August/September 2023

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Stop and Think – It Can Make All the Difference I came into my office this morning, sat down at my computer, and began reading emails. There was an urgent email from the Payroll Department, telling me to fill out a new document so they could get my check cut in a timely manner. Not thinking of anything but getting my paycheck, I clicked on the document. Nothing happened. I clicked again, and still nothing happened. I shrugged and walked over to accounting where I was told the email did not come from them. I walked back into my office and there was an image on my computer that looked like this: I panicked. I kept asking myself “what do I do?” Of course! Shut the computer down! That’s what IT always tells me, “Did you reboot?” So, I shut down my computer. I can keep going with this story because I have heard this so many times from so many different people. Everything that I did this morning had been planned, and is exactly what the criminals expected and wanted me to do. It worked mostly because of two words at the beginning of this story. Can you pick them out? NOT THINKING. So many times, we get caught up in what we are doing that we don’t STOP and THINK. Criminals count on this. They purposely try to take you off guard to trick you into acting without thinking. They will call and pretend to be someone you love, like a child or grandchild, and they’ll tell you they have been placed in prison and please send money. They may say they are the phone or utility company, and your services are going to be turned off immediately if you don’t give them your credit card number right now. They may even pretend to be your bank saying that your account was compromised and if you could just tell them your account numbers, they will take care of it. No one except criminals are going to send you an email asking you to buy gift cards for any reason. Places like the IRS, Medicare, and other companies are not going to send you an email asking for personal information. Criminals have a field day with Facebook, Instagram, and all social media outlets. Criminals are watching everything online and even reading obituaries. Leave maiden names and personal information out of obituaries. A lot of security questions to sites can be answered from these venues, like what’s your mother’s maiden name, your favorite pet, and in what city were you born. On a larger scale, cyberattacks have inundated the state with each year, growing more and more costly. While the bad actors are getting better and better, there are some simple things we can follow to help limit some attacks. 1 If you think you have a virus, do not shut down your computer. Always unplug it from the network to prevent the damage from spreading to other devices. 2 Call for help. If you are a victim of a cyberattack or cybercrime in Louisiana, contact the Louisiana Fusion Center at 1-800-434-8007 or email lafusion.center@la.gov. 3 STOP and THINK! If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Look for mistakes in the grammar of the email. Look at the time the email was sent. Make sure the email address matches the name of the person it’s supposed to be coming from. 4 VERIFY VERIFY VERIFY! Never click on an unknown link or attachment, or use a phone number from the email of concern. Never change accounting documents because someone sent an email asking you to. Never go buy gift cards or purchase something for someone in an email without always verifying with a follow up phone call. 5 Keep your computers and software up to date with security patches and updates. 6 Do not work as a local or domain administrator on your computer. It will allow the criminals to install anything if they get into your system. 7 Use Endpoint Protection on all systems. 8 Backup your data. Know where and how it’s being backed up. Test periodically to make sure the backups are viable. 9 Use Multifactor Authentication and strong passwords. Use a password manager. 10 Be wise when posting on social media. I know technology can be overwhelming and is always changing, however it’s here to stay, and it’s only getting bigger. Following the above tips will make a difference at work and in your personal lives at home. by Tracy Melancon Louisiana Municipal Association Tracy Melancon is the IT Director for the Louisiana Municipal Association. She can be reached by emailing tmelancon@lma. org or calling 225-344-5001. Page 38 LMR | AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2023
LOUISIANA ASSOCIATION OF MUNICIPAL SECRETARIES AND ASSISTANTS LAMSA Fall Lineup Focuses on Education The Louisiana Association of Municipal Secretaries and Assistants will hold their 33rd Annual Fall conference in Houma September 20- 22 at the Courtyard by Marriott on Library Drive. Registration has begun. On Wednesday, we will have the mobile Finding Our Roots African American Museum parked outside our meeting room. The museum building was damaged during Hurricane Ida, and this 34-foot RV contains photos, memorabilia, and artifacts depicting different aspects of African American history in Terrebonne and Lafourche parishes. After touring the museum, the first 50 paid registrants will participate in the Fine Arts Guild “Paint da Boot.” If you are not in this select number, those wishing to participate will be placed on a waitlist and notified if a spot becomes available. The fall lineup of speakers will cover a variety of educational topics on current issues. On Thursday, the agenda includes “How LITACorp Can Help Your Community” by LITACorp Executive Director Leslie Durham; “Parliamentarian Procedures” by Nicole Learson, RP; “Public Bid Law” by LAMATS Executive Director Cliff Palmer; “Mandatory Ethics Training” by Greg Thibodeaux of the Louisiana Board of Ethics; and “Active Shooter Training” by Terrebonne Parish Sheriff’s Office First Lieutenant Jamie Trahan. After our conference concludes for the day, attendees are invited to attend a reception from 6:30 – 9:00 p.m. at Bayou Terrebonne Distillers. While touring the Distillers, you can enjoy music from Johnny Chauvin and the Mojo Band, and sample local cuisine from surrounding establishments. For everyone’s convenience, there will be a shuttle which will take members to and from the Distillers. Pick up will be in front of the hotel lobby and will run every 15 minutes. A Mayor’s Panel will be held on Friday morning, and the conference will wrap up with “The Key to Healing” by Mrs. Lisa Maggio, Author, and Life Coach. Membership in the Association shall be open to all Municipal and Parish Employees (non-contracted) performing the duties of a Secretary or Assistant, regardless of title, in any incorporated town, village, city, or parish government chartered under and in conformity with the laws of the State of Louisiana. Hope you will join us down in the Bayou! For more information or to sponsor, call Kristine Scherer at 504-259- 1068 or email lamsa@currently.com. Visit explorehouma.com to plan your trip to Louisiana’s Bayou Country By Kristine Scherer Peachey LAMSA Conference Coordinator LMR | AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2023 Page 39
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Page 5 and 6: PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE To My LMA Fam
Page 7 and 8: TREASURY NOTES LA Treasury Unclaime
Page 9 and 10: LEGAL BRIEFS Legislative Session Ex
Page 11 and 12: LaMATS and LPS Project Coordinator
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Page 15 and 16: ALWAYS ON FOR YOU. JOHN M. SCHRODER
Page 17 and 18: innovative ideas coming from so man
Page 19 and 20: 86 TH ANNUAL CONVENTION LMR | AUGUS
Page 21 and 22: District Vice Presidents 2023-2024
Page 23 and 24: Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser was th
Page 25 and 26: Workshops We presented participants
Page 27 and 28: Singing, and dancing, and an air sh
Page 29 and 30: 86 TH ANNUAL CONVENTION Sarah Traha
Page 31 and 32: 86 TH ANNUAL CONVENTION BEST OF SHO
Page 33 and 34: At this year’s Board Meeting, Pas
Page 35 and 36: The Louisiana Municipal Association
Page 37: The main disadvantages of pay-as-yo

August/September 2023

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