Communications Committee General Information

Click on the links below to be taken directly to the area of interest

Identity Theft Prevention

Locking Mailbox Discount

Locking Mailbox FAQ

Responsibilities:

The Communications Committee is responsible for:

• the communication between all elements of the association

• acting as the liaison to the property manager

• all board meeting administration (including meeting minutes)

• maintaining the calendar of events

• maintaining the Association website

• arranging the semi-annual neighborhood garage sale

Communications Survey Results

In the 2004 annual assessment mailing, the Communications Committee included a resident survey asking the  homeowner's of Silver Firs II for feedback regarding various topics. The report is a summary of these results. Where necessary, homeowner's were contacted to either verify or clarify information and the Board and/or individual committees acted to resolve any issues. For a copy of this report click here Silver Firs II 2003 2004 survey results.

If you have any questions about this survey or the results, please feel free to contact either The CWD Group or one of the respective Board members. You will need the free Adobe Reader software to open this file.

Helpful Tips

 Protect Yourself from Identity Theft

 Antivirus Software

 Spyware & Adware Information

 How to fight Spam

Important Identity Theft Prevention Tips

The next time you order checks, have only your initials (instead of first name) and last name put on them. If someone takes your checkbook, they will not know if you sign your checks with just your initials or your first name, but your bank will know how you sign your checks.

Do not sign the back of your credit cards. Instead, put "PHOTO ID REQUIRED".

When you are writing checks to pay on your credit card accounts, DO NOT put the complete account number on the "For" line. Instead, just put the last four numbers. The credit card company knows the rest of the number, and anyone who might be handling your check as it passes through all the check processing channels won't have access to it.

Put your work phone # on your checks instead of your home phone. If you have a PO Box, use that instead of your home address. If you do not have a PO Box, use your work address. Never have your SS# printed on your checks. You can add it if it is necessary. But if you have it printed, anyone can get it.

Place the contents of your wallet on a photocopy machine. Do both sides of each license, credit card, etc. You will know what you had in your wallet and all of the account numbers and phone numbers to call and cancel. Keep the photocopy in a safe place. Also carry a photocopy of your passport when you travel either here or abroad. We've all heard horror stories about fraud that's committed on us in stealing a name, address, Social Security number, credit cards.

But here's some critical information to limit the damage in case this happens to you or someone you know:

1. We have been told we should cancel our credit cards immediately. But the key is having the toll free numbers and your card numbers handy so you know whom to call. Keep those where you can find them.

2. File a police report immediately in the jurisdiction where your credit cards, etc., were stolen. This proves to credit providers you were diligent, and this is a first step toward an investigation (if there ever is one).

3. Call the 3 national credit reporting organizations immediately to place a fraud alert on your name and Social Security number. The alert means any company that checks your credit knows your information was stolen, and they have to contact you by phone to authorize new credit.

Now, here are the numbers you always need to contact about your wallet,
etc., has been stolen:

1.) Equifax: 1-800-525-6285
2.) Experian (formerly TRW): 1-888-397-3742
3.) Trans Union: 1-800-680-7289
4.) Social Security Administration (fraud line): 1-800-269-0271

Locking Mailbox Discount available for Silver Firs II residents only

Silver Firs Homeowners continue to be interested in locking mailboxes, mainly due the growing fear of identity theft. Currently, “The Pinnacle” is only SFHOA approved locking type mailbox. The SFHOA Board of Directors have thoroughly reviewed several styles of locking mailboxes and have concluded that “The Pinnacle” is a superior value due to it’s construction and styling. The Pinnacle unit has been approved for use since 2002.

The Pinnacle model is an excellent, attractive, durable product that will fit into our existing mail stations, but for some may cost more than their budgets will allow. Less expensive models such as those found at Home Depot or Lowes were investigated by the Board, but not approved, as their overall construction and design were not in-keeping with the current style of existing locking mailboxes. 

To help make this style mailbox more affordable, we have negotiated a discount program with the manufacturer. The discount, available only to Silver Firs II residents is $119 including shipping right to your doorstep. This is a $46 savings
over their retail price plus shipping.

The manufacturer’s operators are available from 8:00 - 4:30 PST Monday through Friday. If you are unable to reach a live operator at that number, you can leave your contact information on their voicemail and your call will be returned the next business day.

To order the Pinnacle locking mailbox (in black) 

1. Contact the management company via email for your Silver Firs II discount code. Please provide your street address in the email for verification along with your request.
2. Then call the manufacturer at 1-877-YOU-GUARD (968-4827). Use extension 550 after 4:30pm PST
3. Tell the operator your neighborhood order code as provided to you in step 1 and that you want to order The Pinnacle locking mailbox, #1022 in black.

This special offer is being offered exclusively to the homeowner’s of Silver Firs II community by Davis Tool of Oregon by request of your Silver Firs II HOA Board of Directors.

Disclaimer: The Silver Firs II Board of Directors has approved the Pinnacle locking style mailbox for installation within the Silver Firs II community. Other than approving this mailbox style, neither the association nor any Board member has any affiliation or connection with the manufacturer. All warranties, expressed or implied, and all trade names belong to Davis Tool.

Mailbox Note: The Pinnacle Locking Mailbox comes with brackets. These are used for pole type mounting and not used when installing onto the SF II HOA mail hutches. Use the four mounting screws only to attach to the hutch. Any questions, contact the Communications Committee member noted below.

Locking Mailbox FAQ (Q & A  as provided by the mailbox manufacturer)

Q: Why are the mailboxes so big?

A: The Postmaster General has designated that approved locking mailbox designs must be a minimum of 10" wide to accomodate a Priority Mail envelope without folding. Therefore we cannot provide a locking mailbox that is the same width as the small or medium traditional mailbox. Any locking mailbox narrower than 10" is not approved and your mail carrier is not obligated to deliver to this mailbox.

Q: Will the mailman also have a key to my mailbox?

A: No. Since a key is only required to retrieve incoming mail, you will have the only keys to the mailbox. See "how it works"

Q: Do your mailboxes handle outgoing mail?

A: The Postmaster recommends that you put your outgoing mail in a locking box. There is, however, a clip and a flag in the Pinnacle to handle outgoing mail. Please note that the upright flag might just be telling more than your mail carrier that you have outgoing mail in the mailbox and your mail might be at more risk to mail theft.

Q: How large is the mailbox opening?

A: As specified by the Postmaster General, the slot is 1.75" tall. Packages can be as large as phone books, pill bottles, and videos etc.

Q: Why is the Pinnacle locking mailbox made of aluminum?

A: The Pinnacle locking mailbox is made of aluminum to provide longer durability in our products. Unlike steel, aluminum will never rust. The Pinnacle Plus line of mailboxes are made of 3/16" aluminum steel, making them just as vandal resistant as steel mailboxes in the market today.

Q: What do mail carriers think about The Pinnacle locking mailboxes?

A: Mail carriers have constantly complimented the design of our Pinnacle mailboxes. They are most impressed with the large opening that allows them to place a large bundle of mail with just one motion.

Q: What is powder coating?

A: Powder coating is an environmentally safe dry painting process that actually bakes a paint coating on at 600 degrees Fahrenheit to provide a durable finish.

Q: What does the "Powder Coated Tuff" logo mean?

A: The logo is for manufacturers who have met certain quality criteria concerning the powder coating process of their products.

Q: Are your locking mailboxes really baseball bat-proof?

A: Though no mailbox is completely baseball bat-proof, the Pinnacle Plus line of mailboxes has been reinforced with 3/16" aluminum plating to withstand the swing of a baseball bat.

Q: Will mail carriers have a problem with my new locking mailbox?

A: No, our mailboxes are U.S Postal Service approved (USPS). The text on the front of the mailbox, "U.S. Mail - Approved by the Postmaster General", indicates that the mailbox conforms to USPS regulations and that it is manufactured to meet established quality standards.

Q: What are the chances of two mailboxes having the same key?

A: 25,000 to 1.