State meeting was a success, the women of the Meridian association did a great job and we all had a good time.

Now’s the time for all of us to start thinking of what we want to do in the coming year, professionally and personally.  Set a goal for yourself and go after it.

Want to wish everyone a MERRY CHRISTMAS and a Happy New Year.  Make it a happy and safe time.

Something to ponder – Without the birth of a baby years ago we’d have no reason for this wonderful season of celebration.

DECEMBER

January

National NAIW NEW Address: 1847 E. 15th St. Tulsa, OK 74104-4610.  Send all standard mail to this address.
Send check or payments to National NAIW: Dept. 1400 P.O. Box 21820 Tulsa, OK 74101-1820

Here are some tips to keep your credit cards safe this holiday shopping season:

Guard your cards. Do not let them out of your sight when making a transaction.

Check your receipts against your statements carefully.

Do not carelessly discard receipts from card transactions.

Never write down your Pin and never disclose it to anyone.

Report lost or stolen cards or suspected fraudulent use of your card immediately.

For many people, decorating the Christmas tree is a favorite part of the holiday. The National Safety Council offers some safety tips to make sure a mishap doesn't spoil your holiday season.

Christmas Trees
· A real tree can add to the spirit of Christmas by filling your home with beauty and the scent of pine. But a real tree can also pose a fire hazard. Each year, more than 400 residential fires involve Christmas trees and tragically nearly 40 deaths and 100 injuries result from those fires.
· Try to select a fresh tree by looking for one that is green. The needles of pines and spruces should bend and not break and should be hard to pull off the branches. On fir species, a needle pulled from a fresh tree will snap when bent, much like a fresh carrot. Also, look for a trunk sticky with sap.
· Cut off about two inches of the trunk and put the tree in a sturdy, water-holding stand. Keep the stand filled with water so the tree does not dry out quickly.
· Stand your tree away from fireplaces, radiators and other heat sources. Make sure the tree does not block foot traffic or doorways.
· If you use an artificial tree, choose one that tested and labeled as fire resistant. Artificial trees with built-in electrical systems should have the Underwriters Laboratory (UL) label.
Tree lights
· Only use indoor lights indoors (and outdoor lights only outdoors). Look for the UL label. Check lights for broken or cracked sockets, frayed or bare wires, or loose connections. Replace or repair any damaged light sets.
· Also, use no more than three light sets on any one extension cord. Extension cords should be placed against the wall to avoid tripping hazards, but do not run cords under rugs.
· Turn off all lights on trees and decorations when you go to bed or leave the house.
Tree ornaments
· Always use the proper step stool or ladder to reach high places.
· Read labels before you use materials that come in jars, cans and spray cans.
· Never place lighted candles on a tree or near any flammable materials.

It is the holiday season and everyone is busy shopping either on line, on the phone, or in malls.  Below are 10 ways to protect your identity during the busy holiday season.

1. Burn or shred, with a cross shredder, any mail or financial papers with your personal information on it. Never recycle them.
 2. Call 1-888-5optout and ask to stop credit card companies from sending pre-approved credit card applications to your      house.
3. Ask your credit card firm to cease delivery of "convenience checks."
4. Beginning in December, you're entitled to one free credit report each year. Ask for it!
5. Order a credit report a month or more before you make a big purchase or apply for credit, to be sure there are no surprises in your history
6. Hassle companies that ask for personal information, such as your phone number at a checkout line. The harder we make it on companies, the less they will be inclined to continue the practice.
7. It's impossible to tell what's real and what's fake online. Just delete any e-mail that asks for personal information.
8. Just hang up on telemarketers!
9. Limit the number of credit cards you hold, and religiously inspect your financial statements each month. Consumer rights quickly fade over time; the sooner you discover an identity theft incident, the better.
10. Most of the time, you can't prevent an ID theft incident from occurring, because two-thirds of the time, some company that leaked the data is to blame. So be prepared, and be organized. Save paper bank records for a year, at least. You'll need them to prove your account balance in the event of a ID theft incident

Love came down at Christmas;
Love all lovely, love divine;
Love was born at Christmas,
Stars and angels gave the sign.
--Christina Rossetti