Southern Indiana Living JanFeb 2014

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spot. If consumers have a complaint they can always fle it formally with BBB and we can help resolve the situation, or if they want to praise a business for an outstanding job, we ofer a place on our website for just such posts. SILM: As you stated, anyone can go online and say anything to anyone, so how can consumers protect themselves when conducting business online? RSH: Always read reviews. Read product reviews if you are buying something, and read reviews of the company if you have never used them. Also, beware of social media scams for free ofers. Many times if you click on the link to the ofer it will take you to a site that is attacking your computer, trying to steal your identity. These free ofers may also appear in your email, so approach any new ofer with caution. SILM: How does the BBB help protect consumers from these scams? RSH: If you fnd an ofer that seems too good to be true call the BBB and we can investigate it for you. We can fnd out if the website is legitimate and whether the company has had any complaints fled against them. Also we ofer educational seminars on scams for students, senior citizens, and other groups focusing on scams that are targeting those specifc demographics. SILM: I understand the BBB also works with nonproft organizations, what services are provided for charities? RSH: We provide incredibly detailed reports on nonproft organizations nationwide which include everything from the annual budget, to what percentage goes to salaries and what is spent on fundraising. We also research 501c3 status to determine if a charity is actually a nonproft organization, which means you can write the donation of your taxes. SILM: Do you have any words of wisdom to help people decide where to give their charitable donations? RSH: When giving to a nonproft organization, pick a few you truly believe in. If someone calls you or knocks on your door asking for money and they tell you a sad story, research their cause. A red fag to be leery of is if a charity is pressuring you into donating on the spot. A legitimate charity will take your money today, tomorrow or next week. SILM: Does the BBB also monitor and take complaints on web-based companies the same as storefronts? $ RSH: Yes, we use the same methods for online businesses that we do for brick and mortar stores. If a consumer has a concern with a website’s validity, we can research the domain name and fnd out a signifcant amount of information on who runs the company and where it is located. SILM: Can consumers fnd information from the BBB on all businesses, or only accredited businesses? RSH: On our website you can search any business in any city in the country. You can do a search for a specifc business (Joe’s Plumbing) in southern Indiana, or you can do a search for a type of business (plumbers) in the area. Not every business will be there, but we try to stay current and we build our information around consumer reporting. SILM: Tell us a little bit about the annual Torch Awards. RSH: Our Torch Awards is an annual luncheon where we honor the top businesses and nonprofts in our area, as decided on by independent judges. We have several categories and we accept nominations. After being nominated, a business or nonproft must then submit a binder detailing their business. The binder is then sent to the independent judges and they make the decisions. SILM: What does BBB do to enhance our community? RSH: We ofer several community outreach programs. We have held a shred event where people brought documents and had them professionally shredded. We also conduct educational seminars where we cover topics such as scams and protecting your credit and identity. SILM: I noticed that the BBB ofers free resources to military communities. With Fort Knox being so close does the BBB ofer those services in this area? RSH: We absolutely do. We have a representative of the BBB who attends every newcomer meeting on Fort Knox which is a meeting for all the new families and soldiers coming to base. We hand out our Business Wise book and give them information about relevant businesses they may need. It’s challenging for families to pick up and move every few years and we try to ease the burden of having to fnd new trustworthy businesses when they move to a new base. • For more information, visit www.BBB.org or call 1-800-388-2222. BBB is on Twitter, @BBBlouisville. You can also fnd us on Face- Book, LinkedIn and YouTube. January/February 2014 • 18
Harrison County Lifelong Learning, Inc. Indiana Chooses New High School Equivalency Exam Official TASC Registration Sites: Harrison County Lifelong Learning Corydon 812.738.7736 M.L. Reisz Extended Service Center New Albany 812.981.3777 Clark County Middle/High Jeffersonville 812.218.1669 x30100 Recently the Indiana Department of Workforce Development announced its selection of a new high school equivalency test. The Test Assessing Secondary Completion, or TASC, will replace the General Education Development (GED) in 2014. The TASC is a state of the art, affordable test that will be offered pencil/ paper and via computer. The test assesses five subject areas, Reading, Writing, Mathematics, Science and Social Studies. The test is designed to measure a student’s level of achievement relative to that of a graduating high school senior. It will reflect a student’s readiness for college and the workforce, as outlined by the Common Core State Standards. The TASC, created by CTB/McGraw-Hill, is a nationally normed test that will help adult learners as they transition from their current preparation practices to that required by the full Common Core State Standards. In 2014 the TASC will include multiple-choice items in all content areas as well as an extended writing prompt. Beginning in 2015, TASC will offer increased coverage of the Common Core State Standards through inclusion of additional item types including constructed-response items and technology-enhanced items. By 2016, artificial intelligence scoring will be introduced. Three forms of the TASC will be available each year in English and Spanish with accommodations including large print, Braille, audio and online assessments. TASC offers students an optional online registration and scheduling website and supports a gradual transition from pencil/paper to online assessment. The online tests will include an easy-to-understand interface and provide instant reports, except for tests requiring hand-scoring (e.g. writing tests in 2014) Students taking the TASC will earn appropriate and meaningful Passing and Career and College Readiness (CCR) scores. Harrison County Lifelong Learning, Inc. 101 Hwy 62 W. Suite 104 Corydon, Indiana 47112 812.738.7736 www.HarrisonLifelongLearning.com Let us help you achieve academic success!
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Southern Indiana Living JanFeb 2014

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