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26 FOUR SEASONS BREEZE | OCTOBER 2019 Greetings! Our luau in September was a big success. A very big thank you to my co-chair, Sandy Buelna, and to Sherry Plamondon and Loretta Ramsey for the wonderful decorations. Also, thank you to our volunteers who are always there to assist in the set-up and decorating for our events. On Oct. 26, at 6:30 pm, the Social Committee is pleased to present an exciting performance by Anthony Hernandez, Master of Illusion and Comedy. Those who have purchased their tickets are in for a treat! Doors to the Ballroom will open at 6:30 pm; and the show will start promptly at 7 pm. ~ Pamela Morales, pamelamorales26@gmail.com Social Committee October already! Seems hard to believe summer just flew by and holidays are fast approaching, with about 86 more shopping days until Christmas. Many of us utilize online shopping because it is so easy, you can avoid the holiday crowds, and gifts can be sent to our loved ones across the country. Last year, it was projected the average amount spent by individual shoppers for the holidays was $987; and online ordering would hit $123 billion. More than 50 percent of shoppers' holiday budgets were spent online, with a quarter of all retail sales occurring from Nov. 1 to Dec. 3. These numbers are expected to grow 15 percent this year. We know not to provide information over the phone to someone calling: but, when placing orders online, there are some things to remember to keep the information you provide safe: 1. Shop online sites you trust. Consider only using retailers you know and have used before. 2. Check out the business. Check with the BBB and for scam reports. 3. Beware of rock-bottom prices. If it's too good to be true…. 4. Avoid public WiFi. It might be tempting to sit and sip a peppermint latte while shopping, but try to avoid public WiFi. 5. Create strong passwords. Keep your accounts secure. Passwords like 'Santa123' are not strong enough. 6. Don't give out too much information. Online retailers should never ask for your social security number. If they ask for personal information, find another retailer. 7. Pay with a credit card and check your statements. It's easy to lose track of spending, so it's always a good idea to verify the price quoted against what you were charged. 8. Report the company. If there is a bogus charge, notify your credit card company and close the account. Now that you have safely ordered online, let's look at protecting the packages once they are delivered and protect you from being a victim of "porch pirates." These are people who follow delivery trucks in order to steal your packages from your porch. There are several delivery options to consider if you can not be home when your package arrives. Some options are to use tracking on your packages which will allow you to know when they will be delivered, add insurance or require a signature for delivery. Use a package locker available through Amazon Lockers or P.O. boxes or consider shipping to an alternative address such as a neighbor who will be home and can accept your packages. In addition, always remove packages from your porch as soon as possible. If you see packages sitting on your neighbor's porch and you know they are not home, take them to your home leaving a note letting them know you have them. By following these tips, you can help to eliminate loss and frustration during the busy holiday shopping season. The Safety Committee's next meeting will be Oct. 8 at 10 am in the RCN. Everyone is welcome. ~ Kathycraven@rocketmail.com Safety Committee