SOME ITEMS FROM THE SRA PRESIDENT

Carole Gustin
<cgustin@usc.edu>

On June 4, we held our SRA Annual Meeting.  Thanks to all of you who attended.  It was a good-sized group.  The Executive Committee of the Board for 2007-2009 is:

   President         Carole Gustin
   Vice President    Louise Ball
   Secretary         Madaleen Smith
   Treasurer         Frank Chew
   Past President    Harriet Servis

We look forward to your support during the next two years.

The highlight of the day was the exhibit of work that our members have produced in a wide variety of forms.  There were gorgeous examples of needlecraft, sculpture, painting, photography, jewelry, scrapbooks, etc., etc., etc.  This may become an annual event.  Let us know what you think.


Upcoming Events:

June 14 – "Identify Theft Seminar II: How to Prevent and What to Do When Prevention Fails" ­ 10-11:30 a.m. in Gerontology Auditorium; refreshments at 9:30 a.m. in Gerontology Courtyard.  RSVP by June 12 to 213-740-7122.

June 19 – "Andrus Gerontology Center: A Wealth of Resources" ­ 10-11:30 a.m. in Gerontology Auditorium.  This is a panel of 10 members of the Andrus Center and Davis School of Gerontology on issues of interest to our age group: Alzheimers, fall prevention, L.A. Caregiver Resource Center, etc.  A reception follows in the Gerontology Courtyard.

New Program for Retirees:

Beginning this fall, we plan to implement a program that will allow our retirees to come back to campus to take on some part time, temporary positions in different USC units.  We will list resumes of retirees interested in participating and help facilitate matching retirees with openings.  If you would like to receive updates as we proceed, please e-mail me.

Dues:

If you have not renewed your membership yet, please send your check to:

       USC Staff Retirement Association
       P.O. Box 8183
       La Crescenta, CA  91224-0183


LIFE'S LITTLE INSTRUCTIONS

  1. Sing in the shower.
  2. Treat everyone you meet like you want to be treated.
  3. Watch a sunrise at least once a year.
  4. Leave the toilet seat in the down position.
  5. Never refuse homemade brownies.
  6. Plant a tree on your birthday.
  7. Learn three clean jokes.
  8. Return borrowed vehicles with the gas tank full.
  9. Compliment three people every day.
  10. Never waste an opportunity to tell someone you love them.
  11. Leave everything a little better than you found it.
  12. Keep it simple.
  13. Think big thoughts but relish small pleasures.
  14. Become the most positive and enthusiastic person you know.
  15. Floss your teeth.
  16. Ask for a raise when you feel you've earned it.
  17. Be forgiving of yourself and others.
  18. Overtip breakfast waitresses.
  19. Say "Thank you" a lot.
  20. Say "Please" a lot.
  21. Avoid negative people.
  22. Buy whatever kids are selling on card tables in their front yards.
  23. Wear polished shoes.
  24. Remember other people's birthdays.
  25. Commit yourself to constant improvement.
  26. Carry jumper cables in your trunk.
  27. Have a firm handshake.
  28. Sends lots of Valentine cards.
  29. Sign them, "Someone who thinks you're terrific."
  30. Look people in the eye.
  31. Be the first to say, "Hello."
  32. Use the good silver.
  33. Return all things you borrow.
  34. Make new friends but cherish the old ones.
  35. Keep secrets.
  36. Sing in a choir.
  37. Plant flowers every spring.
  38. Have a dog.
  39. Always accept an outstretched hand.
  40. Stop blaming others.
  41. Take responsibility for every area of your life.
  42. Wave at kids on school buses.
  43. Be there when people need you.
  44. Feed a stranger's expired parking meter.
  45. Don't expect life to be fair.
  46. Never underestimate the power of love.
  47. Drink champagne for no reason at all.
  48. Live your life as an excalamation, not an explanation.
  49. Don't be afraid to say, "I made a mistake."
  50. Don't be afraid to say, "I don't know."
  51. Compliment even small improvements.
  52. Keep your promises (no matter what).
  53. Marry only for love.
  54. Rekindle old friendships.
  55. Count your blessings.
  56. Call your mother.

(Source unknown; above is from a framed, printed message hanging on one of our walls.)


AN OPEN LETTER TO DICK MARTIN FROM PAST PRESIDENT HARRIET SERVIS

I would like to express my appreciation to Dick Martin for the detailed arrangements he has made for the many day trips and event planning he has so successfully carried out in recent years for SRA members and their families.  The recent Griffith Observatory trip was a GEM as is the Griffith Observatory and previously the Getty Museum trip to Malibu and many other prior outings.

These SRA day trips have expanded our appreciation of the big city in which we live, and I just wanted to thank Dick for his efforts in making them available for us.  Additionally, Dick is a supporting member of many of the museums we have visited, and this gives us privileges upon entry such as the "first group" seating in the Oschin Planetarium Show.  Thank You Dick!

An unforseen and unexpected event was the Griffith Park fire which preceeded our trip to the Planetarium.  Those of us who were on the trip viewed the devastation along the shuttle route through the Park.  Following the trip, there were several days of coverage in the Los Angeles Times showing the extent of the fire line in the Park and the operations of the Zoo and how close the fire came to the other landmarks in the area.  Having been in the Park just the week before made the reading of these reports in the paper more poignant.

Dick has worked on these projects and planning with a great deal of enthusiasm and would surely be appreciative of your comments as well as any suggestions for future trips and outings.


THANKS TO HARIETT PORCH FOR THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION

There are free specialized telephones and devices for those who have difficulty hearing, seeing, moving, speaking, or remembering.  The service is provided by the California Telephone Access Program.

To get more information and an application form, call 1-800-806-1191 or go to <http://www.ddtp.org>.


A SHORT COMMENCEMENT SPEECH WORTH WATCHING

Los Angeles Times columnist Steve Lopez was the speaker at the Annenberg School of Communications at last month's USC Commencement.

You can watch his 17-minute speech, which is funny, touching, and in spots brilliant, by going to:
<http://www.usc.edu/schools/annenberg/events/commencement2007/jour.wmv>.

If you are a Mac person, there is one thing you will have to do first because it is a Windows Media video.  You'll have to download a free plug-in called Flip4Mac.  You can get it from <http://www.flip4mac.com/>.  Then install it, reboot, and thereafter be able to view the Lopez speech and such files in QuickTime, which is on all Macs.

As the Flip4Mac Web site notes, "In fact, you can play Windows media in almost any application that supports QuickTime.  With Flip4Mac, you don't have to pass up high-definition movies or Windows Media files you find on the Web.  You have more viewing options and the great playback experience you've come to rely on with QuickTime Player."


AN INTERESTING VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY

Those who attended the General Meeting this past Monday had the pleasure of listening to Maryann Kristsan, a USC alumna, who is a retired secondary school English teacher.  She told us about a reading program at the Women's and Children's Hospital (on Mission, a short walk from General Hospital).  They are looking for more volunteers to read to pediatric patients and/or offer the children reading materials.

They require a two-hour minimum on weekdays, once a week, twice a month, once a month—whatever is convenient.  Stay for four hours for a free lunch in the Doctors' Cafeteria ("The food is good!").

Contact Maryann at <mkristan@earthlink.net> or 1-818-991-7746.


TWO WEB SITES YOU MAY FIND USEFUL

You can get the latest health and medicine news from leading universities and research organizations.  The site is updated every fifteen minutes.  Explore and be sure to click on the "Health Center" tab. <http://www.sciencedaily.com/>

A one-stop site that serves as a guide to government services, nationally and locally.  Find out about passport information, driver's license renewals, and much, much more.  There is a lot to explore here. <http://www.usa.gov/Citizen/Find_Services.shtml>


THE OBLIGATORY JOKE

A man bought his wife a lovely looking diamond ring for Christmas.

A friend asked, "I thought she wanted one of those four-wheel drive vehicles?"

"She did," he answered.  "But where in the world was I going to find a fake Jeep?"


_______________________________________

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