MAKE A NOTE!! -- October 4th, 2000
CIRCULATION - 2,311
WEB SITE VISITORS - 4,067
A Free Twice Monthly (1st and 3d Wednesday of each month) Ezine with (Hopefully) Useful Info on a Wide Variety of Topics
NEXT ISSUE TO BE PUBLISHED ON/ABOUT OCTOBER 18TH, 2000
Previous Issue
| Back To 2000 Back Issues | Next
Issue 
NOTE: Each entry has a suggested "POST IT..." location at the end. We recommend that you print out the ezine, cut out each entry, & post it in these locations to make it easier for you to find when you need it. And if you like what you read, be sure to pass it on to someone else who can use it.
* * * * * * *
* * * * * * *
Editor's Note
Welcome to our first issue as part of the Dollar Stretcher family of ezines. Being a part of this wonderful group should eliminate questionable ads and also get rid of the involuntary unsubscribes that our readers have complained about. We will still have only two ads per issue, and the new system should help eliminate any formatting problems you may have had in the past, although it may make the issues a little longer. We encourage you to check out our sponsors and also the Dollar Stretcher web site at http://www.stretcher.com. As always, let us know if there is anything you would like to see in future issues.
* * * * * * *
Saving Phone & Door Time
We are always on the run these days, and so often the phone and doorbell can make the problem that much worse. Here are two easy ways to help cut down on those lost minutes. When you call a company and they start in on, "push 1 if...then push 2 if..." and so on, just don't push anything. In most cases, if you don't push any buttons they will treat you like a rotary phone owner & immediately put you through to an operator, then transfer you to the right person. In rare cases, they have a system where you have to "say 1 if...say 2 if...", but not very often. So resist that urge & DON'T touch that DIAL PAD! To help get rid of the door to door interruptions, type or write the following on a little card & tape it to your door. "NO SALESMEN OR SOLICITORS (Charity, Religious, or Otherwise)". Since I put that sign up, I've only had one person knock in over 10 yrs. POST IT...by your phone & on your door.
* * * * * * *
Free Insurance for Kids
The US government created the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) in 1997, the problem is that not very many eligible families know about it. If you earn too much to qualify for Medicaid, but can't afford private insurance, then your children may be eligible. Eligibility varies from state to state, but most states set the maximum income for a family of four at $30,000. These are YOUR tax dollars at work. If you would like to see if your children are eligible, call 1-877-543-7669 between 8am-4:30pm (EST) Mon-Fri. You can also check out their web site at http://www.hcfa.gov/init/children.htm POST IT...by your phone & computer.
* * * * * * *
Financing Help for Adoptions
Bethany Christian Services is a well established national adoption & family services organization. Recently they ran a wonderful article in their "Life Lines" magazine on ways to finance adoptions. Here is a summary of their recommendations. FAMILY/FRIENDS-a short note to family/friends explaining your efforts to adopt may generate some donations. If you ARE one of those family or friends, what a wonderful way to help make a difference in a child's life. EMPLOYERS-Many companies have adoption benefits, but it may not be well known, as they are seldom used. If they don't have benefits, ask them anyway, comparing them to the hospital expenses of an employee having a biological child. CHURCH-If your church doesn't have a plan to help assist in adoption costs for members, perhaps you could suggest they start one. A specific request may also generate some financial support. MILITARY SUBSIDIES-If you are in the US military, you are usually eligible for a subsidy. In past years it has been as much as $5,000/child, but it seems to change from year to year. Check with your local military hospital or base commander for more info. PROJECT YELLOW RIBBON-The program allows you to help others who are adopting and then when your turn comes, others will help you. Check it out at http://www.momsnetwork.com/suites/org/projectyr. JSW FOUNDATION-This organization provides grants of up to $2,000 for those applicants that are usually childless and have a special hardship or financial need. You can call them at 262-268-1386 or 1-877-905-2367 toll free, OR check them out on the web http://www.jsw-adoption.org. TAX CREDIT-Adoption related expenses are usually tax deductible up to $5,000, perhaps more for special placement children. Consult a tax advisor. CONSIDER A SPECIAL NEEDS CHILD-There are usually more programs to help with financing for special needs children. In some cases the "special need" may just be that they are older or have some minor medical problem, other children may need extra doses of tender, loving care. For more information on Bethany's services you can call their 24-hr Crisis Pregnancy Line at 1-800-BETHANY. For those who talk about "unwanted children", adoption waiting lists average about 2 years, and even for special needs children the wait can be up to a year. POST IT...by your computer or phone, in the phone book under "adoption".
* * * * * * *
Yummy Tortilla Chip Dip
Okay, be honest, if I had said "bean dip" you wouldn't have read further, right? You will be so glad that you did read this. This is my own version of a dip I recently enjoyed at a party. The neat thing about it, is that not only is it delicious, but EVERY ingredient is good for you (even better if you buy low fat tortilla chips to eat it with). Call it the "Whole Bean Dip". Combine the following: 3-15 oz cans of black beans (rinsed & drained), 1-15 oz can/pkg corn (drained, preferably white), 2 medium onions chopped (or 1C of frozen chopped), 1-15 oz can diced tomatoes (do not drain), 1C vinegar (regular or red wine), 1 tblsp oil (olive or canola if possible), 1 tblsp dried cilantro (or 2 tblsp fresh chopped), and 2 gloves garlic (or 1/4 tsp garlic powder-sorry Maria :-). Mix all together well, chill, and serve with tortilla chips. POST IT...in your recipe box, & on your shopping list.
Back Issue Treasure
July 15, 2000 is our current most popular back issue. It includes an easy recipe for fruit cobbler, talks about some great nutritional/natural remedy books, a web site that offers legal assistance, and a recommendation for a good source of out of print books. You can also find out about an extensive Guide to Olympic Style TaeKwonDo. This is the first Olympics where TaeKwonDo was a full fledged sport. Congratulations to Steven Lopez from the USA, who brought home a gold in one division. Follow the back issue directions below to find out more about this back issue and many more.
* * * * * * *
JOKE - In honor of our new list server...
TECH SUPPORT: "What does the screen say now?"
CUSTOMER: "It says, 'Hit ENTER when ready'."
TECH SUPPORT: "Well?"
CUSTOMER: "How do I know when it's ready?"
EDITOR'S NOTE: In the last issue the joke about the cigars was not true after all. I did get it from a news site & it was not on the hoax site that I usually check. However, an alert reader checked another hoax site & found it on there. My apologies.
* * * * * * *
QUOTE
"Life is no straight & easy corridor along which we travel free & unhampered, but a maze of passages, through which we must seek our way, lost & confused, now & again checked in a blind alley. But always, if we have faith, a door will open for us, not perhaps one that we ourselves would ever have thought of, but one that will ultimately prove good for us." --A. J. Cronin
* * * * * * *
FEEDBACK TO THE EDITOR
TO SUBSCRIBE TO MAKE-A-NOTE EZINE
Send a blank email to: subscribe-make-a-note@hub.thedollarstretcher.com
TO UNSUBSCRIBE FROM MAKE-A-NOTE EZINE
Send a blank email to: unsubscribe-make-a-note@hub.thedollarstretcher.com
Thanks you to Pastor Wilson and the Dollar Stretcher Family http://www.stretcher.com for all you do.
SPONSORSHIP INFO
If you are interested in helping to sponsor this ezine or others in the Dollar Stretcher Family, drop an email requesting additional info to marketing@stretcher.com.
Previous Issue
| Back
To 2000 Back Issues | Next Issue
****************END MAKE A NOTE****************
