Royal 50s Newsletter

Winter 2013 • Volume 5 • Issue 1
Preferredinterest
Published Exclusively for Royal 50’s Club Members
We were thrilled to celebrate the
holiday season with many of you.
If you were unable to attend we
hope you had a happy and healthy
holiday. We look forward to
working with you throughout the
year to make your New Year a
prosperous one, as well as
traveling with you. To join us on
one of the trips offered for 2013,
leave us a message on our
reservation line at 508.459.4126
so we can get any further
information to you, including
brochures and reservation forms.
INSIDE THIS ISSUE:
Protecting your PIN
Page 2
Ricotta Pie Recipe
Page 3
2013 Travel Word Search
Page 3
Celebrating the Season
in Style
Pages 4–5
Travel Opportunities
for 2013
Pages 6–7
Dear Royal 50’s Club Members,
Another year has come and gone, it doesn’t seem possible. It
went so fast. For many reasons, it was a year to remember. The
elections are over. Hurricane Sandy left her mark. Commerce
Bank acquired Mercantile Bank making its presence known in the
Boston area with the addition of three branch locations. To
celebrate its 5th anniversary and because it has grown so large,
the Royal 50’s Club had two holiday parties instead of one this
year. Both parties were held at the Hogan Center at Holy Cross.
It was a pleasure seeing so many members during the holiday
season. Highlights of both parties can be found in this edition on
pages 4 and 5.
The much anticipated travel schedule is also found within. We
hope you find something to your liking. For the first time ever we
will be offering a mystery day trip. There are no details available
yet. The date and times will be announced in the next issue. One
of my New Year’s resolutions for 2013 is to get to meet more of
you face-to-face and to get to know you on a personal level. What
better way then to travel together, take in a baseball game or learn
something new at a seminar? Which leads me to my second
resolution that of becoming more technologically comfortable.
No one is more challenged then I when it comes to learning new
gadgets. We are also planning on hosting a Cyber Café to help us
all learn how to download applications to our iPads, Skype and
send pictures to each other. Details will be posted on our website
as soon as they are finalized. Let’s keep in touch!
Sincerely,
Eileen Lessard, Director of the Royal 50’s Club
Protecting your PIN
Book Club
Never use your birthday
If you’ve lost your wallet, or if it had fallen into the wrong hands, one look at your
ID would give a potential thief the access that they’re looking for. In fact,
according to British researchers, this would allow someone to access money at an
ATM with about one in fifteen stolen wallets. Other popular dates are the year of
your birth, or the street or apartment number of your home, which also appears on
your ID and should be avoided. Similarly, do not write your PIN down for the very
same reason.
The Book Club meets once a
month on the third Thursday of
each month at 1:00 P.M. at the
Worcester Senior Center,
located at 128 Providence
Street in Worcester. The next
book club meeting will be held
on Thursday, February 21, 2013.
The book selected for discussion
is The Three Weissmans of
Westport, by Cathleen Schine.
The following meeting will be
held on Thursday, March 21st,
where we’ll discuss Gone Girl,
by Gillian Flynn.
Don’t use a simple string of numbers
Avoid numbers such as 1234 or 1111. These are the first and fourth most
common iPhone PINs.
Refer-a-Friend
In today’s digital age, it seems as though everything has its own requirements for
protecting your information, which can make it difficult to keep track of which
password goes with what. One thing that has remained constant for years is the
four-digit PIN (Personal Identification Number) that many have used for quite
some time for their Debit Card. There are still plenty of tips for numbers to avoid,
or tricks you can use to keep these numbers easy to remember.
Avoid the last four digits of your Social Security number
Many times when this appears on paperwork you may receive in the mail, the
numbers appear as asterisks, with the exception of the last four.
Your phone number
With a quick search on the internet or phone directory someone can easily acquire
this information.
WHAT NUMBERS SHOULD YOU USE?
The Bank-Assigned PIN
A safe choice, but can be a bit more difficult to remember if you don’t use it often.
Sequences from a childhood phone number
As long as it’s no longer listed or used by another family member.
A Momentous date
Whether it’s a favorite holiday or another day that has personal significance to
yourself that people aren’t aware of. (Avoid your anniversary date)
A Phrase
Perhaps there is a phrase that you can recall, such as “reach for the stars.” If you
change that into digits using your phone it would be 7387 for RFTS.
Remember: Treat your ATM or Debit Card like you would your cash, credit cards,
or checkbook. Please sign your Debit Card immediately. Your card is not valid until
you sign it. For your protection, do not write your PIN on your card. Never reveal
your PIN to anyone. Never provide your card number, bank account number(s), or
other personal information to anyone over the telephone, Internet, Email, or Mail for
a transaction you didn’t initiate. Remember to save your receipts and dispose of
them properly, they contain important financial information. Use ATMs wisely, be
alert and aware, especially in unfamiliar surroundings or at night. At night use
ATMs that are in well lit areas. Avoid ATMs in out of the way locations or that have
no signage indicating who owns them. If you’ve lost your Debit Card you can
contact us during normal business hours Monday thru Friday from 8AM – 5PM by
calling 1.800.698.2265 or after normal business hours by calling 1.800.500.1044.
With your well protected PIN you can feel safe and confident in utilizing your debit
card for a wide array of transactions, from taking money out of an ATM, to utilizing
the Royal 50’s Club Discounts, or our CommerceCentsSM program. Ask your
personal banker for details.
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We’re always on the look-out for
new Royal 50’s Club members
and count on you to spread the
word. When you tell your friends
or family members who are not
currently banking at Commerce
Bank about this distinctive club,
we’ll credit $50 to your checking
account for each referral that
becomes a Royal 50’s Club
member. Plus, there’s no limit on
the amount you can earn.
Whether one or one-hundred
individuals join as a result of your
referral, you determine how
much you can earn. Ask your
personal banker for details or call
800.698.BANK(2265) today.
Preferred Interest is a quarterly publication
of Commerce Bank for all Royal 50’s Club
members. We welcome your feedback and
story ideas. Please feel free to contact the
editors with your suggestions.
Editors:
Eileen Lessard, Director
Royal 50’s Club, 508.459.4126
Patrick Wimberly, Assistant Director
Royal 50’s Club, 508.797.6890
For information about our products and
services, please visit us at any of our
convenient locations throughout
Massachusetts, call 800.698.BANK(2265)
or go to www.BankAtCommerce.com today.
Commerce Bank is a registered service mark in
Massachusetts of Commerce Bank & Trust Company.
©2013 Commerce Bank & Trust Company.
Commerce Bank member FDIC. Equal Housing Lender.
All rights reserved.
Ricotta Pie
Ingredients:
Directions: Preheat the oven
to 350°. In a medium bowl,
beat eggs and sugar well. Add
remaining ingredients and
beat until light and fluffy. Pour
into a well greased pan. Bake
at 350° for 1 hour. Turn off
oven and leave it in to cool for
1 to 1½ hours.
2 lbs. Ricotta
6 Eggs
1 Cup Sugar
1/3 Cup Flour
1 tsp. Vanilla
Can be served warm or cold.
This can also be served with
confectioners sugar (sifted
on) and raspberries. It is
delicious either way.
1 tsp. Lemon Peel
1½ Tablespoons Anise
(optional)
2013 Travel
Word Search
ADIRONDACK
BALLOON
BATTLEFIELD PARK
BLOCK ISLAND
BOAT
BRANSON
BUS
CABBAGE ISLAND
CANADA
CLAMBAKE
CREPE
CRUISE
DOWNING STREET
EIFFEL TOWER
EUROSTAR
FESTIVAL
FRIESIANS
GILDED AGE
LAKE GEORGE
LL BEAN
LOBSTER
MAINE
MARK TWAIN
MONTMARTRE
MONTREAL
MOONGLOW
MOUNT ROYAL
MUSEUM
NASHVILLE
NEW ORLEANS
NEW YORK CITY
NEWPORT
PLANE
ST LAWRENCE RIVER
NIAGARA FALLS
QUEBEC
THAMES
NOTRE DAME
ROCKETTES
TORONTO
PARLIAMENT
SAMUEL CLEMENS
TRAVEL
PARIS
SHIP
VERMONT
S
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Celebrating the Season in Style
Our fifth annual Royal 50’s Holiday Celebrations were once again a hit. The first on December 4th was so much
fun we doubled the delight with a second on the 11th. The Hogan Center at Holy Cross provided an elegant
backdrop to each evening’s festivities filled with delectable food and swinging music. Many members “cut a rug”
as they glided across the dance floor to the mellifluous music of the Soft Touch Band. Veterans were asked to
stand while songs of the military were played as a brief salute for their dedication to our Country.
4
5
Travel Opportunities for 2013
To join us on one of the trips offered for 2013, leave us a message on our reservation line at 508.459.4126
so we can get any further information to you, including brochures and reservation forms.
EVENT
DATE & COST
DESCRIPTION
Niagara Falls
featuring
the Boston
Red Sox vs.
the Toronto
Blue Jays
4 Days / 3 Nights
Saturday, April 6th to
Tuesday, April 9th, 2013
Overnight accommodations at the Baymont Hotel in
Niagara Falls on the Canadian side with three
breakfasts and two dinners (Skylon Tower & Betty’s
Restaurant). Reserved seating for the Red Sox/Blue
Jays game at Rogers Center in Toronto as well as
admission to the magnificent Maid of the Mist Boat
Ride under the mighty Falls.
The Mark
Twain House
& Museum
Wednesday,
May 8, 2013
London
& Paris
8 Days / 7 Nights
Saturday, May 18th to
Saturday, May 25th,
2013
Complete cost per
person:
$759 Single Basis
$559 Double Basis
$549 Triple Basis
Complete cost per
person: $94
Complete cost per
person:
$3,864 Double Basis*
For single and triple rates, please
contact the Royal 50’s Club at
Commerce Bank. Price includes:
land tour, meals as specified,
sightseeing, estimated airfare
from Boston, hotels and the
services of a professional tour
director. For additional terms,
travel protection, and conditions
contact us for a brochure as well
as a reservation form.
Quebec City
& Montreal
5 Days / 4 Nights
Sunday, June 30th to
Thursday, July 4th,
2013
Complete cost per
person:
$1,059 Single Basis
$799 Double Basis
$759 Triple Basis
Vermont
Sunday, July 28, 2013
Complete cost per
person: $114
6
Two-hour City of Heritage narrated driving tour of
Hartford. Luncheon at the U.S.S. Chowder Pot IV.
Tour of the Mark Twain House & Museum, home
of Samuel Langhorne Clemens built in 1874. This
restored nineteenth-century Victorian reflects the
grand lifestyle of its famous owner.
Arrive in London, enjoy a traditional dining
experience combined with a relaxed night-time
river cruise on the Thames. Guided tours include:
The Houses of Parliament, Westminster Abbey,
Downing St, Piccadilly Circus, Buckingham Palace,
and ends with a London Eye Champagne
Experience – a ride on the world’s tallest
observation wheel as you sip a glass of
champagne. Board the high-speed Eurostar train
headed for Paris, while viewing the city’s most
famous landmarks. Ascend to the second floor of
the Eiffel Tower, visit Notre Dame Cathedral,
explore the Montmartre art district, visit Sacre
Coeur Bassilica, and enjoy a special lunch. This
getaway is truly magnifique!
Sightseeing in Quebec City includes a 3-hour
narrated dinner on the St. Lawrence River, the
Upper and Lower Cities of Quebec, a visit to the
famous Montmorency Falls plus St. Anne De
Beaupre Shrine. A 3-hour city tour featuring Notre
Dame, St. Joseph’s Oratory, Mount Royale, Old
Montreal, and a visit to the Underground City.
Eight meals are included, four breakfasts, and four
dinners.
Travel to Townshend, the home of Freisans of
Majesty Breeding Farm where you’ll marvel at
these beautiful horses. Enjoy the choreographed
musical performance showcasing their skills and
great elegance. A charming Vermont feast is
included at the Putney Inn. Time provided for
browsing at the Vermont Country Store.
WALKABILITY
EVENT
DATE & COST
Clambake on
Sunday, August 11,
Cabbage Island 2013
Complete cost per
person: $109
Block Island
Saturday, August 24,
2013
Complete cost per
person: $94
Adirondack
Balloon
Festival
3 Days / 2 Nights
Friday, September 20 to
Sunday, September 22,
2013
Complete cost per
person:
$599 Single Basis
$499 Double Basis
$479 Triple Basis
Allen Edwards
Country Show
Monday, October 7,
2013
Complete cost per
person: $79
Branson
Musical
Holiday
5 Days / 4 Nights
Thursday, November 7
to Monday, November
11, 2013
Complete cost per
person:
$2,099 Single Basis
$1,849 Double Basis
$1,819 Triple Basis
DESCRIPTION
WALKABILITY
We’ll stop in Freeport, Maine to L.L. Bean as we head
to Boothbay Harbor where we’ll board the “Bennie
Alice” for a narrated cruise of the harbor and take in
Maine’s picturesque coastline. Arrive at Cabbage
Island for a feast of two luscious Maine lobsters, a
steaming cup of New England fish chowder, tender
white steamed clams, sweet golden corn on the cob,
Maine potatoes, onions, rolls & butter, blueberry
crumb cake, with coffee or iced tea.
This island was rated one of the 12 Best unspoiled
areas in the Western Hemisphere. Take a ferry
from the fishing village of Point Judith, RI to the
endless natural beauty that is Block Island. Board a
local sightseeing bus to discover a community that
has preserved the best of its natural and human
history. The National Hotel will provide lunch with
magnificent views of the Atlantic Ocean harbor.
Stay at the Surfside on the Lake on Lake George.
Two breakfasts and two dinners with an
entertainment show at the resort are included.
Witness the pageantry of the colorful Hot Air
Balloons. Tour Lake George while enjoying a
2-hour brunch. Delight in the Mini-Moonglow
Event at Battlefield Park featuring tethered
balloons and music. View the fireworks display
over the lake.
Allen Edwards is known as “The Voice of Branson.”
For the past 16 years he has performed at his own
theatre in Branson, Missouri. Allen creates magic
with his brilliant arrangements, voice, sense of
humor and charismatic personality. Travel with us
to the Castle of Knights in Chicopee, MA. Lunch at
the Castle will give you a choice of Pot Roast,
Chicken Breast, or Baked New England Scrod.
Get away to Branson, Missouri, entertainment
capital of the Midwest. See amazing shows,
including Doug Gabriel and the incredible Hughes
Brothers. Thrill to the powerful voices of the
Twelve Irish Tenors and the Dutton family. We’ll
see a performance by SIX, voted Branson’s best
show! Enjoy a spectacular adventure aboard the
Showboat Branson Belle. A total of seven fabulous
Branson shows are included in the tour, providing
non-stop entertainment.
Walkability Ratings
Trips are rated by their “walkability” — meaning how active a trip is in order to help you judge your ability to keep up with the group.
Very Easy: Ability to walk with no or minimal incline.
Slightly Strenuous: Ability to walk quickly for 30 minutes.
Moderate: Ability to walk at a moderate pace.
Strenuous Activity: Ability to move quickly over uneven
terrain for long periods of time.
Commerce Bank’s Royal 50’s Club is sponsoring this event for its selected customers. The Bank uses experienced tour guides and common carriers. Travelers who need special assistance on Royal 50's trips: You must report any
disability requiring special attention while on vacation at the time the reservation is made. The Royal 50's Club will make reasonable attempts to accommodate the special needs of travelers with disabilities, but is not responsible
in the event it is unable to do so nor is it responsible for any denial of services by air carriers, hotels, restaurants, or Suppliers. The Americans with Disabilities Act is only applicable within the United States and facilities for
individuals with disabilities are limited outside its borders. Most transportation services, including the motor coaches, are not equipped with wheelchair ramps. The passenger assumes the full risk and use of any prohibitions imposed
by vendors. When participating on these trips you agree to hold Commerce Bank, its employees, successors, agents and assignees, harmless for all injuries, damages or other losses arising from participation in this event. Further,
you hereby give permission to Commerce Bank to duplicate and use for advertising purposes any photographs of you taken during this trip.
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386 Main Street
Worcester, MA 01608-1709
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