President’s Letter
Our upcoming meeting on April 15 will bring happiness to most, and a little sadness to some, but hopefully no tears. What an auspicious day for a meeting -TAX day. I hope we won’t have snow, rain, tornados, etc., etc. We had a good member showing last month and our speaker Major General Eder entertained us with tales of Benson, her good friend and companion.
This month will be busy for most of us. We have (or will have had) the Richmond day trip. CarFit will take place on April 23 and 24. If you are unsure about CarFit see following article for details. We should be scheduling a Shredder Event either early May or June.
Before we know it, it will be time for our Annual June Picnic! Suggestions about entertainment are welcome. Please be prepared to sign up to help with chores for and during the picnic. We will need grill masters, food arrangers, a clean-up detail, etc..
Two gentlemen from the Library of Congress will be our speakers in April. The Library is a vast resource that most people don’t know enough about to access. Hopefully, after April 15, we will be mavens of research and knowledge.
Speaking of libraries, my brother has never gotten along very well in the literary world. One day he stormed into the library, walked up to the counter, and slammed a book on the desk. He looked at the Librarian and yelled, “This is the worst book I ever read! It has no plot and too many characters.” The Librarian looked up at him and calmly said, “So you’re the one who took our phone book.”
Dick Bradie, President
Film Preservationists to Speak
by Charlotte Baker, Publicity
AARP members and guests will be treated to insider information at the April 15 meeting. The formerly secret, mysterious bunker on Route 3 just outside Culpeper now houses the National Audio-Visual Conservation Center for the Library of Congress. Although many of us have enjoyed viewing the rare and fun films at public screenings, the crucial tasks of restoring and preserving films haven’t been given much publicity. George Willeman, Nitrate Film Vault Manager, will talk about not only film preservation but also the programs at the Packard Campus, the history of the film collection, and its importance in preventing further loss of our heritage.
Ed Bednarczyk will be Joining Mr. Willeman to answer another question: What’s up with the State Theatre in Culpeper? Built as a movie theatre in 1938 but closed for a number of years, it’s now on both the State and National Registers of Historic Places. Renovation under the auspices of the State Theatre Foundation is well underway, and a grand opening in May is scheduled. Mr. Bednarczyk, the Executive Director, will talk about what he has planned for the upcoming season.
Come to the Clubhouse at 9:30 AM for coffee and sweets and the opportunity to chat with old and new friends. The meeting begins at 10 AM.
If the handicapped parking places at the Clubhouse are all occupied, park near the Fitness Center and contact Larry Ervin at 972-0652 or Dick Bradie at 308-5507. They have volunteered to shuttle attendees from the parking lot to and from the Clubhouse front door.
SUNSHINE REPORT
Get-well Cards were sent to Stan Lasover, Jane Tobin, Grace McEuen and Donna Stanford. Thinking-of-You cards were sent to Carolyn & Boyce Wray.
If you know of a member who needs cheering up, contact Carolyn Durphy at 972-3306.
APRIL BIRTHDAYS (Aries and Taurus)
Krik Aamou, Bruce Boyd, Tom Collins, Betty Danley, Bob Fahy, Alfred Grella, Joyce Hardman, Paula Hornaday, Marge Howard, Frank Jacobeen, David LeMay, Carolyn Lewis, Maynard Matthies, Joseph McEuen, Dwight Mottet, Sheri Petersen, Noah Rakes, Sue Silliman, Jane Tobin, Doris Williams, David Witmer, and Dayle Young
NEW MEMBERS
Welcome to Mari Eder who joined our group in March.
Report Email Address Changes
AARP Chapter 5239 uses emails to alert members to upcoming events and happenings. To avoid being “out of touch,” please pass along your new email address
whenever you change it. Send an email to: aarp5239@gmail.com with a note giving your name and that it is a new address.
TRIPS AND TOURS
April 10 or 11 - There is still room on this trip. One day to Richmond to visit the Virginia War Memorial & Museum. Free time in Carytown where lunch will be on your own. $30/pp. Pierre 972-0519. Bus leaves LOW at 8:30 AM from LLCH parking lot.. Bus will leave Richmond at 3:45 PM for return to LOW.
April 24, AARP Ball Game (Nationals vs. St. Louis Cardinals). Cost: $63pp. Bus pick up 10:30 AM in LLCH parking lot. Info: Harvey at 972-2147 or John at 972-4883
June 11-13 Three days, two nights in Victorian Cape May, NJ. $399/pp (dbl) at Grand Hotel. Includes trolley tour, 2 breakfasts, and 2 dinners. $25 deposit, final payment prior to April 20. Call Pierre at 972-0519
September 29 to October 6, Cruise to Bermuda with the Bradies. Eleven days on the Norwegian Breakaway with one night pre-stay in Manhattan. Per-person prices range from $1,206 to $1,531.71 includes cruise, all port charges and taxes, pre-stay in NYC and $50 donation to AARP Chapter 5239. Bus transportation to and from NYC will be arranged, prices to follow. Payment Schedule: $250/pp deposit due at booking; final payment due by July 2. Info: Pooles’, 703-505-7593 or 540-842-4798.
October 7-9, Riding the Rails trip to WVA in the fall, and the 3 days - 2 nights. $420 PP (dbl). Two train excursions, 2 nights at Canaan Valley Resort, (incl 5 meals). We are taking names for the waiting list. Contact Kathi Martin for details.
December 3-5. Greenbrier trip Keep these trips in mind. More info, sign-ups and deposits will be announced later. $760/pp (dbl). Decorated inside and out for Christmas. Meals included at the Greenbrier. Info: Pierre 972-0519
In addition, the Travel Committee could use another person who is willing to take on the responsibility of organizing and leading a trip. We are currently looking for an individual willing to take on a planned trip to St. Michaels on the eastern shore, and/or organizing and leading a day trip or two.
NOTES, BITS AND PIECES
DUES! DUES! DUES! are overdue. If your address label is printed in any color other than black ink, you have not paid for 2013. Please pay at the next meeting or mail a check to AARP 5239, PO Box 945, Locust Grove, VA 22508
AARP Free Tax Service – Last Chance
The AARP Foundation sponsors a free tax preparation program open to anyone. There are some restrictions: we cannot help you if you own a business with inventory or expenses over $5,000, or if you own rental property.
The service operates through April 13 in the lower level Club-house by appointment only. Open Fridays 10 AM to 2 PM; Saturday 9 AM to 2 PM. Contact Joan Duy at 972-0360 for an appointment. Bring Social Security cards for all family members, 1099s, W2s, receipts for all items to be declared and a copy of your 2011 tax return,
CARFIT = Find the Perfect Fit in Your Vehicle (CANCELLED)
by Dick Bradie, President,
CarFit is a program sponsored by AARP and Aging Together, which is designed to help mature drivers find out how well they currently fit their personal vehicle, to highlight actions they can take to improve their fit, and to promote conversations about driver safety and community mobility.
Trained AARP members will meet participants in the lower level parking lot of the Clubhouse on April 24 to fit seniors to their cars. To take part in this event, register for a 20-minute time slot by calling Dick at 308-5507 or Tony at 972-2016. We have plenty of openings.
In case of inclement weather, the event will be held in one of the bays at the LOW Fire and Rescue station on Lakeview Parkway. Register now and come take advantage of this expert advice.
AARP Silent Auction:
Your generosity (with some help from Mother Nature) has overwhelmed us. Please hold your contributions until May; thank you. Contact Mary Hudak at 972-8042 or Karen Kovarik at 972-7866 to arrange pick up. While we welcome contributions at the meeting, those given in advance help us with pricing.
The Skinny on Generic Drugs
by Sandie Frame
If you take generic medications, don’t be confused if the color and/or shape of the pills change when you refill your prescriptions. Pharmacies often get the same generic drug from different manufacturers, depending on price and availability, and the pills can vary in appearance. Receiving most of mine from the military pharmacy, I can tell you that my pills often change size, shape and color, and they are the correct that was ordered.
People who get generic drugs that have a different color are more likely to stop taking them, according to a new study that followed 60,000 patients taking seizure medications. The change in appearance can confuse people, who also may question the effectiveness of the odd colored or odd shaped pills they have received. Needless to say, if you have any questions about any drug – generic or brand – talk to your health care provider or pharmacist.
University of California, Berkley Wellness Letter, Volume 29, Issue¸ April 2013
Legislative News
by Toni Quattromani
The information in this month’s column is taken from the AARP web site and from several newspaper articles over the past month.
Annual changes in social security benefits and some other retirement plans (federal and military retired pay, railroad retirement, veteran’s compensation and pension, and Supplemental Security Income) are the result of changes in the Consumer Price Index or CPI which is linked to the annual inflation rate. One of the suggested solutions to our fiscal cliff discussion that surfaced in December of last year is the concept of a Chained CPI.
A chained CPI assumes that people make changes in their buying habits if prices go up – buying cheaper goods like chicken instead of beef. The current CPI assumes you keep buying beef raising your cost of living faster. The chained CPI calculation “chains together” groups of goods instead of looking at price increases of single products.
A Chained CPI does not increase as rapidly as the inflation rate and therefore if it is enacted we can expect to see our SS and pensions, etc., increase less each year. Over the course of a lifetime, it would cost the average senior thousands of dollars. The cut would grow deeper each year because the base benefit would grow more slowly.
Keep reading AARP publications and the web site for more information.
Accounts:
checkbook Balance 02/28/2013 $5,339.83
Total Income $114.00
Total Expenses -$451.47
Total Tours & Trips Received $0.00
Total Tours & Trips Disbursed -$200.00
Checkbook Balance 03/26/2013 $4,802.36
Interest Bearing Account $1,092.17
Petty Cash $114.00
Total Accounts 02/28/2013 $5,894.53
