2020-08 August

President … Ken Schieck

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National AARP continues to share current Covid-19 information every Thursday at 10:00 a.m. PDT; phone # is 855-274-9507.

Again, many thanks to Thelma Bridges and her telephone committee, who have contacted all our members every week checking to see if they are safe and have all the items they need.  A device as simple as a telephone can assist us in keeping our AARP bonds with each other.  It goes without saying that members who have email and phones should also keep up any contacts they have with other members.

Thanks to Paul and Sharon Levine, who hosted another Zoom general meeting on Tuesday, July 21; there were 30 attendees, including officers.  Please consider joining the next general meeting on Tuesday, August 18.  And remind fellow members to attend as well!  Just as we allow guests to attend three meetings without cost, we can allow guests to attend three of our Zoom meetings.

REMINDER:  As of the beginning of July, National AARP has cancelled all in-person AARP general meetings.  We will continue to hold our meetings using Zoom or other technologies until further notice.

National AARP wants to hear from you about what policies you think AARP should pursue to improve the lives of people as they age.  Send your ideas to policy@aarp.org.

Please check our chapter’s campbellaarp.org website for information on positions with the Red Cross.

Thanks to Lynda Martinez, Sheila Bailey, Shelly Schwartz, Marilyn Clough, and Angie Jaggars for last month’s Glad Tidings and Jokes!

August Meeting … Paul Levine and Margaret Schieck

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The scheduled speaker for our August 18 Zoom meeting is Belinda Sifford, Chair of the Access Advisors, a support group of the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco (the de Young Museum and the Legion of Honor).  She will discuss museum access in the time of Covid-19 and the 30th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

We will send email invitations to members on Monday, August 17.

Troop Support … Angie Jaggars

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Let’s keep our Troop Support program alive!  Please send me names of any active overseas military individuals.  Check with your friends, neighbors, etc.  These folks still need our encouragement.

Pack-a-Back 2020 … Marilyn Clough

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Fifty percent of the kids who participate in Sacred Heart’s school-related programs do not have internet access at home.  With the challenges facing them–and all of us–this year, the best way for us to help is to send a gift of money directly to Sacred Heart Community Service at 1381 South First Street, San Jose, CA 95110.

Please note on your check that you are an AARP Chapter 5151 member.  This is a necessary departure from our usual operation, and not as much fun, but so much appreciated by all those involved in enriching the lives and futures of these kids.

Legislative News … Daniel Nnorth and Claudia Schott

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Flex those dialing and writing fingers!  We need to let our Federal Representatives (Lofgren, Khanna and Eshoo) as well as Senators (Feinstein and Harris) know that they need to address nursing homes issues now!

HR1425 – the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Enhancement Act passed the House and now moves into the Senate. Let Senators know they need to vote ‘Yes’ and support this bill. This bill provides funding for the Improve Health Insurance Affordability Fund.  States must use allocated funds to assist insurers or individuals with exceedingly high claims.

Our State Senators (Hill and Beall) also have their work cut out for them – and it’s our job to make sure they do theirs!  They, too, need to address nursing home issues. There are several nursing home related bills that we want them to support:

SB1207 — Nursing Home Resident Safety Act of 2020.

AB2377 — Adult Residential Facilities: Closures and Resident Transfers.

SB1383 – California Paid Family Leave – Job Protections.

AB3216 – California Paid Sick Leave – Public Health Emergency.

SB 1383 would allow employees who work for a company with five or more workers to be eligible for 12 weeks of job-protected leave. Currently, only companies with 50 or more employees are required to provide 12 weeks of leave to care for a family member.

AB 3216 would provide vital job protections for CA employees impacted by COVID-19 — specifically, by allowing workers to take extended job-protected leave to care for themselves or a family member affected by COVID-19, including a family member whose school or care facility is closed due to COVID-19; worker retention and recall rights for certain service employees; and additional paid sick leave during a state of emergency. 

The World Health Organization (WHO) has stated that the pandemic is “one big wave”, rather than a seasonal thing. So, once we get the vaccines, we should be good. The researchers are confident we will have a safe and effective vaccine; however, it will take time.  Some experts are predicting it may be next summer before we have a working vaccine.  So, keep safe, wear masks, keep your social distance, wash your hands frequently and get tested if you can. We may be here a while, waiting….

Do You Like to Sing? … Nancy Tepperman

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A free sing-along group meets on Zoom on Thursdays, 7:30-9:00 p.m.  The group use to meet in person at the Chai House.  There are a couple of songbooks to help singers remember the words which can be ordered on Amazon if you like the group.  What the group does is:  The leader is un-muted, and the rest of the attendees sing along (muted) at home.  It’s less satisfying than being together, but it does give that boost that singing familiar music does for the soul.  If you are interested, please contact Nancy at Nancy_Tepperman@yahoo.com, to be put on the email list.