As I write this, the election is still one day away.  I decided not to wait until after the election as I may make comments I best leave unsaid.  I am quite sure of one thing—about half the people will be happy with the results tomorrow and about half will not.  At least, the two year campaign is over, and we can all be happy that we are Americans with the freedom to vote for whomever we believe will be best for the country.


PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE

DECEMBER HOLIDAY CELEBRATION

Please join us for the USC Retiree Community Holiday Celebration at the Galen Center Founders Room.

Wednesday, December 10, 2008
9:00 a.m. Check-In
9:30 a.m. Breakfast Buffet
Enjoy a complimentary hot breakfast buffet and entertainment by Professor Parmer Fuller of the Thornton School and some of his talented students.

Each RFA member and SRA membership (single or joint) may bring one guest.

RSVP to 213-740-7122 by DECEMBER 1
Or e-mail to emeriti@usc.edu

Park in adjoining parking structure.  Enter the driveway off Figueroa Street north of the Radisson Hotel entrance (between the hotel and restaurant).  Enter the Galen Center through the Figueroa Street doors.

November is a time for giving thanks.  I send my thanks to (in random order): The hardworking members of our SRA Board of Directors, including Ron and Len who make this newsletter possible; our SRA members whose support keeps us going—financial and non-financial support; the Emeriti Center staff, including student office workers; the Senior VP, Administration, for our March Retired Staff Recognition Luncheon; members of the RFA for adding their enthusiasm to jointly-sponsored events; our Retiree Community Newsletter editor; and those I didn't mention but should have.

Next Year:  We will be electing a new president and a new secretary.  Please let Harriet Servis (Nominating Committee Chair) know if you would be willing to take on one of these jobs.

Emeriti Center Support:  Soon you will receive a letter from Janette Brown asking you to complete a form and for your financial support.  I know it is becoming increasingly difficult to find funds to meet all your commitments.  I hope, however, you will be able to find a bit, no matter how little, to support all the good works of the Emeriti Center.  The center supports all USC retirees in so many ways, from offering programs of interest to maintaining the records of all retirees and managing the "Gold Card" that is so important to us.

Happy Thanksgiving to you and your families!  I hope to see you on December 10!!!

Carole Gustin
SRA President
<cgustin@usc.edu>


A FEW HOPEFULLY HELPFUL TIPS

ESTIMATE RETIREMENT BENEFITS ONLINE — If you are not yet taking Social Security but are wondering when taking it would be best for you, the Social Security Administration recently launched an online Retirement Estimator.  At this site, you can view your expected levels of Social Security payments for all possible retirement ages.  <www.socialsecurity.gov/estimator>.

PLANNING AHEAD — Would you like to make sure your funeral meets your wishes while you still have a "voice"?  At <www.MyWonderfulLife.com>, you can sign up for a free account and list up to six people who have access to your instructions.  You can list every detail, including what your obituary will say, your tombstone's inscription, and music for your service.  (Kiplinger's Retirement Report, September 2008, page 9.)  You have to sign up for this account, so you will be on the company's list for future contacting, I would guess.

(The item above reminds me that an old aunt used to come up to me at weddings, poke me in the ribs and cackle, "You're next."  She stopped after I started to do the same thing to her at funerals.)

LAWN CARE — I won't go into the reasons for this, but it is better for the lawn if you set your mower to "mulch" to grind up the clippings rather than collect and bag them, unless the grass is tall.  If you want more details, check Money Magazine, September 2008, page 61.

MEDICARE INFORMATION — The Medicare Rights Center has a Web site that covers all aspects of Medicare.  It has a topics index and a search tool for specific questions.  The site includes information on Medicare rights, prescription-drug costs, and advice for caregivers.  <www.MedicareInteractive.org>

HARVESTING TAX LOSSES — It is very possible that some of us will have some investment losses this year.  (That may be an understatement of great proportions.)  While losing money in your portfolio, you likely will still get taxable dividends and will still have to take Required Minimum Distributions if you are over 70-1/2.  These can be offset by the losses.  How to handle this is beyond the scope of this newsletter, but it is just a reminder.  One source to give you a lot more information on all of this is Kiplinger's Retirement Report, October 2008, pages 1-3.  I am sure you can also find a lot of information on the Internet.  The IRS's Web site is <www.irs.gov>.

LONG-TERM CARE RESOURCES — There is a federal and state government initiative that has a free "Own Your Future" planning kit.  It sorts through financing options and helps identify resources.  You can download a copy at <www.longtermcare.gov/campaign>.

HOME EXCLUSION — A new law gives the surviving spouse two years to sell a home that was jointly owned with a spouse and still qualify for the $500,000 exclusion.  If this applies to you, check it out.

EXERCISE GUIDE — The National Institute on Aging has issued Exercise: A Guide from the National Institute on Aging.  The guide gives information on the benefits of exercise as well as how-to chapters on types of exercise.  For a copy, go to <www.nia.nih.gov/HealthInformation/Publications/ExerciseGuide/> (or you can call 1-800-222-2225).  (Kiplinger's Retirement Report, October 2008, page 8.)

Here is one exercise for people over 50 that you can try at home:

Begin by standing on a comfortable surface, where you have plenty of room at each side.  With a 5-pound potato sack in each hand, extend your arms straight out from your sides and hold them there as long as you can.  Try to reach a full minute, and then relax.  Each day you'll find that you can hold this position for just a bit longer.  After a couple of weeks, move up to 10-pound potato sacks.  Ultimately, move your way up to a 50-pound potato sack in each hand and hold your arms straight for a full minute.  After you feel confident at that level, you can start putting a potato in each sack.

BARGAIN SHOPPING — I think this may have been mentioned in an earlier issue, but I'm not sure, so here it is.  Go to <www.Bargains4seniors.com>.  It shows information on deals targeted to seniors for travel, dining, shopping, and entertainment.

A HELPFUL GOVERNMENT WEB SITE (Or is that an oxymoron?) — I think that it be would worthwhile for any of you who are not familiar with this site to take a look at it now.  It offers a wealth of federal, state, and local information.  You can even use it to find the lowest gas price in your city. <www.FirstGov.gov>.  You can also call 1-800-333-4636.


Thought for the day: Never be afraid to try something new.  Remember that a lone amateur built the Ark.  A large group of professionals built the Titanic.


We would welcome any suggestions, criticisms, good jokes, etc.  Just send an email to me at <rlviolette@aol.com>, or to Len Wines at <len@winesland.net>.


The following are the remarks made by Harriet Servis to open the recent AROHE Conference:

Welcome and thank you for attending this 30th celebration of the Emeriti Center and AROHE Conference.

The USC Emeriti Center was created in 1978 with the thoughtful planning of Professor James Peterson and President John Hubbard.  The center was designed to maintain records and to serve both retired faculty and staff retirees.  The Retired Faculty Association was already in existence, and the Staff Retirement Association was just being formed as I started my work there.

I started working at the center in 1984 as an assistant to James Peterson.  Our style of record-keeping was with a typewriter and two sets of Rolodex cards.  Blue and yellow Rolodex cards were rolled into the typewriter, and that is where your records were kept.  We had no computer in those days, and I well remember one day that Dr. Peterson came jubilantly into the office to tell me that he had made arrangements for me to share a computer with the Faculty Senate office across campus.  Well, needless to say, I never made that trek to "time share" a computer!!

In 1985, Arnold Small, James Peterson, and I arranged the first "retirement conference" of colleges and universities.  A survey had been conducted the year before I began my work in the office.  This survey of 100 campuses identified the great need to meet with other campus leaders to begin the movement of sharing information about retirement organizations in higher education.  The first of four Conferences on Retirement in Colleges and Universities were held at USC.

Through the 16 years of my time in the Emeriti Center, I had the privilege to work with such USC "greats" as James Peterson, Arnold Small, Totten Anderson, Dale Hilton, Norm Fertig, Tillman Hall, and Paul Hadley, and so many others, both faculty and staff.

It is a joy to be here today with all of you who are celebrating the 30 wonderful and productive years of the USC Emeriti Center.  Thank You.


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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