PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE

Important Dates:

March 19 — Our annual Staff Recognition Luncheon.
Check-in — 11:30 a.m. Town and Gown
Reservations required: 213-740-7122

April 3 — 30th Anniversary Celebration of the Emeriti Center in three parts—dynamic, interdisciplinary, and intergenerational

April 4 ——— SRA Theatre Party at the Bing Theatre "Brigadoon" at 2:30 p.m.
Tickets — $8.00
Reservations: Dick Martin dickmar@msn.com; 323-343-1146

June 5 ——— SRA Annual Meeting and Election of Officers
10:00 a.m.
GERO 224
Program — Chair Dancing ——— fun, painless, helps you stay in shape
R.S.V.P.: 213-740-7122

Help Wanted:  After the June election, the new board will seek volunteers to fill some critical positions.  Two areas that will need new leaders are Hospitality and Member Recruitment & Retention.

Trojan ENCORE Update:  We are excited about the development of our new Web-based program being customized for our USC retirees and hiring managers.  SOON we will be asking you to be willing to sign up as a potential volunteer or work for pay to support USC units that need some help.

Don't forget to adjust clocks March 8 when we go to Daylight Savings Time.<.p>

Carole Gustin
<cgustin@usc.edu>


RON'S PART

An editorial comment on the Trojans basketball season: I have been hopeful for most of the season, but no more.  I don't think it is possible for a Division 1A basketball team to get very far if they can't make free throws or make buckets from beyond the three point line.  Maybe the NIT is the hope for the year.


SOME HOPEFULLY HELPFUL TIPS

Consumer Information From The Feds — The Federal Trade Commission has a new guide compiling resources on health topics important to seniors.  Topics include generic drugs, hearing aids, hormone therapies and medical Id theft . . . .  Check out "Who Cares: Sources of Information About Health Care Products and Services" at <www.ftc.gov/whocares>.  (Kiplinger's Retirement Report, January 2009, page 13)

Senior Phones — Senior phones are available from several sources, I expect.  If you think that a phone that provides amplification, has a one-touch emergency button to contact relatives, has large buttons and oversized text may be of use to you, you should look into them.  You can get more information for one phone at <www.clarityproducts.com>.  I would check other sources also if you are interested.

Social Networking On Line — I am not into this, but if you like to chat with people online, there are many sites that are directed more to "older" persons (at least over 40).  TeeBeeDee <www.tbd.com>, Eons, and ReZoom, are just a few.  You can get to them by just typing the name into Google.  AARP also has one at <www.aarp.org/onlinecommunity>.  Eons mentioned above also has a Longevity Calculator at <www.eons.com/calculator>.  Happy Networking.

Law Resources — There is a site <www.ElderLawAnswers.com> which provides legal and financial information relating to aging.  The site has a weekly podcast, discussion forums, and an advice blog.  There also is a mapping tool which can locate elder-law lawyers in your community.  (Kiplinger's Retirement Report, December 2008, page 12)

Know Your Worth — If you go to <www.aarp.org/money> and try some of the financial calculators.  Just plug in some basic information, volia! (their word, not mine), you can figure out what your retirement income may be, set up a budget, or calculate a mortgage-payoff date etc.

* * * * *

All this info for "senior citizens" reminds me of the elderly lady who called the newspaper to complain about not receiving the Sunday paper.  "Why, it's Saturday, not Sunday.  Your Sunday paper will be there tomorrow," said the circulation employee.  "Oh, that's why no one was in church," answered the customer.

* * * * *

Blind E-mail Copies — I expect that all of you know of this, or have heard of it but don't do it, or have not heard of it; so I will tell you or remind you.  I am sure you have received e-mails with many addresses listed that indicate where else the message has been sent.  To keep from sending such lists yourself, use the bcc: blind carbon copy function and not the send function or the cc: function when sending e-mails.  For example, if I am sending an e-mail to every member of the SRA Board, I could send it to myself, <rlviolette@aol.com> and send it to the other members as a bcc:.  Each person would not get a message with a long list of addresses, it would just show their address.

I'm not sure I am making this clear, but ask your 10-year-old grandchild to show you.

When To Take Social Security? — I realize that this will not impact many readers of this newsletter as you likely have already made the decision on when to take Social Security.  If you haven't, here is an example to consider and to research further.  It comes from the Kiplinger's Retirement Report of February 2009, page 2.  The husband is 66 and has decided to wait until age 70 to claim his benefits.  His wife, age 64, applied for benefits based on her much lower earnings.  If the husband dies first, she can switch to her higher survivor benefits based on the husband's earnings.  If he lives on, the husband can now collect a spousal benefit equal to 50 percent of his wife's benefits.  Once the husband turns 70, he will apply for his benefits, and they will be considerably higher (over 30 percent higher) than they would have been at age 66.

* * * * *

(A UCLA grad walks into a pizza place to get a takeout.  The clerk says that she can cut it into 6 or 8 pieces.  "You better make it six," responds the Bruin.  "I can't eat eight.")

* * * * *

For AAA Members: Free Credit Monitoring — If you are a member of the Automobile Club of Southern California (and maybe other AAA clubs, I am not sure.), you can get one free Online Experian Credit Report, free Daily Credit Report Monitoring, free e-mail alerts when key changes are detected on your Experian Credit Report, and free Fraud Resolution Support.  You have to enroll, but it is free.nbsp; Do this at <www.AAA.com/creditcheckselect>.  The ad states, "No Hidden charges or fees."  I read the fine print, and it seems there are no tricks.  If you have the Westways AAA magazine for March, check it out for yourself in the ad on page 5.  (I registered and got the credit report in a couple of minutes.  The process is thorough as very personal information is involved.  If you sign up, just be sure you do not check anything you really don't want.  If you are unsure, don't do it.)

* * * * *

I have a possible business opportunity for any of you who still have some money.  They are looking for possible franchisees for a drive-in mortuary operation in Florida.  It will be called, "Jump in the Box."  If interested, I can give you a number to call.

I know of another opportunity, but it escapes me now.  My memory is not what it used to be.
Also, my memory is not what it used to be.

* * * * *

See you at the retiree event on March 19th.


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

None this month.

[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.]


_______________________________________

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*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.