What in the world are DSPPs and DRIPs?
Direct Stock Purchase Plans (DSPPs) and Dividend Reinvestment Plans (DRIPs)
are two means by which you may buy and sell shares in a public company
directly from the company, rather than through a broker.  You become a
registered shareholder in the company rather than having your shares held in
'street name' by a broker.  Minimum investments and transaction costs are
typically lower than through a discount or electronic broker.

What exactly is a Direct Stock Purchase Plan (DSPP)?
A Direct Stock Purchase Plan, or DSPP, allows you to enroll in a company's
plan, buy shares by making a minimum initial dollar investment, and sell
shares on the plan.  Depending on the terms of each company's plan, you may
also reinvest all or a portion of dividends at no or low cost, make occasional
lump sum (optional cash) purchases, and even establish a regular monthly
investment plan to buy stock.  The primary benefits to shareholders typically
include a low initial investment, low transaction costs, and the opportunity
to build your share position inexpensively over time.

What is a Dividend Reinvestment Plan (DRIP)?
A Dividend Reinvestment Plan, or DRIP, is similar to a Direct Stock Purchase
Program in many respects.  However, in order to enroll in a DRIP, you must
already own the minimum amount of shares designated by the plan.  Once the
initial purchase is made, DRIPs function similarly to DSPPs.  You may make
occasional optional cash purchases or reinvest your dividends at
pre-designated intervals.

Why should I care?
When you buy stock direct from companies you get: low- or no-cost transactions
investments in whole dollar amounts (purchase of fractional shares) dividends
invested automatically back into buying more stock, if that is what you want
to do the ability easily to invest monthly through automatic deductions from
your bank account potential discounts on stock and/or special offers on
company products and services.