Greetings form the upper Midwest.  This will be the last issue in 2008 from here.  We will be leaving in a couple of weeks to return to Southern California.  We are not leaving early because of the weather.  Today it is about 75 degrees, not a cloud in the sky, visibility at least 50 miles, the hills dark green, and I just noticed that the fish are fighting each other to jump into my boat.  We are leaving early so I can get back for the Ohio State game.  I will have to talk to the Athletic Department and see if they can't do a better job of scheduling football games around my schedule.

You may not have missed me, but I was gone for a while as the American Queen, the big river cruise ship passed by our front door on its current trip south.  There must be a lot of SRA and RFA members on it, as many people waved at me as they went by.  I must leave for a short while again as I am having lunch with my friends Ole and Sven.  We are going to the ""Clean Fork," Brownsville's take-off on New York's Sardis.  Their lunch special today is Lutefisk and Lefsa.  Now that I think about it, that is their special almost every day.  Well, enough of this travel log.  While I have been here, the SRA Board has been hard at work, especially the president, Carole Gustin.  Let's hear what she has been up to.


PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE:

SEPTEMBER 15 GENERAL MEETING
NOON — lunch served at 12:15 p.m.
GERO 224
RSVPs DUE SEPTEMBER 8!!!!!!  Call 213-740-7122 or email <emeriti@usc.edu>.

PROGRAM:  A discussion on potential USC retiree housing PLUS a SURPRISE musical event.  Don't miss our first meeting of the 2008-09 year.
Featured speakers:
Michael Lehrer, AIA Award Winning Architect and Adjunct Faculty, USC School of Architecture, and Kristina Raspe, USC Associate Vice President for Real Estate and Asset Management

IMPORTANT DATES:
October 7 — Day trip to the Egyptian Theatre with special showing of "Forever Hollywood  and no-host lunch.  Watch for flyer in the Retiree Community Newsletter for flyer/reservation form.  Guests welcome.

December 10 — Our 3rd annual holiday celebration at the Galen Center.
Watch for details.  RSVPs due by December 1.

Current Membership Numbers:

A HUGE THANK YOU to our members who were able to send gifts.  We have received:

Trojan ENCORE
We are making progress!!!  Seven retirees have their resumes online.  We are encouraging others who might be interested in returning to fill short-term or part-time positions to join us.  We would like to have several more retirees on board before we solicit work opportunities.  ALWAYS it is up to the retiree and the hiring unit to decide if a job is a good fit.  If you are interested, please let me know.

HAPPY LABOR DAY!!!!
Carole Gustin, SRA President
<cgustin@usc.edu>


A FEW HOPEFULLY HELPFUL TIPS

ALZHEIMER'S — The Alliance for Aging Research helped develop a series of four short animated films titled "A Quick Look at Alzheimer's" that are narrated by David Hyde Pierce.  The films explain the disease in layman's terms.  You can view them at <www.aboutalz.org/>.  (I have been going to view them, but I keep forgetting about it.)

DECODING FINANCIAL TERMS — AARP's new Web site <www.moneysmarts.com/> decodes financial terms.  In a survey they took, 52 percent of respondents said they've made an investment mistake because they were confused or did not understand an investment.

MONEY TIPS FOR ALL AGES — The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation has a new publication titled, "Money tips for All Ages: Your finances at Different Stages of Life."  The guide includes information directed to preretirees, retirees and caregivers.  (Kiplinger's Retirement Report, July 2008, page 9)

HOSPITAL-BORNE INFECTIONS — We hear a lot about this problem these days.  Not being a medical person, I don't know a lot about it, but in case you would like more information, here are a couple of web sites that may answer some of your questions.  <www.preventinfection.org/>: This site details preventive measures and information about infectious diseases.  <www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dhqp/ar_mrsa.html>: This is from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention.

THINKING OF TRAVELING OVERSEAS? — The U.S. State Department has a Web site that may be of interest to you.  It will give you the going rates for meals, lodging, and incidentals in thousands of locations worldwide.  The data are considered accurate by Money Magazine (July 2008), are updated continually, and are in U.S. dollars: <www.state.gov/travelandbusiness>.  Go to "PerDiem" on the right.

FILLING MEDICARE GAPS — For any of you who are dealing with this issue, there is a Medicare Options Compare Tool at <www.medicare.gov/mppf> that may be of help.

HOW MUCH TO DEDUCT? — I even hate to bring up income taxes, but this is about deductions, so it isn't so bad.  Over the past few years, Congress has imposed many restrictions on donors to prove the legitimacy of their charitable deductions.  One question that usually comes up is, how much can be deducted for property donations.  The Salvation Army's Web site at <www.salvationarmyusa.org/> suggests a range of values for 100 common items.  (Kiplinger's Retirement Report, July 2008, page 7)

GIVING AWAY FREQUENT FLYER MILES — I expect that some of you have a few frequent flyer miles from an airline.  Miles that you don't expect to ever grow into a free trip.  Also, you have enough magazine subscriptions.  If so, you may want to consider giving them away to a terminally ill person or to an injured military member and their families, or some other good cause.  If you are not sure where to give your miles, checkout <www.miledonor.com>.  (AARP Magazine, June, 2008, page 16)


GREAT TRUTHS THAT LITTLE CHILDREN HAVE LEARNED:

1.  No matter how hard you try, you can't baptize cats.
2.  When your Mom is mad at your Dad, don't let her brush your hair.
3.  Never ask your 3-year-old brother to hold a tomato.
4.  You can't trust dogs to watch your food.
5.  Don't sneeze when someone is cutting your hair.
6.  Never hold a Dust-Buster and a cat at the same time.
7.  You can't hide a piece of broccoli in a glass of milk.
8.  Don't wear polka-dot underwear under white shorts.
9.  The best place to be when you're sad is Grandpa's lap.


POSTSCRIPT

I always respected my elders.  Now at my advanced age, I have almost no one to respect.

And, some useful advice: If the shoe fits, get another one like it.


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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.