With the recent scam warning reported by the Northern Wasco County PUD – a PUD customer was called and asked for his bank account information because the caller said his payment was past due – reminds us to always be vigilant protecting our financial information. But even though you have heard that many times, you don’t have to be missing a few spoons in the drawer to still be swindled. These devious scam artists are really good at doing what they do best: discovering new ways to separate you from your hard earned dollars.
Not all telemarketing calls are scams, but if you find them irritating there are several things you can do. Avoid giving out phone numbers on surveys, sweepstakes, or online forms. Don’t answer unknown or blocked phone numbers – let them leave a voice message if it is that important. And register your phone numbers with the National Do Not Call Registry at donotcall.gov or 1.888.382.1222.
I have found the Do Not Call Registry to work, but there are exceptions to what calls are restricted. You can still receive calls from public agencies; companies with which you have established a business relationship; charitable organizations you have an interest in supporting and the big one during this campaign season – political campaigns asking for your opinion or vote. If you do have a complaint about any telemarketer or knowledge of a possible scam, you can call the Consumer Hotline at 1-877-877-9392.
The next meeting of the Women Widows of Veterans Gathering Support Group will be at the Veteran Services Office in The Dalles at 201 Federal Street on Tuesday, July 10, 2012 at 11am. These gatherings are an opportunity for grief support as well as ensuring that widows of veterans receive all the available support from Veteran Services. Feel free to call Barb Thomas at 541-467-2651, Ruth Otto at541-769-0078 or Joyce Powell Morin at 541-296-7266 for more information.”
Have you wanted to write your life story? You don’t have to wait any longer. The Columbia Gorge Genealogical is offering “Journal Your Life Story” – a hands-on writing workshop facilitated by Sandy Bisset. The workshop will be held in the Discovery Center Board Room on Saturday July 14th from 10:30 – 3:00. Traditional and nontraditional methods of documentation including writing, drawing and more will be explained. For information and a supply list, email wildflowers@gorge.net or call 541-298-1240. There is a minimal $1.00 fee and preregistration is requested.
The Center’s annual Membership Meeting will be held at 1:00 on Tuesday July 17th. The meeting is also the traditional end of the Center’s 2012 membership campaign. If you have been meaning to join or renew your Center membership, now is the time. (Actually, the beginning of the year was the time but now will do.) Membership dues are $35 per person, $60 per couple or $50 if you want to be a Super Duper member.
Ever since the Center opened in ’87, the Center’s quilters have raised funds for the Center by designing and stitching quilts, as well as mending quilts for a fee. (The drawing for the most recent hand stitched quilt will be held at the Cowboy breakfast on July 21st.) If you are interested in joining the quilters, they meet every Monday from 10:00 – 3:00 in the basement of the Center.
It’s “Martin and Friends” performing at the Center tonight playing their favorite country western standards. And next week it will be the Strawberry Mountain Band. To live is to dance – and you can live every Tuesday at the Center starting at 7:00. Everyone is welcome and donations are appreciated.
Did you remember your favorite summer song? Marilyn Sarsfield (the winner of the Cowboy Breakfast on July 21st) remembered “The Song from Moulin Rouge” from the summer of 1953. But this week’s “Remember When’ question is back to the entertainment world of radio, TV and film. Who was born Amos Muzyad Yakhoob Kairouz in 1912, and was a radio and television actor, best known for playing shifty brother-in-law Amos in The Bickersons’s on the radio and starring in the television sitcom “Make Room for Daddy”? Email your answer to the mcseniorcenter@gmail.com, call 541-296-4788 or include it with a medal pendant of St. Jude Thaddeus – the patron saint of hopeless causes.
Well, it has been another week, trying to reach my toes. Until we meet again, keep stretching – both body and mind.
“It is the greatest of all mistakes to do nothing because you can only do a little. Do what you can.” Sydney Smith. Sent my way by Earline Wasser who is doing fine in Chandler, Arizona.
