WESTMINSTER SECURITY - UPDATE

I sent off the following email to Toll Brothers:

This is in regard to Westminster Security. Recently I received a new price of $15/month for monitoring of my home. This price was not only given to me but it was given to others.

When all the parameters are the same, then everyone at Regency should get whatever price I received, as long as the same conditions exist. Since each contract is done individually, Westminster believes that we don't talk to each other to learn what others are getting. This is wrong! A neighbor who closed and signed the Westminster Contract when I did, was denied the $15 price because this price was a "mistake" according to a Westminster Supervisor. The contract I signed was a form letter with the $15 already included. Others at Regency have gotten and signed this same contract. I ask that you provide the same considerations that you gave to some residents to other residents.

At Regency we have developed a Purchasing Committee and we would be happy to entertain your providing us (the community) with a contract that can spell out who gets what price. But to give different prices when the conditions for various residents are all the same, can lead into problems.

I even told the community that $15 a month is a reasonable amount which I decided not to check other security firms for their prices. I think the community agreed and that's why many residents have called. Unfortunately, they have been denied this price even when their personal conditions are equal to the conditions I have, which provided me with a $15 price.

I am sure that Toll Brothers, with it's superb reputation, would not offer one price to someone and another price to someone else if all things are equal.

I hope that you can remedy this situation

Thank you.
Sincerely,
Ron Post
732-605-1212
rpost@monmouth.com

BLOG LINKS ARE NOW LINKING
http://regencyemailer2.blogspot.com/

As I mentioned in a previous email, the company I used for uploading files, no longer exists. So, I spent a nice rainy day converting all the files on the left side of my blog to the new file storing company. Clicking now on these links should not cause an error problem which many of you told me about.

For the "Newbees" of Regency, check out the information on my BLOG that is found under:

HOME REPAIRS - THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT YOUR HOME

AIR CONDITIONER FUSES
BATTERY FOR FRONT GATE REMOTE
CENTRAL HUMIDIFIERS
DISHWASHER - SHOWER TIP
FIREPLACE NOT WORKING?
ICICLE PATROL
JAPANESE BEETLE TRAPS
OUTSIDE WATER BIBS - SHUT OFF
PROTECT YOUR GARAGE DOOR SPRINGS
It might save you some $$$.

WOMEN'S GROUP - IMPORTANT UPDATE

At the September 9th Paid-up Membership Brunch, the slate of officers for 2007-2008 will be presented. At that time, if there are nominations from the floor, they will be considered. Following that elections will be held. Since a special event is being planned for the October meeting, a short installation will take place. Immediately following, will be the brunch and entertainment.

This is the slate that was submitted and accepted at the August Board meeting by Sara-Ann Wallerstein, Ann Haback and Barbara Bickel.

President: Sylvia Fleischer
Executive Vice-president/Membership: Joan Kahn
Program Vice-presidents: Marcia Mankin and Elaine Freeman
Treasurer: Ro Barton
Corresponding Secretary/Good & Welfare: Elaine Deutschman
Recording Secretary: Ilona Koehler
Hospitality: Toby Weissman
Parliamentarian: Joyce Cohen
Regency Reporter Liaison: Barbara Bickel
Flyers: Myra Cramer
Gourmet Lunch: Christiana Barone & Jackie LaScala
Publicity: Sharon Scheckner

ITALIAN AMERICAN CLUB NEWS

THIRD ANNUAL DINNER DANCE
Click on link for more information
http://www.freefilehosting.org/public/44377/ITALIAN%20AMERICAN%20CLUG%203RD%20ANNUAL%20DINNER%20DANCE%20OCT%205.pdf

GOING TO DINNER WITH FRIENDS
Click on link for more information
http://www.freefilehosting.org/public/44376/ITALIAN%20AMERICAN%20CLUB%20BRIOSOS%20SEPT%202.pdf

LOST - WOMAN'S GOLF CLUB

Lost! Ladies Pitching Wedge, Yellow/Black shaft, Square One Two Opal LS ultralite, during last Wednesday's Ladie's League.

Please return to Golf Pro Shop.

Thanks Much

Carole Miller

CHAPTER 2 - LEARNING ABOUT FOOD, LAB AND DRUG INTERACTIONS

As a continuation from my last email, I will provide you with links I have found that might make you more knowledgeable regarding food, lab and drug interactions. Remember, your physician might know about all these things and not all of these interactions are harmful and sometimes they are warranted.

I firmly believe that patients need to know more about their medications and it's impact on various lab tests, other drugs and the food you eat. I once gave a lecture to a group of retired seniors at Brooklyn College regarding this subject and at least 5 attendees called to say thanks because they heard something, which they relayed to their physician, who then changed their drug regimen.

Please understand, my intent is not to discrete the medical profession. It's too assist and maybe educate others to the knowledge base that maybe other professionals have. That's why in hospitals you now find physicians, pharmacists and nurses making rounds TOGETHER. This type of "togetherness" is found mainly in teaching institutions. You noticed I used the word teaching. This word applies to everyone - we all learn from each other and who gains, yes, you the patient.

HELPFUL TIPS ON DEALING WITH FOOD AND DRUG INTERACTIONS

Please keep in mind that all food/drug interactions aren't harmful. Physicians do know about many of them and many are acceptable interactions. It's only when you, the patient, cannot tolerate the interaction that this should be made known to the physician who might change your drug regimen accordingly.

As you will find on the second link below, they classify interactions into strong, moderate and weak. This too must be taken into consideration when deciding on what drugs to prescribe especially if the food is something that you have very often.

FOOD AND DRUG INTERACTIONS
http://vm.cfsan.fda.gov/~lrd/fdinter.html

FOOD AND DRUG INTERACTIONS - PUT YOUR DRUG NAME IN AND PRESS GO - THEN CLICK ON THE DRUG NAME (I LIKE THIS SITE)
http://www.druginteractioncenter.org/searchresults.php

HERE IS A LINK (FROM THE ABOVE SITE) TO DRINKING GRAPEFRUIT JUICE AND THE DRUGS THAT CAN BE AFFECTED
http://www.druginteractioncenter.org/profe.php?interaction_category=9&sort_by=brandname

DRUG INTERFERENCES WITH YOUR LABORATORY TESTS

Again, you the patient must be your own patient advocate because sometimes not everyone (physician, pharmacist, nurse) knows everything. There is no harm in telling your physician that you read something that said if I take Drug X my laboratory test will show a high false positive. Remember in my previous email, when I wrote about the possibility of a physician not knowing about drugs or foods that can cause false positives or negatives, that the incorrect result might add another drug to what you already are taking. You don't want another drug added when the lab test might be skewed by drugs causing problems with lab results. So use this link when taking a lab test or finding out that your results were either way too high and/or low

DRUG INTERFERENCE WITH CLINICAL LAB TESTS
http://www.edhayes.com/labtestmain2.html

AN EXCELLENT WEBSITE FOR GENERAL DRUG INFORMATION

A LITTLE TECHNICAL BUT GOOD INFORMATION
http://www.medscape.com/home

A GREAT WEBSITE TO CHECK ON DRUG AND DRUG INTERACTIONS - JUST PUT YOUR DRUGS IN AND IT WILL CHECK FOR INTERACTIONS

http://www.drugs.com/drug_interactions.html

DRUG CONDITION INTERACTIONS

The following is what is mean't by drug-condition interactions:

"Drug-condition interactions may occur when an existing medical condition makes certain drugs potentially harmful. For example, if you have high blood pressure you could experience an unwanted reaction if you take a nasal decongestant."

DRUG-HERB INTERACTIONS

Today, with the ever increasing amount of herbs that people are using, they are losing sight of whether these herbs can cause interactions with the drugs they are taking. So if you are taking herbs, check out this site:
http://www.med.umich.edu/1libr/aha/umherb01.htm

THAT'S IT FOR NOW
RON