Show 1P F10 LIFESTYLES The Salt Lake Tribune Sunday April 26 1992 Au Are you a frump? Try this test What's frumpy to some people is smart to others By Carol Teegardin By Carol Teegardin '' NEWS SERVICE KNIGHT-RIDDE- I)$):--- While a saucepan of water for instant coffee boils on her gas :stove Lou Ann Shaw feeds six :cats and describes her life as a : " She wears her hair short favors 'old sweatsuits and carries a wallet :full of her kids' pictures She hasn't been to a mall in years 'shops the Sears catalog and always pays bills on time She won't go anywhere if going requires too much dressing up :and she won't use an electric can opener She hates aerobics despises car phones hits the sack at 'about 8 every night (she has to get :up at 4 am to drive a catering truck) and still wears her orange flowered muumuu from 1974 ' Shaw is a member of the National Frump Association That means she is a FRUMP in capital letters — a Frugal Responsible Unpretentious Mature Person The association and its president Barbara Hovanetz of Winter Park Fla equate frumpiness with virtue And in this glitzy designer-labe- l competitive high-tecworld we live in who can argue? Especially in this recession Shaw who lives in Livonia Mich is among 11000 people nationally who belong to the association Most are nobodies (they wouldn't have it any other way) but one famous member is columnist Erma Bombeck "I dress the way I want act the way I want and that's the beauty of being a frump" says Bombeck "It's refreshing to know there are still women out there who have their shoulder pads in the middle )- 7 ) I : 1ki t '''‘ -'A s 1"' 4 0'1(1'-- t- -- t1'41-'11- t ' 't ' l':'1 6st'"t 4' t' SIL'it' )r: )'1‘ ' i tsAt‘1tit"'-'11':'"- A' ) I v A ' A) 1)'t! I k iV 44 t i ' e ktkt'' wit: Or 1 1 s s)- - t r 1"t 't t ' ts 1 r t a N I '4 )': ' '"4‘ )1 tt'-- r N ' " ti :t''''''‘ 4 :''!- t ' t - 1 ' 1 t 1 i 11 1'-'- 7t11‘ Pe 1 '° 1 1 ''I'' 'ti 410 1 '' : 7''40-'(kV- ' ‘ )V i‘ ' 3ik ( '' V 4 it '‘4 'i ' ' I 01 4 I4'11 ' - 0 olot s i IP ' - t — )( '1 1 ' t 1 ' ' aq-''- ' di ' - '''''' A pre-dinncocktail means: (a) a stemmed glass of cabernet sauvignon (b) a jelly glass of Blue Nun (c) a tumbler of Scotch 6 ' 641 ' '' - arr ? 0 0 - '‘ V()t't '' r: lto" t''''' ' '('''' ' t 'ill '42'4 '1'4 "1 'A '''' '' Os tt '' ''' ' It'1' '1 )14 ' - 'tta ' 1 l' 1 t' ' - : t P'-t"- -- -t t A ''' - t - ' Lt " s -- Ape '' 't$'''tk Ni i ' '' AN - ' il ' ' IA1 ' 1" A" "''4 1'1 ' 1j r g 64I:141c I ci''1AJO ''' Nor-:' ' ) '' i):2 ' " '' : '' At'A:‘ 1' Mt N VI' 40 ft t 1 1" ''''' 0 xf4 ' - 'i 4 t 1 Reeboks - After hearing about NFA 1 ld Everywhere" Shaw started subscribing to NFA's Frump Update monthly newsletter for $10 a year in 1989 She loved to read it and is sorry it's no longer published s'The bottom line is I try to live life:Simply" she says sipping coffee: smoking a generic cigarette : and watching her cats eat "Piiimps are pretty ordinary people who usually don't want to benoticed They don't care about things like carpets or furniture My living-roocarpeting is 22 not changing old and I'm years I tions that command high pay and perks such as television news anchor or corporate CEO So how do other workers get written assurance before resigning a current job for a new and uncertain future? The most common route is the offer letter says Toni Smith a senior director at Spencer Stuart in firm Chicago an executive-searcthat places managers and executives at the $100000 salary range and higher "Basically what the offer letter does is nail down the financial arrangements agreed to" says Smith : Employment specialists say the efforceability of an offer letter varies from state to state Patricia Slovak a partner in the Chicago law firm of Kovar Brittain Sledz & Morris says the more detailed the letter the better the employee's standing should the relationship turn sour h 000" ' e 4 Aate 11111111'imb 0 SERVING SALT LAKE VALLEY FOR OVER USED WM1CONFIDENCE APPROYED 4 - R1r ''''-'- 1 ' I 4‘t i ) it" Proving that frumpiness knows Midi no age limits Sitar of Niles Mich also is a member In fact she considers it hip to be a young frump and is spreading the word around Niles Senior High Sitar says she recycles all she can haunts thrift shops does mail-irefunds and goes to the malls to watch the parade of fellow frumps walk by She carries a canvas tote bag instead of a purse and likes to make crafts for gifts at Christmas Call her a frump for the '90s Hey other people do "At school people call me Midi the Frump but I think everyone has a little bit of frumpiness inside" the junior says "And we're going to get frumpier because of the economy People n "If the offer letter doesn't say that you can be fired only for cause (or specify duration) then you may be terminated at will" says Slovak In states such as Illinois or New York employment is " which means that a fire an employee for can company any reason But a written agreement is better than nothing she "at-will- says "The more specifics you have in it the more you have to work with" she says "For example if the letter sets a goal to increase sales by a specific percentage and you meet that goal you may still be fired but you're in a position to negotiate better severance terms" What offer letters lack in legal standing they may compensate for in terms of moral suasion Companies tend to be sensitive to the bad public relations and ustry-image implications of fail ind- r II re 1 1 I I g I 1 ' lils If"' r - SALT e c61 111 25 MS feel the need to conserve now and they're going to start thinking it's neat to get sweaters from the Salvation Army" Sitar has her frump membership card from the NFA tacked on her bulletin board at home Forgetfulness being another frump trait Shaw doesn't know where hers is Some frumps aren't even organized enough to know there's an organization for them Alvesta Veness a retired accountant in Fenton Mich isn't a member but certainly qualifies Veness eats a balanced meal with meat every night likes big band music and old movies doesn't go for fashion fads never pays interest on her charge accounts and puts relatively little mileage on her car "I guess you could say I'm a frump because glow-in-the-da- 65-pl- I'm mature due to my age frugal because I clip coupons and unpretentious because I don't put airs" she on says started the NFA in typically frumpish fashion No grandiose announcement No official proclamation or mission statement It just kind of happened when Hovanetz was a student at the University of Iowa 20 years ago She wasn't a hippie or a sorority type Neither were her six closest friends So they came out of the closet deciding they were frumpy and proud They kept in touch over the years since they left without graduating writing funny frump letters to one another Then one thing led to another and they started the newsletter Hovanetz describes a frump as Hovanetz IN SERVING LAKE - PROVO viONITiES I wyr 1235 3300 S 410 le711 PO' MEE 5 - 11111111111 NEW HOURS: BRIDAL & CRAFTS ‘ :(14-sej- -ir OFF‘ Doilies Curtains Collars Place mats Tea Towels ETC Expires 5292 BAIR BOW CLASSES 11 AM EVERY SAIVRDAY N BUNNIES IN THE BUFF 411 Olt 20 11"-I4la- ended Nun her hw been-- h confer( and 7: (b) Cheez Whiz presidE strengt sal- tines 8: (c) Patti Page as the "Waltz Queen" 9: (b) someplace that has an Early Bird special 10: (a) Dr Scholl's Sandals 1 i' Your frump quotient: If you answered correctly to: 14: You are a closet frump You are on your way to being a frump You already go to the supermarket in curlers I I 5-- 7: 1 0: O'Br who c( dential Ridder (Avon Books $8) ton b journá ing the food-storag- MinCustom it:41 oll : I I - 10 - ' wI i receive a bership card VERTICALS Atnec 70 ET CHIFFON SCARVES1 ORGANZA OFF Eitti Bunnies - $325 to 475 I I national cratic having paign zoom looks SHADES 0" A Ag7 444 II Is y mitvio Tor 411 te yr ip loo ti) l ti ' — -- - A ' litt WOOD BLINDS k 1 Ai 0 i 111 - tJ OFF i 1" & 2" SLATS painted or stained finish -11 !' 1 CDSTALFLEAT 1 64NEw" 4 I '1 I ik A-- I p 7 I roti I It -- i Diamonds Christina and '' - 1 lor 7 t ileKay JEWELRY 157 So Men Salt Lake City 359-019- 14--14 Amur 33 COMPS TO CHOOSE MOM ''''"44:1'"1 — '''- 1 - 11- ) 0 1? 111 D r iYA IL 2 OPEN: ld iff C I si II '' I el 1 4875662 2432 So— State 1314 Saudi Center morc-rt- i It ta P R APFPFq OKA uP 17 SALT LAKE 144 j' I fe"1 a----- of A $ -z : : ' '' - Blinds Cleaned A Finest fmancing Free parking n - wit I - :- ' OR HOLES " - I TOMO cal 141 LJJU —— - 40 17 A IVIM tOR06 NO '1-- t 14144 A PeOlGV " ‘S mt STEDOT DO etl A - tAik VOW ill 11 McKay —— 3 Yr Warrantee 3 Patterns ko 4 ' IL A 1 1 —---- — 4 ET 1 pN - -- ft ( 1 -------- 111b21101600iiii11iM it 40 a "I w - Married with Finest diamonds Finest prices first a! her hu 1' Warrantee re- search and advocacy group for office workers "We recommend (our members) write an acceptance letter that they mail prior to their start date including hourly wage or salary benefits anything they were promised" 111111WWwm115Mimm Michael Day televisi r' k A ' 411 1 Yr She is '' Cleveland-base- d lrrit-- i ' II 4 Patterns the only ones who can get such agreements says Barbara Otto spokeswoman for 9 to 5 the na 0 3w 4 :a ' Challenger mem- glow-in-the-da- rk L17011)171fdrirrellOf - J 4004 04W 417sz sioned model paign side hi him In th has so: stamped envelope you'll d gr woman "Iti 1- self-address- rt tfi) 4o s±---------- 40 Colors One Week Delivery ' To become a member of NFA write to Barbara Hovanetz PO Box 1047 Winter Park Fla 32790 If you send a e : 44 it's no come The t throug she sal O'Br mined campai "victin traditi( it A m-- 0 "Put ' OFF male frumps wear summer shorts made from jeans and the shirts their wives buy them for Christmas that commitment i would' Ima e - Wis Kinney 60 a retired teacher who now maintains lawns says matter Dr rel 1 bm (110 e Frumps are also equal opportunity They include men such as Tom Kinney Sr from Eau Claire v I - t coincid Schusti --- M she we tion to Kate G Democ nee Like Goodsi en and lary C with in tions o ity all Whil plot bin Candi( Source: Adapted from AunBarbara's Tips for an Ordinary Life by Barbara Hovanetz Hovanetz guarantees what the company will do is smarter than a contract that has a set duration" she says The experts say it's probably easier to get an offer letter if you've negotiated something that varies from standard hiring procedures such as extra weeks of vacation relocation expenses or separation terms High-levprofessionals aren't Happily ALL BATTENBERG 20 HOSPITALS 7 DOPER VICES & ing to live up to their agreements An offer letter is often preferred to a contract James Challenger president of Challenger Gray & Christmas a Chicago-base- d international outplacement consulting firm says he often advises against contracts "I have seen more deals blown on contracts You're saying 'I don't trust you' or 'I may not do a good job' " Challenger says "And then you have to bring in attorneys from both sides" An offer letter is less threatening he says but even then he advises caution "A lot of companies will give you a simple letter but I wouldn't push it" Emily Koltnow founder of Koltnow & Co in New York which conducts Women in Networking workshops for women who have been fired or believe they may be fired also prefers offer letters "A more open II 01111111111 ) 4045223 L 1 i BY ASSIDATICII MIIATIONAL O'Br: agonizE jelly glass of Blue 6: (b) a O Rhonda Hai lesThe Salt Lake Tribune 9431730 anuoutvimunavammiont Diaper Service 1 ton did Hamps cause througl ity ShE had be the hea have" about what's hot but they don't care They wear socks with sandals look for bargains and swap Jell-recipes over the back fence "We are not driven by false goals We are individualistic and secure enough to look forward to an evening at home alphabetizing the spice rack leafing through a seed catalog and rinsing out old plastic bags" says t"' 1879 F 7000 South Imperial rific" hard-boile- d When it comes to getting job offers it's smart to get it in writing An employment contract usually is something reserved for posi- Wee O'Briel similar Clinton the titl book "I In and I t (the el speed Frump answers: 1: (c) the Central Hardware Catalog 2: (b) Johnson's Baby Powder 3: (a) egg slicer 4: (b) watching Richard Simmons exercise videos 5: (c) driving to as many tourattractions as )ossible and stopping at every roadside gift shop "just to see what they 1 THE CHICAGO TRIBUNE vu Willard Scott The Chenille Sisters someone who wears sneakers bowls and plays miniature golf Frumps might know ' By Nanine Alexander ers no was str Dukak: of' she sbyt "I thought 'That's for me! m a frump and now it's OK to be frump It's OK to have had my 11114 this way for 14 years and keep a closet full of polyester hbrts that I still wear in the sum010: " the says as she fetChes the boiling water then 1394rs it into her favorite mug which reads "A Woman's Place Is affair govern A4 t it: drink er The music I'm listening to right now is (a) Joan Sutherland as "Madame Butterfly" (b) Madonna as the "Material Girl" (c) Patti Page as the "Waltz Queen" 9 When we go out to dinner it's usually: (a) someplace that serves nouvelle cuisine (b) someplace that has an Early Bird special (c) someplace with low lights and a menu in a foreign language 10 My footwear of choice is: (a) Dr Scholl's Sandals (b) the classic black pump (c) a pair of 41 90 '' pre-dinn- 8 0 1 i With my 7 I like to snack on: (a) stoned wheat crackers with pate (b) Cheez Whiz and saltines (c) caviar on toast points : er ld - 49 t ' 01 "'t ' ' ' ' 'a a '!:' ppe - ' be-opti- S ' '' ' 'i" '11t ' ' '' ' - i li fl 1 1 ' 4 : '‘' ‘ I A t) I 1 - '' - li ' ' Whel ton sat Minute allegati Columbo Miss Marple hard-boile- d I :'' c f ''' - : ' 1' 4‘ ' t 1 $"''''Lit: 4'4 t" N k 1 )11 ' - 0' 1 - 14:-'-t i ' 1 it t' rrt:tr 1 V '''4'1044P it12:74 '' II ' 'k t'Al'k bii:(11 r s t ' ' 4 - "4 ' "ta ''kt rg' 01 : ' 1 1 0- 1 tI (141 ' -- : 4 p ' ) '' l'''7 ' )tt4 r‘ ''(' t - N 114' A 41'''' ' ' ‘ 0A - I ! V- - ' t 3 lis !4 I I subscribe to: (a) Time (b) Vogue (c) the Central Hardware Catalog 2 My favorite perfume is: (a) Elizabeth Taylor's Passion (b) Johnson's Baby Powder (c) Calvin Klein's Obsession 3 The kitchen appliance I cannot live without is: (a) egg slicer (b) microwave oven (c) food processor 4 I keep myself in shape by: (a) a jog (b) watching Richard Simmons exercise videos (c) aerobics 5 My idea of a great vacation is: (a) two weeks at Club Med (b) a safari in Kenya (c) driving to as many tourist attractions as possible and stopping at every roadside gift shop "just to see what they have" TI Here is a list of some famous favorite frumps: The Queen Fred Sanford Minnie Pearl Kathy Bates Esther Rolle Edith Bunker Barbara Bush cide: t sir Ist' ill 1 ' — : ''C'''''' It''''t:'1'4- '4 ' k 1AN4f - ''' v '' al ' 1 tiAt't'll k sitf 1el-i-v---- ))et :t! 11" "" ' ' 1 "'' ' - Ctlit )1i J)1th '''' kt"' t ''''' 'F i i vt ' '''!' ' t '''‘''' )1 tAt't''411' 1i')!A'1) r '1 conventions or dues They :simply revel in the sweet solidarily: of knowing they have soul mates out there who also like 'Cheez Whiz and soda crackers : Sensing that frumpiness is fashionable Hovanetz has tit the bookstores with her guide Untie Barbara's Tips for an Or$iliary Life (Avon Books $8) Its Message is that one need not inh erit frumpiness as Princess 'Anne of Great Britain did !:1frumpiness can be learned : 'Shaw of course was born with A 4 “ ):'11 '‘'111141N(1t4 lOttlki)'4t'' ''''''''r'''‘'''''S1('Ilei1 ''"" ing ' ' Is: t'tt A '4140 ' 2 N ' - lf '' I ' At ''''t14- - ''iH i l'14'-':alatv- IP - 111'::'" ' I IsiFA members have no meet- lb 1 k 1 i'' - - f"1'741- ' 0'' t' r tC:)''1" fs''t- i " 1 - '''''''46 - '1 t tsa-- t Ie te)I back" ir 1 T :1-- if 1 Y 11''1' —tIt-'‘ tat" ) "1)1A ' A 04it' ' si kl 1v-7- ''1") V':'-"'N 07''Il4-- ' l't kl' CI ) JA:0"t1' ''''' ' f : 4N'ik't‘q!fil-- ! lts12C(7 4 ' - 1t iv' t (ti i S'i 't' i1- - ' 1)1" t a it 1!4' ' 1 tt ti r1'1 'tt1")12isI' "tti1-- ili iti"k "t'-21:'0 I t til x aNi ' It "41(11i 4 pAs--:- 4 1 - 4 " '?'ii t '''--' ' !‘'-r- '14 1ilIkk'tki' ' J') tf 1) 1 CA ' It tt t r'c 'a-a-t ' A : ' 1 '1 'A'':t'''‘!1st'ASitytil t V‘:''i t VI''':'N h :of-the- : 1 '0ki---) ' ' yikl v 'r t T i )2 'q 1‘I'S1 tA ) t - '' " I A T' C Z 1 " ' ' 4 t' : Wle '1 - tli- — 40" 1e 0 ifO'A t' t t I 10 '" tt 1 -' ! 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