Member Feedback

Money and traveling

Your article on financial travel tips [Jan/Feb, page 31] was enlightening. I'm pleased to hear that AAA Colorado offices now offer foreign currency packages.

We had an unpleasant experience during a recent visit to Germany when we tried to convert U.S. $100 bills to Euros at several banks. The banks refused, citing a major problem in Europe with counterfeit U.S. 100s. The only places we could convert them were at currency exchange booths in major airports. Next time we'll buy Euros in advance at AAA.
-Paul R., Fort Collins

The Swedish chef

I look forward to each copy of EnCompass. I was especially interested in "Grandma's Swedish Christmas" [Nov/Dec, page 64]. Both my parents came here from Sweden and I have inherited my mother's Swedish cookbooks. I am becoming a pretty good Swedish chef.

In Mr. Bill Rutherford's article, he refers to sylta (head cheese). Actually there are at least two types of sylta. One is head cheese; the other is jellied pork and veal. I like both. As for the lutefisk, my mother wouldn't have it in the house. My dad had to eat it at his union hall, Swedish clubs and a couple of other Swedish organizations.

Thanks again for a wonderful magazine. -Harry J., Denver

Booster seats

Thanks for helping to educate parents about proper booster seat fitting. However, you make it sound as if all children ages 4-8 must be in booster seats. This is misleading, as children are much better served and safer in appropriate-sized car seats with a five-point harness system.

Car seats with five-point harness systems are now made for children up to 80 lbs. There is growing evidence that laws regarding types of child safety seats appropriate for certain ages/weights are grossly outdated.
-Jennifer M., Telluride

Editor's Note: State law requires the use of a booster seat for children in this age group. AAA Colorado encourages the use of a forward-facing car seat with five-point harness until the child outgrows it. A child is too big for the seat when the shoulders are above the top harness slots, the tops of the ears are above the back of the seat or the weight limit is exceeded. At this point the child should move to a larger car seat or a booster seat. AAA Colorado will continue to work for child passenger safety-see page 10 for more on child seat laws.

Where's the GEM?

Why did AAA take the "Colorado GEM" feature out of the magazine? It was fun to see which one each issue would have in it and, being new to Colorado, I was saving them for future reference. There was no warning the feature was being discontinued, it just stopped. Surely if all 28 GEMs have been run, they can be rerun with no harm done. Please consider re-instituting this feature.
-Dorothy L., via email

Editor's Note: As this member guessed, we discontinued the column because all 28 GEMs (Great Experiences for Members) had been run. Look for a replacement feature in an upcoming issue. In the meantime, all Colorado GEMs can be found in this year's Colorado TourBook.

Distracted driving

How wonderful that some thoughtful Colorado teens are pledging not to text and drive [Jan/Feb, page 10]. A next step would be for adult drivers to follow suit.

It's well documented that teenagers' inexperience behind the wheel puts them more at risk, even without adding a cell phone into the equation. But it's pure hypocrisy for adults to ask teens to do what they themselves are not willing to do. I see more drivers yakking on the phone while driving children around than I'd like to. Do they think the youngsters won't notice this double standard and risky behavior? Or do they just not care?

I hope AAA continues to lobby for safer driving without cell phones for all ages!
-Joan G., Boulder

EnCompass pretty much always has articles dealing with people using cell phones and texting while driving, therefore not paying attention to the road. Has anyone thought about people that use the new mapping systems in their cars? How could anyone use one of those features and still have their eyes on the road? These systems, to me, are quite a bit more dangerous.
-Dorothy B., via email

Parks are for all Americans

I was surprised and glad to see that Tom Kiernan, National Parks Conservation Association president [Nov/Dec, page 12], is not recommending only "traditional" African-American cultural sites such as Tuskegee, MLK, Nicodemus or Mary McLeod Bethune. At least he included San Francisco Maritime and Sequoia Kings Canyon.

As a former ranger with the Park Service and now with the BLM, and black, I get very exasperated with the constant message that there are "white" parks and parks for "people of color." All of America's National Parks are the heritage of all Americans, and indicating that some celebrate white history while others honor the black experience ignores the fact that we all shared in every aspect of this country.
-Wayne H., via email

Let us hear from you Reader comments and questions are welcome. An editor's note may be printed along with your letter, if deemed necessary. Letters under 200 words are considered first. Letters published in EnCompass do not necessarily reflect the opinion of AAA Colorado and, due to space limitations, we reserve the right to edit for length and clarity. Send letters to the editor, EnCompass, 4100 E. Arkansas Ave., Denver, CO 80222. Fax to: 303-300-7710. E-mail: editor@colorado.aaa.com. Letters become property of AAA Colorado and are not returned.