Charlie L. Orr, DSEF Executive Director
On behalf of all of us at the Direct Selling Education Foundation, I extend my personal thanks to you for visiting our Web site in support of the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC ) National Consumer Protection Week(NCPW) 2010, March 7-13.
Each year during NCPW, the FTC and its partner organizations offer a wide array of consumer education events and resources to encourage people across the country to take full advantage of their consumer rights. The NCPW 2010 theme is Dollars & Sense: Rated “A” for All Ages, and the campaign highlights the importance of using good consumer sense at every stage of life—from grade school to retirement.
This year, I’m most excited about the broad range of events supported and sponsored by DSEF. From middle school students in South Carolina to college students in Utah, from “at risk” adults in LA to government employees in Maryland, and for women across the United States via Teleseminars, DSEF’s efforts empower our partners in government, non-government, and academia to more effectively reach their communities with invaluable consumer education. Additionally, DSEF is helping the direct selling industry reach thousands of people of all ages with events and resources that can transform lives.
DSEF’s NCPW outreach represents an extension of the direct selling industry’s 36 years of corporate goodwill to help build a nation of well-informed and educated consumers. In fact, the FTC is our industry’s most important regulatory constituent and, by supporting their efforts during NCPW, DSEF demonstrates our firm commitment to consumer education and protection, and individual economic empowerment.
I invite you to encourage others in your community and company to visit this Web site and participate in the five exciting NCPW events supported by DSEF. Together, we can improve the lives of many by encouraging good consumer sense and fostering financial literacy.
Sincerely,
Charles. L. Orr
Executive Director
Direct Selling Education Foundation
Get Your Tickets to Financial Freedom
At a free Teleseminar held March 9, 2010, and sponsored by Money Wise Women Educational Services and DSEF, noted credit expert Gerri Detweiler discussed how:
The Money Wi$e Women Get Smart teleseminar series is hosted by Marcia Brixey, president of Money Wi$e Women Educational Services. Each month Brixey is joined by professional women who share their expertise and wisdom to help others create a plan for a healthy financial life and business.
To view upcoming teleseminars, visit www.moneywisewomengetsmart.com.
DSEF and the University of Utah (U of U) sponsored an interactive consumer education treasure hunt March 8 and 9, 2010, to help U of U students learn about the wealth of consumer information available via the Internet. Two one-day, Internet-based contests quizzed students about a variety of practical questions on common consumer issues, including:
Student winners of University of Utah
Almost 400 students competed for gift bags and cash awards, including 10 $500 grand-prize checks. Contest prizes were donated by:
DSEF supported South Carolina’s Department of Consumer Affairs’ (DCA) at the Recognition Ceremony for statewide essay contest winners, March 10, 2010. Middle school students were asked to submit an essay on the topic, “If I had $100, I would…” The essay competition helped 5th and 6th graders:
Contest winners, left to right: Sojo Tripp, Andrew Zeringue, Taylor Covington, Sarah Feingold, Travaisha Shaw Back row, left to right: Brandolyn Thomas Pinkston, Administrator, South Carolina Department of Consumer Affairs, Lloyd Hendricks, President, South Carolina Bankers Association, Mark Hammond, South Carolina Secretary of State, Eunice Dudley, Executive Director of Dudley Beauty School System, Inc., and Co-Founder of Dudley Products, Inc. Dr. Lonnie Randolph, Chair, Commission on Consumer Affairs.
The competition was funded by the SC Bankers Association and is part of the S.C. DCA’s continuing outreach to focus public awareness on consumer rights and responsibilities. The Recognition Ceremony was held on Statehouse grounds at the South Carolina Capitol Rotunda.
More than 275 Maryland government employees attended training workshops held by The Maryland Money Team March 2-15, 2010. The training sessions, sponsored by DSEF, helped employees and partner agencies fully understand the Credit Card Act of 2009, including:
The Maryland Money Team trains individuals on financial literacy topics and authored the Best Little Money Book and soon-to-be-released Best Little Credit Book.
The LA County Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA) and the Los Angeles Unified School District’s (LAUSD) held the 19th Annual Consumer Information Fair at Evans Community Adult School in L.A. on April 14 and 17, 2010. Evans serves newly arrived immigrants with limited English skills—a prime target of consumer fraud. The Consumer Information Fair helps this multi-ethnic community to protect themselves in the marketplace by providing them with information about:
Students also had the opportunity to ask questions and share their personal buying experiences.
Every day, American consumers decide how and where to spend their money. Their decisions have far-reaching effects for both their financial well-being and our Nation’s economic stability. National Consumer Protection Week (NCPW) gives all Americans an opportunity to become better-informed consumers.
This year, NCPW focuses on the importance of being a careful consumer at every stage of life…
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