parnell, Larry Petersen, Mike Pulice, Ralph Scheuermann, Darlene Seyler, James Shorten, Emily Slunt, Charles Taylor, Harold Thompson, Patricia Watterworth, and Beverly Zabka.
New Members
Welcome to our new members Anthony and Alice Quattromani who joined the chapter in July.
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 AARP5239@gmail.com or call Carla 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.
Nominating Committee
by Dick Bradie, President
According to our Standing Rules, a Nominating committee, composed of five members who will serve for one-year terms, needs to be in place and actively doing their job, no later than the September BOD meeting, September 9. The members of the Committee will elect the chairperson.
Their job is to nominate the four officers to be elected each year, who may serve no more than two consecutive terms; and the five Directors, also to be elected each year, who will not serve more than three consecutive terms. The immediate past President is the tenth member of the BOD.
Please volunteer for this Committee by letting Tony Aris at 972-2016 know your intentions. I'll go out on a limb before speaking to him, but Pierre Payette was on a Nominating Commit-tee and is certainly qualified to help with what and how things need to be accomplished.
Donate School Supplies for OC Kids
by Ruth Hood, Coordinator, School Supplies
OC schools will be opening September 6, and AARP is again planning to collect school supplies for needy students. This is the time to shop—the stores are having “Back to School” sales right now. Guidance Counselors distribute donated items using the free-and-reduced lunch list to identify appropriate students.
Supplies needed in multiples across all grade levels 1 through 6 include: black “marble” notebooks (stitched); large glue sticks; 3x5 cards; colored pencils; handheld pencil sharpeners; yellow highlighters; solid color pocket folders with fasteners; 1” and 2” three-ring binders; packages of loose-leaf paper (wide ruled, three-hole punched); and hand sanitizer. The supply lists for OC Schools are available at www.ocss-va.org, click on supply lists on right.
Supplies can be brought to the August 20 meeting and will be distributed to OC schools. If you need more information, contact Ruth Hood at 972-3249 or email rhhood@verizon.net.
NOTES, BITS AND PIECES
Volunteers Needed
We need your help. Our chapter cannot operate efficiently without member volunteers. The more volunteers there are for a job, the easier that job is to complete. Volunteers are still needed to help with set-up and break down for the chapter meetings. Your assistance would be greatly appreciated. Please consider volunteering where you can. Contact the Bradies at 308-5507 or aceboggs16@yahoo.com
TRIPS AND TOURS
Reminder, August 22 - Day trip to Stratford Hall, bus leaves at 8 AM lower level Clubhouse. Info: Kathi Martin at kak1066@verizon.net or 972 -5242.
Sept. 4-7, Seats are still available for this neat motor coach tour of the Hudson Valley, NY—4 days, 3 nights. $559 pp dbl, $699 single. Price includes lodging, transportation, 6 meals, and tour and lunch at the Culinary Institute of America, a Hudson River Cruise, and tours of USMA West Point, FDR’s house, and the Vanderbilt mansion, and the 911 memorial in NYC. We have a single lady hoping to share a room with another lady. So come on and join us for the fun.
Non AARP 5239 members are welcome. Reservations and $25 deposit or full payment checks are needed ASAP. Call Roxanne at 972-8364 and join us!
Assistance for Handicapped Members
For those members who wish to go to chapter meetings but cannot get a parking place in the handicapped area, help is here! From 9:30-9:45 AM the Ervins have organized transportation from the parking lot to the Clubhouse door for those who need assistance. Park your car near the Fitness Center, stand by your car, and look for Larry Ervin.
NY Club Picnic Fundraisers Needed
by John Trach
The New York Club is planning their annual picnic scheduled from Noon to 4 PM on Saturday, September 8, at the Lion George Lewis Pavilion at Sweetbriar Park.Come meet your neighbors who hail from New York, and reminisce about the good ole’ days. The meal will be catered and will consist of two hot entrées, a side salad, bread, dessert, coffee, tea & water. Those of you who wish to do so may BYOD. Tickets cost $15/person, and may be obtained by contacting: Dick at 540-308-5507, John at 972-4883, or Nick at 972-0350.
All proceeds raised will be donated to Childhelp. Let us never forget!
Medical News
by Sandie Frame
Sea salt is often marketed as a healthier alternative to table salt, but that is misleading. Both sea salt and table salt contain two minerals sodium and chloride. By weight, they contain the same amount of sodium and both can affect blood pressure. The difference between the two is in the processing, taste and texture. Sea salt is made through the evaporation of seawater. Table salt is mined from underground salt deposits. Sea salt crystals are larger than table salt so less fits on the teaspoon so it appears to be lower in sodium. One gram of sea salt contains 400 mg of sodium while one gram of table salt contains 395 mg. of sodium.
It does not matter where the sodium comes from – the sea or an underground salt mine – sodium is sodium and will have the same effect on your health. Health experts mg a day – or 1,500 mg of you are over 50 years old, are African-American, or have high blood pressure, diabetes or chronic kidney disease.
Beware of products that tout sea salt as a health ingredient. Many of the products it’s found in are far from healthy. For example, putting sea salt on potato chips does not make them a healthy food. One ounce (about 15 chips) will still have 150 calories and 160 mg of sodium whether the chips contain sea salt or regular salt. The same applies to other snack foods. If you enjoy the taste of sea salt use it, but keep in mind that you may end up paying more. Bottom line: Consume all salt in moderation.
Excerpts from Women’s Health Reporter, Volume 13/Number 7, July 2012
Legislative News
by Toni Quattromani
Affordable Care Act (ACA) - The Supreme Court has declared the ACA constitutional. The ACA was signed into effect in 2011 and it is now the law of the land. Accordingly, misconceptions are rampant over the Internet and rumors are flying about new taxes everyone will have to pay beginning with the 2013 tax year.
The Medical Device Excise Tax will take effect Jan 1, 2013. The misconceptions and rumors say that the consumer will have to pay a 2.3% tax on all medical devices purchased. Actually, the tax is an excise tax to be paid by the manufacturer, producer, or exporter on its reported revenues for the year. Although you the consumer may not pay the tax directly, it is probably safe to assume that the tax amount will be included in the price you pay.
Now the question of interest is: What exactly is a medical device?” I have read the IRS proposal on the Medical Device Excise Tax, as well as interpretations by several interested associations and accounting firms. In short, I could not find a clear and concise definition of “medical devices.” It is generally agreed that the tax will not be levied on devices generally bought by the public for personal use.
Next month I will summarize another tax provision of the ACA – a 3.8% tax on investments, that may affect some of us.
Thanks for your contributions to the Wilderness Food Pantry! The Pantry is truly grateful to AARP for your donations. We will be collecting grocery items for the Food Pantry at the AARP next meeting. This month the Pantry needs cereals and sides (Hamburger Helper, pasta or potato side packets, etc.) Canned meats and sides are also a great choice. PLEASE no personal items.
The Food Bank also needs your used egg cartons as well as plastic grocery bags. Any and all items will be appreciated.
Betty Hughes needs the following items for the OC Animal Shelter: towels, blankets, canned cat and dog food and kitty litter. She is also seeking knitting yarn for a volunteer who is making cat beds.
Marie Barrett will now be collecting the Betty Crocker labels & the box top coupons for education. A special thank you goes to all those who save these items for charity.
EYE GLASS PROCESSING: Betty Hughes is looking for more volunteers to help on the 4th Wednesday of the month 9 AM to Noon. The work is not hard and the company is excellent. Even if you can’t come every month, you can still help; come when you can. If interested please call Betty at 972-3820
Highlights of the July 16, Meeting
by Joan Albertella, Secretary
* President Dick Bradie recognized individuals who have contributed so much to the activities of the chapter and LOWA. He presented certificates to Ruth Hood for outstanding service to the chapter and the LOW community, to Sandy Wemmerus for her service as coordinator for the Chapter volunteer hours, and to Barbara Rueckert for her service as head greeter at Chapter meetings.
* President Bradie once again stressed the need for volunteers to help set up and take down for the Chapter meeting.
* A nomination was submitted by President Bradie for the Warren J. Lodge Honor Award. He also nominated the Chapter for the Distinguished Service Group Award.
* Bob Johnson announced the Day of Service will be September 20.
* Tony Aris is working with Bonnie Vermillion from Aging Together on an October date for Car Fit
* A volunteer is still needed to take over Legislative Reporting on issues appropriate to seniors. If interested, please contact Pat Berry regarding the duties.
* Carolyn Wray has resigned as Publicity Chair. Please contact Dick Bradie if you are interested in this position.
* Kathi Martin announced that the Food Drive will be held on September 15.
* Reminder: The New York Picnic will be held September 8, Noon-4 PM. Contact John Trach or Dick Bradie for tickets.
* The 50/50 was won by Aggie Mucciacciaro.
* The next chapter meeting will be Monday, August 20, 2012.
