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Presidents Message: Get Out Your Calendar

Hi all...we have a full schedule with many exciting programs and events to report on. Last month we had a terrific BBB Benefits 101 seminar at the Mason City Public Library, a beautiful facility, attended by 20 representatives of area Accredited Businesses. The feedback we received was very positive and it was clear that those in attendance learned a lot about the BBB and how to maximize their benefits of Accreditation. We are on schedule to continue with a flurry of activity and hope that you will join us as we have multiple opportunities to participate.

On Tuesday October 16, in our Quad Cities office, we are having a ribbon cutting ceremony and Open House from 1:30-4 p.m. to introduce our staff and showcase our new offices. We are now located at 2435 Kimberly Road, Suite 245 South, Bettendorf. If you are in the area we would love for you to stop by for some refreshments and celebrate with us.

On October 29, at the Stoney Creek Inn, 5921 Stoney Creek Ct., Johnston, from 11:45 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. the BBB is offering another Benefits 101 seminar for our Accredited Businesses in the area. Space is limited so make your reservation now.

Also, mark your calendar now to save the date of December 4, 2012. Between 11:45 a.m. and 1:00 pm on that date our Quad Cities office is planning an Educational Seminar at the Bettendorf Library, 2950 Learning Campus Drive. Invitations with more details will be mailed.

By the time you receive this we will have just concluded two Shred It Day events, one in Cedar Rapids on the 13th and the other in Muscatine, Iowa on the 9th. At these two events hundreds of local consumers and businesses had an opportunity to securely shred junk mail and other personal documents.

Millions of Americans have become victims of ID theft in recent years, resulting in the loss of billions of dollars. The majority of ID theft occurs when the thief has direct contact with the victim's personal information, through a stolen or lost wallet, rifling through a personal mailbox or trash can, or even stealing documents from inside a home or business. The BBB is proud to be a part of the solution as a sponsor of these events. The additional sponsors include Cintas and Greater Muscatine Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Muscatine and Document Destruction & Recycling Service, Guaranty Bank & Trust, KMRY-Radio, City Revealed, KCRG-TV and Cedar Rapids Metro Economic Alliance in Cedar Rapids. Many thanks to all participants and sponsors!

This is a good time to think about the fact that bank statements and bills containing personal identifiers could prompt sophisticated impersonators to attempt to hijack accounts. Pre-approved credit card offers are invitations for crooks to open new lines of credit under other people's names. Basic junk mailings contain names and addresses that could attract dumpster-divers who sell contact information as leads to outside marketers. Additionally, the Environmental Protection Agency estimates that more than 50 percent of junk mail is discarded—not recycled.

To counter these epidemics, Better Business Bureau recommends the following:

• Retrieve mail quickly. Notify the Post Office to hold mail if out of town.
• Consider investing in locking mailboxes or P.O. Boxes.
• Shred unneeded mail; do not just throw it away.
• Go paperless with secure online statements.
• Avoid signing up for unnecessary programs or services.
• Opt-out from bulk mailing lists at www.dmachoice.org and www.optoutprescreen.com.