Local Businesses Prepare for New Notes; Local Scouts to Participate at First Transaction

PORTLAND, OR – October 8, 2003 – The U.S. government will release into circulation the newly redesigned $20 note on October 9, 2003. In Portland, the first commercial transaction will be by Cherise Hayes, 17 and Patrice Hayes, 14, Scouts from Venturing Crew 859 chartered by the Sabin Community Development Corporation. The Scouts, who are also sisters, will purchase tickets to view the new “Moneyville” exhibit at the Oregon Museum of Science & Industry.

The new $20 note design includes improved security features and the addition of color, making the currency harder to counterfeit and easier for cash handlers and consumers to authenticate.

Who: In addition to the students mentioned above, the event will include:

· Rick Hornsby, Portland Branch Manager, Group Vice President of Business Development, Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco

· Ray Vandiver, Vice President of Exhibits, Oregon Museum of Science & Industry

· Craig Fondren, Economic Empowerment Manager, Sabin Community Development Corporation

· Ronald Wampole, Resident Agent in Charge, United States Secret Service

When: Thursday, October 9, 2003, at 9:30 a.m.

The event is open to the press. Press set-up begins at 9:00 a.m.

Where: Oregon Museum of Science & Industry

1945 SE Water Ave.

Portland, OR 97214

RSVP: All attending press must call 512-372-6362 by 3:00 p.m. PDT, by October 8th.

Interviews: One-on-one interviews can be scheduled in advance by calling Megan Moricoli at 512-372-6362.

Materials: The New Color of Money press kit can be accessed at the “Media Center” at www.moneyfactory.com/newmoney or by calling 202-530-4887.

B-Roll: B-roll of the New Color of Money can be obtained through 202-530-4887.

The Department of the Treasury and the Federal Reserve System unveiled the new $20 note with updated designs and security features in Washington, D.C. on May 13. New designs for the $50 and $100 notes will follow in 2004 and 2005 respectively. Because counterfeiters are turning increasingly to digital methods and as advances in technology make digital counterfeiting easier and cheaper, the government is staying ahead of currency counterfeiters by updating the currency every 7-10 years.

The new $20 notes will be safer, smarter and more secure currency: safer because they will be harder to fake and easier to check; smarter to stay ahead of tech-savvy counterfeiters; more secure to protect the integrity of the U.S. currency.

Boy Scouts of America - Connecting youth with communities and families.

Venturing is a Scouting program for young men and women who are 14 (and have completed the eighth grade) through 20 years of age. Youth-led Venturing crews specialize in a variety of vocation or hobby interests that are both service and activity oriented and often include high adventure experiences. This particular Venturing crew (859) is considered a Scoutreach unit. The Scoutreach mission is to partner with chartered organizations throughout the council that are dedicated to serving diverse youth in communities that are difficult to reach because of cultural, lingual and socio-economic issues. In addition, the mission includes increasing community awareness of the considerable program resources that Scouting can provide to assist youth in reaching their full potential.