How to Get Out of a DUI?

When many people are arrested for driving under the influence, one of the first things they want to know is how to get out of a DUI. There's no easy answer to that question because DUI is a criminal offense. If you're arrested and charged with DUI, you're going to have to go through a criminal trial and even administrative hearings about your driving privileges if you're not able to make a plea bargain. Trying to handle all of these proceedings on your own is probably the quickest way to lose your criminal case and your driving privileges at the same time. If you choose to work with an attorney who does not specialize in DUI, you are risking your reputation and your freedom, since being convicted can result in a jail sentence in many states. Working with a specialist attorney who knows DUI inside and out is the best way to successfully defend yourself against a DUI charge.

How to Get Out of a DUI - Preparing for Your Case

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Many people are thinking about how to get out of a DUI right from the beginning of their cases. If you want to get out of a DUI, you may consider talking with your attorney and finding out if a plea agreement is available. In some states, you may be able to plead guilty to lesser charges and be sentenced to lesser penalties. If you're not able to make a plea agreement, your case will proceed to trial and you'll face the full range of criminal penalties if you are convicted of DUI charges.

How to Get Out of a DUI?

How to Get Out of a DUI - Your Criminal Trial

If you do not make a plea agreement, your criminal trial will be scheduled. The best way to get out of a DUI at this stage of the process is to work with a qualified DUI lawyer. When you have a DUI lawyer on your side, you have access to expert witnesses and specific information that can be a great help during your trial. Expert witnesses can be used to refute testimony or show that chemical test results were invalid or unreliable. Your attorney will have access to many of these witnesses due to their extensive experience in the field of DUI law. Your attorney will also know where to look for information that could be helpful to you during your trial. If you were working with a public defender or an attorney who does not specialize in DUI defense, you'd lose out on these benefits.

How to Get Out of a DUI - Administrative Hearings

You'll most likely need to attend administrative hearings held to determine the status of your driving privileges after you have been arrested for a driving under the influence charge. Driving is something most people take for granted, but each state considers it a privilege and not an absolute right. Some states allow you to appeal a license suspension so that you can continue to drive up until your criminal trial takes place. If this is the case, your attorney can work with you to prepare for the appeal hearing. Your attorney can also speak on your behalf during this hearing so that you have a better chance of getting your driving privileges reinstated. Your lawyer will know what to say and how to handle your case because of the experience they have in the field of DUI law.

How to Get Out of a DUI - Sentencing

If you are convicted of driving under the influence, there is no way to get out of the DUI itself, but there is a way that you can minimize the penalties that are imposed upon you. Your attorney can speak on your behalf before sentencing takes place so that the judge can hear and consider all of the circumstances in your case. For example, your attorney may let the judge know that you have a disability or that you are responsible for caring for an elderly parent. If your lawyer can show that your incarceration would create a hardship for others, the judge may be lenient and sentence you to other penalties such as alcohol education or probation instead of jail time.

Working with a DUI attorney is the best answer to the question of how to get out of a DUI. These experienced professionals have a high level of knowledge and a great deal of experience in handling DUI cases and know how to best present your defense for your specific situation. No one can ever guarantee that you will win your case, but having a DUI lawyer on your side can make the difference between winning and losing.

How to Get Out of a DUI?

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Miracles Made Easy - The Four Types of Miracles and How To Create them in Your Life

Miracle A: Mini Miracle There are four types of miracles. You probably experience the first type frequently, without realizing it. This is the mini-miracle or the baby step miracle. These are daily events, such as finding a parking space right in front of Costco on Christmas Eve, for example. In another case, maybe you think about whom you need to speak with and they call -- out of the blue. Last week I was wandering down the bread aisle at the supermarket, wondering when my son Anton's basketball game was and I ran into another mom on the team who knew the answer right then.

Author Jean Shonoda Bolen says, "Synchronicity can pave the way for people coming together. By unraveling the circumstances through which two people meet to enter a significant relationship, the delicate, unseen hand of fate, destiny, synchronicity or underlying Tao can be discerned." Simply put, she's referring to this type of miracle.

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Perhaps you find the right book at the right time, as says mythologist William Irwin Thompson, "A university can provide you with a library, but what makes the book you are not looking for fall off the shelf and into your hands?"

Miracles Made Easy - The Four Types of Miracles and How To Create them in Your Life

When I was destitute, my miracles were simple, such as finding spare change hidden in my pockets when I had just run out of money for food. A miracle was getting a ride to and from school for my kids during the rainy season when we did not own umbrellas, raincoats or hats. I walked two to three miles a day in the chilly San Francisco rain. My close friend Lalo couldn't bear to see me so beaten down, and he bought me a beat up, salvaged 1981 Volvo that spit fumes. The car became my Golden Red Chariot-- my miracle car. It didn't matter that the roof leaked and the car had no heat. It ran. We had transportation!

Thanksgiving and Christmas were celebrated, when we miraculously received gifts of turkey and trimmings. A neighbor knocked on my door with a made up story about winning an extra turkey at work. Right. A mother from the school handed me a gift certificate for a ready-made dinner, complete with stuffing. Believe me, you could never convince me that miracles don't exist, because I experienced them even during the bleakest of moments.

What constitutes a miracle to one person may go unnoticed by another. A few cents for food and a beat up Volvo might be a curse to an affluent family, but to me, they were blessings in disguise. At the time, a simple turkey meant the world to me. So everyone will have a slightly different definition of what a miracle means to them personally..

It is easy to overlook or discount the little events as they occur. That's why I call everything that is positive that comes my way a miracle. I never leave anything out, because I want a steady stream of wonderfully nice things happening to me 24/7.. Miracle B: The "Lucky" Miracle The second type of miracle is what some consider luck, good fortune or sheer coincidence. For instance, you may say that Sam Walton was lucky to have succeeded in creating Wal-Mart and Sam's. I mean, several others had tried to do it and failed. It must have been luck or fate or an accident that he did it where others did not.

To become lucky, in the real sense, is to become purposeful, mindful, intuitive, listening to your answers and going with your own sense of rhythm towards a destination. I classify it as a miracle, because as you create this aura of winning, sometimes it appears as though the good luck occurs at just the right time. It might feel like divine intervention that saved your life. Was that luck or a miracle? Did God do it or did you?

Individuals who are consistently lucky are manifesting outwardly a disciplined and focused approach on the inside. They are usually following a quest, a voice, an intuitive gut feeling, and they are focused on seeing it through. They have created the mindset, the brew, and the soil for their miracle. Remember, the universe will send us what we ask for.

Two days ago, I stood behind a handsome younger man outside the bathroom on a Southwest Commuter Flight. Just that morning I had expressed a need to find raw foods. Three hours later I meet a man who runs a company that imports raw foods from third world countries and markets them to major natural food stores. Synchronicity of events occurs all the time, when you say to our friends, 'I was just thinking of you, and here you are at Safeway at the exact precise moment I am.'

That we survived is a major miracle indeed. 2001 was the bleakest year in my entire life. The kids and I decided to not celebrate Christmas. We had no stomach for additional disappointments. My attorney asked me how I coped with losing everything and being reduced to food stamps and poverty. I had to tell him. I wrote him a letter. The letter became a three page double spaced 1000 word article. With a tremendous sense of freedom, I e-mailed the piece to six newspapers, three in California, and three in New York City, my birthplace.

Imagine my surprise when I returned home to a voicemail from David Burgin, editor of the San Francisco Examiner. He informed me my writing was excellent, boosting my ego a thousand fold and actually published the piece on the front page on December 19, 2001. The response was truly miraculous. Fifty people responded with letters of encouragement and donations of food, presents, slippers, bathrobes, groceries and cash. We suddenly felt rich beyond belief.

These acts of kindness were not coincidence. It wasn't just accidental, and it certainly wasn't random. These were the miracles I was creating, without even realizing it. I now know these principles work if applied with 100 percent intention and commitment. Anything less than 100 percent will not succeed. I have written this book to show you how to activate your miracles and make your own dreams come true.

One of my radio show guests calls himself Dr. Luck. Randall Fitzgerald has devoted a lifetime to researching the qualities that lucky people have in common. He says, in his book, Lucky You, "If we recognize and appreciate the appearance of serendipity and synchronicity in our lives we seem to enhance our chances of being blessed with good fortune," he writes. "To some extent, there seems to be a law of attraction at work here - the more we notice something, the more we attract it into our lives." He believes that if you accept "the miraculous" you will have "the blessings of good fortune." In other words, luck is an attitude.

This is important because winners who consistently win, tell us that they get into a flow during which everything comes to them. Success isn't just by accident; lucky people create it from their mindset of prosperity. You have heard the saying, 'success breeds success.' Spend time with positive, prosperous friends and you will walk away feeling naturally good. Miracle C: Life Changing, Transformational Miracle

The third type of miracle is the life changing, transformational miracles that have lead you to completely change your focus and life direction. Accidents, illnesses, divorce, job losses force you to reconsider your options. This transformational miracle is an unwelcome friend pushing you along to discover your true life's purpose.

This miracle, born from crisis, is a potent force for change. My commitment to transform my life obsessed me. I learned that harnessing my life's purpose would activate my miracles and create the life I dreamed about. This was easier said than done. I had allowed myself to fall into disarray. I lived in fear 24 hours a day. Since I was desperate and knew there had to be a better way, I committed myself to making necessary changes. There was no choice. Hard work was required. It was not enough to intellectually know what needed to be done. I had to change myself. Other people have had similar miracles. Like Mike McGauley who lost the use of both his legs when his car was struck by a drunk driver. His doctors insisted on amputating his legs, but he refused. He was determined to walk. Mike now claims that "the accident that almost killed me turned out to save my life." Twelve years later he ran his first triathlon and has gone on to become a professional speaker, coach, and founder of the Dream Builders.

Then there are people like Heather McCartney. She lost her leg as a result of a motor vehicle accident. She didn't run and hide like some. Instead, she turned her tragedy into a miracle. She became a spokesperson for the United Nations Adopt-a-Minefield Foundation and met Paul while speaking and lecturing.

Last summer I heard Wesla Whitfield, a renowned jazz singer perform at a fundraiser sponsoring horse training for disable children. I was surprised when she rolled onto the stage in her wheelchair. An automobile accident when she was younger had paralyzed her legs. She didn't let that stop her. Her performance was passionate, riveting, and held me spell bound. At the end of the show, another woman in a wheelchair rolled in and handed Welsa a bouquet of flowers and brought the audience to tears. When she had been in the hospital, having also had a severe accident paralyzing her, Wesla had spent hours at her side encouraging her to go on. Her story, while miraculous and fascinating, is not entirely unique. Simple people do amazing things everyday. Erik Weihenmayer was born with retinoscheses, a degenerative eye disorder that left him blind at 13. Erik was determined to rise above his disabilities. In his book, "Touch The Top of The World," he shares his struggles to stretch beyond his boundaries to overcome the restrictions placed upon him. His dream was to climb the world's biggest peaks, an extraordinary achievement for those even with sight. Erik has now climbed the tallest peaks in the world, and my last e-mail from him indicated he was going back with a group of blind climbers. My mother experienced a miracle as well. She lived with me for the last eight months of her life, and her lung cancer spread rapidly. One weekend, I brought mom to the emergency room. Her oncologist advised me to call my family to her side, because her death was near. I called my friend Dr. Awender, an old school chiropractor. Dr. Awender adjusted one bone in mom's neck and told her that he had turned on her body's healing power. My husband and I went for Sunday brunch, down the street to the Santa Fe Bar and Grill close to my Berkeley practice. When we returned to the hospital, my mother was sitting up in bed, demanding to be released.

And this wasn't her only miracle. One day she told me she almost died. "I went through a rather immense glowing tunnel towards a blinding light. There were magnificent radiant beings on both sides who asked me if I was ready to come home. I told them no, because I still needed to reconcile with my sister, Pearl, and my daughter, Hildy." According to my mother, her body became as light as a feather. The pain disappeared, and she experienced an extraordinary sense of love and well-being. She was granted permission to return in order to mend her relationships before she passed on. Mom finally died when she was ready to go. She held my hand in my home while we listened to her favorite music.

Like these fascinating examples, your obstacles and challenges can become the fuel for your life transformational miracles. Step away from your problems, and reconsider them from the higher perspective. What life lessons are you learning from this? What do your challenges represent? What is the message in this challenge for you to overcome? This becomes the fertilizer to grow your miracle. Grab hold of the opportunity to make change before life forces it on you. Miracle D: Unexplainable Events

I call the last type, miracles of the fifth dimensional kind. They are the result of extraordinary, unexplainable events that normal science and rational explanations cannot answer. Some of these miracles are sanctioned by the church. The Vatican requires candidates for sainthood to have performed documented miracles, at least two of them. For example, both Jesus and Muhammed fed masses of people with only a small amount of food.

Even in the Jewish collection of laws, there are descriptions of miracles in the Talmud. An old Jewish proverb says: "He who does not believe in miracles is not a realist." These books discuss the miracles that we can control and create. They are designed for people who want to learn how to harness and create their miracles. You must want your transformation so badly you experience pain in the pit of your belly.

I will show you how to develop your life purpose and create your own miracle team. My vision is to bring together others who share your determination and commitment to success. The energy from the group consciousness enhances your power and raises your vibration to the point where you will catch your miracle wave. Together, we will mix the miracle brew and activate the nutrients to get it going. What could be simpler? Join our team of Miracle Makers. We will be your miracle buddies and cheer you on to success as you overcome obstacles and habits that sabotage your progress and formulate action plans to achieve your greatest dreams.

Don't be surprised if you awaken in the mornings ready to leap from a deep sleep, filled with passion and excitement. Finally, you are living the life you yearned for, the one you prayed that you could create and have. If you only had that miracle you've dreamed about. What major and minor miracles have happened to you already? Try to think of a time when you experienced a Mini Miracle. Have you experienced coincidences that seem too good to be true or a front parking spot that just appeared What life changing miracles have happened to you? What other random miracles have you experienced? If you could make just one miracle happen in your life, what would it be? Now that you're in the mood for making miracles, it's time you learn how to do it. You can create major life transformations in just four steps. The first step, essential to creating a healthy lifestyle, is that you must have a strong desire to change. You must be ready to confront your life, assess your life and take responsibility for it. Are you ready to get started?

Miracles Made Easy - The Four Types of Miracles and How To Create them in Your Life

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Keeping Your Soul Safe: How to Prevent Identity Theft

Today, identity theft is one of the growing fears in the financial world. One day you wake up, and discover that your life is in ruins - your credit, your name, your finances. You can't get a house loan, you can't get a job, you can't file your taxes. What do you do in this situation? What do you do to prevent this?

Facts and Statistics:

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-Up to 700,000 people in the United States may be victimized by identity bandits each year, according to the Justice Dept (during press release 2002 FTC Study)

Keeping Your Soul Safe: How to Prevent Identity Theft

-Over 500,000,000 fraudulent checks are written each year

-The Secret Service estimates that in 1997, consumers lost more than 5 million due to identity theft

-A recent report on identity theft warned that there is likely to be "mass victimization" of consumers within the next several years.

-Every 79 seconds, a thief steals someone's identity, opens accounts in the victim's name, and goes on a buying spree. (CBSnews.com, 1/24/01)

- Florida is the number 4 top state for identity theft (CA, NY, TX, FL, IL) in number of victims.

-Types of Identity Theft:

-- Financial Fraud

--- Debit & ATM fraud

--- Checking account fraud

--- Savings account fraud

--- Store credit account fraud

--- Loan account fraud

--- Mortgage account fraud

-- Identity Cloning (uses your credit rating to live a separate life

-- Other crimes

--- Drug trafficking

--- Smuggling

--- Illegal entry into other countrie

--- Terrorism

--- Money laundering

--- Computer crimes

--- Shoplifting

--- Burglary

How your ID gets stolen:

- Credit cards: Every time you use your credit card, in person, on the phone, or on the Internet, there is a risk that an unscrupulous person may make off with your card details. Locations where staff turnover is high, such as restaurants, bars, and telemarketing companies, are especially high risk. Some thieves sell servers a small 'skimmer' that attaches to the inside of a jacket or coat, and will read a credit card when swiped. The server can then sell this 'skimmer' for 00 after he's swiped 20 cards.

- Don't Trash It: Unshredded bank statements, credit card solicitations, account statements and other discarded mail is a target.

- Beware of the Workplace: Many times fellow employees steal sensitive information from unsecured personnel files, desks, or trash cans.

- Help Desk Impersonators: Sometimes an innocent call from your phone company, bank, insurance company or broker can be a cover for ID theft. Beware of anyone who needs to verify your address or SSN by YOU supplying the information.

- Check alteration: A recent case involved a man going to each 'flagged' mailbox and taking out checks being mailed to GTE. He changed the Payee to G.T. Edwards, opened an account with a fake ID, and cashed the checks. IRS can easily be changed to 'MRS. XXXX'

- Fraudulent Check Printing: Whether by making color copies of an existing check and altering it or printing fake checks on purchased or stolen check stock, this crime is rising rapidly. There is check-printing software available, and many businesses and individuals now print their own checks.

- Checks Stolen: There are several ways a thief can obtain what he needs to create his own checks with your information:

-- Stealing bank statements with cancelled checks from your home or mailbox

-- Making a copy of a check you've sent out

-- If you own a business, a scanned copy of your incorporation papers may be available online at http://www.myflorida.com. If so, it may have your signature on it, available for anyone to copy.

- Friends and Family: Many cases of ID theft and fraud are committed by family members, friends and roommates

- The Media: Your ID can even be stolen by someone who learned about you from a news story, or your company's brochure.

- Unlike most crimes, it's up to YOU to prove yourself innocent and restore your good name and credit. This process can take years and a lot of your own money. In the case of check fraud, you have 60 days to discover something wrong on your bank statements. After that, the bank assumes no liability. The person who is "in the best position to prevent the fraud" is held liable.

- While financial and commercial organizations must exonerate you if their debts were incurred by an impersonator, it is imperative that you act quickly to clear the responsibility for these debts from your name.

- One of the biggest victim complaints is that law enforcement sometimes refuses to take a crime report in identity theft cases. Without a police report, credit issuers simply do not believe that someone else is at fault. Further complicating the process is the fact that identity theft crimes committed in your name may often span several jurisdictions.

Things to do NOW

- Whenever you order checks, do the following:

- NEVER print your social security number on the check - even if asked to by a store clerk. They cannot require it.

- Don't print your phone number (you can get driving directions to your house with just your phone number)

- Print only your first initial, keeping thieves from knowing either your full name or how you sign your checks

- Use a PO Box address, or a work address.

- Do not write your entire account number on the check when paying credit card bills. Instead, attach a payment coupon and only write the last four numbers on the check. This way, anyone handling your check does not have access to the whole card number.

- Never keep passwords or PIN numbers in your wallet. Even if you don't indicate which card it is, all a thief has to do is keep trying each card.

- Sign up for the Telemarketer Do Not Call list at http://www.donotcall.gov

- Sign up for blocking your personal information from being released by the driver's license department. For Florida, the website is http://www.hsmv.state.fl.us and click on "The Driver Privacy Protection Act"

- Copy both sides of everything in your wallet. In case it is lost or stolen, you need the card numbers AND the phone numbers to call in that they are lost. Obtaining a new drivers license or social security card are also much easier if you have a copy.

-- Driver's license

-- Credit cards

-- Social Security card

-- Student ID

-- Military ID

-- Insurance cards

-- Membership cards

-- Voter's registration

-- Passport

-- AAA card

- Call or write your three credit bureaus and tell them you want to 'opt out' of your information being shared. Whenever you receive a credit card offer, it is because a bureau shared your basic data with them.

- Before revealing personal ID information to anyone who calls you, make absolutely sure you're dealing with the company you think you are. Arrange to call them back after you've found their number from your own sources. If they say they're from a 'separate call center', refuse to deal with them.

- Any time you are required to give personal information, find out how it will be used and if it will be shared with others. Ask if you can choose to keep it confidential.

- Keep track of your billing cycles. If the bills don't arrive on time, check your address on record with the creditor. If the address is correct, check your mailbox security, and perhaps get a Post Office box.

- Give your social security number only when absolutely necessary. Use other ID if possible.

- Try to limit the number of cards and personal identifiers you carry with you regularly.

- Get a copy of your credit report from all three agencies (listed below) and check for unauthorized activity. Be familiar with what is on your account, and see if there are any errors to be corrected.

- Keep items with personal information in a locked file or safe and in an unusual spot (not the desk drawer), especially if you share your living accommodations. Shred them if you don't need them anymore.

- Ensure that charge receipts, copies of insurance forms, credit applications, bank checks, statements, and credit offers are shredded.

- Many people have credit cards they don't use regularly and therefore don't receive a statement. Check these cards for activity online, or use them at least once a month, in case someone has changed the address and is using it.

- If you are an online retailer, use AVS (Address Verification Service). It will reject any card that has a shipping address different from the mailing address.

- Teller Positive Pay (Bank of America) - you tell the bank what checks you have written, they will refuse any not listed.

- Try online banking - paper checks get handled by an average of 13 people each, while online checks go through 2 people. It is also cheaper transaction, and eliminates paper records to be stolen. The bank can send you a CD with the copies of the fronts and backs of checks.

- If you have been refused credit unfairly, or refused employment due to credit problems, it may be a sign of identity theft.

- Watch out for 'repair your credit' scams. They prey on the conscientious but gullible. Most real credit errors can be taken care of yourself, for no cost.

- For passwords, use a series of letters and numbers. Don't use personal information such as your birthdate, parts of your SSN, or mother's maiden name. Genealogical data is available in the libraries and over the internet, and can be used to access your accounts. Make it something different, like T5XQ8. Do not store these passwords in your purse or wallet!

- Make sure to have some sort of virus protection software on your computer, and update it regularly.

- Visit ID THEFT for more information on the subject.

Internet Security

- If purchasing from the Internet, check the privacy clause on each company to make sure they don't hand your information over to 'partners'.

- Use secure sites on the Internet. If the URL doesn't start with https://, the data is not encrypted before transmission. (the S stands for secure).

- Some sites list fake security icons to fool the gullible. Click on them to discover if they really are authentic and reliable security companies.

- Print and keep receipts of online transactions. Check your credit card statements to make sure these are the only transactions that clear.

- Keep your PC software up to date with upgrades and security enhancements.

- Beware of installing programs from sites you can't trust or opening emails with attachments from people you don't know. Even if it is from someone you know, email them first to ask if they sent it

- it could be a virus on THEIR computer that they are not aware of, sending emails to everyone on their list. Some programs can hide in your PC and communicate your information when you connect to the Web.

- Verify your information: a recent scam involved members of eBay receiving messages requesting them to click on a link to update their personal information. The link took them to a site that appeared exactly like eBay's secure customer area, but was in fact a bogus site designed to hijack personal ID and credit card information. This is called Phishing, and many companies have had this done to them, including banks, credit unions, AOL, MSN, Earthlink, etc.

- Free credit report emails - most of these are scams, though the three credit reports DO now allow you a free credit report, every 12 months, to monitor your credit. Take advantage of this offer, and do so!

- You have won a free gift or lottery - usually an email or phone call about a free gift or prize - just provide your credit card information for shipping costs.

- Some Nigerian prince who is reaching out to 'a good person' in the US who will help him recovery his million from his country. All he needs is a little investment

- Email chain letters and pyramid schemes - There are many of these. They are for the most part illegal and are just variations on the old postal chain letters.

- Emails offering a service to "Find out everything on everyone" - usually just a scam to get your credit card information

- Job Advertisement Scams - there have also been scams involving Internet Job Websites. Never hand out your SSN or birth date on a resume or application until you are certain the company and position is legitimate.

- Charity Scams - we anticipate that consumers will get calls from 'charities' asking for donations. Do not provide credit card information over the telephone. Get the mailing address, verify it, and send a check instead.

- CLARK HOWARD, a consumer advocate recommends that you use one card for all internet transactions, one with a relatively low limit. This will limit the damage if there is a security breach. He also has a lot of good information on his website.

Things to do when traveling:

- Copy your passport, itinerary, and plane tickets and keep a copy with you, and one with a trusted relative.

- Stop deliveries to the house to avoid advertising that you are gone, or have a friend pick them (and the mail) up periodically. You can also have the Post Office hold your mail until you get back.

- On your luggage tags, put your work address. This keeps anyone who handles your bags from knowing which house will be vacant for a while.

- Keep your parking ticket from the airport with you, in a safe place. If it is left in the car, that's all a thief needs to exit the parking garage safely.

- In idle conversation, don't tell people seemingly innocent details, such as where you keep your parking ticket, how long you will be gone, or if you are traveling alone.

- Call your credit cards before hand and tell them you are traveling. Many now have fraud detection policies that will freeze the card if used out of town, and this can be very inconvenient when in Bangkok.

- Always have a second, or even third, cash source available in case one is stolen or frozen.

- Some thieves have doctored ATMs where it will seemingly not work, and will keep your card. They insert a plastic sleeve, and when you walk away frustrated, they come up and take the card, having seen you enter your PIN number from afar. To avoid this, run your finger along the card slot before you insert your card. The sleeve is rigid and has a couple of tiny prongs the thieves use to get it out of the slot, and you will be able to feel them. Also shield the keyboard with your body when you enter your code.

- Another ATM scam involves a touch-sensitive film, similar to the ones used to protect the keys from damage. This film records your PIN number. Most banks no longer use this film due to this reason.

- Passports and credit cards are easy targets for identity theft. When traveling, either keep these in a hotel safe (not the room safe) or on a money belt hidden under your clothes. In crowded areas, all it takes is a razor blade and quick hands to empty your back pocket, purse, or backpack.

- Keep in mind that 1-800 numbers do NOT work in other countries for the most part, and most credit cards will not accept collect calls. If your wallet is stolen while traveling, make sure to have other contact numbers for them, or get them off their website.

- Some hotels ask for a copy of your driver's license, credit card, or passport for your stay - some even ask to hold the passport. If this is the case, first verify that this is indeed the policy, with the hotel manager. Then request that a copy be made instead of the original, and ask what is done with the copy later. If that is still not sufficient, request that they be held in the hotel safe. At least then only cleared personnel will have access to it (and make sure YOU have a copy on hand as well)

- Current TSA regulations allow unwitnessed searches of checked luggage. To deter unauthorized people from searching your luggage, lock them with plastic cable ties. This allows the TSA to open the luggage and relock it with their own ties, and you know they're the only ones that have been in the luggage.

Things to do if your wallet is stolen:

- File a police report immediately, which shows the credit card companies you were diligent.

- Cancel your credit cards immediately. This is why it is so important to have the copies of everything in your wallet. You will need the toll-free numbers on the backs to call the companies. If you are not in the country, toll-free numbers won't work, so have alternative contact numbers.

- Call your bank and make sure any unauthorized activity is stopped.

- Call the three National Credit Reporting Organizations immediately. This alert means that any company checking your credit knows your information was stolen and they have to contact you by phone to authorize new credit. The numbers are:

--- Equifax 1-800-525-6285

--- Experian 1-888-397-3742

--- Trans Union 1-800-680-7289

- Also contact the Social Security Administration to get a new card and verify that no one has changed your information, such as address. 1-800-269-0271

Things to do periodically:

- Check your credit reports at all three agencies. If anyone is obtaining credit with your information, annual review of these reports should catch them.

- Check your Social Security account periodically. There is a form you can fill out to obtain a summary of your account with the SSA. This can help determine if someone is using your number to receive benefits, or work illegally in this country.

Keeping Your Soul Safe: How to Prevent Identity Theft

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Sympathy Cards - What Do I Say?

One of the most difficult cards to send to a family or friend is a sympathy card. Why? Because if you are like me, you have many mixed feeling on what is truly appropriate for the situation. But never underestimate the powerful message you convey by just sending a card at a time of grief. While many ask that donations be given in lieu of flowers, it is always appropriate to send a card to honor the departed person.

If you are reluctant to send a card, just because you don't know what to say, don't give up! Review these lists of phrases and read each one out loud. Place a check mark by the ones that sound "natural" and appear to fit your situation. Work with it until it feels right, combine or adapt them to meet the unique situation.

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If you are a spiritual person you may want to choose a phrase like:

Sympathy Cards - What Do I Say?

- You and your family are in our prayers.

- We ask God to send his blessings on your during this difficult time.

- You and your family member will be lifted up in our prayer group this month.

- God is here for comfort, ask and he will bring you peace.

- Our prayers and blessing surround you with peace.

Some people may be intimidated to mention prayer, especially if they are not regular church attendees, so some good choices would be:

- You and your family are in my thoughts.

- With deepest sympathy.

- Our hearts go out to you in this time of sorrow and loss.

- Our heartfelt condolences go out to you at this time.

- We are thinking of you.

- We loved your (father, mother, sister, brother) very much and share in your loss.

- We were very sorry to hear about the passing of (name of deceased).

- I am here for you when you need to talk, cry or smile about (name of deceased).

This is NOT a time where you need to go into details. One sentence with your signature can be sufficient to let your friend know you care and you are there for them. Send a card as soon as you hear the news. Then follow-up with another card to focus on the "survivor" and let them know you are there to help them through the grieving process. If you are sending a card to someone that is of a different religion, and you are unfamiliar with their grieving process, take a few moments to research about what is acceptable and not. They will appreciate you taking the time to send them an appropriate sympathy card.

If you feel inclined, and were close to the deceased person, you may want to send a short heartwarming story about how the deceased made a difference in your life or in the lives of others. This is a time to celebrate the uniqueness of that individual and help establish ways to remember them for the goodness and happiness they brought to others. This message will become a cherished memory that lives on for many years. Your thoughtfulness to share this special moment with that family member will lift their spirits and help them to focus on the positive.

Another way to share a memory is to put together a collage of pictures and phrases that were meaningful to the survivors and / or the deceased. Perhaps there were special vacation spots, annual family gatherings or traditions that were continued based upon the leadership and participation of that cherished family member. Having personalized cards that show the person smiling, in good health, hugging and sharing special moments with family are priceless. And adding a short note about how the person was a great bbq chef, or knew how to arrange flowers just the right way or even how just there smile lit up a room can bring joy into the grieving heart.

If you did not know the deceased personally but are friends or business acquaintances with someone who has suffered a loss, don't try to make up a story. Just focus on letting your friend know that you are there for them. By simply saying " I am here if you need someone to talk to", may be very comforting to that person and just what they need to hear.

And don't be afraid to offer condolences to pet owners. So many folks young and old have pets that are truly members of their families. My mother recently lost her cat Morris, who lived through all of his nine-lives to the ripe old age of 24. Morris and my mom had been through a lot together and I knew she was very sad to part with him. I found a simple little card and wrote a quick little line to comfort her. The next time we spoke she told me how important that sympathy card was to her, since Morris was "her child".

Finally, what about e-cards in this situation? My advice is to always send a REAL card. An e-Card is very impersonal. Even if the card does not arrive in time for the funeral, it will be appreciated. Many people keep the cards they receive and read them time and time again to help them get closure on their loss. I hope this article was useful and that you will print and save it for future reference.

Sympathy Cards - What Do I Say?

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Getting Your Kids' Schedule Together

Ahhhh, the beginning of the school year.

It's like spring time. Fresh, new, wonderful, bright...and hectic! All over town we see moms and dads pulling their hair out trying to juggle school with kid's activities, work and home. So how do we manage all this with much less stress?

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Here are a few Together Tips to keep you on top of it all.

Getting Your Kids' Schedule Together

Tip #1 - Kids do best with routine

By now, we should all have settled in to our schedules. Routine is important, however, if a child is not thriving on this schedule it is wise to reconsider. Possibly remove or add an activity that will produce less stress in your child's life.

Tip #2 - Leave time for rest and play

Kids love structured activities, and a certain amount of it every day is important. Each child is different, so gauge how much they need by their behaviour. More than anything, after school and on weekends, kids need and want free time to rest and play. Ensure you allow for that too.

Tip #3 - Sit down as a family

Decide as a family which one or two activities each child wants to do per season. Two activities is most likely the maximum, although every child is different. The demands of school just keep getting greater, so keep an eye out, so that their schoolwork doesn't suffer. Make sure you don't overdo it too as your stress will be absorbed by your children.

Tip #4 - Make a calendar

This may seem like the most obvious of tips, but you'd be surprised when a child gets to be involved in the planning how much more willing and cooperative they can be.

On the calendar, mark down all the regular activities. Ask each of your children to choose a colour marker that then will only be used for their activities. Ensure that your schedule includes which grown-up will be in charge of driving which child to which activity. Look into car pooling especially if you need to be in multiple places at one time.

Tip #5 - Family time

No matter how busy you get with activities, work, school or home improvement, the most important is family time. Schedule one activity per week with the entire family. And, if possible, one activity with each of the parents separately with each child.

On the calendar be sure to schedule in family time in a different colour.

Now this all may seem complicated, but actually it will simplify your life. Keeping life simple and balanced means harmonious, happy kids.

Getting Your Kids' Schedule Together

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Term Limits - Critical to Your Nonprofit Board's Success

Recently, I ran into a nonprofit organization that had been around for over 20 years - but they had never implemented term limits for their board. As a result, a few people had been on the board since the organization was started. These "old timers" ran the organization and newly-recruited members were not able to contribute much of anything new. Needless to say, the organization was stagnant and inflexible and had lost ground year after year. The newer members were frustrated because they were unable to contribute to the organization in any meaningful way.

Term limits are critical to a board's health because they prevent a single individual or group from monopolizing the spirit of the organization. They ensure that new ideas and approaches are explored - something that's essentail to the success of every organization. Everyone is forced off the board eventually. If your board doesn't have term limits, I recommend you start thinking about them now. You can easily incorporate them into your board by taking these three simple steps:

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1. Add term limits to your bylaws. 2. Include specific terms in your "Expectations of Board Members" when you recruit. 3. Decide on a fair way to apply term limits to current board members.

Term Limits - Critical to Your Nonprofit Board's Success

Add term limits to your bylaws. The bylaws should state the term limits for each board member. I find that a 3-year term (renewable for a single, second 3-year term) is a good length of time for people to serve on a board. Less than three years and a board member is just getting started when it's time to leave. More than 3 years and the commitment seems daunting and can discourage new board candidates from agreeing to join.

Here's some language you can use in your bylaws: "Each Board Member will serve for a 3-year term. At the end of the first term, there will be an option to renew for another 3-year term if both the board member and the board are happy to continue. The Board Development Committee works with each board member at the end of their term to determine if they will renew their board membership or not."

Include term limits in your "Expectations of Board Members." When recruiting new members, using a one-page summary of your expectations helps clarify the commitment that potential members are being asked to make. You can explain the time commitment, when and where the meetings are held, that there is an expectation of an annual financial contribution, and the term limits for joining members.

Here's some wording that other nonprofits have used that pertains to term limits: "Commit initially to a three-year term (unless otherwise stated). There may be an option to extend this term if you are meeting the needs of the XYZ Non-Profit and XYZ Non-Profit is meeting yours."

Decide on a fair way to apply term limits to the current board members. This is often the toughest part to implement. In some cases, boards have members who have been involved with the organization for many years and they are loathe to leave. The Board Development Committee works on this task. Your goal is to get 1/3 of the board to agree to stay on for one year, 1/3 of the board to agree to stay on for 2 years and 1/3 of the board to stay on for 3 years.

First, ask each board member privately (or in a secret ballot) if they have a preference for whether they will stay on for one, two or three years. If approximately 1/3 of your board is interested in terms ending in each of the next three years, you are ok. If you need to move some people around, then you can talk to them privately to see if they're willing to change. If not, you can draw straws to see who stays for shorter or longer periods of time.

Finally, everyone needs to be aware of these decisions - and you should publish the "end-of-term dates" for each person on your board roster. If you are a new nonprofit, don't forget to include term limits in your bylaws. If you are an existing organization and allow board members to stay around forever, starting thinking about term limits and how they can best be applied to your organization soon.

Term Limits - Critical to Your Nonprofit Board's Success

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