FEDINFO E-Letter Welcome to the November/December 2007 edition of the Federal Citizen Information Center's (FCIC) FEDINFO E-letter! These subscription e-letters from Pueblo are sent six 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 on our family of websites: Pueblo.gsa.gov, USA.gov, ConsumerAction.gov, GovGab.gov, and Kids.gov. This issue includes:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ If you’re planning to host Thanksgiving dinner, the Feast on Food Safety package can help you serve a meal that’s safe to eat. This package of free publications includes a chart of safe minimum temperatures and guidelines for cooking the perfect bird. Brush up on safe food handling procedures now, and relax in the knowledge that you will send your guests home happy, not ill. Complete the order form to request your package, or call 1 (888) 8 PUEBLO. If you’re looking forward to the season but dreading the customary weight gain, check out these tips on sensible eating over the holidays. Commonsense advice on safely navigating the buffet table, staying active, and allotting your calories wisely will help you to enjoy the festivities guilt-free. Free For Teachers, the FCIC’s newest web page, provides a variety of resources for middle and high school teachers to help open the door to savvy everyday life skills and a wealth of government information for 6th-to-12th graders. Downloadable lesson plans guide students through their first car purchase, safer online shopping, writing a complaint letter, and other practical tasks. Teachers can order free FCIC publications for teenagers to take home and share while they’re learning to navigate life’s everyday challenges. Entertaining posters, timely email updates and website links are all available. It’s the season for giving.
Show your thanks by volunteering over the holidays. Not sure where to begin? Catch the Spirit, written as a student’s guide to volunteering, is a great place for anyone to begin exploring the world of volunteer opportunities. There are many reasons to volunteer. But one should be universal—volunteer for something you can enjoy. Before donating money, check out these tips for giving wisely from
the Federal
Trade Commission and the FBI. The FTC also
has guidelines for avoiding charity-fraud. A number of nonprofit
groups, including the
American Institute of Philanthropy and Charity
Navigator have websites for rating charities. Charity
Navigator also provides a helpful 6 Questions to Ask Charities Before Donating. You may be following the news on the proposal for a “Do Not Track” list to protect Internet users from targeted online advertising. The Do Not Track list, advocated by consumer groups including the Electronic Privacy Information Center, would be similar to the National Do Not Call Registry that protects consumers from unwanted phone solicitors. While the FTC researches the options, there are a number of resources currently available for protecting your privacy. Check out this FCIC Consumer Focus article on online safety and security, as well as our Privacy Resources page, which links to federal agencies and nongovernmental organizations that can help protect you and your family’s personal information and privacy rights. Every year, more than 200,000 people in the United States are hospitalized as a result of the flu. About 36,000 die. Most adults with the flu can spread it to others starting one day before symptoms develop and up to five days after becoming sick. That means that you may pass the flu to someone else before you even know you are sick. Get prepared for the season. Learn more about preventing and treating the seasonal flu with this pamphlet from the Food and Drug Administration. To find out where to get a flu vaccine locally, visit the American Lung Association’s flu clinic locator. For updates on which cars still qualify, visit the FCIC News and Notes page . For information on tax breaks for your car and home, visit this Department of Energy page. DOE offers a wealth of information on improving your home’s energy efficiency. To find the best ways to save energy in your home, try the Home Energy Saver online calculator. And take advantage of these free publications on Weatherizing Your Home, Financing an Energy Efficient Home, Elements of an Energy Efficient House, and Energy Savers: Tips on Saving Energy & Money at Home. The winter 2007-08 edition of the Consumer Information Catalog hits the streets this week, with new, timely publications, including:
The Consumer Information Catalog has something for everyone with more than 200 free and low-cost publications on cars, computers, education, employment, family life, federal programs, food, health, housing, money, small business, travel, and more. You can read them all online by using the red buttons down the left-hand side of the FCIC home page. To order copies, just use the online order form and we’ll wave the usual service fee. Issue 2007-6 |