melbarray
 
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AARP Member
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Background
Location:
PADUCAH, Kentucky
United States
School:
Patton High School, Missouri (now known as Meadow Heights) Grad-1959
Work:
I worked as Health Professional and Educator my entire working career, '59 to currently, BUT now officially retired, and working for Improvements in our Health Care system thru involvement in AARP issues
Hometown(s):
Patton, Marble Hill, and Jackson Missouri
Paducah Kentucky
Quote:
"Do Unto Others, as you would have them to do unto you!"
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About Me

I consider myself a Lifetime learner, having been actively involved in furthering my education for years, even after officially retiring. Now I enjoy volunteer-teaching of others thru local agencies(RSVP/Senior Citizens Center) to use and enjoy computers. For Grandparents to be able to send and receive emails from their family is an important thing. For the past couple of years, I've been actively working with AARP for improvement of Health care issues or the aging population. Living by the Golden Rule has been my motto, and feel we should always be willing to share a helping hand to those less fortunate. I enjoy and am very dedicated to a loving family; believe family is of number one priority next to loving our God and living the faith of his teaching
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AARP Legislative Patrol Meeting Held at Paducah Senior CTR 9/10

          

 

Tihisha Rawlins, Associate Director of the Kentucky AARP office was in Paducah Thursday 9/10 to speak to a group of seniors at the Paducah/McCracken County Senior Center.   It was time for our quarterly meeting of KYs Legislative Patrol divisionof AARP, but this meeting was focused on the Health Care ReformLegislation, the purpose being to bring information and offer opportunities for questions and comments with a AARP official.   She was greeted with a welcome attitude from the crowd and appreciativefeelings for her presence and the information that she brought beforethe group.  The mild mannered decorum of the meeting was quite pleasant compared to the “shouting” of some meetings that have been making the news lately!  Perhaps our seniors are keeping better informed than the younger folks ???   At least the ones attending Thursdays meeting were exhibiting“inquiring minds, positive attitudes, along with staying open-minded” regarding our Health Care Reform. 

 

Many worthy pertinent questions and concerns were discussed.  Mrs. Rawlins brought with her a printed version of one of the bills that had been considered by the legislators, and spoke of several  “Points of misunderstandings” in that bill, with corrections in their interpretations.  She summarized  the position of the organization, as AARP’s  priorities for reform of the Health Care System were explained with opportunities for questions to be asked from the crowd.  The Myths and Misconceptions that have been circulating were debunked one by one by Mrs. Rawlins while comments were freely exchanged among the crowd  about the malicious anti Reform tactics.  While I’m sure some might have had negative feelings of some aspects in the health care bill proposal, their comments and statements were however always presented with courtesy, and Mrs. Rawlins' responses seemed to adequately clear up any and all misunderstandings.  More than half a dozen different persons in the audience commented to me after the meeting, that they felt Mrs. Rawlins was very knowledgeable and up-to-date on the issues, and expressed their gratitude for her traveling to Paducah to share information from our KY AARP office.

 We were pleased to have a fairly large crowd at the meeting, with a wonderful exchange of comments on the issues being worked upon by our legislators.  However, since the final phases of the bill is still in the “works”, We  need to stay in contact with our Representatives, and Senators with our concerns and wishes.  There are “some individuals”  in our government,  with negative feelings toward the proposed legislation, so therefore,  they need to know we are depending on them to represent ALL of us, in their efforts for  Reform in the Health Care System legislation.  We need to ask them to support AARP’s priorities:  To AARP, any real health care reform plan must address the following six priorities:

  •  Guaranteeing access to affordable coverage for Americans age 50 to 64;
  •   Closing the Medicare Part D coverage gap or "doughnut hole";
  •   Creating access to generic versions of biologic drugs used to treat cancer and other serious diseases to reduce the price of these costly treatments;
  •   Preventing costly hospital readmissions by creating a follow-up care benefit in Medicare to help people safely transition home after a hospital stay;
  •  Increasing federal funding and eligibility for home and community based services through Medicaid so older Americans can remain in their homes and avoid more costly institutions as they age; and
  •   Improving programs that help low income Americans in Medicare afford the health care and prescription drugs they need.

Please telephone, or write to your legislators and express your voice for support.

Thanks Tihisha Rawlings for your support and sharing of information.    Thanks to all that attended the meeting, and we hope that you’ll return for our next Legislative Patrol meeting.

M.Ray, AARP Activist, W.KY.

 

 

 

 

Added: September 14, 2009
Views: 69 | Comments: 0 | Bookmarks: 0
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  Comments (5)  
Champamarie
Champamarie says:

Thanks, Melbarray. I lost Champa, my black lab May 8th. I thought I'd die, but a rescued a fluffy little thing named Francesca Magdalena "frannie". She's the one with the geraniums. I'm going to upload a photo of her with the cat, if they'll just hold still long enough
Posted: August 14, 2009 5:26PM EDT
oldrn63
oldrn63 says:

Hi Mel, Thanks for replying. Lots of food for thought. I'll blog again. Anne
Posted: August 7, 2009 11:38AM EDT
oldrn63
oldrn63 says:

Hello melbarray. I just joined AARP on line and found your profile. I am a sometimes quilter and understand that Paducah is a Mecca with an annual Q show. I am a retired nurse also and graduated from high school the same year as you. 50th reunion year! I'm interested in learning more about the health care bill. There's a lot of misinformation in the blogs, and heated reactionary ranting. Do you know how to access the text of the bill as it stands now as the congress goes into recess? In Aug I'd like to meet my rep, Carol Shea Porter, a dem in her 2nd term. I think she's for a bill of some sort but not sure of the details of her commitment. Good for you going to DC to meet you rep and meet with the AARP folks. Anne Fawcett annefawcett@comcast.net
Posted: July 30, 2009 8:06AM EDT
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