June 15, 2008

Alone and our voice is small. — Together we will be heard. ” Barbara Bowen, NAM
“ Many voices make a platform on which all of us can stand ” - Murna Lindsey, NAM

"Go Now...
and make the world around you a better place.
Help someone who feels they are alone or in need.
Dedicate time from your day to help others.
I believe our God expects nothing less."

NAM and Politics

Have you filed a complaint with a government organization?
Have they responded the way you expected?

If they did not respond as you think they should have...
NOW is a time for you to take action in a meaningful way.

Write a letter to the head of the organization where you filed your complaint. Tell them who (in their government hierarchy) you are going to vote for and why. This is called “Holding their feet to the fire”.

Why should they spend their time helping you if there is no penalty for ignoring you?

NAM, as a non-profit organization, does not take sides in political contests.
We DO, however, take interest in issues that effect our members.

Some state organizations consider themselves simple ‘mediators’ between people who complain and the companies that are abusing them. These organizations typically do not pursue evil doers.
They effectively become agents of the companies we complain about.
Our members want them to evaluate complaints and take effective action to resolve complaints.

Don’t wait - do it now. This is your time to make a change for the better.

What YOU do matters.!!!

 

Tahiti Village
Consolidated Resorts
Soleil LLC Tahiti Village
Time Share Scam Artists

NAM is getting complaints about these timeshare marketeers.

The complaints state that they use misleading/false statements and high-pressure tactics to lure victims to sales meetings, misrepresent the character of agreements that are offered, and fail to fulfil promises made at the time of the sale:

• “Not only did the sales people use common sleezy high pressure sales tactics; they became rude and insulting towards me personally when I stood my ground. Beware; they will attempt to turn a couple against each other in order to get their sale -and believe me, getting that sale is all they care about...
  
    Something to think about; if timeshares are such a great deal -why do the sales people push so hard? If it’s such a great deal there should be plenty of people willing to buy, and high-pressure sales tactics would not be needed...”

• We were told we had flexibility regarding our weeks and we do not. We were offered free vacations that do not exist. We are being charged continuous amounts of fees for things we were never told we would have to pay. They raise HOA’s without informing us they’re being raised. They misrepresented the timeshare.

Are the promised incentives not available?

Are they telling you that this is an ‘investment’? Timeshares do not appreciate!

Are there any hidden Fees?

Do they demand that you sign a contract immediately?

These are tip-offs that you are in the presence of a scam artist. If they are really on the level they will encourage you to check them out.

 

Vandals Abuse NAM Web Site

Someone has hacked into one of the NAM web sites, changed some files and used our site to send junk emails.  It does not appear that they have used it to plant any viruses or other code that would effect people who visit the site.

We take this intrusion seriously.

Steps are being taken to strengthen the security of our web sites. Changes to the site are expected to be implemented by August 1, 2008. There will be no noticeable disruption of access to the sites.

We will try to use this as an opportunity to improve the user interface and ease of navigation for people who come to us for help via the web sites.

 

The Price of Gas

Between taking care of NAM business and the escalating price of gas - Norma (wife), and I haven’t traveled in our RV much this past year.

What about you? We would like to hear from you about how it has affected your travel plans and any advice you might offer to the rest of us.

Dan Hopper
c/o NAM
4740 Silver Oak St.
Dayton, OH  45424-4650

You Can’t Win!

When  my grandson Andy and I entered our RV, we kept the lights off until we were inside to keep from attracting pesky insects.

Still, fireflies followed us in. Noticing them before I did, Andy whispered, “It’s no use, Grandpa. The mosquitoes are coming after us with flashlights.”

 

You Can’t Fool Kids

A nursery school teacher was delivering a station wagon full of kids home one day when a fire truck zoomed past. Sitting in the front seat of the  fire truck was a Dalmatian  dog. The children started discussing the dog’s duties.

They use him to keep crowds back,” said one  youngster.

“No, said another, “he’s just for good  luck.”

A third child brought the argument to close. “They use the dogs”, she said firmly, “to find the fire hydrant.”

DON’T TALK TO MY PARROT

My neighbor’s washer in their RV quit working so she called a repairman. Since she had to go to town the next day, she told the repairman, ‘I’ll leave the key under the steps. Fix the washer, leave the bill on the counter, and I’ll mail you a check .’

‘Oh, by the way don’t worry about my dog Spike. He won’t bother you. But, never, under ANY circumstances, talk to my parrot!’ ‘I REPEAT; DO NOT TALK TO MY PARROT !!!’

When the repairman arrived at their RV the next day, he discovered the biggest, meanest looking dog he had ever seen. But, the dog just lay there on the carpet watching the repairman go about his work.

The parrot, however, drove him nuts the whole time with his incessant yelling, cursing and name-calling. Finally the repairman couldn’t contain himself any longer and yelled,

‘Shut up, you stupid, ugly bird!’

To which the parrot replied, ‘Get him, Spike!’

Top 10 Reasons To Smile

Smiling is a great way to make yourself stand out while helping your body to function better. Smile to improve your health, your stress level, and your attractiveness.

1. Smiling Makes Us Attractive. We are drawn to people who smile. There is an attraction factor. We want to know a smiling person and figure out what is so good. Frowns, scowls and grimaces all push people away -- but a smile draws them in.

2. Smiling Changes Our Mood. Next time you are feeling down, try putting on a smile. There’s a good chance you mood will change for the better. Smiling can trick the body into helping you change your mood.

3. Smiling is Contagious. When someone is smiling they lighten up the room, change the moods of others, and make things happier. A smiling person brings happiness with them. Smile lots and you will draw people to you.

4. Smiling Relieves Stress. Stress can really show up in our faces. Smiling helps to prevent us from looking tired, worn down, and overwhelmed. When you are stressed, take time to put on a smile. The stress should be reduced and you’ll be better able to take action.

5. Smiling Boosts Your Immune System. Smiling helps the immune system to work better. When you smile, immune function improves possibly because you are more relaxed. Prevent the flu and colds by smiling.

6. Smiling Lowers Your Blood Pressure. When you smile, there is a measurable reduction in your blood pressure. Give it a try if you have a blood pressure monitor at home. Sit for a few minutes, take a reading. Then smile for a minute and take another reading while still smiling. Do you notice a difference?

7. Smiling Releases Endorphins, Natural Pain Killers and Serotonin. Studies have shown that smiling releases endorphins, natural pain killers, and serotonin. Together these three make us feel good. Smiling is a natural drug.

8. Smiling Lifts the Face and Makes You Look Younger. The muscles we use to smile lift the face, making a person appear younger. Don’t go for a face lift, just try smiling your way through the day -- you’ll look younger and feel better.

9. Smiling Makes You Seem Successful. Smiling people appear more confident, are more likely to be promoted, and more likely to be approached. Put on a smile at meetings and appointments and people will react to you differently.

10. Smiling Helps You Stay Positive. Try this test: Smile. Now try to think of something negative without losing the smile. It’s hard. When we smile our body is sending the rest of us a message that “Life is Good!” Stay away from depression, stress and worry by smiling.

Great Truths
THAT LITTLE CHILDREN HAVE LEARNED:

1.         No matter how hard you try, you can’t baptise cats.
2.         When your Mum is mad at your Dad, don’t let her brush your hair.
3.         If your sister hits you, don’t hit her back. They always catch the second person.
4.         Never ask your 3-year old brother to hold a tomato.
5.         You can’t trust dogs to watch your food.
6.         Don’t sneeze when someone is cutting your hair.
7.         Never hold a Dust-Buster and a cat at the same time.
8.         You can’t hide a piece of broccoli in a glass of milk.
9.         Don’t wear polka-dot underwear under white shorts.
10.         The best place to be when you’re sad is Grandpa’s lap.

GREAT TRUTHS THAT ADULTS HAVE LEARNED:

1.         Raising teenagers is like nailing jelly to a tree.
2.         Wrinkles don’t hurt.
3.         Families are like fudge... mostly sweet, with a few nuts.
4.         Today’s mighty oak is just yesterday’s nut that held its ground.
5.         Laughing is good exercise. It’s like jogging on the inside.
6.         Middle age is when you choose your cereal for the fiber, not the toy.

GREAT TRUTHS ABOUT GROWING OLD

1. Growing old is mandatory; growing up is optional.

2. Forget the health food. I need all the preservatives I can get.

3. When you fall down, you wonder what else you can do while you’re down there.

4. You’re getting old when you get the same sensation from a rocking chair that you once got from a roller coaster.

5. It’s frustrating when you know all the answers but nobody bothers to ask you the questions.

6. Time may be a great healer, but it’s a lousy beautician.

7. Wisdom comes with age, but sometimes age comes alone.

THE FOUR STAGES OF LIFE:

1. You believe in Santa Claus.

2. You don’t believe in Santa Claus.

3. You are Santa Claus.

4. You look like Santa Claus.

Your Friends Need You

You know how crooks prey on new members of our RVing community. You’ve learned about it from us and from your own experience. How can you (and NAM) educate potential new victims, our friends, about the scams?

We were embarrassed when we first fell victim to the crooks. How could we be so gullible? Then we found out that many others were abused and victimized by the same kind of people and we became angry — and fought back.

We could have avoided the embarrassment and anger if we had just known what to watch out for ahead of time. That’s where YOU can make a difference for the better. Tell others what you have learned. Spread the word.

Make copies of our newsletters and pass them out to new RV campers.

Start a discussion about the rip-off schemes when you get a chance.

Spread the word.

You can make a difference for the better.

Help the next generation avoid the pitfalls we learned about the hard way...

Tough Times

I remember when I was a lad - times were tough.
Mom still found a way to make a ‘treat’ for my brothers and I.

Try it...

Hot Water Pie

1 c. 1/2 c. Pinch 1-1/2 c. 1 tsp. dash

sugar flour salt boiling water vanilla nutmeg

Mix Sugar, Flour, and salt, vanilla, add boiling water Slowly Pour into Unbaked Pie Shell Sprinkle with Nutmeg dot with butter. Bake at 450 deg. for 12 mm. Reduce to 350 deg. Bake 30 Minutes more.

 

When times got better it was...

Sugar Cream Pie

1 c. 4 1/2 Tbs. Pinch 1 small  1/2 c.  1 tsp.

white sugar Flour salt whipping cream evaporated milk vanilla

Mix dry ingredients and gradually add milk and vanilla until well mixed. pour into unbaked pie shell and dot with butter then bake at 400 deg. for 45 min.

Thank You for Your Donations

We try hard to help people who would otherwise feel they are all alone.
Your donations make this possible.

This no-battery “Forever Flashlight” is our latest thank you gift for your donations.

Your Donations Help

This “Thank You Gift” does not need batteries.
Just shake it a few times and it will stay lit for several hours - then just shake it again.

Easily carried in your purse, pocket, or tool box.
(Grandkids can hide it under their pillows if they are afraid of ‘night goblins’.

Please send a tax deductible donation to:

NAM
4740 Silver Oak St.
Dayton, OH 45424-4650

We will send you a receipt for your donation
and one of these amazing, no-battery, “Forever Flashlights” as a Thank-You gift.

Thank you.