PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE

USC Basketball: There are still a few tickets available.  Please let me know if you are interested or send your check as indicated below.  We need to hear soon so we can mail your tickets and get information re: the pre-game dinner.

DATE:   THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2009
GAME:   USC vs. Washington State
TIME:   7:30 p.m.
PRICE:  $20 per ticket

Send checks payable to USC-RFA to:

    c/o USC Emeriti Center
    3715 McClintock Avenue
    Los Angeles, CA  90089-0191

Arrangements have been made for an optional pre-game dinner at the University Club (formerly Faculty Center).  Access to Room B begins at 5:00 p.m. with dinner service at 5:30 p.m.

Dinner will consist of salad, entrée, beverage, and dessert.  There are the following choices for entrée.  Price is per person and includes tax and tip.
EACH PERSON WILL PAY THEIR BILL BY CREDIT CARD.  Mostaccioli with roasted peppers, eggplant, feta cheese, and marinara sauce—$28.04; Mostaccioli (as above) with chicken—$31.23; Beef Short Ribs with Ravioli with brown butter sage demi-glace and shaved Grana Padan Parmesan—$30.60.

Tickets have been sent to those who have made reservations for the game.  We need CONFIRMATION OF RECEIPT OF YOUR TICKETS AND YOUR CHOICE OF ENTRÉE (if you wish to join us for dinner) BY FEBRUARY 13.  [<cgustin@usc.edu>]

June Elections:
Harriet Servis, as chair of the nominating committee, is busy developing a slate of officers for our June election of president, vice-president, secretary, and treasurer.  She has received commitments for vice-president and treasurer and would love to hear from you if you are willing to serve in either of the other positions.  She also would like to know if you would be willing to serve on the board in an appointed position.  I encourage you to e-mail Harriet at <harrietservis@hotmail.com>.

Trojan ENCORE update:
There are changes coming!!!!  Due to the USC freeze on hiring, many units will not be able to hire staff during this academic year.  Therefore, we are creating a new software program that will allow us to implement a two track system—one for those who are willing to donate volunteer hours to fill in some part time and/or short term positions and one for those who are willing to serve, but with pay.  We need to have a list of retirees who are interested in getting more information and are willing to have their contact information on the new system.  Please give me a call or e-mail me, and I'll get you on the list.

March 19th:
Hope to see you next month at the luncheon honoring the staff who retired in 2008.  Invitations will be out soon.  Be sure to RSVP by the deadline in order to ensure that you have a place.

Carole Gustin, SRA President
<cgustin@usc.edu>


LINKS THAT MAY BE WORTH CLICKING (OR DIALING)

This link <www.tiaa-cref.org/support/news/articles/gen0812_154.html> will take you to the TIAA Q&A about the suspension of minimum required distributions from tax sheltered accounts in 2009.  Note that if your distribution comes automatically, you must request that it not be distributed.  (Thanks to Elaine Steward.)

I recently received an order of free and low-cost publications from the GSA Federal Citizen Information Center <www.pueblo.gsa.gov>. Included with the order was a printed list of consumer resources from the Federal Trade Commission ("the nation's consumer protection agency").

While the list is long, I felt it was worth including in this issue (any typos are mine and not the government's).

*Report a ripoff?  <www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov> or call 877-FTC-HELP.

*Sign up for the National Do Not Call Registry?  <www.donotcall.gov> or call 888-382-1222.

*Learn more about credit, loans, and mortgages?  <www.ftc.gov/credit>.

*Get a free copy of your credit report?  <www.annualcreditreport.com> or call 877-322-8228.

*Report ID theft?  <www.ftc.gov/idtheft> or call 877-ID-THEFT.

*Stay safe online?  <www.onguardonline.gov>.

*Hang up on phone fraud?  <www.ftc.gov/phonefraud>.

*Read up on saving energy?  <www.ftc.gov/energysavings>.

*Get the skinny on health and fitness?  <www.ftc.gov/health>.

*Share a "kids' eye view" of advertising and business?  <www.ftc.gov/youarehere>.

*Learn how your business can protect personal information?  <www.ftc.gov/infosecurity>.

*Get consumer tips before you buy?  <www.ftc.gov/consumer>.

*Find consumer resources in Spanish?  <www.ftc.gov/consumidor>.

*Order free publications from the FTC?  <www.ftc.gov/bulkorder>.


FROM CATALOG T-SHIRTS, SWEATSHIRTS, AND ONE DOORMAT

If We Knew What We Were Doing, It Wouldn't Be Called Research.

At What Age Am I Old Enough To Know Better?

National Sarcasm Society
Like We Need Your Support.

I Am The Grammarian
About Whom
Your Mother Warned You.

I Was Promised There Would Be No Math Involved

I'm So Far Behind, I Thought I Was First!

Traveling 33 RPM In An iPod World

There Are Only 10 Kinds Of People.
Those Who Understand Binary And Those Who Don't.

English Major
You Do The Math

I Took The Road Less Traveled
And Got Here On Time.

Selective
Listener

It's Lonely
Being Right
All The Time

I Don't Want To
I Don't Have To
You Can't Make Me
I'M RETIRED

And my favorite (on a door mat):

Please stay on the mat.
Your visit is very important to us.
Your knock will be answered in the order in which it was received.


A TALE OF TWO TREATMENTS

Two patients limp into two different medical clinics with the same complaint.  Both have trouble walking and appear to require a hip replacement.

The first patient is examined within the hour, is x-rayed the same day, and has a time booked for surgery the following week.

The second patient sees his family doctor after waiting three weeks for an appointment, then waits nine weeks to see a specialist, then gets an x-ray which isn't reviewed for another month, and, finally, has his surgery scheduled in the following year.

Why are the treatments different for these two patients?

The first is a Golden Retriever; the second is a Senior Citizen.


FROM ELLEN DEGENERES

I ask people why they have deer heads on their walls.
They always say because it's such a beautiful animal.
There you go.
I think my mother is attractive, but I have photographs of her.


TWO MURPHY'S LAWS

Murphy's First Law of Computing:
Whatever happens, behave as though you meant it to happen.

Murphy's Second Law of Computing:
When you get to the point where you really understand your software, it's probably obsolete.


FROM A SUBSCRIBER

Can you believe how many award shows they have now?

They even have awards for commercials!  The Cleo Awards.

An entire show full of commercials.

I recorded it, and then I fast-forwarded through the whole thing.


C L A S S I F I E D  A D S
(Listed in order of receipt)

FREE — 5 eight foot long fluorescent light bulbs to whomever will come and pick them up.  Call Elaine Steward at 626-793-6041.

FREE — Artificial plants: 6' ficus tree; 4' large, varigated-leaf bush; large formal flower arrangement in big urn (orchids, etc., mostly yellows, white, and salmon/brick colors).  Prefer you pick up in Anaheim, but could arrange to meet at cars at next SRA general meeting.  Call 714-974-2535 or e-mail <eredmon@usc.edu>.  Betty Redmon

[To have your free ad appear (for things to give away, to sell, to buy, etc.) in the next issue, please send to <len@winesland.net> before the first of the month.]


_______________________________________

PLEASE NOTE: If you know someone who would like to receive this newsletter, have him or her send an e-mail to Len Wines at <len@winesland.net> asking to be added to the list.  After you are on the list, you will remain on it until you unsubscribe.  To do that, simply send an e-mail to Len at <len@winesland.net> with the word UNSUBSCRIBE SRA in the Subject.

*The content of this E-mail Newsletter is for the information of the members of the USC SRA.  It is not a University of Southern California official publication.  There is no intent to promote any particular product or point of view.  Personal decisions regarding health, finance, exercise, or other matters should be made after consulting with the reader’s own professional advisors.