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Welcome to your latest edition of the Federal Citizen Information Center's FEDINFO e-letter! These subscription e-letters from Pueblo are sent 6-8 times a year with helpful updates, practical information, and special offers to make your life a little easier. You can always find the latest information at our websites: pueblo.gsa.gov and FirstGov.gov.

This issue includes:


  • Image of stcok report linking to SEC Scam Alert
    STOCK TIPS SCAM ALERT

    The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) recently issued an investor alert to warn Americans about a new scam sweeping the country -- answering machine "wrong number" stock tips. The following information is an excerpt from the SEC press release:

    Voice mail messages are appearing on home answering machines from coast to coast saying that the stock price of certain small, thinly traded companies will soon shoot up. The breezy, intimate messages sound as if a female caller mistakenly believes she has dialed a girlfriend and is confiding inside information she has learned from "that hot stock exchange guy I'm dating."

    Regulators believe these voice mails are part of a "pump and dump" stock manipulation scheme, whereby the people behind the messages intend to profit by driving up the price of their targeted stocks, then selling, and leaving victims with losses. The SEC has received hundreds of complaints from investors across the country about these misdirected voice mails in recent days.

    "Investors should never buy stocks on the basis of 'hot' tips from strangers," said SEC Investor Education Director Susan Wyderko. "We are concerned because the stock prices of companies mentioned in these calls have gone up, presumably as people listen to the messages and buy. But in all 'pump and dump' schemes, as soon as the promoter stops touting a stock, the price plummets and other investors lose their money."

    To learn more, read the SEC's Investor Alert.

    Image of a building on a college campus linking to college prep infoPREPARING FOR COLLEGE

    High school can be crazy. You participate in extracurricular activities, check out colleges, search for financial aid, and try to find a few minutes to think about what you might want to be when you grow up.

    If you're thinking about becoming a zookeeper, an artist or wondering if you have what it takes to be a police officer, there's no better way than volunteering to learn more about these careers. Check out "Catch the Spirit" to find volunteer opportunities and learn how to make them successful. Not only are you helping others when you volunteer, but you also develop new skills and interests. Volunteering can also increase your chances of getting into college by showing recruiters that you're well rounded and concerned about your community.

    In addition to getting an idea about future courses of study, you need to research colleges and look for ways to finance your education. Visit Planning for College to learn about different strategies for funding. Talk to your parents about U.S. Saving Bonds, prepaid tuition plans, or home equity loans. Consider applying for traditional sources of financial aid -- such as scholarships, grants, work-study programs and government tuition loans. You can also look into advanced placement exams or college courses offered through your high school that count as college credits.


    Image of food on a grill linking to information on cooking food safely

    END OF SUMMER FOOD SAFETY TIPS

    Before you fire up that grill for the first football tailgate or head out to a family picnic to celebrate the last days of summer, here are a few tips to prevent food poisoning:

  • Marinate food in the refrigerator, not on the counter. Discard the marinade after use because it contains raw juices, which may harbor bacteria. If you want to use the marinade as a dip or sauce, reserve a portion before adding raw food.
  • Don't cut up vegetables or fruits on the same board just used for raw meat or poultry. Doing that on the same surface can lead to contamination and possibly a food-borne illness.

  • After grilling your burgers, don't put them back on the same plate you used when they were raw.

  • Keep cold things cold and hot items hot. That means that cold food should be kept at 41 degrees F or less and hot foods at 140 degrees F or higher.

    For more food safety tips, especially if you're helping with the family reunion cookout or your church buffet, check out "Cooking for Groups: A Volunteer's Guide to Food Safety".

    Link to list of free publication offers
    FREE PUBLICATION PROMOTIONS

    The Federal Citizen Information Center frequently has special promotional offers mentioned in magazines and newspapers around the country. We provide visitors to our website with an opportunity to order these publications online even if they didn’t see the original article. You can find these promotions on our Media Promotions page. It’s a page worth bookmarking so you can check back every so often to see what new offers have been added.

    Note: Some of the older offers mentioned on the page have ended but they provide links to the publications online or you can order a free sample package of publications.

    NATIONAL PREPAREDNESS MONTHCover photo linking to Citizen Guide to Disaster Preparedness

    September is National Preparedness Month. Take this opportunity to learn how you can prepare for emergencies, put together an emergency supply kit, establish your family communications plan, and become better aware of threats that may affect you, your family and community. Check out FCIC's Citizen Guide to Disaster Preparedness for helpful tips and information.

    Throughout the month, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, American Red Cross, the America Prepared Campaign, the National Association of Broadcasters, the U.S. Department of Education and other partners, will host a series of events to highlight the importance of citizen emergency preparedness. You can find opportunities to volunteer or get first aid or CPR training.


    We hope that you have found this e-letter valuable. If you have any comments, questions or suggestions, please contact us at: http://www.pueblo.gsa.gov/emailus.htm.

    Click here for previous issues of the FEDINFO E-newsletter.

    This e-mail was sent to you because you signed up to receive updates, notifications of new information, and special offers from the Federal Citizen Information Center. You may leave the list at any time by visiting http://www.pueblo.gsa.gov/maillist.htm or by sending an e-mail to listserv@LISTSERV.GSA.GOV. Type "SIGNOFF FEDINFO" in the body of the message. You do not need to include anything else in the body of the message or in the subject line.

    Issue 2004-5

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