OCR Text |
Show Page 3 SOLICITING MONEY IN THE NAME OF JESUS THE ELDERLAWFORUM Professor Michael Myers Elderly persons with wealth—particularly when widowed—can become prey for professionals who earn a living by soliciting money on behalf of charitable organizations. The wealthy are accustomed to receiving solicitations from myriad churches, universities, missions, hospitals and charities promising a form of immortality through the donation ofmonies, farms, art and other assets. When younger they are wary, discriminating in their response; but in old age they may become susceptible. These organizations often compete with the expectations of family members, near and far, who as heirs anticipate the eventual reading of a will and an inherited piece of an estate. But sometimes heirs discover that the family largesse has been diverted elsewhere, to an institution or a cause with no blood ties to the deceased. "We don't need the money. AH members of our family are comfortable. But we are troubled by the way this man has taken over my uncle's life," said a senior legal helpline caller seeking advice on how to intervene in a situation involving possible undue influence. The case involves her uncle. He amassed substantial wealth as a land developer. He is now 87 and widowed. His wife died four years ago and he lives alone. He has executed a durable power of attorney designating as his agent a former fundraiser for the Church of Christ of Latter-day Saints and Brigham Young University. Prior to his wife's death, the uncle talked about establishing an education trust that would guarantee college educations for nieces, nephews and their offspring. Also, he talked about a trust that would offer capital for one or more family-initiated businesses. 'That was our general understanding of his wishes," said the caller. I recommended she engage an attorney for the purpose of making a discreet but thorough inquiry into the relationship between the church, the university and the man who holds her uncle's power of attorney. I suggested that she or other members ofthe family visit with her uncle to assess his state of mind and objectively look for signs of undue influence. Professional fundraisers are trained to forge strong personal relationships with potential donors. Genuine friendships can emerge. But friendships born out of organized solicitation are generally shallow, dissipating with the demise of the donor. . THE GARFIELD COUNTY INSIDER MARCH 15,2007 It Makes tone... By Veda Hale In a column past I mentioned how you could sanitize certain things in the microwave oven. It is Still a convenient thing to know about, but some care should be taken. For instance, if you put a dry sponge in and run it too high, it could start a fire. It should at least be wet. It is risky to pass on hints about health. Some, however, seem to not need the "Ask your doctor" to try. For instance, many people suffer from acid reflex now days. For maybe not full-blown Acid Reflex Disease that gets drug companies after us to buy their drugs, try this suggestion. Simply eat a handful or so of popcorn before going to bed. Just that roughage in the stomach when we lire down seems to make a plug enough to keep the acid from seeping up as we sleep. Here is another health hint that seems innocent enough to try. Drink two glasses of Gatorade for a headache. Too many pain pills can't be good for us. This idea just might help your body get back equalibrum. Bernice Henrie Mille,r who lives near Panguitch Lake in the summer time, sent this little poem to remind us of the parts of speech. It makes sense once in a while to review these things. Thanks Bernice. Three little\ words you often see. Are articles—an, a and the, A noun is the name of anything. As school or garden hoop or swing. Adjectives tell the kind of noun, As great, small, pretty, white or brown. Instead of nouns the pronouns stand Her head, his face, your arm, my hand Verbs tell of something being done. To read, count, laugh, sing, jump or run. How things are done the adverbs tell, As slowly, quickly, ill or well. Conjunctions join the word together, As men and women, wind or weather. The prepositions stand before, A noun, as in or through the door. The interjections show surprise, As Oh! How pretty! Ah! How wise! The whole are called the nine parts of speech, which reading, writing, speaking teach. Send suggestions to Veda Hale at Box 956, Panguitch, Utah 84759 or email vedahale(fi).hotmail.com HELPING YOUR COMMUNITY BECOME DISASTER RESISTANT AND RESILIENT 1. Community Preparedness: In Utah, the Office of the Governor, Utah Commission for Volunteers, leads in the effort to increase the level of citizen preparedness for emegencies and disasters in Utah communities. 2. Citizen Corps Council: Following the day of national tragedy we have all come to call simply, "Nine-Eleven", the President created the CITIZEN CORPS to assist communities in becoming more disaster reistant and resilient. There is a National Citizen Corps Council and State Citizen Corps Councils in every State, including ours. Within Utah, there are also Regional, County, Area (several smaller towns combine together to form a "CCC"), and City Citizen Corps Councils. Citizen Corps Councils sponsor a wide variety of community preparedness programs and activities, including CERT, Neighborhood Watch, Volunteers in Police Service, Medical Reserve Corps, Fire Corps, School emergency planning and preparedness, and others. 3. Cert: The premier community disaster preparedness program across the United States is the Community Emergency Response Team Program, which trains citizens in the skills that they will need immediately following a disaster, in those first important moments before the professional emergency reponders can arrive... and if the incident is very large or very serious, those "moments" could be hours, or even days. These citizen disaster medical skills include suppression of small fires so that they don't become bigger, disaster medical skills (such as bandaging, splinting, airway management, victim triaging and relocation, and treating for shock), techniques and procedures for light search and rescue and victim extrication from fallen debris, human behavior in disaster and community disaster reponse organization. Having trained CERT teams can be especially important in rural areaswhere emergency resources and personnel are few and emergency reponse times might be long. 4. Citizen Corps and CERT and YOU: The Citizen Corps program helps communities establish CERT programs. This can even include modest financial grants to help CERT get started. Perhaps ine of the best ways to imporve community disaster preparedness in your area would be to organize a Citizen Corps Council, and use that Citizen Corps Council to promote community disaster preparedness, including and especially the CERT Program. The Utah Commission on Volunteers and the Utah Citizen Corps Council would like to help you do this. Dear Editor, In response to Pat Henrie's letter concerning coal trucks driving through the town of Panguitch, I would like to go on record as being in agreement with her views. I too believe large, noisy, dirty trucks driving through the peaceful downtown would change the ambience of a city that has historical and asthetic importance to the state of Utah and to the residents therein. Since retiring I have spent some time traveling to other places and when I tell people 1 meet that I am from Panguitch, Utah, near Bryce Canyon National Park, I always get commentsfrompeople who have visited Panguitch about how they were impressed with it's quaintness and beauty. I am proud to say I am from Panguitch and I would hate to see anything take away it's appeal. I do hope the trucks will find another route around Panguitch. Bernice (Henrie) Miller Free Lunch Open House Panguitch's Care and Share Friday, March 16th Hours are 11:00 am-2:00 p.m. Do you know where we are? We are behind the Panguitch Courthouse to the east. Do you know what we do? Do you know who we are? Do you like good food? Please come join us for lunch and bring questions!!! Any questions piease call: 690-9140! |