DEAR SUN SPOTS: To the lady who wanted to renew her government ID card. There is, or was, a place in Augusta. It’s at the airport, but there is a small PX store and some other military things there. I think it’s the National Guard that’s there. After age 75, you can have your ID card marked “INDEF,” which means it doesn’t need to be renewed. Hope this helps. — Charlotte in Dixfield.
DEAR SUN SPOTS: I would like to know what happened to Dr. Nancy Snyderman, chief medical advisor for the Today show on NBC. She hasn’t appeared since the ebola outbreak. Thank you for all you do. — Sue in Lewiston.
ANSWER: Snyderman has stated that she resigned from NBC and was taking a faculty position at a major U.S. medical hospital, which she declined to name. The biographical information on her Twitter page states that she is a “head and neck surgeon, mother, health care advocate, avid hiker and equestrian.”
DEAR SUN SPOTS: This is in response to the person wondering about the Ed Schultz show: Ed Schultz broadcasts a daily blog at http://wegoted.com/. Enjoy! — Marc via online submission form.
DEAR SUN SPOTS: You have been most helpful in the past. I am trying to verify an organization that is requesting a donation. I have a soft spot for veterans so I agreed to have a packet sent to my home so that I may submit a donation. I wonder if you could use your resources to see if the American Veterans Support Foundation is indeed legitimate. I did go to their website, supportusvets.org, but I am still not convinced for some reason. And I could not find this organization listed for charitable organizations, rated or unrated. I would appreciate any information. Thank you. — No Name via email.
ANSWER: You may be right in feeling leery about this organization. Sun Spots checked with an organization that investigates military money matters and learned that the American Veterans Support Foundation gives addresses that are actually mail drop locations, in this case, a UPS store.
“The Better Business Bureau states that it currently does not have sufficient information to provide a report on American Veterans Foundation. Consequently, we have (requested) a copy of their most recent Form 990 for review, along with the answers to some questions about their total contributions and expenses, including program services, fundraising expenses, administrative expenses, and direct veterans assistance.”
Four months later, the American Veterans Foundation had not replied to this investigating company, which eventually found the AVF’s Form 990 online which shows a nonprofit’s income and expenses, but “$9,217 ($768.08 per month) for office supplies seems a little high … The form posted online is unsigned, and the portion of the form that ordinarily shows the name and address of a paid preparer has been blacked out, which is very odd.”
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