This works great! It saves me from answering at least five or six calls a day and it’s FREE on your landline! I see they now offer it for both Android and OIS phones with a charge of $1.99 per month. My phone rings once and then quits. I got three of those calls within half an hour last night. Go to nomorobo.com and register you landline for free. You’ll love it!
JUlrich
The Latest Scam…Marlene Hruby
Don’t be fooled by callers pretending to be from PG&E! The Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office is receiving reports of a utility phone scam and warning residents not to fall prey to it. A caller, who pretends to represent PG&E, claims that your bill has not been paid and that your electricity will be turned off within minutes – unless you provide an immediate payment by using a prepaid debit card. PG&E will never call you; they send reminder bills. So just hang up on these scoundrels!
Legislative Report…Daniel Nnorth and Claudia Schott
With the budget deadline (June 15) fast approaching, AARP’s top priority budget request is on the line. The LTSS Data Collection and Analysis budget request, which would appropriate funds to the Department of Health Care Services for the purpose of contracting with UCLA for collection and analysis of data on LTSS access and needs in California by incorporating questions from the California Health Interview Survey (CHIS) in the 2019-20 and 2023-24 survey cycles. A portion of these costs can be covered by federal Medicaid matching funds.
We are being asked to contact our Assembly member or Senator to vote in favor of the LTSS Data Ask when it comes up for a vote during the week of June 11. If any of us have Assembly member Kalra as their Assembly member (San Jose) a simple thank you will do. He is the Assembly Sponsor of this budget request.
We talked about this in April. Because of the shifting demographic (more of us oldsters and persons with physical and developmental disabilities as well as those with traumatic injuries who are surviving longer due to advances in medical care.), California needs to collect this data so it can accurately assess our needs and budget accordingly.
As far as the Farm bill is concerned, we still have our work cut out on that. Congress did vote it down……this time. However certain members are planning on a new vote…..soooo, we need to call, write or email our Representatives and demand, ask, cajole, request, enjoin, urge, whatever it takes, in order for our SNAP program to stay in place!
Summary of 2018 Survey Results
SUMMARY – 2018 MEMBERSHIP SURVEY
- DO YOU ENJOY COMING TO OUR MONTHLY CHAPTER MEETINGS?
- All said yes
- WHAT DO YOU ENJOY MOST?
Social Aspects
Program/Speakers
Troop Reports
Treasure Chest Table
- ARE THE PRESENTATIONS OF INTEREST TO YOU?
Received lots of yes responses
Several other responses indicated: most, but not always
Programs enjoyed most were those that were relevant to our generation, and community issues such as homeless and housing, history talks.
Request less emphasis on negative aspects of aging
- WHAT OTHER TOPIC OR TOPICS WOULD YOU LIKE TO HEAR PRESENTED?
Entertainment/Music/Sports
Less “doom & gloom” ; positive aspects of aging
More emphasis on cultural opportunities, history, classes, technology, innovative ideas, gardening, travel experiences, theater, etc
Proactive ways of remaining fit, mentally, physically, emotionally
Organizationskk with knowledge of general issues related to seniors:
Service Animals
Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s
Assisting with finding senior housing, nursing homes, assisted living
Social Security and Medicare
Managing retirement income
- DO YOU ENJOY “THE DISPATCH?
All positive responses; one indication of not reading political articles.
- “DO YOU THINK OF OUR WEBSITE? (CAMPBELLAARP.ORG)
Many have not seen or have no computer.
A few “good” responses.
Recognized to be a work in progress. Should go beyond the replication of the Dispatch to include original articles. - DO YOU HAVE ANY OTHER COMMENTS, QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS?
Many comments were similar to those made in Item 4 – Topics for Presentation.
While there were many who seemed interested in entertainment types of programs areas, there would appear to be a need for balance.
-The reality of the serious concerns associated with aging – health issues, financial management information, housing etc.
-Fun/social/entertainnment
-Learning opportunities, i.e., history, museums, theatres, technology, classes, community involvement. Positive aspects of aging.
All of these things are consistent with enhancing the quality of life.
Some concerns about the time allowed for purchasing of opportunity tickets and the treasure chest. (I believe this is one of the reasons for the time period of 9:30-10:00 prior to the meeting).
Some concerns about the amount of time for executing the drawings for opportunity tickets.
A suggestion of allowing member volunteer participation in some of the activities.
Recommendation to limit after meeting lunch places to those that serve at tables for the convenience of those who find it difficult to stand in lines to order.
NOTE
There were a couple of instances of “no politics”, it’s important to help members to understand, as Kathy mentioned in the last general meeting, that AARP is “political”, as an advocacy group, that involves ensuring that our elected officials are acting in the best interests of seniors. That, in turn, means we need to be actively knowledgeable and involved in these issues.
Nominating Committee…Jan Deluchi
Welcome new members. Chapter 5151 has been in Campbell for 20 years! We have been around for this long because we are all volunteers who help keep our chapter alive. I hope you will enjoy our meetings and make new friends.
Please help us in our continuing effort to keep our chapter going by volunteering on any of our committees that may interest you. Please call me anytime to talk about what is available. Or you can call any one of our Nominating Committee members. Our names and phone numbers are on the back of the Dispatch.
Community Service…Marilyn Clough
Cough! Cough! Volunteer Hours! Hack! Purple Envelope! Hack! Hack! Sacred Heart! Gargle! Clothing, Bedding! Sniffle! L.I.F.E. File! Achoo! Good grief! Try to avoid this affliction if possible.
Thoughts for the Day
I interviewed my grandmother for part of a research paper I’m working on for my Psychology class. When I asked her to define success in her own words, she said: “Success is when you look back at your life and the memories make you smile.”
I asked my mentor – a very successful business man in his 70s what his top 3 tips are for success. He smiled and said:
“Read something no one else is reading,
think something no one else is thinking, and
do something no one else is doing.”
Opportunity Tickets…Barbara Robinson
May drawings at three-for-$1 are:
CAFÉ SAN JOSE
$25 Gift Certificate
1583 Meridan, SJ 408-265-3020
(Thanks to Libby Harbour)
HABIT BURGER GRILL
Free Charburger w/Cheese OR Equal Value Item
2000 S. Bascom Ave, Campbell 408-369-9201
(Thanks to Angie Jaggars)
CAMPBELL EXPRESS
Two Subscriptions 408-374-9700 **
(Thanks to Stephon Hansen)
April winners were:
THE GARRET: Margaret Schieck
BURGER KING: Irene Elardo
CAMPBELL EXPRESS: Shirley Chappell and Helen Soukoulis
Legislative Report…Daniel Nnorth and Claudia Schott
It looks like we are under attack again – by Congress! This time it’s the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly known as Food Stamps. Whatever we call it, it is the difference between starvation and a full belly. Nothing is worse than deciding which bill to put off in order to eat, or worse, what foods to put back on the grocery shelf, in order to pay the bills! The upcoming Farm Bill needs to address the current economic reality of the American farmer and those who benefit from SNAP, as well as others who need this bill to help, rather than keep the status quo of 2014, when prices were higher and things were looking good for the farmers.
With the 2018 version of the farm bill having been voted out of committee for consideration by the full House, Catholic groups and other rural advocates are voicing their misgivings about many of its provisions.
Conservation programs that reward farmers and ranchers were zeroed out of the bill passed April 18 by the House Agriculture Committee. “Safety net” programs were boosted only marginally to aid farmers who have been getting dwindling prices for their crops and who could be the first victims of a trade war as tariffs are imposed on their produce.
Another part of the bill rewrites the eligibility requirements for SNAP, which could kick out 2 million Americans from the program, according to six Catholic leaders. “Eighty percent of the farm bill is around the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. It’s significant when we hear it’s going to include some dramatic cuts,” said James Ennis, executive director of Catholic Rural Life.
This is our time to shine! We need to write our members of Congress to keep SNAP off the chopping block! (Might want to let them know to make sure the farmers and ranchers get help, too!) Go to https://action.aarp.org and find the letter to send to your Congressman/woman regarding SNAP! Let them know how important it is to you!
On a lighter side, Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer is the latest senior Democrat to call for decriminalizing marijuana at the federal level. Schumer also said that he would support legalization in his home state of New York, in a well-timed interview with VICE News which aired Thursday night.
“My personal view is legalization is just fine,” Schumer said. “The best thing to do is let each state decide on its own. I’m doing it because I think it’s the right thing to do. I’ve seen too many people’s lives ruined by the criminalization,” Schumer said in the interview. “If we benefit, so be it. But that’s not my motivation.”
The concern about the Justice Department asserting its authority to enforce federal law regarding cannabis is particularly real in states like Colorado and California, which have a regulated state industry.
Colorado Republican Sen. Cory Gardner announced last week that he had reached an understanding with President Donald Trump that DOJ would not be getting in the way of the marijuana business in his home state, despite the withdrawal of guidance along those lines from then-Deputy Attorney General James M. Cole during the Obama administration.
Perhaps no federal official has been more skeptical of legalizing marijuana over the years than current Attorney General Jeff Sessions. Hmmmm, maybe we should get a free pass from President Trump as well……
Thank You
Many thanks to Veronika Philips for distributing our newsletter every month. She has to fold, seal, label, and stamp after she picks up from printer. Then take to post office. Great job, Veronika!