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Elections are over for now but not the voting process

Julie Anderson talks to Enoch Robertson about updating his voter registration form at the Senior Citizen's Awareness Day event at Mt. Tahoma High School, Aug. 13.

What does it mean to be an American? For some perhaps it just means that you cheer the home team during the Olympics. But for many not born in this country, being an American is a dream they may risk everything including their life to pursue.

There are only two ways to become an American by law or by birth. If you are lucky enough to be born here you must do nothing to be American but if you were born elsewhere you must do many things including but not limited to taking an oath, taking a citizenship test and meeting certain residential and moral obligations.

So, why this citizenship lesson? Pierce County will celebrate “I am an American Day” on Sept. 17. Originally, this day was celebrated in May but in 1952 it was moved to Constitution Day to honor the signing of the United States Constitution, which occurred Sept. 17, 1787. Tacomans last celebrated “I am an American” Day in 1949. This year, a special naturalization ceremony for approximately 100 of Pierce County’s newest citizens will occur at Mt. Tahoma High School Auditorium from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Some individuals are choosing to renew their citizenship, similar to renewing their marriage vows, and they will be part of the day’s activities as well. If you would like more information on this event contact the Pierce County Auditor’s office at (253) 798-3189.

It’s not too much of a stretch to hope that those new citizens will take part in one of the greatest responsibilities of being an American, which is to vote. Senior citizens are the most reliable group of U.S. voters so it may have seemed counterintuitive to find Pierce County Auditor, Julie Anderson at the Senior Citizen Awareness Day celebration in August. But as Anderson said, she wasn’t at the event to promote voting to seniors, she was explaining to them why they needed to update their signatures. Illness, age and medications are just some of the reasons signatures change over time. Election personnel are required by Washington state law to verify signatures on the return envelope that contains the security envelope and absentee ballot.

The law also requires that personnel assigned to verify signatures must receive training on statewide standards. This training allows staff to recognize forged signatures, for example the difference in shaky handwriting caused by true tremors caused by age or disease versus those by someone forging a signature. Some variation may exist between signatures on the return envelope and the signature in the registration file; however if your signature has changed and you want your vote or your signature on a petition to not be called into question, consider updating your registration file.

You can obtain a Signature Update Form by visiting the Pierce county elections office at 2401 S 35th St, Room 200 in Tacoma or by registering online at www.vote.wa.gov. For additional information, call the Washington State Elections Office at 1-800-448-4881 or the Pierce County Elections Center at (253) 798-7430.

The Citizenship Oath

I hereby declare, on oath, that I absolutely and entirely renounce and abjure all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign prince, potentate, state, or sovereignty of whom or which I have heretofore been a subject or citizen; that I will support and defend the Constitution and laws of the United States of America against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I will bear arms on behalf of the United States when required by the law; that I will perform noncombatant service in the Armed Forces of the United States when required by the law; that I will perform work of national importance under civilian direction when required by the law; and that I take this obligation freely without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; so help me God.

 

Trivia

Originally, NASA intended to call its first Space Shuttle the “Constitution” and dedicate it on Constitution Day. A write-in campaign by Star Trek fans to then President Gerald Ford asked that it be named after the Starship Enterprise. Ford, who had served during World War II with the “USS Enterprise” claimed he too was partial to the name. The shuttle was dedicated on Constitution Day 1976.

 

Bonnie Dickson by — August 24, 2011 in Everything Else

The very first email that flashed up on my computer monitor came June 9 and said  “Tacoma Police Department needs volunteers for their Active Mall Shooter exercise to be held August 12.”  Anyone that was interested should send an email.  That sounded like a lot of fun, so I signed up.

In my mind I saw the entire exercise unfold, with me in an active, starring role.  Since the mall is closed for this after-hour exercise all stores are closed, but I’m one of 50 volunteer “shoppers” for this scenario.

A man wearing a black ski mask jumps out.  He starts firing randomly.  All of us volunteers dive for cover, some start to run towards the doors.  There is chaos, women are screaming, people are shouting.  Everyone is trying to see where the shots are coming from.

Since I’m in the starring role, I call 911.  I am whispering to the dispatcher what is going on, and all of the vital information the police need.  The police mobilize.  The swat team moves in.  The shooter grabs a group of us.  We’re being held hostage.  The police swat team frees the volunteers, take down the shooter and everyone gets home in an hour.  That’s what always happens on television.

July came and went.  No email.  Did they forget about me?  Did they decide I wasn’t suitable for their exercise?  Okay, I’ll give up the starring role.  Finally I receive details on time and directions for the exercise.  And for added impact, the day before the exercise volunteers were asked to let them know if they could not make it and an alternate would be called.

The day of the exercise I woke up with a severe head cold.  My head ached.  My throat hurt.  I ached all over.  I cannot go into work this sick so I go back to sleep.  I wake up at noon.  I’m still not feeling better.  Back to sleep.  I wake up at 5.  Am I well enough to go?  I still have to go into work to catch up so should I participate in the exercise?  WAIT A MINUTE!  It’s the POLICE department!  They have my name!  They know who I am!   I sent emails saying I’d be there!  I even re-verified the day before!  What if I don’t show!  They’ll be on the lookout for me!

I decided I should go.  I showered, put on my jeans and the required sneakers and a jacket.  By the time I got into my truck, I had a fever and was sweating.  This was not a good start.

Locating a parking space was a whole lot tougher than locating the sign-up tent.  There was a mass of uniforms:  Police, fire, K-9 handlers, the K-9 dogs, the SWAT team – impressive!  I managed to park illegally with the blessing of an officer participating in the exercise.  Walking towards the tent, lost in a sea of police… well I started to get nervous.  I could feel my heart beating faster.  I could feel myself panic.  Oh NO!

Now WAIT A MINUTE!  I am here as a volunteer!  I didn’t DO anything!  Calm down.  You are NOT in trouble.

I give my name at the sign up tent and am handed a yellow nylon “vest”.  The vest really wasn’t a vest.  It’s more like a flimsy football jersey with a white faded number, no sleeves, and if you were tall enough, it would be cropped right above your belly button.  I pulled my vest over my head.  It fit like a shirt on me.

There was a table loaded down with various snacks, donuts (of course), and a cooler with juices and water.  I silently cursed myself for being sick.  All these great treats and my head is throbbing.

Waiting for the start of the exercise, police and volunteers alike stayed with their respective groups.  I looked around at the different vests.  There were vests lettered ‘CONTROLLER’, ‘OBSERVER’, ‘SAFETY, ‘PIO’, so many I forgot half of the labels.  Who WERE these people?  In the middle of my musing we’re all called around the tent, volunteers and police alike.  We’re all given the briefing.  Everyone entering the mall must check their weapons; no guns, no knives, no ammunition; you are then scanned with a wand metal detector; and finally prior to stepping through the mall door, you are given a pat down.

It’s time to start.

Five volunteers were given a script to follow, five volunteers were having make up applied since they were gunshot victims and the gunman was a police officer.

The group of us walked through the food court–away from the ‘shooting’ area so we weren’t scanned or patted down–to the other side of the mall.  Then we waited.  The gunshot volunteers went into the mall, through the wanding and putdowns, and disappeared into the mall.  Those of us not specifically selected to be a victim stood outside of the mall doors.  WHAT??!!  Wait a minute!  I am supposed to be in there!  I have a starring role!

After the victims disappeared, the leaders of our group gave us our instructions.  When they give us the signal, we are to run out into the parking lot as fast as we can.  They will be standing at the back of the lot and we are to scream and run, like we are trying to get away.  The only thing we want to do is to get out of there.  WHAT??!! There obviously is some huge mistake!  I am supposed to be in the mall on the phone with 911!

With so many police officers going through checking their guns procedure and the victims being made up, there was quite a bit of waiting.  Two police officers were assigned to guard the door.  No unauthorized people could enter and if they were authorized, they received a pat down.

After watching this process numerous times, I couldn’t stand it any longer.  I just had to ask, “Why are you going through back-packs and doing pat downs?  They have all checked their guns and have been wanded.  What’s the story?”

“We have to make sure no live weapon gets into the mall.  The only weapons used inside are paint guns.  Although they look like real weapons, they aren’t and we can’t have someone make a mistake.  The volunteers don’t like it when we shoot them with real bullets”.

“OKAY EVERYONE.  PAY ATTENTION.  THEY ARE STARTING NOW.  WE WILL TELL YOU WHEN TO RUN” the leaders yelled out to us.  I looked up.  Police cars screamed into the lot and stopped in various positions.

“RUUUUNNN!”  I took off running as fast as I could.  I reached the leader at the end of the parking lot with a kink in my ankle and a throb in my knees.  I just might be a tad old for this.

Since we finished our part and provided the initial mass confusion for the police, we walked back up towards the mall doors.  We stood behind the first parking lot tire blocks, and watched as the police brought out the victims.

The volunteers with the scripts, began in earnest. Screaming, crying, yelling at the police to help the victims.  It was pandemonium.  The fire trucks raced in.  Medic trucks raced in.  The scripted volunteers were screaming, “Help them!  They’re dying.  Why won’t you help them?  Get someone here now!”

Our group stood watching the whole event unfold with each player doing their part in the play.  Triage was set up in the parking lot.  Backboards were brought out.  Gurneys were rolled out.  Overhead a plane circled the mall providing live video of the entire scene to the command center located in a trailer.  The bomb squad was trying to locate a bomb hidden in a car.  The swat team was making sure the mall was clear.  We even managed to see the shooter taken away in handcuffs.  It was fantastic.

Although I didn’t get the starring role in the exercise, it was a worthwhile experience and one that I absolutely would do again.

Miska, Senior Scene
Contributing Author by — August 24, 2011 in Everything Else
Should you sell old gold as prices hit record highs?

As U.S. and global markets take a dive into negative territory, it may seem like a great opportunity to sell that old gold necklace you have been holding on to. Before you take the leap to gain some extra dollars, here are a few things to consider:

Stay away from online “cash for gold” websites. They usually do not pay the full value of your items and they can use fine print to pay you even less than what they originally promised

Be wary of “cash for gold” television advertisements and offers sent through mail and email. These buyers often target retirees with the allure of a quick high price. You normally end up with much less then what your gold was actually worth and it can sometimes take longer than expected.
Realize that selling your gold is forever. Companies melt gold down, making it difficult if not impossible for items to be returned if you change your mind.

If you want to sell your gold, find a local company with a good reputation. Check out and screen potential companies on the Better Business Bureau website at http://alaskaoregonwesternwashington.bbb.org/Find-Business-Reviews. You can also look for and compare local dealers in the Yellow Pages. Get more than one local appraisal to guarantee you get a fair price for your valuables.
Gold is trading at an all time high; even so, it might not be the best time to invest your money in this area. Gold tends to be a volatile commodity and may be a better short-term trading vehicle then a long-term investment.

The guidelines and scams for selling gold can also be applied to hard assets including diamonds, silver and coins. When selling your precious items, be careful: contemplate your decision thoroughly, do proper research and make sure that the benefit outweighs the risk.

Alexandria Criss is a Client Relations Manager with Financial Insights, Inc. in Tacoma.

Contributing Author by — August 24, 2011 in Everything Else

“I had no idea how caregiving truly requires 24/7!  The addition of caregiving adds a whole new dimension to anything I do,” says Edie Pelham. She’s caring for her sister who has dementia. Prior to contacting the Family Caregiver Support Program, Edie was either worrying about her sister or bringing her along to work each day.  “I wouldn’t change it for anything, but having her at Memory Care & Wellness Services takes a bit of the pressure off for that brief time.  It’s huge in helping me recharge.”

Caring for a person with dementia is not something we are born knowing how to do.  And our medical system is not particularly well-suited to helping individuals with dementia and their families in learning skills to manage behaviors and day-to-day care. Physicians, often the most trusted resource for families, have limited time and frequently don’t provide even simple referrals, such as to the Alzheimer’s Association where plenty of up-to-date information, educational resources, and connections with local support groups is available. Or, to the local Family Caregiver Support Program which offers a wide array of information, education and supportive services to assist in providing care at home.

Families often wait too long to make such calls.  They delay reaching out for support until they are overwhelmed or exhausted.  Once overwhelmed, it’s hard to know what to do first, what service might help, or how to muster the time and energy to “take care of yourself.”  Are you or someone you know feeling this way?  If so, it can be beneficial to get assistance from a caregiving specialist to review your situation and determine action steps you could take to improve your situation now and in the future.

Here in Washington State, families can get this type of assistance by calling the Family Caregiver Support Program and asking about the Tailored Caregiver Assessment and Referral (TCARE®) system that incorporates a personal caregiver survey and assessment of a caregiver’s situation with consultation, if needed, around strategies and services to meet each caregiver’s unique needs.

Mr. S. is a great example of a caregiver who reached out and got the help he needed. He lives in northwest Washington, takes care of his wife with dementia and has medical concerns of his own.  He was referred to the Family Caregiver Support Program over a year ago.

After going through the assessment process and discussing it with his caregiver specialist, he made decisions to talk with a caregiver counselor, to see his physician and get back to exercising, and to try out a specialized adult day service program. He recently discussed his experience with the program.

“While I have been aware for some time of feeling better and of having a higher energy level, the reports you sent me demonstrate these facts quite dramatically.  I am also aware of being extremely grateful for all of your efforts on our behalf as well as those of your staff. I know Mrs. S. feels the same way. If she were able to fully appreciate how much your efforts have helped me there would be no limit to how grateful she would be.”

Pierce County is fortunate to have a variety of support options for families living with dementia, such as Alzheimer’s support groups, family caregiver counseling, dementia caregiver consultation and adult day service programs.

An innovative specialty service, new to the area is Skills2Care,â„¢ a proven in-home occupational therapy service for family caregivers and individuals with dementia. The program was designed to improve the well-being and skills of family caregivers, slow decline in daily functioning of persons with dementia and reduce challenging behaviors that can lead to nursing home placement. Services are provided in the home, with caregivers receiving 3-10 sessions within a 6-month period.

If you’re caring for a person with dementia, it’s critical to get information about the condition, to build or strengthen your support network, to keep yourself healthy and learn strategies and skills that can help you cope and provide the best possible care for your family member as things change over time.  Find out now about any of the supports mentioned above that sound helpful.

Need help getting started?  Don’t delay – call today. The local Family Caregiver Support Program can be reached through the Pierce County Aging and Disability Resource Center: (253) 798-4600 or 1-800-562-0332.

Lynne Korte Home and Community Services Division Aging and Disability Services Administration
Contributing Author by — August 24, 2011 in Everything Else