STORM OF THE CENTURY

The Maryland National Guards deployed approximately 700 men and women to assist in storm related activities. Brigadier General James A. Adkins The Adjutant General sent an open letter to State, local officials and first responders thanking them for their outpouring of appreciation of the Maryland Guard's efforts. To read letter Click here

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Daylight Savings Time Daylight Saving Time was instituted in the United States during World War I in order to save energy for war production by taking advantage of the later hours of daylight between April and October. During World War II the federal government again required the states to observe the time change. In 1966, Congress passed the Uniform Time Act which standardized the length of Daylight Saving Time.

Daylight Saving Time is four weeks longer since 2007 due to the passage of the Energy Policy Act in 2005. The Act extended Daylight Saving Time by four weeks from the second Sunday of March to the first Sunday of November, with the hope that it would save 10,000 barrels of oil each day through reduced use of power by businesses during daylight hours. Daylight Saving Time Around the World

In the southern hemisphere where summer comes in December, Daylight Saving Time is observed from October to March. Equatorial and tropical countries (lower latitudes) don't observe Daylight Saving Time since the daylight hours are similar during every season, so there's no advantage to moving clocks forward during the summer. U.S. Daylight Saving Time
Year----Spring Forward-----Fall Back
2010----2 a.m. March 14---2 a.m. Nov 7
2011----2 a.m. March 13---2 a.m. Nov. 6

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Real Property Data Base Want some important information on your home or property, like assesments, square footage, base value and more Click here. and follow the instructions.

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State Military Department's Information Technology Opens Global Access Lists (GAL) which gives State employees access to Maryland Army and Air Guard Personnel's email addresses

Effective 25 February 2010 State personnel who have regular access to the MDMILDEP network can now get email addresses for individuals on both the Army and Air sides. Finding someone in the Military Department but outside the confines of the Department's State network was task that in most cases was extremely hard to do if not near impossible. This will make it realitively easy.

You are advised, however, do not, repeat DO NOT send a total global email, that is to everyone on the listing. This has a tendency to clog up the exchange servers in all our systems.

Individuals found sending unrelated work emails to Army and Air sites will have the listings removed from their system. To download the listings go to the Military Department's State Communications website for instructions.

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"Items of Importance to State Employees

Procedures for Release of State Employees Under Emergency Conditions (click here)

Military Department Regulation 5-8 (click here)

Emergency Essential Employee Acknowledgement Document (click here)

STATE EMPLOYEE PRE-RETIREMENT PLANNING SEMINARS
(click here) for additional information.

TID BITS

-Federal Holidays for the Year (click here)

-State Holidays -

No State holidays this month

Baltimore Oriole's 2010 Schedule

click here

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A NEW ONE YOU GOTTA READ

CREDIT CARD SCAM
This one is pretty slick since they provide YOU with all the information, except the one piece they want.

Note, the callers do not ask for your card number; they already have it... The scam works like this: Caller: 'This is (name), and I'm calling from the Security and Fraud Department at VISA. My Badge number is 12460. Your card has been flagged for an unusual purchase pattern, and I'm calling to verify. This would be on your VISA card which was issued by (name of bank). Did you purchase an Anti-Telemarketing Device for $497.99 from a Marketing company based in ?'

When you say 'No', the caller continues with, 'Then we will be issuing a credit to your account. This is a company we have been watching and the charges range from $297 to $497, just under the $500 purchase pattern that flags most cards. Before your next statement, the credit will be sent to (gives you your address), is that correct?' You say 'yes'. The caller continues - 'I will be starting a Fraud investigation. If you have any questions, you should call the 1- 800 number listed on the back of your card (1-800 -VISA) and ask for Security.'

You will need to refer to this Control Number. The caller then gives you a 6 digit number. 'Do you need me to read it again?' Here's the IMPORTANT part on how the scam works. The caller then says, 'I need to verify you are in possession of your card'. He'll ask you to 'turn your card over and look for some numbers'. There are 7 numbers; the first 4 are part of your card number, the next 3 are the security Numbers that verify you are the possessor of the card. These are the numbers you sometimes use to make Internet purchases to prove you have the card. The caller will ask you to read the 3 numbers to him. After you tell the caller the 3 numbers, he'll say, 'That is correct, I just needed to verify that the card has not been lost or stolen, and that you still have your card. Do you have any other questions?' After you say No, the caller then thanks you and states, 'Don't hesitate to call back if you do, and hangs up.

What the scammers want is the 3-digit PIN number on the back of the card Don't give it to them. Instead, tell them you'll call VISA or Master card directly for verification of their conversation. The real VISA told us that they will never ask for anything on the card as they already know the information since they issued the card! If you give the scammers your 3 Digit PIN Number, you think you're receiving a credit. However, by the time you get your statement you'll see charges for purchases you didn't make, and by then it's almost too late and/or more difficult to actually file a fraud report.