FYoung

OFFICERS
President     Ken Schieck
VP/Programs      Gene Lennon
Secretary            Fannie Young
Treasurer     Rick Loek
AsstTreasurer     Sue McMillin
Past President    Marlene Hruby

COMMITTEE CHAIRPERSONS
Comm Service     Sheila Gold
Legislative       Daniel Nnorth
Tours           Jan Delucchi
Membership    Shelly Schwartz
Opportunity Dwg   Barbara Robinson
Opportunity Dwg   Carol Barcelos
Newsletter    Marlene Hruby
Refreshments       Gene Lennon
Sunshine       Irene Elardo
Telephone             Thelma Bridges
Public Relations    Karen Sanfilippo
Social Activities            How about you???
Treasure Chest    Jan Delucchi
Troop Support      Angie Jaggars
Lunch Coord.        Libby Harbour
Nominating  Committee
Jan DeLucchi
Shelly Schwartz
Marlene Hruby
Dominic Donato
Thelma Bridges
Angie Jaggars
Chris Hejmanowski

Membership…Shelly Schwartz
Happy New Year Everyone!  Here we are at the beginning of a new year and I want to remind you that your 2017 annual membership fees are due this month and are as follows;
$15 includes the Dispatch sent by regular mail, or
$12 includes the Dispatch sent to you
by e-mail in color.

If you would like to mail me your check, please include the Membership application which has my address.  As there is not a formal meeting this month, and If you will be attending the January 17th Chapter luncheon at the Three Flames Restaurant, I’ll be happy to accept your Membership dues at that time.

Legislative Report…Daniel Nnorth and Claudia Schott
Happy New Year! We are hitting the ground running and fighting for our needs! Last month I wrote the statement that AARP had made regarding Social Security. This month, AARP has expanded on their statement. They have stated their principles which will guide them as they fight for us and future generations of retired persons.

• Achieve long-term solvency and adequacy. Social Security should be sufficiently financed to ensure solvency for the long term. Solvency proposals must ensure meaningful benefits for future generations. 
• Reaffirm Social Security’s fundamental character. Social Security should continue to provide a stable foundation for retirement income. It should remain a partnership among individuals, employers and the federal government. It should also maintain its role in providing protection for workers and families affected by death or disability. All covered workers should contribute equitably to the program and receive benefits. 
• Ensure protections for those most in need. Reforms should take into account the needs of those most reliant on Social Security and those who have difficulty postponing retirement. 
• Recognize the value of Social Security’s core elements. Social Security should continue to reward work. The key elements of Social Security’s successful program structure should be preserved: progressive, defined benefits that cannot be outlived; inflation protection; and benefits related to earnings. 
• Make improvements to reflect today’s workforce. An updated Social Security program must address the economic and demographic changes over the last 80 years to be able to respond to the needs of future beneficiaries and their families.
• Ensure fairness. Changes to the program should be implemented gradually and should protect current beneficiaries and near retirees.

AARP is also asking for our help with Medicare. It seems that it is always on the chopping block and now is the time for us to rise to the occasion. AARP is looking to collect Medicare stories. With benefits at risk of being cut, they are asking individuals to share what Medicare means to them and how cuts would impact them and their family. Stories can be submitted at: https://action.aarp.org/site/SPageNavigator/2016_Medicare_Story_Share_SM.html. I hope I can count on all of you to help out! Have a great year!

Opportunity Tickets…Barbara Robinson
December winners were:
Stack’s Restaurant: Jack Spinler
Chipolte:
Angie Jaggars
Charlene Silva
Sara Heisinger
Campbell Express:
Norman Schwartz
Party Mix Box:
Lorraine Biagini
(Thanks to “Santa Claus Ralph”)