President … Ken Schieck

It seems to me that we all went back to school the Tuesday after Labor Day and no earlier. I started back at San Jose State as late as September 19. Have you noticed that most schools now start back in August? I think it’s because school teachers want the students to maintain knowledge they would otherwise forget by being away from school for 3 months. That also means that the schools should let students out in June—only two months between grades that way. My thought is that if the schools continue to start earlier, they will run into the unfinished previous semester! Who’s on first?

On a more practical note, please remember to do volunteer work on AARP Service Day, September 11. You can volunteer with a group or on your own. Look for opportunities in the AARP bulletin/ newspaper and the Campbell Express or the Campbell Reporter. Find activities you can get other AARP members to get involved in with you.

Last month, two of you stepped up to take the positions of Vice-President and Treasurer. We now have two members who are interested in the position of Assistant Treasurer. It’s possible we may even have someone to plan the post-meeting lunches. We are still looking for someone to direct the Publicity committee. If you or someone you know is interested, please contact Jan DeLucchi.

We had a wonderful meeting last month with the Boomerang Barber Shop quartet. Please share any ideas for speakers with our new Vice-President, Paul Levine.

Program … Helen Soukoulis and Paul Levine

As the Reverse Mortgage Specialist at Guild Mortgage, Tom King has spent the past six years dedicating his focus on educating seniors in the benefits of reverse mortgages. With the changes made by HUD, reverse mortgages can play an important role for seniors as a financial planning tool as recognized by many Certified Financial Planners. These changes protect the borrower and provide for greater benefits in accessing the equity in the home to achieve many different objectives, including paying off a current mortgage, setting up a line of credit, taking funds at closing, drawing funds on a monthly basis, or a combination of the above based on the amount of equity in the home.

Legislative News … Daniel Nnorth and Claudia Schott

AARP is very happy with all its members – we have been reaching out to our federal representatives on our top issues. We should continue to do so for our own benefit. Our Senators and
Representatives literally count the calls they get on an issue, so keep it up!

We are still working on AB 824 (Wood), about getting rid of delaying tactics for getting generic drugs out on the market. Any questions? See the August newsletter for more information.

In the meantime, AARP has launched a nationwide prescription drug campaign – at the Federal and State level – to stop drug companies from price gouging Americans.

  • We are calling on Congress, the Administration and States to pass common-sense, bipartisan legislation to lower prescription drug prices now.
  • 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 issue is a top priority for older Americans and that is why we are launching this campaign.
  • The average Medicare beneficiary has a median annual income of just over $26,000 while the average Part D beneficiary is taking 4-5 prescription medications on a monthly basis.

We need to contact our members of Congress (Lofgren, Eshoo or Khanna) and Senators Feinstein and Harris to let them know we mean business. Ask them to support the CREATES Act (H.R. 965) and the federal pay-for-delay legislation (H.R. 1499).

AARP continues to fight for legislation to protect older workers from age discrimination. Congress re- introduced legislation that would give older workers the same fairness under the law as every other worker. It’s about fairness for all workers, regardless of age. AARP fully supports H.R.1230 and S.485 the Protecting Older Workers Against Discrimination Act (POWADA), a bipartisan bill. This legislation will restore older workers’ ability to fight back against age discrimination.

Again, we need to contact our Federal representatives and ask them to support and vote for H.R.1230/ S.485 to protect older workers against age discrimination.

Opportunity Drawing … Sharon and Paul Levine

Three Tickets for $1.00 September 17, 2019

MOD Pizza in Campbell $25 Gift Card (Thanks to Angie Jaggars)

Sam’s Bar-B-Que in San Jose $25 Gift Card (Thanks to Angie Jaggars)

Campbell Express (Thanks to Stephon Hansen)

Good Luck!

August Opportunity Drawing Winners:

A Bellagio Restaurant $50 gift card – Norm Schwartz

Pacific Catch Restaurant $25 gift card – Colleen Gaver

Starbucks $15 gift card – Veronika Phillips

Did You Know? … Angie Jaggars

Some of your favorite foods have been around for a very Long time:

1872 Welch’s Grape Juice 1880 Thomas’ English Muffins 1886 Coca-Cola
1887 Log Cabin Syrup
1893 Cracker Jacks
1896 Tootsie Rolls
1897 Jello

1898 Campbell’s Soup
1899 Kellogg’s Cornflakes
1900 Quaker Oats
1902 Animal Crackers
1905 Hershey Bars
1912 Oreo Cookies
1917 Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups

Joke … Shelly Schwartz

The Husband Who Knows:


While attending a marriage seminar dealing with communication, Tom and his wife grace listened to the

instructor, “It is essential that husbands and wives know the things that are important to each other.” He addressed the men, “Can you describe your wife’s favorite flower?”

Tom, smiling but looking a little nervous, leaned over, touched his wife’s arm gently, and whispered, “It’s self-rising flour, right?”