Month: February 2019

Membership…Shelly Schwartz

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Have you paid your dues for 2019?  If you have not, they are definitely past due.

Please complete the Application form in this Dispatch and send it along with your check to me at the address listed on the form.  As a reminder, dues are $17 with your Dispatch sent by regular mail; $14 with your Dispatch sent by e-mail.

I hope to hear from you very soon.

Community Service … Leona Fails

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Volunteer tax aides will provide Free preparation of your 2018 Federal and State Income Tax returns from February 5 through April 12. Appointments are not necessary but can be made in person in Room E-46 during Tuesday 1-4 / Friday 9-12 operating hours.    Sponsored by IRS and AARP.

Showtime … Paddy Wray

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Showtime… a boo/hiss melodrama with Olio performances will be offered at the Santa Clara Community Center, 969 Kiely Blvd across from the old Kaiser hospital.  It’s between Homestead and Benton. There will be refreshments: hot dogs, soft drinks, wine, popcorn & desserts available for purchase.

Friday 3/1 @ 7 pm Ticket Price $7.00

Saturday 3/2 @ 7 pm Ticket Price $10.00

Sunday 3/3 Matinee @ 2 pm Ticket Price $10.00

Ticket price for children is $5.00 at all performances. Doors open for ticket purchase and seating  2 hours prior to showtime. There will be a”silent auction” with various prizes. Come enjoy the fun!!

New Santa Clara City Facilities Use Policy Threatens Support for Senior Services

Curtains for Santa Clara Showtime? New City Facilities Use Policy Threatens Support for Senior Services

Campbell Elementary School Volunteers

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The Campbell elementary schools are looking for volunteers to work on reading with individual children at the school.  There may be other options such as yard duty or other subjects – i.e. math, history. Before you can volunteer, you need to get fingerprinted ($66) and also have a current TB clearance. If you are interested in getting more information, please contact:  Nancy_Tepperman@yahoo.com, or

call phone number listed in the Dispatch, for details.

Legislative News … Daniel North and Claudia Schott

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Now that the government shutdown is at a “strategic pause,” we have work to do. AARP is urging us to continue asking our members of Congress to work in a bipartisan manner to protect SNAP and reject creating additional program barriers for individuals and families struggling with food insecurity. Basically, don’t let us go hungry.

You can get more information about CalFresh, the state program that is part of SNAP, that provides fresh food to low-income households, including seniors. This is one of the programs that will be affected. For more information about CalFresh, either call 1-877-847-3663 or you can go online to http://www.cdss.ca.gov/food-nutrition/calfresh or http://www.cdss.ca.gov/inforesources/CalFresh  You can view a PDF of the CalFresh brochure at CalFresh_Senior_Bro_Eng.pdf or https://211sandiego.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/CalFresh_Senior_Bro_Eng.pdf sorry about all the webpages, everyone, but I can’t give you all a hardcopy of the brochures. You better hurry and give our Senators what for!

Of course, the “strategic pause” is only good until February 15th. If President Trump and Congress can’t come to a reasonable compromise, the shutdown will continue. As Trump’s approval rating continues to plummet, many Democrats are putting their names into the hat, including our very own Senator, Kamala Harris, and none other than Elizabeth Warren, an astute and incisive critic of the president.

“Harris believes that the time is now for us all to defend the American values of equality, decency, justice, and democracy — and her candidacy will be animated by her life’s work of fighting ‘for the people,’” according to a statement.

The list of possible Democratic candidates for the presidency is very long, senators from Hawaii to New Hampshire are adding their names. This looks to be a very interesting election. (But then, aren’t they all?)

Need Callers … Thelma Bridges

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We need two new callers for AARP; you can call Thelma Bridges, at the number listed in the Dispatch, if your are interested. It’s a very simple job each month which would only take about 30 minutes of your time.  You get to know people and just remind them of the meeting each month.

President … Ken Schieck

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AARP Associate State Director Antoine Cook left our January meeting with at least two positive impressions:

1) No other California chapter sponsors lunches after a general meeting;

2) He was impressed with the idea of “Glad Tidings” (thanks to Marilyn Clough for that phrase).

I know from other conversations with Antoine that he is also impressed with the scope of the Dispatch and the fact that it is published monthly.

These activities only come about because members of our chapter are willing to step up and use their talents to serve the larger community be that our AARP chapter or the neighborhoods and cities where we live (and sometimes work!). Furthermore, Mr. Cook also said that the Board positions of President, Vice-President, Secretary and Treasurer are absolutely necessary for a chapter to stay in existence.  I bring this up to you because the position of Vice-President is currently vacant. If you appreciate the speakers that have informed our meetings over the years, you have an idea of what the Vice-President’s main responsibility is.  Anyone with powers of persuasion and knowledge of the interests of seniors should consider volunteering in this position.

If you are interested, please see Jan Delucchi or myself; I served in this capacity recently for two years.  Thank you for your interest.

Please read newly posted articles on our website and this issue of the Dispatch