Harry Kiesler

Glad Tidings … Shelly Schwartz

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Recently I’ve begun paying bills online instead of sending them by regular mail. No need to drive to the post office, or stand on line, or buy stamps, or envelopes, or make out checks. And, if I’m almost to the due date on a bill, no worries, it’s done immediately.  Was even able to deposit our Stimulus check!

Hello, Everyone … David More (Two-Time Past Treasurer)

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It was exactly a year ago, on my 80th birthday party, Margaret and I announced our intention to move to Port Townsend, WA, to be close to Elizabeth, one of our daughters. Twelve weeks later, we drove out of the town we’d lived for 55 years and where we’d raised two daughters. The day we started our journey north it was 106 degrees in San Jose.

Port Townsend is a small artist town of about 10,000 people. We are about 30 minutes by ferry to Vancouver, Canada. My family was going to give me an 81st birthday in Vancouver except for the “stay at home’ restriction. We are in what is known as the “banana belt” so our rainfall is only 4 inches more than San Jose. It only snowed for two days this last winter. The average summer temperature is 85 degrees.

Text Box: CAMPBELL AREA CHAPTER 5151 of AARP -- Remember 1-408 in front of all Nos. Margaret and I were slowly getting involved with many of the local groups. She was into recorders, harps, weavings, sewing and knitting groups; and I was getting into some of the non-profits, such as the local Food Bank, etc. Then the Pandemic hit. Now she is spending most of her time making masks. Last week the concentration was making children’s mask in preparation of opening the schools after the summer holidays. I am lucky because the Food Bank is considered an essential operation — so we are busier than before. They protect me because of my age and make me work in the background in “prep” with very little contact with the public. That is perfect for me because I am never a talker anyway.

I hope all of you are well. If you are ever coming to this part of the Northwest, give me a shout. Here are my email and address: moredavid524@gmail.com  or 915 M Street, Port Townsend, WA 98368.

We’re All in This Together! … Lynda Martinez

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Let’s hope they give us two weeks’ notice before sending us back out into the real world.  I think we’ll all need the time to become ourselves again.  And by “ourselves” I mean lose 10 pounds, cut our hair, and get used to not drinking at 9:00 a.m.

New monthly budget:  Gas $0  Entertainment $0  Clothes $0   Groceries $2,799.  Breaking News:  Wearing a mask inside your home is now highly

recommended.  Not so much to stop COVID-19, but to stop eating.

When this quarantine is over, let’s not tell some people.

President … Ken Schieck

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National AARP is sharing current COVID-19 information every Thursday at 10:00 a.m. PDT.  The phone # is 855-274-9507.

Our membership has voted NOT to have a general meeting on May 19.

Many thanks to Thelma Bridges and her telephone committee who were able to contact 88 of our members; 52 voted not to have a meeting either through teleconference or Zoom. If the shelter in place order still forbids meetings of 50 or more in June, we will have to consider one of these 21st century means of communications to keep bonding with our members, a bond which has given our chapter the vibe and warmth that it has!

If you have not received a weekly copy of the California Connections Weekly Brief, or the Covid-19 information card, please let me know, and I will make sure you get it.

A reminder: Santa Clara County has kept Shelter in Place for another month, presumably ending on May 31; counties (and the state) make decisions like this based on the following criteria:

• The ability to monitor and protect our communities through testing, contact tracing, isolating, and supporting those who are positive or exposed.

• The ability to prevent infection in people who are at risk for more severe COVID-19.

• The ability of the hospital and health systems to handle surges.

• The ability to develop therapeutics to meet the demand.

• The ability for businesses, schools, and childcare facilities to support physical distancing, and

• The ability to determine when to reinstitute measures, such as the stay-at-home orders, if necessary.

A big thanks to our member, Liz Gibbons, for providing this information.

Legislative News … Daniel Nnorth and Claudia Schott

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While Congress has been working, the state legislature went into recess about a month ago.  They are supposed to come back in early May.  There will be a big shortfall in revenues here in California, meaning that we may have a budget deficit.  Because of the COVID pandemic, the focus for the legislature will be on COVID response, retaining current funding in the state budget (not increases) and preparation for wildfire season.

President Trump signed a reauthorization of The Older Americans Act on Wednesday, April 22nd.  This law provides much needed money for programs like meals on wheels and family caregiver support.

With all that said, advocacy is continuing in a virtual manner.  If you are so inclined, you can take the following actions:

Federal Representative:

  • Thank your member of Congress and Senators (Harris and Feinstein) for passing the Older Americans Act & CARES Act (The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act).  You can do this by calling their local offices.

State Senator & Assembly Member:

  • Ask your local Senator and Assembly Member to support our Paid Leave Act.  We are requesting broader terms than what we shared in February because it includes both Paid Sick Leave AND Paid Family Leave.  The Families-First Coronavirus Response Act, that President Trump signed back in March, has gaps that need to be filled; and this ask to Governor Newsom, would take care of that, ensuring that all workers are entitled to job-protected leave and wage-replacement benefits to weather this unprecedented crisis.

With 1,156,278 confirmed COVID-19 cases, nearly 170,201 people in America have reported full recoveries from COVID-19.  Even so, the US hits a grim milestone:  Almost 70,000 people have died of COVID-19, and the global pandemic shows few signs of slowing as pressure mounts to reopen parts of our economy.

Support is building among Republicans for reopening the economy sooner rather than later, but not all GOP lawmakers are on the same page.  Many believe we may be better off waiting another month, giving the scientists enough time to come up with vaccines and antivirals.  And while some governors are already chomping at the bit to open up early, others, like the governor from New Mexico, are looking at May 15th or later, before lifting the lockdown.

Volunteers Needed … Thelma Bridges

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We need volunteers for phone calls.  It’s an easy job that takes about 20 minutes of your time once a month to remind members of the meeting.  Please give Thelma a call if you’re interested. 408-685-1107.