President’s Letter
Well, I guess all good things come to an end. The two years that I have served as your President have been a truly exciting and enjoyable experi-ence for me, and I hope for all of you also. We have seen many events, activities, programs, trips and just plain fun, with little or no pain. Let me list some of the activities that make our members glad to be involved and what the past two years have meant for our Chapter.
-Our
Food pantry Drives were a big success.
-Volunteer
Days did much for our Community here in the Lake and around Orange County.
-Vin
Etching was conducted to thwart auto theft.
-Entertaining/informative
speakers kept us laughing, thoughtful and educated.
-Local
day trips, train rides, cruises, beach stay, and deep south excursions kept us
hopping.
-Election
Day Chicken BBQ successes that brought many dollars into the chapter.
I
could go on and on and also name all those responsible for our enjoyment and
elucidation. That would take many pages. Let me summarize by saying THANK YOU
to all who served-the Officers, Directors, Committee Chair people, and the rank
and file who gave their support for our many doings.
When
it’s time to say adieu, it’s best to say it with a smile and a chuckle.
You
all know that I really have a brother. Now, for the rest of the story.
My
brother and I were sitting in a park a short time ago. I turned to Martin and
said “I’m 77 years old and full of aches and pains. You’re older than I am.
How do you feel?” My brother replied “I feel just like a new-born baby.”
“Really,” I said, “like a baby?” “Yes,” Martin said, “…no
hair, no teeth, and I think I just wet myself.”
Dick Bradie, President
AARP to Celebrate with Potluck
by Charlotte Baker, Publicity
It’s almost here! A favorite meeting
for everyone, the AARP Christmas Pot Luck Luncheon will be held on Monday,
December 16, at the Community Center. We are pleased that Millie Wieser,
President of the Culpeper AARP Chapter, has agreed to officiate at the
swearing-in of next year’s officers.
Of course, we
all look forward to sampling everyone’s favorite dish. Unless you always
provide Grandma’s special-recipe casserole, those whose name begins with A
through M are asked to contribute a main or side dish; those whose names are
between N and Z are asked to bring a dessert.
The festivities
begin at 11:30 AM. Please bring your
food and help with setup between 11 and 11:30 PM. Everyone is welcome to join
us on December 16!
SUNSHINE REPORT
A Thinking-of-You
card was sent to Tom & Anne Walker.
Get-Well Cards were sent to Dick Durphy,
who was briefly hospitalized with pneumonia and afib in the heart; and to
Marion Jacobeen and Rae Lamon, who had surgeries.
Sympathy Cards were sent to Vi &
Frank Liberti on the passing of a brother and to Irene & Pierre Payette on
the passing of her sister.
If you know of a member who needs cheering up,
contact Carolyn Durphy at 972-3306.
DECEMBER
BIRTHDAYS
(Sagittarius and Capricorn)
Dick
Berra, Norman Bielmeier, Betty Collins, Donna Crawley, Marion Doherty, Judy
Fahy, Paul Gunther, Robert Haring, Jackie Hill, Ruth Hood, Marion Jacobeen, Joan
King, David Kovarik, Hank Lewis, Judy Minzes, Pat Phillipo, James Protiva, Florence
Ramey, Ed Rowan, Gail Sauro, Chuck Spruce, Kathleen Stephens, Joseph Wascalus,
and Elaine Witcher
NEW MEMBERS
Welcome new members Hattie
Brinsfield, Patti Pfeifer, Doug and Peggy Pope, and Marianne Winters, who
joined in November.
NEW OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS
AARP Chapter 5239's new Officers and Directors will
be sworn into office for 2014 at the chapter's Annual Christmas Meeting on
Monday, December 16. All will be sworn in by Millie Weiser, president of
the AARP chapter in Culpeper.
New Chapter Officers will be Tony Aris,
President; Carolyn Durphy, Vice President;
and Larry Ervin, Treasurer. The position of Secretary is open again, and we invite interested members
to contact new President Tony Aris at 972-2016 to volunteer to fill this
position. PLEASE, someone, STEP
FORWARD.
Directors for 2014 are Dick Durphy, Sandi McNeilly,
Pam Nalls, Sharon Webb, Larry Eiben, and Immediate Past President Dick Bradie.
TRIPS AND TOURS
March 31 -
April 2. 2014. Travel to AMISHLANDS of Pennsylvania, featuring Sight and Sounds’ Moses. Three days - 2 nights.
Includes 2 nights lodging at the Country Living Inn; 2 full breakfasts; 2 full
dinners, including a family-style "Dine with the Amish" dinner and
Shady Maple Smorgasbord. Also included are a guided tour of the Amish
countryside, including stops at an Amish Craft Farm and bake shop; Kitchen
Kettle Village and Bird-in-Hand Farmer's Market.
Cost is $349
per person (dbl) and $438 (sing). $25 per person deposit will reserve
your spot. This trip is filling fast! For info/reservations, contact Pierre Payette at 972-0519 or email: pierre114@verizon.net
Sunday, April 27, 2014. - International Tattoo, You asked for it and here it is! Two of the
most frequent requests I hear on the Travel Committee are for day trips
and the Tattoo, so we've put together a great day trip for the
Tattoo. Just see what the trip will include:
*Bus transportation from LOW to Norfolk
*The Norfolk Botanical Gardens and Tram Tour
*Tattoo Hullabaloo Entertainment
*THE VIRGINIA INTERNATIONAL TATTOO
*Dinner (restaurant TBA)
*Taxes and gratuities for dinner AND Driver
Price is $122 per person. This is a great
outing, so contact Kathi Martin at kak1066@verizon.net
or 972-5242, include your phone number and email add-ress. Deposit of
$25 per person due by January 15.
November 9-16, 2014. Cruise to Caribbean. In 2013, our successful fundraising cruise to
Bermuda on a brand new Norwegian
Breakaway cruise ship raised $2,477 for the Chapter.
Another fundraising cruise is set for 2014, on the
brand new Regal Princess, which will
sail for 7 nights to the Eastern Caribbean, round trip out of Ft. Lauderdale,
Florida. Ports of call include St. Thomas of the U.S. Virgin Islands, St.
Maarten, and Princess Cays in the Bahamas.
Plan to spend a full relaxing week next November in
the warm climes of the Caribbean, and experience a brand-new cruise ship during
its maiden year. Info: Skip or Joy Poole at s.poole@cruiseone.com,
Skip at 703-505-7593 or Joy at 972-7354.
Join
the Travel Committee - we could use another person who is willing to take on the
responsibility of organizing and leading a day trip or two.
NOTES, BITS AND PIECES
Email, Email, Email, Are you Receiving?
If you have not been
receiving the Chapter emails, please send a note to: AARP5239@gmail.com include
your full name.
Woods Cares
If you or someone you
know is in need of a ride or if you are willing to help, please contact Gail
Henderson at 972-7436, or Jeanette Embrey at 972-0726.
Silent Auction
In
a small southern town there was a “Nativity Scene” that showed great skill and
talent had gone into creating it. One small feature bothered me.
The
three wise men were wearing firemen's helmets. Totally unable to come up with a
reason or explanation, I left.
At
a “Quik Stop” on the edge of town, I asked the lady behind the counter about
the helmets.
She
exploded into a rage, yelling at me, “You stupid Yankees never do read the
Bible!” I assured her that I did, but simply couldn't recall anything about
firemen in the Bible.
She
jerked her Bible from behind the counter and ruffled through some pages, and
finally jabbed her finger at a passage. Sticking it in my face she said “See,
it says right here, 'The three wise men came from afar.’”
There will not be a silent auction at the December
meeting. New organizers will be needed for 2014. Contact Tony Aris if you are
interested in volunteering.
Legislative News for December 2013
by Tony Quattromani
More Information on
Medicare and the Health Insurance Exchange (the Marketplace):
Most important to note
– Medicare is NOT part of the Marketplace. If you are covered by Medicare you
cannot buy additional insurance from the Marketplace. You may buy additional
insurance such as a Medigap plan or an Advantage Plan, but you can only buy
such plans from private insurers. Your Medicare plan, as well as Tricare plans
meets the requirements of the Affordable Care Act.
The bottom line is:
If you are presently
covered by Medicare, you do not need to
do anything.
Colonoscopy Still Tops
for Preventing Colorectal Cancer
by
Sandie Frame, Medical Issues
While there are other screening tests that are less
burdensome a physician with the Cleveland Clinic’s Department of Colorectal
Surgery states “you could say that any screening is better than none. The one
advantage that colonoscopy has is it’s the only test that is preventive as well
as diagnostic.” Since Medicare covers a yearly fecal test (bottom option) we
should avail ourselves of this test; however, a colonoscopy is still considered
the most definitive test and if you have not had one please consider it.
Colorectal Screening Options
Colonoscopy
(Every 10 yrs.)
- Typically allows exam of entire colon;
- Can
remove polyps or biopsy suspicious tissue
- Intensive bowel prep; requires sedation;
- Small risk of bleeding or bowel
perforation
Medicare covers once every 10 years for average- risk patients,
every two years for high-risk patients,
or four years after flexible
sigmoidoscopy.
Flexible Sigmoidoscopy (Every 5 yrs.)
- Less
intensive bowel prep.; no sedation necessary;
- Can
identify polyps.
- May
cause discomfort; risk of missing polyps because only 1/3 of colon examined;
- Very small risk of bleeding or bowel
perforation
- Colonoscopy is required for abnormal
findings.
Medicare covers test every four years, but not within10 years
of a previous colonoscopy.
CT Colonography
(Every 5 yrs. )
- Typically allows exam of entire colon,
mostly non Invasive;
- No
sedation necessary; can ID polyps
- Intensive bowel prep; may miss small
polyps;
- Air used to inflate colon may cause
discomfort;
- colposcopy required to remove polyps or for
other abnormal findings.
Medicare:
No coverage offered Fecal Immuno-Chemical Test (Yearly)
- No bowel preparation, no dietary
restrictions no risk of bowel injury;
- Sensitive to colorectal cancer.
- Does not detect polyps, small rate of
false positive results
- Colonoscopy required for abnormal findings.
Medicare covers annual testing
Highlights
of the November 18, 2013, Meeting
by
Joan Albertella, Secretary
- President Bradie opened the meeting and reminded
members to hang up on Medicare scam calls.
- He announced that 2014 chairs are needed for
refreshments, silent auction, and 50/50 raffle. Please volunteer for one of
these positions.
-Carla Wascalus gave the slate for 2014 Chapter
officers and directors. A vote was taken and the slate approved.
- President Bradie stated $9115 was given in
donations to various organizations. Donated funds were raised from the Chicken
Barbecue and the Fund raising cruise.
- He presented an award to Vi Liberti for her
assistance and quick turnaround for Certificates of Appreciation for Chapter
members efforts.
- Chapter Christmas party – December 16 at the
community center. Volunteers are needed for setup and take down. Ann Wood asked
that members whose last names begin with A-M bring a main dish and members N-Z
a dessert. Dishes should arrive between 11-11:30 AM.
Tours and Travel:
Pierre Payette announced several trips for 2014:
- Amish land, March 31-April 2.
- Virginia International Tattoo, Norfolk, VA, April
27
A $25 deposit is requested to hold a spot
- (Tentative) Finger Lakes country, NY, late
May.
- Skip Poole stated there will be another
fundraising cruise in November 2014.
-
The 50/50 was won by Marie Johnson
=The
next chapter meeting will be held on Monday, December 16, 2013, at the community center.
DUES,DUES, DUES, DUE
IN JANUARY 2014
By Carla Wascalus,
membership.
In the January issue of the Perspectives
an envelope addressed to the Chapter will be included (hopefully it won’t fall
out). Please use it to mail in your dues of $7.00 per person $14.00 married. If
both are members and we get only a check for $7.00 we will credit the name of
the person who wrote the check. So
husbands be nice and pay for your wife if she wants to be/remain a member. You
may also pay at the meeting.
NOTE:
IF YOU ARE A NEW MEMBER AND JOINED IN SEPTEMBER, OCTOBER, OR NOVEMBER
your dues are paid through December 31, 2014.
Some of you have already paid for 2014,
but I have to include an envelope in every Perspectives because they all have
to weigh the same. Just throw away
envelope if you want.
Thank you in advance for
your prompt payment.
