Month: May 2019

President … Ken Schieck

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May is Older Americans Month and will be celebrated throughout the nation.  There will be a special celebration at the County Board of Supervisors meeting on Tuesday, May 7 at 9:30 a.m.  The reception is in appreciation of the work of the Seniors’ Agenda and its partners for making Santa Clara an age-friendly county.  To RSVP please contact Diana Miller @408/755-7695 or diana.miller@ssa.sccgov.org.  For more information on Older Americans Month, go to act.gov/oam.

In 1999, Congress also designated May as Military Appreciation Month; be sure to thank the veterans in our chapter for their service to America and let Angie Jaggars know if you have friends or relatives on active duty overseas.  Check local websites, TV, radio and newspapers for special veteran-related activities.

As many of you know, the Levines, Nancy Tepperman and myself are all members of the Orchard City Community Chorus; we are preparing for our annual spring concert on Friday, May 31, 7:30 pm at Campbell United Methodist church, 1675 S. Winchester (near Hamilton), Campbell.  Plan to attend and hear fabulous music themed on ‘Hollywood Meets Broadway’; ticket prices are $15 if purchased before May 15 at www.orchardcitychorus.org, $20 thereafter or if purchased at the door.  Refreshments afterward in the social hall.

Remember that our chapter is still seeking a Vice-President.

Program … Paddy Wray

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Our speaker for May is Robert Stromberg from Housing Ready Communities, Santa Clara County.  This organization works to find solution to the homeless crisis by taking action to support the development of supportive affordable housing communities.  There will be a presentation and an opportunity to ask questions afterward.

Nominations … Jan Delucchi

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To the members of our Chapter:  we are asking you to volunteer for some very important positions to keep our Chapter running.  It is up to you now.  PLEASE call me, at the number in the Dispatch, or email me at gmomjan1@sbcglobal.net, or see me at the next Chapter meeting to see how you can help.  We have been a Chapter for over 20 years because our members volunteered when needed.

Legislative News … Daniel Nnorth and Claudia Schott

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This month, we have three points on which AARP would like us to take a stand.  The first one is about prescription drug prices and there are two bills, one being the “Creating and Restoring Equal Access to Equivalent Samples Act of 2019” or the “CREATES Act of 2019”, or H.R. 965 (Rep David Ciciline, D-RI) and the other is “Protecting Consumer Access to Generic Drugs Act of 2019”, or H.R. 1499 (Rep Robert Rush, D-IL).  AARP has started a campaign to let Representatives know this is what we want and we need.  AARP is asking us to help by talking to our Representatives.  Be sure to ask them if they are willing to co-sponsor and support either of these bills.

AARP and our 38 million members across the country are taking on the drug companies in Washington and every state with TV, digital and radio advertising, grassroots action, social media, events, and more.  This is important for us.  This is not just the two bills in Congress, but a fight for our ability to continue to afford our medications

The second point is age discrimination.  This is a fight to be able to work and have the same rights as younger workers, basically, fairness for all workers, regardless of age.  AARP fully supports H.R.1230 (Rep Robert Scott, D-VA) and S.B. 485 (Sen Robert Casey, D-PA), the Protecting Older Workers Against Discrimination Act (POWADA), a bipartisan bill.  These bills would restore our ability to fight against age discrimination by making age just a factor, not the primary factor of the discrimination.  Again, AARP is asking us to talk to our Representatives and Senators to cosponsor and support these bills.

The last point for us to make a stand is H.R.2073 (Rep Katie Porter, D-CA), a bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to permanently extend the 7.5 percent adjusted gross income floor for the medical expense deduction.  AARP is supporting the bill because it would to keep the threshold for the deduction as low as possible to help protect people with high medical costs.  We need to call our representatives to get them to cosponsor and support this bill.

We need to take a stand on these issues to protect our rights, our way of life and our ability to afford it.

Happy Mother’s Day to all who are mothers and have mothers!

Happy Memorial Day to one and all!  All gave some, some gave all.  In remembrance of those who gave all.

Community Service … Leona Fails

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Caregivers Count: 9th Annual Conference for families & friends caring for a loved one.  Topics include:  Humor Heals Hopelessness, Coping with grief & loss, Long term care options.  Saturday May 18, 8:30 am to 2 pm, Campbell Community Center, Orchard City Banquet Hall, 1 West Campbell Ave., Campbell, CA 95008. $15.00 (includes admission & lunch), Registration required online, mail, or by phone 408-866-2147.  Checks payable to CPRS-District 4.  Sponsored by Aging Services Collaborative of Santa Clara County.

Opportunity Drawing … Sharon and Paul Levine

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Three Tickets for $1.00 – May 21, 2019

MOD Pizza in Campbell

$25 Gift Card

(Thanks to Angie Jaggars)

Adelita’s Taqueria Restaurant in Campbell

$8 Gift  Card

(Thanks to Angie Jaggers)

Campbell Express

(Thanks to Stephon Hansen)

Good Luck

April Opportunity Drawing Winners:

Mod Pizza $25 gift card winner was Don Peterson

Best Taste Restaurant $10 gift card winner was Jane Seeds

Mystery Prize (chocolates) winner was Sue McMillin