St. Stanislaus School benefit, 9 to 4 in Kolbe Hall, Adams. Bake sale, snack bar, games, Chinese auctions, money raffle, crafts, and pierogi.
Blackinton Union Church, 1373 Massachusetts Ave., North Adams; 10 to 2. Crafts table, bake sale, Chinese auction, the Christmas table, and kid's grab bag. Lunch $4, $2 kids.
First Congregational Church, North Adams, 9-2.
Nov. 28 Becket Federated Church, Route 8, holiday bazaar from 9-3. Lunch, crafts, baked goods, holiday and other items. Information: Mary Peltier, Parish House, 413-623-5217.
Dec. 5
Holiday Fair at First Congregational Church, 25 Park Place, Lee, from 10 to 3; handcrafted items, raffles, children's shop, bake sale, cut Christmas trees and lunch from 11 to 1. Includes angel-themed goods from SERRV. Information, 413-243-1033 or www.ucc-lee.org.
Dec. 12-13
North Adams Country Club, crafts 9-4; food from That's a Wrap from 11-2. Information: Sheryl Morehouse at 413-822-3329.
Planning a bazaar this season? Submit information to info@iberkshires.com to have it listed here.
We're trying out blogs to offer shorter, easy-to-find news. Let us know what you think.
Send press releases and announcements to info@iberkshires.com. Need to contact someone at iBerkshires? Here's how.
Mammography Dispute The government's issued controversial new guidelines stating that women shouldn't get annual mammograms until age 50, rather than age 40.
iBerkshires will be meeting with local medical experts Monday. Have a question you'd like answered on this issue? Send it info@iberkshires.com with "mammogram" in the subject line.
By Paula Fleming Guest Columnist 12:16PM / Tuesday, April 14, 2009
NATICK, Mass. — Online promotions promising easy wealth by joining a cash-gifting program or gifting club are flourishing on the Internet.
With many families struggling to make ends meet in the current economy, Better Business Bureau warns that cash gifting is not a legitimate way to make a few extra dollars, and in fact, is nothing more than a pyramid scheme.
Like most pyramid schemes of the past, cash-gifting operations are targeting people with some form of an affinity — such as women's clubs, community groups, church congregations, social clubs and special interest groups. But in keeping with the digital age, schemers have moved operations to the Internet and are now marketing their programs as easy ways to make money in a tough economy through videos on YouTube, paid ads on Google and attractive Web sites that engage victims.
According to TubeMogul, an online video analytics company, currently there are 22,974 "cash gifting" videos on YouTube, adding up to an astounding 59,192,963 views. While the creators of the videos vary, the content is usually the same. Typically, the person in the video explains — in vague terms — that they've discovered a new program to help people make money through cash leveraging or cash gifting and might even open a FedEx envelope with cash inside to prove the effectiveness of the program.
"Bernie Madoff isn't the only guy with a Ponzi scheme; money-making opportunities promising big returns for little work are all over the Internet and are extremely enticing to millions of people struggling with today's economy," says Paula Fleming, vice president of communications and marketing for BBB. "Anyone tempted by slick cash-gifting marketing appeals should run in the opposite direction, or they run the risk of being the next person ripped off by a pyramid scheme."
Some cash-gifting schemes are touted as fundraisers for a good cause or as an empowerment program to help people help themselves. In order to take part, the participant must pay anywhere from $150 to $5,000. After making the contribution, which is funneled to people farther up the pyramid, the participant must then convince more people to join in order to start making money themselves.
Recruiters may claim that the operation is legal and often allude to IRS laws regarding gifting. However, almost every state has laws prohibiting pyramid schemes and/or assesses penalties on those who participate, and the Federal Trade Commission and many state attorneys general have issued warnings about cash gifting clubs.
BBB advises people to ask themselves three questions in order to evaluate dubious money-making opportunities:
Do I have to make an "investment" or give money to obtain the right to recruit others into the program?
When I recruit another person into the program, will I receive what the law calls "consideration" (that usually means money) as a result?
Will the person I recruit have to make an "investment" or give money to obtain the right to recruit and receive "consideration" for getting other people to join?
If the answers are yes, BBB warns people to steer clear of the scheme; don't give in to tempting claims online and never buckle under to high-pressure sales pitches, even when they come from the mouth of a trusted friend, co-worker, neighbor or church member.
Paula Fleming is vice president of communications and marketing for BBB in Boston. BBB is an unbiased non-profit organization that sets and upholds high standards for fair and honest business behavior. For more guidance on avoiding other money-making scams, go to bbb.org.
