At the Fair

I chair the Idaho Fraud Awareness Coalition. This week (ten days) we are doing outreach at the Western Idaho Fair. We have a CSI theme going on here with chalk outlines and silhouettes and jail bars. Our shirts say FAC on the back. Notice the giant magnifying glass.


Here we have a couple of volunteers working the booth. People are pretty funny. We are distributing free reusable bags with information about fraud and how to protect yourself from being a victim. We are also raffling off this bike. Some people want every free thing they can get their hands on. Others won't take anything if it's free.


And just for fun, we have this putting green (putting pink actually). Some folks want to play just for fun. Some won't play at all because we don't have prizes. Being at the fair is a great study in human behavior.

Idaho Fraud Awareness Week

Today is the first day of Idaho Fraud Awareness Week. This is my baby and it is two years old. My Fraud Awareness Coalition has grown in strength and numbers. Here is the banner from my Website


Last year's event was challenging and a huge learning experience for me. I spent much of the time struggling with what to do and how to do it. There were days when I was ready to throw in the towel and run away. But I'm not a quitter! We had small successes and built on those so that this year is already off to a much better start. I attended the first seminar today and part way through the presentation, a man with a TV camera walked into the room.


Media attention is what it's all about so this was unexpected awesomeness! I just watched the segment on Channel 2 and was pleased. Always wishing it was a better hair day, but glad that I didn't look and act like a dork! From all reports, we are having great success all over the state.

Part of my job as Coalition Chair is to raise funds for the event. In spite of a tough economy, we've raised more this year than last. Here I am with one of our generous sponsors. (Now that was a good hair day!)