2017-03 March

President … Ken Schieck

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Naturally, my first instinct this month is to wish all of you a happy St. Patrick’s Day; this day is so ingrained in the American consciousness that even if you aren’t Irish (I’m not), you can still be glad of “all the Irish in you.” Try to wear green to our general meeting on Tuesday, March 19. Just don’t bring any snakes!

Many thanks to Margaret Schieck, Paddy Wray, and Barbara Robinson, co-chairs of the Chapter’s yearly lunch, which we celebrated on Tuesday, February 19; over 40 people attended and, hopefully, everyone got to sit/chat with some members they got to know better.

In concert with our chapter’s goal of community service, I would like to make you aware of Santa Clara County’s need for 2020 U.S. census workers. If interested in applying for any of a variety of positions to assist with the 2020 Census count, apply now at < www.2020census.gov/jobs > or call 1-855-JOB-2020 (1-855-562-2020). Please note that there are paid positions (Census Field Supervisors, Recruiting Assistants, Enumerators, Office Operations Supervisors, Office Clerks) earning $21-$33 per hour.

Also remember, we are still seeking a Vice President.

Legislative Report…Daniel Nnorth and Claudia Schott

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Now that Congress is back in session, they are already talking about cutting Medicare (Still? Again?) and we need ALL of your voices to tell Congress to protect Medicare! Here is the link to contact your Congress members  or you can write a letter to them or to Senators Feinstein or Harris stating your wishes. https://action.aarp.org/site/ Advocacy?cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=6199&intcmp=AE-POL-ADVO-HMC-CTABTN-ADV_6199

In a letter to President-elect Donald J. Trump, AARP CEO Jo Ann Jenkins outlines AARP’s priorities for Americans age 50 and older including protecting Medicare and Social Security, ensuring access to affordable health care coverage, and lowering the cost of prescription drugs. In the letter Jenkins writes to President-elect Trump that “Our nearly 38 million members nationwide and all older Americans are counting on you to protect their Medicare and Social Security benefits, protect their access to affordable health care, and to tackle the high cost of prescription drugs. Throughout the campaign, your statements on these important issues of health and financial security set you apart from many other candidates. Now, as you assume office, older Americans are looking to you to protect them from efforts to cut their benefits, increase their costs, or otherwise harm the crucial programs they rely on.” We hope he takes at least these campaign promises seriously. I hope to have good news for you about this soon.

Don’t have writer’s cramp yet? Here are two more Federal calls to action that you might want to look into! The first one is HR66. This is a congressional attempt to undo a federal rule that allowed California to create our Secure Choice Retirement Savings Act (SB1234). Our Senators Feinstein and Harris need to get an earful from all of us regarding this! It takes away another chance for younger folks to save for their retirement who don’t have ready access to a 401k savings plan from work.

The second one is HR708, the Age Tax. This one is a doozy! Instead of our older citizens (that’s us!) paying “only” three times more than the younger folks for health insurance, this is an attempt to give insurance the carte blanche to charge us thousands more for our healthcare! It’s time to write our Senators!! If you want to write them online: https://action.aarp.org/site/Advocacy?cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=6267&CMP=EMC-SNG-ADV-OTH-020817 . Here’s more information:

‘Age Rating’ Is Washington-Speak for Overcharging Older Americans

Seniors: That’s How the Fight Started

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–Seniors: That’s How the Fight Started
One year, I decided to buy my mother-in-law a cemetery plot as a Christmas gift. The next year, I didn’t buy her a gift. When she asked me why, I replied, “Well, you still haven’t used the gift I bought you last year!” And that’s how the fight started…. My wife and I were watching “Who Wants To Be A Millionaire” while we were in bed. I turned to her and said, ‘Do you want to have sex?’ ‘No,’ she answered. I then said, ‘Is that your final answer?’ She didn’t even look at me this time, simply saying, ‘Yes..’ So I said, “Then I’d like to phone a friend.”
And that’s when the fight started…
I took my wife to a restaurant. The waiter, for some reason, took my order first. “I’ll have the rump steak, rare, please.” He said, “Aren’t you worried about the mad cow?” “Nah, she can order for herself.”
And that’s when the fight started….
My wife sat down next to me as I was flipping channels. She asked, “What’s on TV?” I said, “Dust.”
And then the fight started…
When our lawn mower broke and wouldn’t run, my wife kept hinting to me that I should get it fixed. But, I always had something else to take care of first, the shed, the boat, making beer, always something more important to me. Finally, she thought of a clever way to make her point. When I arrived home one day, I found her seated in the tall grass, busily snipping away with a tiny pair of sewing scissors. I watched silently for a short time and then went into the house. I was gone only a minute, and when I came out again I handed her a toothbrush. I said, “When you finish cutting the grass, you might as well sweep the driveway.” The doctors say I will walk again, but I will always have a limp

Program…Gene Lennon

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Liz Gibbons serves as Mayor of Campbell following her election by the City Council last December. Ms. Gibbons was elected to the City Council in November 2014. She first became involved with the City of Campbell in 1990 as Project Manager for the Downtown Streetscape Project, a project that converted Campbell Avenue back to a two-way street, and added street trees, parking, and the Ainsley Park and Orchard City Green. Her connection to Campbell took root such that he served in many volunteer capacities, including establishing the Campbell Historical Museum and Ainsley House Foundation Endowment. She was appointed to the Campbell Planning Commission in April 1996, and served for 17 years. The years in-between were punctuated by having chaired successful `Save Our Library’ campaigns in 2005 and 2013. In March 2014, Gibbons was honored as Campbell’s “Citizen of the Year” by the Chamber of Commerce. In 2008, she was celebrated by the Silicon Valley Business Journal as a “Woman of Influence in Santa Clara Valley.” She also is a member of Chapter 5151!

MARCH 21 MEETING IN Q80

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‘TIS THE WEARIN’ OF THE GREEN!

10:00 a.m. Social Time 9:30 a.m.

Please bring books to share. Leave clean clothing and bedding and nonperishable food for Sacred Heart on the bench outside. Please do not bring garage sale type items for Sacred Heart. Put new and used greeting cards in the box on the troop table. Bring your items for the GI’s into the meeting area. Put your volunteer hours in purple envelope at sign-in table.

Lunch after meeting:

Café San Jose

1583 Meridian Ave, SJ 408-265-3020

Program:

Liz Gibbons, Mayor of Campbell

“What’s going on in politics: federal, state and

local? How to I find out? Who I contact?

Do I care?”

Opportunity Tickets

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Opportunity Tickets…Barbara Robinson
March drawings at three for $1 are:

HARRY’S HOFBRAU
$25 390 Saratoga Ave, San Jose 408-243-0434
Thanks to Marlene Hruby)

DICKEY’S BBQ
VARIOUS NEARBY LOCATIONS
FREE BIG BBQ SANDWICH WITH PURCHASE OF
LARGE DRINK (Thanks to Marlene Hruby)

1 bag OF FRESH COFFEE
WEEKEND COFFEE ROASTER’S

CAMPBELL EXPRESS
(Thanks to Mr. Hansen)

February winners were:

Denny’s Restaurant – Ruth Granfors
Dickey’s BBQ – Bob/Dot McElligott
Campbell Express – Marlene Hruby

Community Service…Marilyn Clough (temp)

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Sacred Heart Community Services is coordinating with other organizations and the City of San Jose to help with housing and caring for our local flood victims. If one of your new year’s resolutions was to clean out your closet, how about now?! Clean, warm, useful clothing and bedding is always most appreciated, and we can get it to the afflicted part of our community when you get it to our next meeting. On another note, Sacred Heart is no longer accepting egg cartons. Our contributions have probably over-stuffed their warehouse space!