President’s
Letter
Can
you believe it, we are half way through the year, and what a half year it’s
been. Crazy upside-down weather, excellent one-day trips, and a three-day
excursion to Cape May, NJ. Well, almost three day, cut a wee bit short due to
crazy weather. Can anyone on that trip forget that massive prime rib at the
Grand Hotel? Wow, what a meal!
To
top it all off, what better way to end the first half of 2013, but to
experience the wonderful Chapter picnic. Thanks to Bob Johnson and his staff,
Ann Wood, and Alice Grgas, et al, the set-up was quick; the hamburgers and hot
dogs, cooked by former Emeril students, were very tasty. At one point we had so
many cooks around the grill, I thought they had a bottle of Scotch for
seasoning (seasoning the cooks, not the food). And then when it was all over,
did you see Larry Eiben working as the garbage man emptying the cans? Every
task is important, no matter what!
We
have some exciting trips coming up. The train rides in West Virginia in
October, cruise to Bermuda in September, and a stay at the Greenbrier in early
December. More data will come on these events from our hardworking Tours and
Travel Committee personnel. Speaking of hardworking folks, we need more
volunteers to take over some efforts, help out on others. C’mon out folks and
let’s keep Locust Grove Chapter 5239 at the head of the pack.
Hope
to see all of you on July 15 at our next general meeting to get some real good
info from an Audiologist-relating to ears and hearing concerns. Speaking of
hearing concerns, my brother had some hearing problems recently so he went to
his Audiologist. The Doc said, ”You’ve got something in your ear. Let me see.
Oh my gosh, it’s a suppository!” “Oh well,” my brother said, “at least now I
know where my hearing aid is.”
Dick Bradie, President
Can You Still Hear a Pin Drop?
by Charlotte Baker, Publicity,
AARP
Dr. Paul Kuster, who leads Ascent
Audiology & Hearing in Fredericksburg, will be the featured speaker at
AARP’s July 15 meeting. He brings to his remarks over 24 years of experience in
the field of hearing disorders and the treatment of people with hearing
defects.
Hearing loss is not a rare condition; a
Johns Hopkins study in 2011 found that 63 percent of participants 70 years or
older had hearing loss ranging from mild to severe, with only one-fifth using
hearing aids. Dr. Kuster’s facility deals with prevention, diagnostic care, and
treatment options. We will all be interested in what he has to say on these
topics.
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
No cards were sent this month.
If you know of a member who needs cheering up,
contact Carolyn Durphy at 972-3306.
JULY BIRTHDAYS
Karen Anderson, Tony Aris, Bernie Arnold, Julia
Barnes, Joann Batten, Bonnie Boelke, Alan Clune, Richard Costanzo, Judy
Eiben, Sandra Frame Bob Jenks, Jim Lemieux, Gabriela McKallip, Sandi
McNeilly, Ursula Medwid Bernie Palowitch, Ruth Pavlik, Patrick Rowland, Doris
Schluter, Margaret Thode
Sharon Webb, Diane Weller, Verna Wescott, Boggs
Wright, Henry Wright
NEW MEMBERS
There were no new members in June.
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
September 29 to October 6, Cruise to Bermuda with the Bradies’. Seven days on the Norwegian Breakaway. Per-person prices,
ranging from $1,206 to $1,531.71, includes cruise, all port charges and
taxes, 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 3 days - 2 nights trip to WVA in the fall; $420 p/p (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. Visit the beautiful Greenbrier Resort Hotel
in White Sulpher Springs, WV, at Christmas time, with all of its indoor and
outdoor Christmas decorations. $760 p/p (dbl occupancy).
Price includes round trip motor coach transportation, 2 nights lodging at the Greenbrier, including 2
breakfasts and 2 dinners. Also included are a traditional afternoon tea and
concert, a historic hotel tour, access to the Casino Club, a culinary
demonstration and on-site grounds transportation. Baggage handling, taxes and
meal gratuities are also included.
Now accepting $25/person
deposits, which will hold a space for you. Balance due by Oct 4. For info/ reservation,
call Pierre Payette at 972-0519 or email at pierre114@verizon.net.
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
Help! Help!
Drivers Still 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 lifes.
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 the return 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. 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:
BY Karen Kovarik
After a month’s absence
to enjoy the AARP picnic, the auction is back, and we need your unwanted
goodies. Equally important we need you as customers! So,
bring your treasures (or phone us for pick up), and bring your purse or check
book. Mary Hudak at 972-8046, or Karen Kovarik at 972-7866
The Coffee man is coming.
by Bob Johnson
You may have noticed the wonderful coffee AARP provides at our meetings.
Well, it is difficult to estimate how much coffee to make. I surely know it
will not be good for my health to run out, but I hate to pour the excess down
the drain. Why don’t some of you bring those wonderful travel mugs you have
around and after the meeting, drain the excess coffee into your mug and take it
home. It will make it easier for the Refreshments Committee and help me be less
grumpy at wasting good coffee! Just do it
AFTER the meeting. Thanks!
Volunteers Needed
As in any organization, there are the folks who
take on jobs to keep the organization healthy and active. There are Chapters in
VA that are having trouble staying active at all. Our Chapter has the benefit
of a huge population, thereby yielding a cadre of folks to take on volunteer
positions. But many of those folks, having held those slots for years, need a
rest and a chance to sit back and advise. Few tasks within our Chapter take
more than a couple of hours a week to achieve success. Some take longer
efforts, but each one has their own rewards.
This missive is a call to folks to step up and
pitch in, help, learn, and contribute to the well-being of Locust Grove Chapter
5239. No chastisement is meant or implied here, but let’s see some new blood
(figuratively speaking) working with incumbents with the eventual goal of
managing a task.
See Dick Bradie or Tony Aris or any officer or BOD
member to get more info. Thank you in advance for your participation.
Go, Pingu II
Saturday, July 20, is
the date for our own Bobbie Prees to again captain the Pingu II in LYF’s Cardboard Boat Regatta. Bring your chair, a
bottle of water, and find a shady spot under the trees on Sailboat Beach to
watch this entertaining spectacle. Come at 10 AM to evaluate the boats entered
in the race and to put money in the jar that is your favorite, money that will
go toward LYF’s scholarship program. The racing begins at 11 AM.
New York Picnic
By John
Trach
September 14, New
York Picnic, Noon to 4 PM. LOW Lions
Pavilion in Sweetbriar Park. Two hot entrées,
salad, bread, desert, beverages. $15 p/p. Proceeds to benefit Childhelp.
Info:/tickets: Dick
308-5507, Nick 972-0350,
John 972-4883.
Moves for the Month
by Sandie Frame
Two exercises to strengthen thighs and calves:
Step-ups: Stand at the bottom of a staircase or other
sturdy step with your feet flat and toes facing forward. With your right foot,
step up onto the step and straighten your right leg, then bring your left foot
up on the step next to your right foot. Next step down with your right foot,
followed by your left foot. Repeat ten times with your right foot first then
with your left foot first. Do three sets with each foot. If needed, hold on to
a handrail or chair back for balance.
Wall squats: Place your entire back against the wall and
lean into it, then move your feet forward and slide down, keeping your knees
behind your toes. As you slide, keep your thighs at an angle larger than 90
degrees; don’t let them become perpendicular with your knees. Slide back to a
standing position. If you feel unsteady, place a sturdy chair close by to use
to keep your balance. As your legs get stronger, you can increase the challenge
of this exercise by sliding down more slowly and/or holding the squats for
several seconds before sliding back up the wall.
Source: Women’s Health
Reporter, Volume 14, Number 6, June 2013
Legislative News
by Toni Quattromani
The following information is from the AARP web page:
People are often
shocked to learn that the ID number on their Medicare card is identical to
their Social Security number (SSN). After all, we're constantly warned not to
carry our SSNs around with us. If our cards are lost or lifted, a criminal can
use those numbers to get other personal information about us and commit
identity theft — an especially vicious form of fraud that snared more than 11.6
million victims last year. So what can you do to protect yourself?
You will need your original Medicare card with you the first time you visit
a health care provider, who will likely want to make a photocopy of it for
their files. Otherwise you should do the following:
Photocopy your Medicare card and cut it down to wallet size. Then remove or
cut out the digits of the SSN and carry the remaining photocopy with you rather
than the actual card. You'll notice that your Medicare ID has one or two
additional letters or numbers following the digits of the SSN. For the purposes
of your photocopy, it doesn't matter whether you delete these final letters (or
letter-number combinations) or leave them in.
Wilderness Food Pantry Fund Raiser
Keep your eyes out for
the the beautiful quilt made by Lioness Claudia Low. It is being raffled
off specifically to benefit the Wilderness Food Pantry, and will be display-ed
at various locations and meetings at the Lake in the coming weeks. Ticket
prices are $5/ticket or 3/ $10. Info/tickets: Claudia 540-412-1304, Betsy
Flanigan at 972-0008, or Karen Cakouros at 972-9043.
September 7 (Saturday) will be our annual Food
Pantry Drive, so you have a little bit of time to start stashing away
some of those canned goods and meal makers. There will be more info next
month!
The Lions
Wilderness Food Pantry sends thanks as usual to the Chapter for the great
response made for those in need during this difficult time. We will collect
your donations at the next meeting.
Members may also wish to give a monetary
donation if they wish. Make checks out to “Lions Wilderness Food Pantry” and
send them to Kathi Martin at 101 Windy Lane.
This month the Pantry needs sides (Hamburger
Helper, pasta or potato side packets, etc.), and NON-condensed soups, also a
great choice. PLEASE no personal items.
The Food Bank also needs your used plastic
bags and (card-board only) egg
cartons; please bring them to the meeting.
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. If interested please
call Betty at 972-3820.
Highlights of the
June Meeting
by Joan
Albertella
* The June
Chapter Meeting was held at Sweetbriar Park.
All enjoyed hamburgers and hot dogs and the variety of wonderful dishes
brought by the members. President Dick
Bradie thanked Bob Johnson and his committee who helped to make it a success.
*
President Bradie encouraged the membership to submit recommendations for
individuals who meet criteria for Honor Awards.
* He
reminded the members not to give out personal information solicited from phone
calls.
* He
also thanked Pierre Payette for the wonderful trip to Cape May that he
coordinated.
*
President Bradie also announced that the Vets Club was invited to do the
flag ceremony at the Walmart grand opening on July 10, 2013.
* He
announced that Mary Ellen Clark from SAFE (Services to Abused Families) was in
attendance with literature on this program.
* The next chapter meeting will be held on
Monday, July 15, 2013.
