MEMBERSHIP

Membership…Shelley Schwartz

Happy New Year Everyone!  Yes, it’s a new year and I’m collecting membership dues!  If you would like to continue receiving your copy of The Dispatch by regular mail, your annual membership fee is $15.  If you would like to receive The Dispatch, in color, by e-mail, your annual membership fee is $12.  I will also need your current e-mail address. Membership renewals are due no later than March 1st. Please mail your check NOW while you are thinking about it. Thanks. Also, please check your AARP National Membership Card’s expiration date to see if you need to renew.  Your membership number appears on the front of the red card and on your AARP magazine.

COMMUNITY SERVICE

Community Service…Sheila Gold

The new year is here and I wish all our members and their families all the best.  The “best” is good health so I hope you’re following doctors’ orders by eating well and exercising regularly and keeping a positive outlook on life.  Doing puzzles, learning a new language and/or taking classes help to keep your mind sharp and are fun. The internet offers unlimited learning -Senior Net is where I’ve taken classes and the instructors are great and patient, classes are  usually limited to 12 so, with 2 assistants for each class, you get individual help.  Check out the area’s community centers where you’ll find classes, low-cost meals and programs especially for seniors. Of course, I’ll put a big plug into this message for doing volunteer work-it’s sooo satisfying. Hope to interview some of our energetic volunteers for the next newsletter.

Remember, for me a balanced diet is a piece of good dark chocolate in each hand. The best to you.

TREASURE CHEST

Treasure Chest—HELP WANTED PLEASE!!

Jan Delucchi was involved in a terrible auto accident on Dec. 21 which totaled her car and broke two pelvic bones. At press time she is still in Vasona Creek Healthcare Center, Rm 1693. We send her our best wishes for a speedy recovery. This means we need someone to step up and take over the Treasure Chest for a few months. This is one of our best fund raisers, so if you can take on this temporary job, please call Betty Maniglia as soon as possible. We will be forever grateful.

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE

2015 Legislative Update…Daniel Nnorth & Claudia Schott

First of all; Happy New Year!! 2016 looks very promising for SB 323 (nurse practitioner full practice authority bill). The bill will be reintroduced once the new Speaker of the Assembly is in place in March. Some are hoping that the extra votes needed to get the ball rolling again will happen. Newspapers have been criticizing SB323. If your newspaper was one of them, you can help the bill by writing a letter to the editor explaining your point of view and encouraging them to back SB 323. The following is a SAMPLE Letter to the Editor: California already has over 18,000 nurse practitioners trained and educated to provide basic routine care to California residents. I urge our legislators to pass SB 323 (Hernandez), a law which will put patients first by breaking down the arbitrary barriers in California law that prevents nurse practitioners from using all of their skills and education to provide basic, routine care.
California is the only western state that has not modernized its laws.  I am concerned about the news reports I’ve read concerning the lack of primary care providers in rural areas of our state.  Senate Bill 323 will break down the barriers that prevent nurse practitioners from using all their education and training to care for patients. It will update California’s health care rules so nurse practitioners can provide complete primary care.
I urge this newspaper to tell our legislators:  Put patients first, and pass SB 323!

The Hospital and Family Caregivers Act (SB 675), effective January 1, 2016, will now mandate that hospitals record the name of a family caregiver and provide training to that caregiver when the person is discharged to the home. AARP is working on informational posters and wallet cards to be hopefully available mid-month.

Home Care Services Consumer Protection Act – Now requires that the state regulates home care agencies. Agencies that employ these workers will have to register with the state and be monitored–they weren’t regulated before. The workers will have to go through a background check.  You will be able to check online if someone had a background check and passed.  Independent workers are not required to register, but can register. The law will have to have a soft launch on January 1, but will not be in full swing until at least mid-year. DPSS will eventually have some materials and work with us on how to get the information out to you

Update on the Close the Loophole issue – Legislators defeated a last-ditch effort to derail the Department of Labor’s proposed Fiduciary Duty rule. The rule will require financial advisers to provide advice which is in their clients’ best interest.  It was part of a bigger package that the House passed to fund the federal government through September of 2016. This bill not only avoids the deep cuts to scores of critical programs, it provides noteworthy increases for many services critical to older Americans, including health, nutrition and caregiver services, as well as increases for the Social Security Administration to improve fraud prevention. Amazing what can happen just before Christmas!

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2016!

DATES TO REMEMBER

DATES TO REMEMBER

DEADLINE for articles for the Dispatch First Tuesday each month e-mail to mar2hruby@sbcglobal.net   snail (US) mail: Dispatch, 2156 Orestes Way Campbell CA 95008

Executive Board Meeting, Wesley Manor                             Second Tuesday each month 10:00 am Chapter Meeting Campbell Community Center, Room Q80      Third Tuesday each month   9:30 am

President’s Message

President…Marlene Hruby

If you would like to go to the January 19 luncheon, please call Bette right away. We must give a count on Friday, Jan. 8 but we can add some if necessary. We will be honoring four members who were at the very first meeting! We also need two more singers to join a small choir. How’s your voice? Call me if you’d  like to participate for a couple song parodies. It’s been quite a holiday season with accidents, operations, and sickness everywhere. Let’s hope things improve soon. Please get more involved in 2016. We need a temporary Treasure Chest manager (see article on Page 3) and Carole needs an assistant for the Opportunity Drawing. We need refreshment donors and servers. No one has signed up for February and March, so if you want coffee and goodies you need to call Ken Schieck and volunteer. We can always use new committee members. It’s time for you to get more involved with your chapter and it’s fun too!

20TH ANNIVERSARY

 COME  CELEBRATE OUR

 20TH ANNIVERSARY!

TUESDAY JANUARY 19

11 A.M.—2 P.M.

HARRY’S HOFBRAU BANQUET ROOM

390 SARATOGA AVE, SAN JOSE

PRIVATE ALL-YOU-CAN-EAT BUFFET $25

ENTERTAINMENT! DOOR PRIZES!

We can add a few people. Call Bette NOW! Bette Maniglia
NO GENERAL MEETING! JOIN US FOR LUNCH!

SOUTHWEST EXPERIENCE

Southwest Experience Trip by Talbot … Marlene Hruby

Please join Merry Wilkins and me on this great trip, September 27 to Oct 2, 2016, to Phoenix, Scottsdale, Sedona, Grand Canyon, Oak Creek Canyon, Pink Jeep Tour, with many, many other sights and museums all included. Of course, Talbot Tour’s extras are included: home pickup and airport transfers, tour manager, hotels, many meals,  baggage handling, all tours, taxes, and gratuities for all service. Lots of brochures were taken at our last meeting. Where are you? More will be available at the tour table.  You can also call me to receive a copy.

Campbell Adult Center Classes

Campbell Adult Center Travel Party—Free—Tuesday Oct. 4 10:15 Rm C35

If that trip doesn’t interest you, find out about all the different travel possibilities. A slide presentation from Talbot Tours will be featured as well as info about the Adult Center’s upcoming one-day and overnight trips. There will also be refreshments and door prizes. Please RSVP at 408-866-2146 by Friday 9/30.

Diet Mythbusters—Friday Aug. 26  10 am-12 pm  Rm E42  $12

Are you struggling to make sense of all the news about what to eat and what diet to follow?  If so, then this workshop is for you! Learn the various pros and cons of the many diet recommendations in the media, such as paleo, vegetarianism, my plate and more. Explore why these diets may or may not be working for you. Nutritionist Marcia Sivek will discuss what foods are causing many to become sick and overweight and how to look for those foods in your pantry and eating out. Bring some food labels from your pantry to learn how to understand the ingredients and nutrients listed.

What You Need To Know About Your Bone Health– Friday Sept. 16 10-11 am  Rm Q80-Free

Educational program to learn about prevention, diagnosis and treatment of osteoporosis. Learn how to be Fit to a T (T-score measures bone density) so you may continue to enjoy an active and healthy lifestyle. Please RSVP by 9/15 at 408-866-2146.

Harvest Hoedown—Friday Sept. 30  12:00-2:-00 pm   Orchard City Banquet Hall  $15

Celebrate the beginning of Autumn and the Harvest Season with food and fun. Doors open at 11:30. BBQ chicken, BBQ pork ribs, baked beans, garlic bread, Caesar salad, fruit, desert and beverage. Line dance demonstration and lesson; enjoy music by the Peninsula Banjo Band. Tickets on sale at the Adult Center Office starting Mon 8/29. Vegetarian entrée must be requested upon purchase. Deadline 9/28. NO tickets at door