SRA E-MAIL NEWSLETTER*
Issue # 52
March 2007

Ron Violette, Editor

Well, the Trojan basketball team ended up in the fifth seed position for the upcoming NCAA Tournament. They will be playing Arkansas. The first game will be Friday March 16. I actually attended one Trojan game this year and wouldn’t you know, it was last Saturday against Oregon. To be most kind, that was not a good game. But that is history, GO TROJANS!

NEWS FOR ALL MEMBERS

You should have recently received the March Emeriti Center Newsletter. I hope you noted that the SRA Annual Meeting will be Monday, June 4. We hope you all will attend. Louise Ball is coordinating the luncheon, and Betty Redmon has arranged for a wonderful program. At this meeting, we will be electing new officers for the next two years. We always are looking for new persons to run for the various positions. If you would be willing to serve or would like to nominate someone, please contact Harriet Servis, the Chair of the Nominating Committee by direct phone or through the Emeriti Center. You will be sent a post card reminder about the meeting as the date gets closer. Any nominations should be sent as soon as possible as it will be too late when the post cards are sent.

Carole Gustin, the SRA President, and Bob Biller, the RFA President, met with the Staff Assembly this month. It was an encouraging meeting. They are working on issues that will have an impact on all future retirees. We encourage current staff to join the SRA so we can work with them and assist them where possible.

This Thursday, March 15 will be our annual Retiree Recognition Event. We hope you have all sent in your RSVP. If you haven’t, it is too late. This year will be the biggest event ever. Already over 185 have sent in their RSVP.

Don’t forget the April 1 theater party, (Pajama Game) and the May 24 tour of the newly refurbished Griffith Observatory.

A FEW HOPEFULLY HELPFUL TIPS

HELP WITH TAXES: AARP has a program called Tax-Aide which annually helps about 2 million low-and-moderate income taxpayers fill out their tax returns. The returns are prepared by well trained volunteers, and it is free. I can personally vouch for this program as I was one of the volunteers for 3 or 4 years, and I saw how appreciative people were to get their tax prepared free. If you have a complicated return, you will be advised that you should go to a professional preparer. To find a local AARP Tax-Aide, call 1-888-227-7669 or go to <http://www.aarp.org/taxaide>.

LONG-TERM CARE: The Department of Health and Human Services has opened a new web site. Go to <http://www.longtermcare.gov> to find information on planning for long-term care, coverage options available and how to pay for it. (Kiplinger’s Retirement Report, February 2007, page 9)

FINANCIAL EDUCATION: If you want to educate yourself or give your adult children a place to get some education in financial matters including investing, you may want to try the following sites:
<http://www.investopedia.com>.
<http://www.financial-education-icfe.org>.
<http://www.federalreserveeducation.org>.

LOOKING FOR SALES?: At <http://www.salescircular.com> you can learn what’s on sale at leading retail chains in the coming week. The site provides prices, product descriptions and sales dates. As I am not much of a shopper, I would appreciate feedback on this from any of you who try this.

STROKE INFORMATION: The National Institutes of Health, at <http://www.nihseniorhealth.gov>, offer information on stroke risks, symptoms, and the latest treatments.

WALKING: If you would like to start a walking program or possibly get some tips on better ways to conduct a walking program, you could try <http://www.aarp.org/walking>.

NEED A HOME INSPECTOR?: If you are selling your house or need a home inspector for some other reason, you can find one in your area at the American Society of Home Inspectors web site <http://www.ashi.org>.

CONSUMER ACTION HANDBOOK: The 2007 version of the Federal Government’s “Bible for Buyers” is available to one and all. It is one of the most popular Government publications. This guide provides consumer tips and contacts for thousands of corporations, consumer groups and government agencies. To get a copy: Call 1-888-878-3256 toll free or go to the web site at <http://www.consumeraction.gov/>.

INTERACTIONS BETWEEN SENIORS AND THEIR ADULT CHILDREN: WellPoint Inc., a health-benefits company, has launched a Web site to help improve interactions between seniors and their adult children. At <http://www.connectingthegenerations.org>, you can download a 24-page guide that offers tips for initiating family discussions. (Kiplinger’s Retirement Report, January 2007, page 9)

Bonnie and I will soon be making out annual four-month trip to Wisconsin\Minnesota. For those of you not from that area, here are a few clues to know that a person is from Wisconsin.

WHEN:
Snow tires are standard on all their cars.
Down South means Chicago.
You know that Eau Claire is not something you eat.
You can actually pronounce Oconomowoc.
You go out for fish fry every Friday.
You know what a bubbler is.
You were unaware there is a legal drinking age.
You decided to have a picnic last summer because it fell on a weekend.
They refer to the Packers as “We”

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*The content of this Email 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.