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Show SOUTHERN UTAH NEWS Commentary MONDAY MAY 6, 1991 Guest Opinion Helping your child Succeed in school Community Service: A Challenge for the 90s Hr By MARTHA MCSTEEN President by Lily Eskelsen, president National Committee to Utah Education Association Preserve uetting the kids to do their the quality of their work. lean homework is always a fun- - filled force them with threats; I can Social Security and Medicare All the money in the world, part of our familys evening en- bribe them with rewards (and I U tertainment. The show begins have done both.) when Mom or Dad says, Do you have any homework? Kids are sent upstairs to complete said homework, This is usually accomplished in the time it takes to complete a Nike commercial which the kids complain about missing. Mom and Dad now begin Quality Con- trol Inspection. Im May I see your work? The I it? see done. May k teacher doesnt care. Lets a few of these math prob- lems and make sure youre do- The teacher ing them right care. We just correct our papers, so it doesnt mat- 15-seco- spot-chec- ter. During these amusing little conversations with my children, I try to remember two things, First, as a teacher, I know who care. Second, I want my children to e responsible for Inevitably, I must allow them to choose quality for themselves. Parents must slowly but surely move from inspector to facilitator. Ask to review your childs work. Be positive about the good points. Be general aboutneeded improvements. Let your chil- dren know you can help them improve their work. Let them know you want to help them. However, forcing them to revise their work while looking over their shoulders not only causes resentment and rebellion, but you will have taken the respon-doessibility from them. Their home-ow- n work will have become your project. Set up the expectations that they are good students who want to succeed, and then give them the opportunity to choose to prove. When its their choice, its their success. nt im-does- nt about phone scams Warning Utah consumers should be on swindles. their guard for slick telephone sales pitches promoting bogus investments, David Buhler, ex ecutive director of the Utah Department of Commerce, has warned. This warning came on the same day as the announcement in Los Angeles of the results of the biggest round of raids in U.S. history by the state securities agencies targeting illicit boiler room telephone sales operations pushing phony investment opportunities. One of the raids took place in Utah. On Tuesday, April 23, se- curities agents from Utah and other states, the Salt Lake County Attorneys Office and the Salt Lake Sheriffs Office raided a boiler room telephone sales operation selling oil and gas The raid took place in the of Intermountain Energy and Exploration. Two people arrested, Jeffrey J. Norman and Larry D. Sidwell, on warrants issued by Texas and North Dakota for violations of the securities laws of those states and a cease and desist order issued in North Dakota. There are identified victims all across the country. This was the biggest boiler room raid ever conducted in Utah entities from 16 different states worked together in this operation, stated Buhler We have worked long and hard to stamp out securities fraud in We want the message to be sent loud and clear Utah is not and will not be a safe haven for swindlers. The Department of Commerce also issued an urgent bulletin, New Five The Top Telemarketing Scams, to alert Utah residents to the serious financial dangers posed by the new generation of telemarketing 5 Were not going to wait around until consumers in Utah undergo financial ruin at the hands of the con men whom we know re out there on the other end of the phone line, explained Buhler. Our goal is to warn the public about the scams now coming up on the horizon and to move aggre ssi vely again st scams we discover. Telemarketing fraud in the United States is estimated by the North American Securities whether public or private, cand not solve Americas social problems. And while there is no question that government plays a critical role in addressing Americas social problems, there is no substitute for people helping people. deep-roote- Illiteracy, hunger, home- lessness, drug abuse and other social ills looming over everyday life in America are really symptoms of larger problems in todays society. In part, they stem from the breakdown of the traditional family structure, the disintegration of communities, and for many people, the loss of t. hope and Disadvantaged Americans whether handicapped, illiterate, one-to-o- ne read-ingan- self-respec- The Old Rock Church Bell vo- (NAS AA) to total $1 0 billion each lunteer service. year. The rise of new technology Every day, thousands of se- ciation of Meal Programs, which provides meals for housebound citizens at no charge. In Merritt Island, Fla., there is Mercy Watch, a volunteer program which assists seniors through the Shopping Cart program, the Friendly Chats program and Front Porch Visits. The Lakeview Shepherd Center in New Orleans bustles with activity, providing seniors with practical support and recreation. niors volunteer in community programs, offering their knowledge, skills or just a helpinghand to others. More than any other age group, seniors possess a s. illicit phone promotions of wealth of experience that can be zontal drilling oil and gas shared by others especially grams, pyramid schemes, loan those truly in need. And for rebrokers, the wireless cable it also offers a great outtery and international invest- - tirees, let. ment opportunities. Utah consumers shouldknow that almost all investments must be registered with the Utah Division of Securities, said Earl From what you know about it, how would you rate Maeser, director of the Division ofSecurities. If a small investor local law enforcement? Do you feel very good, has a question about a telephone somewhat good, not very good, or not at all good sales pitch, he or she should conthe quality of local law enforcement? about tact the Division ofSecurities at 0 in order to determine if the investment is properly reg14 istered in Utah. Calls of this sort from members of the public can serve as a valuable early warn-UtaResults of an Informal ing to the Division that will ah low us to move in quickly and telephone poll down fraudulent shut operators seeking to victimize consumers in Utah. Copies of the Top Five New Telemarketing Scams bulletin are available at no cost to consumers who write to: The Utah Division of Securities, 160 East 300South, Salt Lake City, Utah affect-seve- hori-lease- pro-Offi- lot-we- ce re Public Pulse 530-660- h. In fact, more than 75 percent of the Centers 300 volunteers are 60 or older and participate in a variety of programs such as Wheels that Care, which provides seniors with rides to medical appointments. They also visit hospitalized seniors and assist them with household chores. While you may not be able to help the whole world as a volunteer, you can make a difference in your own community by just giving a' little of your valuable skills and time. Americas greatness comes from its people, both young and old. If every business, union, school, club, group or place of worship developed community service projects, we would surely set a shining example for the rest of world. Its a challenge that I hope we will take seriously. (Martha McSteen, former acting commissioner of the Social the Foster Grandparent Program, which has chapters all across the country. It seeks to bring young and old together and allows seniors to make a valuable contribution to the deor poverty drug abusers, stricken need our personal velopment of a younger genera- Security Administration , is memsupport. They need people who tion, especially those without president of the care, who can offer friendship real grandparents. ber National Committee to PreThere is also the Retired Se- serve Social Security and and impart values and skills that will lead them to a better future nior Volunteer Program Sewing .and convince them there is light Circle in Salina, Kan., whose members meet once a week to at the end of the tunnel. As people and organizations recycle donated cloth into useful throughout the country partic- items. Their finished quilts cover the ipate in the Points of Light Celebration of Service this month, laps of nursing home residents senior Americans as volunteers and disaster victims, as well as beds in halfway houses, homeare also being honored. less shelters and daycare cenof Points the Sponsored by of ters. offshoot an Light Foundation, VAL GENE TAIT There are also organizations SomeBy the Presidents volunteer prosticky fingered people stole gram, the Celebration will spot- which mainly serve seniors in the Old Rock Church bell. light Americans who are meet- need such as Meals on Wheels, Im not the one to judge but I ing todays social challenges in a project of the National AssoSt. Peter sends them to Administrators Association our communities through n and the recent recession have some states spurred ing the activities of phone swindlers to new heights. In particular, the current bulletin warns of In fact, some volunteer programs are run exclusively by seniors. For example, there is the Seniors Serving Schools Program in Mission, Kan. The program, a joint partnership of the Volunteer Center of Johnson County and the Shawnee School District, gives senior volunteers the opportunity to provide their knowledge and talents to educating young people in their community. In Toledo, Ohio, GIVE (Grandpersons Interested in Volunteering for Education) prod vides tutoringin math. Senior volunteers also share their special skills and experiences with students while assisting teachers in the classroom. Another program is hope Hades. The bell has meant a lot to the town for nigh onto a hundred years. The bell pealed the time for everyone, there wasnt any peer. It rang in the morning to let people know to get their children to school on time. It rang again if they were late at five minutes after nine. It pealed on Sunday morning to get people to church on time. It rang as a reminder to keep every function in line. It rang out the old, rang in the new and was a joy to hear. Just to let everyone know we have a Happy New Year. The bell has a crack like the Liberty Bell and was discolored by fire. Yet it pealed for every occasion up in the Old Rock Church spire. We hope some clue will arise to get back the Old Rock Church bell. And put it back up in the belfry where the townspeople love it so well. I hope the culprits are caught and pay for their misdeed. And returned where it belongs before us older ones go to seed. I have a dear aunt who remembers and she is just 89. Of being called to school by the old bell chime. |