Mission Statement for Wisconsin Association for Home and Community Education HCE offers opportunities for:

Learning in a social setting,

Sharing what we learn, and

Caring to make a difference in our

homes, communities, and the world.

DISPATCH ASSEMBLY

Dispatch assembly for the February issue will be Merry Mates. Contact the UW-Extension Office at 715-395-1363 before January 25th, to ar-range the date and time for assembly.

Contact: Cheryl Shockley

UW-Extension Office 715-395-1363 or

cheryl.shockley@ces.uwex.edu

Douglas County HCE Superior, WI 54880

University of Wisconsin, United States Department of Agriculture and Wisconsin counties cooperating University of Wisconsin-Extension

provides equal opportunities in employment and programming, including Title IX requirements. requests for reasonable accommodations

for disabilities or limitations should be made prior to the date of the program or activity for which it is needed. Please make such requests as

early as possible by contacting your UW-Extension Douglas County Office at 715-395-1363 so that proper arrangements can be made.

DISPATCH December 2014/January 2015

INSIDE THIS ISSUE: Memo from the Board 1 Meeting Minutes 2 2015 YMCA Senior Education Series 3 From the Desk of the Treasurer 4 Online Holiday Shopping-Tips for Keeping Your Information Secure 5 Thank You’s 6 Holiday Party 7 Calendar 8

All articles from magazines, books, etc. quoted in the Douglas County HCE Dispatch have received written copyright permission. This permission is on file.

DISPATCH ARTICLES DUE DATE!!

Dispatch articles are due the 15th of the month. When emailing your articles, please send them as an attachment. Please mail or email them to:

Cheryl Shockley UW-Extension 1313 Belknap St., Room 107, Superior, WI 54880 715-395-1363 or

cheryl.shockley@ces.uwex.edu Edited by Cheryl Shockley-Program Assistant Cheryl will be out for shoulder surgery through December. Contact Jeanne with any questions you may have.

Memo from the Board I would like to thank the Merry Mates for all their work and hosting the Finnish Cof-fee. The program was fantastic, along with the treats and conversation. I’m sure we all had a great time, I know I did.

We have had a busy and productive year in HCE. The conference which our District hosted was a great success, and we re-ceived great comments on it. Thank you members for being tour guide hosts.

I am looking forward to next year. We will have the “stand by” events, such as the quilt-a-thon, craft day, and of course the craft sale. But we will have a few new events, too.

I would like to thank everyone for making this year an enjoyable success, and I am looking forward to next year. Without “you” there is no HCE.

Have a Happy Thanksgiving, a Merry Christmas, and a Happy New Year. Cheryl McCuskey President

DISPATCH December 2014/January 2015 Page 2

HCE EXECUTIVE BOARD MEETING MINUTES

Nov. 6, 2014 –Superior Public Library

Roll Call: Hilltoppers 2, Merry Mates 5, Town & Country 3, Advisor

The meeting was opened at 1:55 p.m. by President Cheryl McCuskey with the HCE Creed.

Secretary’s Report: Jo Mersnick- The Secretary’s Report was approved and placed on file.

Correspondence: CASDA (see Dispatch)

Treasurer’s Report: Sue Hendrickson - The Treasurer’s Report was approved and placed on

file for review.

The Craft Sale report was reviewed.

The Library will now be charging $25 per year to rent the meeting room.

The Proposed Budget was discussed. Jo Mersnick moved and MaryAnn Gronquist

seconded a motion to recommend the proposed budget to members at the Annual Meeting.

Passed.

Sunshine: No report

Dispatch: Due November 15, 2014

COMMITTEE REPORTS:

VP Programming and Community Outreach: The Program Planning met previously at 12:30

and the program for 2015 was reviewed and finalized.

We need nominations for Treasurer. We need a new chair for the Scholarship Committee.

Linda passed out HCE Volunteer Contribution Record Sheets.

There are forms for the Executive Board, Clubs, and Individuals.

International: Marian Simon and committee reported that plans are finalized for the Finnish

Coffee. Honorarium for the entertainment was discussed.

The country being studied for 2015-2016 will be India. Christa Wms-Clements will write the

first article.

Membership/Marketing Do we have any 55 year members?

WI Bookworms™ - Sue Hendrickson- Going smoothly.

Family Living Educator: Sue DeNio

UNFINISHED BUSINESS:

Fall District Meeting – See Dispatch

Craft Sale - Concern about no handicap ramp for wheelchairs. Sue will look into this…

again. Other concerns will be discussed at the first Craft Sale meeting.

MaryAnn Gronquist reported on information she learned about Cultural and Textile Arts

from the WISline. The theme for next year will be “The many facets of HCE”.

NEW BUSINESS:

Annual Meeting – Nov. 20, 12:30

Meeting closed with the HCE prayer at 3:20 p.m.

Minutes submitted for approval by Jo Mersnick

DISPATCH December 2014/January 2015 Page 3

Each month, the YMCA in conjunction with the Senior Center brings educational programs to

area seniors. Seniors learn more about what programs are available at the “Y,” how to stay hy-

drated, exercise, and nutrition. Each month there is a different topic and each topic provides

new and differing information.

When: 11:00am

First Friday of the month

Where: Senior Center

Who: Seniors 55+

Cost: FREE

2015 YMCA Education Program Series

January 2nd……………………………………………………..Learn about YMCA Programs

February 6th ………..…………………………………………..Hydration

March 6th…………………………………………………...…….Exercises

April 3rd…………………………………………………………...Nutrition

May 1st…………………………………………………………….Learn about YMCA Programs

June 5th………………………………………………………..…..Nutrition

July 3rd………………………………………………………….…Exercises

August 7th…………………………………………………….….Hydration

September 4th…………………………………………….……Learn about YMCA Programs

October 2nd ……………………………………………………..Exercise

November 6th…………………………………………………Nutrition

December 4th………………………………………………….Hydration

Senior Center

A Program of Northwest Wisconsin Community Services Agency, Inc.

Submitted by Sue Hendrickson

DISPATCH December 2014/January 2015 Page 4

FROM THE DESK OF THE TREASURER Sue Hendrickson Please submit all bills before December 31 so the books can be officially closed. Also, thanks to all who have submitted their dues. Makes my job so much easier! Happy Holidays! Got hunters among your family and friends? Please remind them that venison can be taken to Hursh Meat Processing, 10083 E Oak Rd, Poplar so it can be donated to area food shelves. Call 715-364-6855 for hours of operation. 2014-15 Wisconsin Bookworms™ Booklist : Looking for a perfect gift for your favorite youngster? Here are the super books chosen for our Wisconsin Bookworms™ this school year! Bark, George by Jules Feiffer:"Bark, George," says George's mother, and George goes: "Meow," which definitely isn't right, because George is a dog. And so is his mother, who repeats, "Bark, George." And George goes, "Quack, quack." What's going on with George? Find out in this hilarious new picture book from Jules Feiffer. A Cat and a Dog by Claire Masurel and Bob Kolar: A cat and a dog live in the same house, but they are not friends. They fight all the time, about everything. Then disaster strikes. Dog's beloved ball bounces up into a tree and is stuck. Cat's precious stuffed mouse falls into the pond. Dog can't climb. Cat can't swim. What are they to do? Cindy Moo by Lori Mortensen : One night on the farm, the cows overhear a fantastic tale. “Hey diddle diddle, the cat and the fiddle, the cow jumped over the moon!” Inspired by this classic rhyme, a plucky cow named Cindy Moo sets out to prove that cows really can leap over the moon. The other cows laugh at her, but that doesn’t stop Cindy from trying—and failing—night after night . . . until a trick of nature shows Cindy a way to triumph. As delightfully silly as the original nursery rhyme, this hilarious picture book will have readers of all stripes (and spots) cheering for its determined heroine. Commotion in the Ocean by Giles Andreae : “There’s a curious commotion, at the bottom of the ocean; I think we ought to go and take a look. You’ll find every sort of creature, that lives beneath the sea; swimming through the pages of this book.” The sequel to the best-selling “Rumble in the Jungle”, this delightful new collection of poems includes fun rhymes about the creatures living in and around the ocean. Children will delight in the snappy poems and colorful illustrations about whales, walruses, penguins, polar bears, stingrays and sharks. K is for Kissing a Cool Kangaroo by Giles Andreae :"K is for kissing a cool kangaroo, L is for loving, like Daddy loves you, M is for mischievous monkey and mat, N is for naughty and 'No, don't do that!'" This picture book puts a new twist on the alphabet with Andreae's fun-filled descriptions for each letter and Parker-Rees's clever illustrations. The page "G is for giant, whose garden grows wild" depicts a big, goofy looking giant nestled in a huge, green flower bed, filled with a goose and its golden egg, a gazelle, a gorilla, and a giraffe, all included to reinforce the letter G. Spoon by Amy Krouse Rosenthal: He's always been a happy little utensil. But lately, he feels like life as a spoon just isn't cutting it. He thinks Fork, Knife, and The Chopsticks all have it so much better than him. But do they? And what do they think about Spoon? A book for all ages, Spoon serves as a gentle reminder to celebrate what makes us each special. Ten on a Sled by Kim Norman: The author and the illustrator Liza Woodruff have whipped up a rol-licking, jolly, snow-filled adventure! In the land of the midnight sun, all the animals are having fun speeding down the hill on Caribou's sled. But as they go faster and faster, Seal, Hare, Walrus, and the others all fall off…until just Caribou's left, only and lonely. Now, a reindeer likes flying-but never alone, so…one through ten, all leap on again! An ideal picture book for reading-and singing along with—over and over. Wonderful Worms by Linda Glaser: Encourages an appreciation for the small creatures of the earth by explaining the vital role that earthworms play in the planet's ecosystem, with cross-section illustrations of the worm's underground environment and informative charts.

DISPATCH December 2014/January 2015 Page 5

The holidays are right around the corner and consumers are being bombarded with ads for discounted merchan-dise, free shipping and other special deals during the holiday season, and in particular for Black Friday and Cyber Monday. Last year, more than $1.7 billion was spent online on Cyber Monday, making it the highest volume day in history for online sales. Online sales are expected to be significant again this year. How can you maximize your transaction security? If the offer seems too good to be true, it probably is. Don’t get blindsided by the lure of great discounts – the security of your information is what’s most important. If you aren’t prepared and cautious, you could become the next cyber crime victim, the cost of which could far exceed any sav-ings you might have received from the retailer. When purchasing online this holiday season—and all year long—keep these tips in mind to help minimize your risk:

1. Secure your mobile device and computer. Be sure to keep the operating system and application software up-dated/patched on all of your computers and mobile devices. Be sure to check that your anti-virus/anti-spyware software is running and receiving automatic updates. Confirm that your firewall is enabled.

2. Use passwords. It's one of the simplest and most important steps to take in securing your devices, computers and accounts. If you need to create an account with the merchant, be sure to use a strong password. Always use more than ten characters, with numbers, special characters, and upper and lower case letters. Use a unique pass-word for every unique site.

3. Do not use public computers or public wireless for your online shopping. Public computers may contain malicious software that steals your credit card information when you place your order. Additionally, criminals may be intercepting traffic on public wireless networks to steal credit card numbers and other confidential information.

4. Pay by credit card, not debit card. A safer way to shop on the Internet is to pay with a credit card rather than debit card. Debit cards do not have the same consumer protections as credit cards. Credit cards are protected by the Fair Credit Billing Act and may limit your liability if your information was used improperly. Check your state-ments regularly.

5. Know your online shopping merchants. Limit your online shopping to merchants you know and trust. If you have questions about a merchant, check with the Better Business Bureau or the Federal Trade Commission. Con-firm the online seller's physical address, where available, and phone number in case you have questions or prob-lems.

6. Look for "https" when making an online purchase. The "s" in "https" stands for "secure" and indicates that communication with the webpage is encrypted.

7. Do not respond to pop-ups. When a window pops up promising you cash or gift cards for answering a ques-tion or taking a survey, close it by pressing Control + F4 for Windows and Command + W for Macs.

8. Do not click on links or open attachments in emails from financial institutions/vendors. Be cautious about all emails you receive even those from legitimate organizations, including your favorite retailers. The emails could be spoofed and contain malware. Instead, contact the source directly. Continued on page 7

Online Holiday Shopping: Tips for Keeping Your Information Secure

From the Desk of David R. Dusek Douglas County Information Services

Thank you from CASDA for quilts! October 15, 2014

This letter is in acknowledgment of your thoughtfulness regarding your recent donation to our

agency. Donations such as this are critical in sustaining our programs and helps us maintain the

quality of services for those in need. We truly appreciate your efforts to assist us in our mission

to provide supportive services to victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, and child abuse as

we advocate for a community effort to end violence.

The CASDA staff and the women and children we serve appreciate your kind and generous do-

nation of 10 homemade children’s quilts, as well as your continued support.

Sincerely, Dana Doyle, Shelter Program Director

Thank you from Cheryl Shockley

Thank you all for the beautiful orchid you sent me. It is absolutely beautiful, thank you so much

I'm enjoying it very much, I have always wanted one. Have a very Merry Christmas!!!

Cheryl (See you after New Years Eve!)

DISPATCH December 2014/January 2015 Page 6

Update From Linda Bruce In early October I retired from UW-Extension. Then just a few days later I had surgery for a total knee replacement. The surgery went well, and I am recovering nicely. I wanted to take this opportunity to thank everyone associated with HCE in Douglas County - not just for the cards, gifts, and well wishes that were sent for my retirement and surgery, but also for the wonderful connections I have made with so many of you over the years. I had hoped to be able to see many of you and thank you in person at your November Finland event, however I wasn't cleared to drive yet by that date. Hopefully I will get the chance to see you at another event soon. Thank you for all of the ways you have supported me and shown me friendship and kindness. I miss you all. Submitted by, Linda Bruce Retired UW-Extension Family and Community Development Educator, Douglas County

DISPATCH December 2014/January 2015 Page 7

To All HCE Members and their guests:

The Town & Country HCE Club cordially invites you to our Holiday Party on December 9, 2014, at 6:30 pm at Dreamland Supper Club. Come spread the holiday spirit! We provide our own entertainment.

We are requesting a $5 RSVP by December 1 to Mary Ann Gronquist (6950 E Cloverdale Rd, South Range 54874). Make checks payable to Town & Country HCE. Your RSVP will entitle you to one ticket towards chances of door prizes. All monies collected will go to purchase $25 Gift Cards for area seniors in need.

Order off the Dreamland Holiday Menu (payment for your own meal).

$5 RSVP is transferable, not refundable.

Dianne Greely Town and County HCE

Continued from page 5 - Online Holiday Shopping: Tips for Keeping Your Information Secure 9. Do not auto-save your personal information. When purchasing online, you may be given the option to save your personal information online for future use. Consider if the convenience is really worth the risk. The convenience of not having to reenter the information is insignificant compared to the significant amount of time you’ll spend trying to repair the loss of your stolen personal information. 10. Use common sense to avoid scams. Don't ever give your financial information or personal information via email or text. Information on many current scams can be found on the website of the Internet Crime Com-plaint Center: http://www.ic3.gov/default.aspx. 11. Review privacy policies. Review the privacy policy for the website/merchant you are visiting. Know what information the merchant is collecting about you, how it will be stored, how it will be used, and if it will be shared with others. What to do if you encounter problems with an online shopping site? Contact the seller or the site operator directly to resolve any issues. You may also contact the following:

• Your State Attorney General's Office - www.naag.org/current-attorneys-general.php • Your State Consumer Agency - http://www.usa.gov/directory/stateconsumer/index.shtml • The Better Business Bureau - www.bbb.org • The Federal Trade Commission - http://www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov

Submitted by Sue Hendrickson

We’re on the web! Be sure to visit the Douglas County Family Living website at: http://douglas.uwex.edu/flp/ and click on Douglas County Home

and Community Education (HCE), then click on the Dispatch Newsletter link.

Page 8 CALENDAR

December/January

December 9 6:30 Holiday Party hosted by Town & Country HCE Club

Dreamland Supper Club

December 24-25 Courthouse Closed

December 31 Submit all bills to the Treasurer

January 1 Courthouse Closed

January 8 12:30 Board Meeting, Superior Public Library

January 15 Dispatch articles due

February 5 12:30 Having Trouble with Technology? -Facilitator Sue Hendrickson

Board meeting to follow

DECEMBER 2014

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