Is it possible? Is it true? Am I actually
feeling a little warm? They say Spring has sprung, but I’m not so sure. One day
it’s shorts, and the next day I have to don my winter coat, gloves, ear muffs,
etc. Well, maybe that’s just me but I am certainly confused by the up-and- down
weather.
What I’m not confused about is the quality
folks in our AARP chapter. Charlotte Baker, Nell Meador, Tony Quattromani, Bob
Johnson, Vi Liberti, Ann Wood and Sandi McNeilly have volunteered to either
take over a job or pitch in to help. It’s comforting to know that with a
population such as our chapter has, that we can count on more folks stepping up
to volunteer. We have some significant events coming up that will require help.
Our annual picnic in June is broken up into
several tasks. No one task is a back breaker or a time killer. We will be
talking about the picnic at our May meeting. Sometime after that we will be
collecting money and food for the Food Drive. Then of course, like every year
we will be helping those who need some kind of assistance on our Volunteer Day.
A Shredder Event and Vin Etching Program are still in the offing, possibly in
middle/late summer to early fall. Again, all of these activities will be
discussed at our May meeting. You can see how important it will be for good
attendance and eager volunteering.
Ok, enough about pitching in. Fun stuff is
coming: picnic, Cardboard Boat Race and nice weather enjoyment.
Speaking of our May meeting, our guest will
be talking about cardiac issues, something very critical to us as we age. My
brother is having some cardiac issues with his heart mitral valve. He went to
his cardiologist recently for a check-up. A few days later the cardiologist saw
my brother walking down the street with a gorgeous young lady on his arm. At a
follow-up exam, the doc said “Boy, you are really doing great, aren’t you?” My
brother replied, “Just doing what you said, Doc, get a hot mama and be
cheerful.” Doc said, “I didn’t say that. I said you have a heart murmur, be careful.”
Dick Bradie, President
Need
Information About Sudden Cardiac Arrest?
by Charlotte Baker, Publicity
by Charlotte Baker, Publicity
We’ve heard about it, but what do we know about
it? Mary Lou Hollingshead, RN, will help
AARP members and guests understand Sudden Cardiac Arrest at the May 20 meeting.
Currently she is Research Coordinator at Cardiology Associates of
Fredericksburg.
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.
Attendees who wish to use a handicapped parking
place at the Clubhouse and find they are all occupied may park near the Fitness
Center and take advantage of a volunteer shuttle service from there to and from
the Clubhouse front door. Contact Larry Ervin at 972-0652 or Dick Bradie at
308-5507 if you would like to use the service
SUNSHINE REPORT
Get-well
Cards were sent to Jim Boungiovanni and Gale Henderson, Grace McEuen, and Brenda
Rugless.
If you know of a member who needs cheering up,
contact Carolyn Durphy at 972-3306.
MAY BIRTHDAYS
(Taurus and Gemini)
Mike
Arnold, Patricia Batten, James Buongiovanni, Diana Calegari, Philip Carmona,
Sally Denton, Joe Diamondstein, Larry Eiben, John Gamble, Alice Grgas, Gloria
Hutt, Ramona Lamon, Arthur Lieb, Clive
Louden, Rani Manhard, Harvey Miller,
Linda Ogletree, Pierre Payette, Val Protiva, Edwin Roessler, Barbara Rueckert,
Kathy Saladino, Robert Spencer, Jean Stutz, Lillian Thompson, Lucille Tompkins,
and Susan Wright
Report Email Address Changes
AARP
Chapter 5239 uses emails to alert members to upcoming events and happen-ings.
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
June 11-13, Three days, two nights in Victorian Cape May, NJ. $399/pp (dbl)
at Grand Hotel. Includes trolley
tour, 2 break-fasts, and 2 dinners. $25
deposit, final payment prior to April 20. There is still room on this
trip. Baggage tags and itineraries will be available at the membership meeting
on May 20 for those going on the trip. 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 still 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 red rather
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 or you will be
dropped from the chapter rolls June 1st.
HELP! HELP! DRIVERS NEEDED
Woods Cares has a need
for 12 drivers a week to take two different individuals to the Culpeper
Dialysis Center. People on dialysis have to go three times a week, possibly for
the rest of their life.
These two people go
Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. Since the sessions are about four hours long,
we ask that you only drive one way. That is why we need up to 12 people a week.
Even if you can only drive once in a while, it would be a great help and you
can usually choose which day and time you want.
The patients have
appointment times between 11 AM and Noon and return the time is around 4 PM.
The woman lives outside LOW about one mile from the Locust Grove Town Center on
Route 20, and the man lives in LOW. Please contact Jeanette Embrey at 972-0726
to transport the woman or Marion Jacobeen at 972-4085 to transport the man.
Thank you for any help you can give.
AARP Silent Auction:
We are now open for business. Bring your
items and shop. Thank you for all your contributions.
Contact Mary Hudak at 972-8042 or Karen Kovarik at
972-7866 to arrange pick up. While we welcome con-tributions at the meeting,
those given in advance help us with pricing.
NOTICE
The Post Office does not forward bulk mail even if you have your
mail forwarded to an alternate address. If 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. We will forward if you want and restart your Perspectives at the LOW address
when you return.
We mail
during the first two weeks of the month.
Topical Pain Relievers
by Sandie Frame
If you use topical pain relievers, be aware that
the FDA has warned that some of them can cause serious skin injuries. Sold over
the counter for the relief of muscle and joint pain, these creams, ointments,
and patches contain capsaicin (from hot peppers), menthol, and/or methyl
salicylate, which causes a warm or icy sensation on the skin.
More than 40 cases of chemical burns, many after
just one use; and some requiring hospitalization, have been reported to the
FDA. The reactions occurred within 24 hours and most were from products with
higher concentrations of menthol (more than 3%) or methyl salicylate (more than
10%). Don’t apply these products to
irritated or broken skin, and don’t put bandages or apply heat over these
areas.
Source: University of
California, Berkeley Wellness Letter. Volume 29 - Issue 5 – May 2013
Legislative News
by Toni Quattromani
Last month, in this column, I wrote about the
Chained CPI, a revised formula for computing the annual cost of living
increases for social security and veteran’s benefits. At the time, I said that
the Chained CPI would have the effect of reducing the annual increases in benefits.
What’s more, I alerted that the compounded effects of the annual decreases
would result in even more loss in benefits over time.
I found all kinds of calculators available on the
Internet to determine the effect of the Chained CPI. I used the calculator at
the AARP web site for the following example:
Age at retirement: 65
Amount of annual benefit being received: $14,800;
Loss in annual benefit at 10 years $2354
In other words, the total SS benefit in year 10
will be about $2354 less than if the current CPI index had been used for each
in the 10 years in the example. Your benefit in year 10 will still be more than
$14,800 by some amount, but that amount will be smaller by $2354.
The President’s new budget includes the Chained
CPI. However, the strong AARP lobby
combined with the efforts of ALL of the various Veterans’ organizations is
fighting the Chained CPI. Even more importantly, many politicians on both sides
of the aisle are fighting it as well.
Keep tuned in!
Highlights of the April 15, 2013 Meeting
by Joan Albertella
* President Bradie gave awards
to: Charlotte Baker, Publicity Chair,
for her informative articles in the Lake
Currents and Perspectives; Sandy
Frame, for very helpful medical articles; Tina Aris, for great Chapter meeting
speakers; and Tony Quattromani, for current legislative news. In addition, President Bradie presented the
AARP Chapter Community Service Award to Bob Johnson.
* Pierre Payette stated he is
working on the June Cape May trip, June 11-13. Cost is $399 double occupancy.
Final payment is due Friday, April 19.
* WV “Ride the Rails” trip is
full but reservations for the wait list are being taken.
* Skip
Poole reminded the members again about the September 29, 2013 cruise
nights) from New York to Bermuda.
* A trip to Greenbrier, December
3-5, 2013, is also in the planning stage.
Cost is $760.
* CarFit has been cancelled due
to insufficient number of participants.
* Bob Johnson still needs help
with the coffee set-up for the Chapter meetings.
* Marie Barrett stated that the
Orange County Fair will be held July 25-27, 2013.
* The Board is still exploring
the possibility of viewing Perspectives at our blog www.locustgroveaarp.blogspot.com instead of getting a
hard copy.
* The Chapter Picnic will be held June 17. Volunteers for set up and cooking are needed.
*The
50/50 was won by Marie Barrett.
