Chapter May 2015 Newsletter

In these newletters, you will find information and updates about things that matter to you, your friends and your family. Below is a Chapter contact list:

Chair - Ken Westfall, carpniagara@gmail.com

Vice Chair - Ken Eden, kseden@sympatico.ca

Treasurer - John Gardner, jcg13@cogeco.ca

Secretary - Shirley Cordiner, shirleycordiner@gmail.com

Coordinators

• Communication - John Meguerian, carpniagaracomm@gmail.com

• Membership - Pat Roden, carpniagarambr@gmail.com

• Social/Recreational - Susan Sutherland, carpniagarasocial@gmail.com

• Advocacy - Shirley Cordiner, shirleycordiner@gmail.com

• PR/Education - Linda Zoeger Mooney, carpniagaraed@gmail.com

Chapter technical and photography - Denis Grantham, dgrantham@baytech.ca

We are your CARP Niagara Chapter # 31 members and we share your interests, concerns and generation. Everyone is welcome to sign-up to receive our newsletters. Feel free to share this with your friends and family. Send an email to carpniagaracomm@gmail.com to add their email to our mailing list.

The April chapter meeting was very informative! Dr. Stephanie Gray from Gray Chiropractic Spine and Joint Clinic explained the correlation between lower back pain and reduced sexual activity and the many health issues, including relationship and mental problems, that can be caused by this reduction. She also provided a list of best-case positions, depending on your back problem, to minimize the discomfort - all in a very professional way, of course! For a second opinion, I brought the list home to show my spouse, Charlene, and suggested that we try them out, purely as a scientific project. I don’t think she was very receptive as she mumbled something about “delusional” before turning away. I can’t figure out why. I guess she’s not that into science…. but I digress.

Our second speaker was Peter from More Fitness. Peter showed us a number of easy-to-do exercises to increase mobility. He also suggested isometrics as an excellent way to keep limber with little or no risk of injury. His energy was infectious and he had us up and participating in no time!

Both Peter and Stephanie work extensively with ‘mature’ adults and would welcome the opportunity to set up a wellness regimen for anyone who suffers from mobility problems or would just like to set up a maintenance program to forestall future problems.

For the May 19 meeting, one of our members, Paul Scheib from Sun Life Financial, suggested Dave Smith, the owner of  Travel Only Beyond a Dream Travel Agency, as a speaker. Dave is enthusiastically recommended by a number of our members and will be giving us packing tips and travel security tips, medical and trip cancellation insurance information and explaining the advantages of using a good travel agent as opposed to do-it-yourself on-line booking.

Dave has extensive experience working with seniors and will also be suggesting appropriate trips and tours that cater to our lifestyles.

HEADS UP!    

    
The June meeting will be waived in favour of a Summer Kick-Off bar-b-que, sponsored by IRIS Optical from Welland, to be held at Kingsbridge Park between 10 and 4 on June 16. Come on out, bring your lawn chairs, relax and socialize! All CARP Niagara Region members are welcome. There will be gourmet hotdogs, both meat and vegetarian, gourmet hamburgers, salads, soft drinks, etc. There is a nominal fee of $5.00 per person which can be paid upon arrival or in advance at the May meeting. Because of the sponsorship of IRIS, we will be able to use the proceeds to fund future events - thank you, Nicole!

We have 2 people providing portable bar-b-ques - thanks Ken Eden and Gail Santsche - but we could use a few more. If you are able to help out please let Susan caprniagarasocial@gmail.com or myself know carpniagara@gmail.com.

IMPORTANT!

Please RSVP to Susan or myself. It is important to get a handle on how many people will be there. The last date to reply will be June 2. We will be sending out a couple of reminders between now and then, along with the exact location.
See you at the meeting!

PLEASE NOTE: Denis Grantham, our Chapter Photographer, will be taking photos of our Members over the next few meetings for inclusion on our website along with a brief bio. Please bring along a short write-up about yourself.

Lastly, in an effort for all of us to get to know one another better, we will begin introducing new Members and guests at each meeting. We will start off the April meeting by introducing everyone present. We will also be asking for a few volunteers to form a greeters committee on a rotating basis. This will help to ease the way for guests and new Members and help to make them feel welcome.

See you at the meeting!

TRAVELONLY is a licensed, family-owned business, under the protection of TICO.  It has been in operation for 37 years, has won several awards, and has been named a member of the “entrepreneurial elite” by Profit magazine.

Dave (David) Smith is Owner & Travel Consultant since May 2005 TICO certified / CLIA Accredited & Master Cruise Counselor.

Dave has extensive experience working with seniors and will also be suggesting appropriate trips and tours that cater to our lifestyles.

Royal Henley Retirement Community in St Catharines provides the meeting room with coffee and cookies for a two dollar donation to the Alzheimer's Society by those attending.

Please support your Chapter

We look forward to welcoming all members and their friends.

DELIBERATE DECEPTION: THE HEADS-UP ON FRAUD

Identity theft, bogus investment opportunities, stolen credit card information: the list goes on and on. The Competition Bureau of Canada has named March as being Fraud Prevention Month.Examining this topic is a team of Brock University researchers: psychologist Angela Book; criminologist Voula Marinos; and information systems expert Teju Herath along with Paul Spiridi, head of the Niagara Regional Police Service’s Central Fraud Unit.

Helpful Hints on How to Spot Fraud 

1. If someone is presenting you with a short cut to making money, beware - if it’s too good to be true, it’s probably not true.

2. If you are asked for your social insurance number, banking or other personal or sensitive information online do not give it out. Legitimate companies will not ask you for this type of information in an e-mail.

3. If the person won’t take no for an answer be careful; persistence is a common trait of fraudsters.

4. Spam e-mails detailing investment opportunities or tragic events such as family deaths or illness are red flags. Often these are fraud techniques, known as social engineering tactics, designed to play on an individual’s emotion and trusting tendencies.

5. Pay attention to how you feel about interactions. If a situation seems suspicious, listen to your instincts!

How to Prevent Fraud

Be aware of phishing e-mails. Phishing is a common type of fraud that comes to our email where fraudsters seek sensitive information from you such as account numbers, user names and passwords. 

Ensure that your passwords are strong and not obvious, such as 1-2-3-4 or your address, etc. 

Check your credit history at least once a year and review your bank statements each month to look for unfamiliar charges. 

Think before you act: be extra careful when making decisions about sharing your personal information.

Use the resources available to better understand, and be able to recognize, fraud. IF YOU DO BECOME A VICTIM OF FRAUD > Contact your bank and ask them to freeze the related accounts.

> Contact your local police department to begin an investigation.

> Tell those around you what happened to raise awareness and prevent others from becoming victimized.

> Make sure you follow up and ensure any fraudulent entries are removed from your credit history.

> Visit the Competition Bureau of Canada or the Canadian Anti-Fraud Center’s websites for support and more information.

“Often you don’t realize you’ve given out the information to the wrong people - that’s how the whole fraud thing works!” – Teju Herath

Video link http://brocku.ca/research-at-brock/consider-this-podcast-series/youtube-version

Click here to reach your CARP Niagara website

National Seniors Day October 1st, learn more about appreciating and celebrating seniors

World Elder Abuse Awareness Day - Toward a Global Framework 10th Anniversary Webinar

First GLOBAL Summit World Elder Abuse Awareness Day
Monday, June 15, 2015 Washington, DC

My Health GPS health services information and referral line, serving Hamilton, Burlington, Niagara, Haldimand and Brant and everywhere in between.

Niagara Region offers non-medical programs to support seniors, their families and caregivers.

Ontario Attractions for CARP Members

Community Support Services of Niagara  is a volunteer based not-for-profit agency providing comprehensive client-driven community support services to help seniors and adults with disabilities live independently in their own homes. 

Lifelong Learning Niagara is a not-for-profit organization established in 2015 to engage older adults in Niagara in continuous learning. Additional information can reached by emailing lifelonglearningniagara@gmail.com or by calling 905-834-4442.

Spring Gardening Tips

1. Survey the Yard - remove dead limbs, re-mulch garden beds, check steps and fences

2. Order Tools and Plants - tune up tools; order perennials, trees and shrubs

3. Get Ready to Mow - service mower & leaf blower; look for areas that need seeding

4. Prune Trees and Shrubs - thin shrubs such as butterfly bush, hydrangea & roses

5. Take a Soil Test - Check soil pH with a home soil- test kit

6. Prepare New Beds - Spread a 4-inch layer of compost over soil

7. Plant - Plant shrubs and perennials such as hostas and daylilies by early spring

8. Fertilize - Apply balanced fertilizer around trees and shrubs when growth appears

9. Start a Compost Pile - collect plant debris and leaves raked up from the garden

10. Clean Bird Feeders and Baths - scrub with weak bleach solution (1/4 cup bleach: 2 gallons warm water).

FIDA/pcH is having their 8th annual golf tournament which has raised almost $100,000 dollars to help the people of Haiti to establish agricultural cooperatives as they move towards self-sufficiency. Please click on the above for more details about this tournament that will be held at Pen Lakes GC on May 28, 2015.

Join us for the fresh air of the outdoors at one of Niagara Parkways featured parklands, Kingsbridge park (click here for map) adjacent to where the Welland river meets the Niagara river.

Mark you calendar and please RSVP by June 2 either carpniagarasocial@gmail.com or carpniagara@gmail.com.

Reminders will be emailed , check your email inbox.

The Niagara Olympic Club (NOC) has been chosen to host the 2015 Canadian Masters Games in St. Catharines, July 17 - 19. Please click on the NOC logo for more details. If you wish to volunteer please call Sharon Stewart, Meet Director 905-933-2762.