Happy Holidays to All of You!

May blessings of the season be on you and yours!

Please put on your calendar the FLCCT Board of Directors' meetings:

January 9
March 13
May 8
July10
September 11
November 13

An update from NEFE

Greenwood Village, Colo. - Oct. 23, 2008 - As financial and credit
markets constrict, a new social media Web site launches today that
allows people to calculate the true cost of unnecessary purchases, often
regretted in hindsight, while they share them via personal videos or
photos.
Spendster.org, built by the National Endowment for Financial
Education(r) (NEFE(r)), allows people to share their purchases they now
regret while they rate and discuss those of others. The site also
provides tools to calculate how costly items like unopened DVDs and
spotless coffee makers really are and how much could have been saved if
that money were put to more productive use.
Spendster is the brainchild of Ted Beck, president and CEO of NEFE. In
addition to video and photo uploads, the site also provides a calculator
that determines the actual cost of unnecessary and under-utilized
purchases if paid for via credit card, how much these expenditures could
have generated for retirement 40 years hence and even how much richer
you'd be today if you'd put that same amount into Google stock in 2004.
The inspiration for Spendster came to Beck on a flight to Los Angeles.
"Listen, everyone has a drawer full with junk. I doubt anyone has really
sat down to think about how much money they've spent on it all," said
Beck. "For example, someone may find they spent the equivalent of four
college tuition credits on shoes and handbags."
NEFE hopes that Spendster.org will demonstrate to consumers the
long-term financial effects of buyer's remorse while beginning to
educate consumers on their own personal financial needs and
capabilities.
"The time is certainly right for consumers to rethink their spending,"
Beck said. "This site is a fun, slightly tongue-in-cheek way to discuss
what can be serious money."

New FLCCT Board of Directors

Angela Jo Medina, President
Bob Sandera, Vice-President
Ron Bandsuch, Secretary
Kelli Moore, Treasurer
Sid Sokol, Community Groups Committee Chair
Lorraine Bier, Youth Groups Committee Chair
Steve Gonzales, Workplace Groups Committee Chair
Andrea Stiles-Pullas, Resource Development Committee Chair
Pam Noble, Marketing and Public Relations Committee Chair
Sally Borie, Volunteer Training Committee Chair
Tim Mulderig, Volunteer Coordinator

CONGRATULATIONS TO EVERYONE!

Resources

This is an article from a computer guy, Eric Spellman from Amarillo, TX, who I heard speak at a conference this past summer.   I thought you might find the information useful. 

Where Does Your Money Go?

While the stock market continues its wild swings, many experts are perplexed at the causes.  What makes the market surge one day and plummet the next?

Luckily, understanding your own checking account and making accurate predictions is much easier - as long as you track it...

Numerous tools on the Net make this task very easy.  Back in the day, you basically had two choices, Intuit's Quicken and Microsoft Money.  Today, a number of companies are jumping into the mix, giving Quicken and Money a "run for their money."

One of my favorites is Mint.  What makes it stand out is the price - nada, zip, none.  It's free!  All of your data is stored (and backed up) on their secure servers.  With your permission, it connects to your bank accounts giving you instant access to your balances.

Another site, Geezeo, also offers personal finance advice and budgeting, but takes it a step further.  They encourage people to discuss situations with each other - almost a group therapy event.

Mvelopes helps you meet your financial goals by dividing your paycheck into "envelopes."  That way, you won't accidentally dip into the rent envelope when buying groceries.  It takes some getting used to, but if visualizing your money in this manner helps, this site is perfect.

And, before I forget, don't discount Quicken.  Their online version has gotten a number of accolades and is quite cheap.  

Reminder: Annual Meeting next Monday

I hope everyone is planning to attend the annual meeting and volunteer recognition night next Monday, December 8, 2008, 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. at the Texas Bankers' Association. I have finished writing the annual report. This is what I had to turn in to my supervisor of Texas AgriLife Extension. I will tailor it more to FLCCT with logo and etc. I think the results are pretty impressive. I will send it to Board Members in an email attachment.

A special thanks to John and Tim for getting the house in order when it comes to volunteers and program results.

Good BOD meeting today. Thanks for your participation.

Just a note to let you know that the evite for the annual meeting has been submitted to all members. There is a feature that allows you to invite others. Please feel free to do so. I will be adding names as I get them, as well.

AAS Ad space is sold out!

I got this message today....

Jane,

I'm so sorry, but the section is sold out and is being readied to print
Monday morning. If something happens last minute this afternoon, we'll be
glad to include. So sorry,

Jeff

I guess I should have taken the liberty to say yes without BOD approval.

TANO Membership Perk

Just thought I would let ya'll know about this new perk as a TANO member:


Your organization is receiving this program (a $599 value) as a
benefit of your TANO membership. As long as your TANO membership remains
current, you will have access to all the resources of GrantStation
including:
* Find-a-Funder Database - Quickly sort through thousands of private
grantmakers to identify the national, regional, and "hard-to-find" local
funders most likely to support any given program or project.
* Federal Deadlines - Federal notices of funding availability are posted
twice a week and are keyword-searchable.
* State Government Links - Hyperlinks to state grantmaking agencies
simplifies state funding research.
* International Funders - Comprehensive profiles of grantmakers throughout
the world are posted weekly and are keyword-searchable.
* GrantsMentor - A step-by-step tutorial helps Members build compelling
grant requests, write powerful letters of inquiry, and manage grant awards.
GrantStation Insider - This weekly e-newsletter is delivered to your desktop
every Monday morning full of upcoming grant deadlines - both private and
federal.
TANO provided GrantStation with an email address for your organization based
on your membership application. Please check the contact email address in
the email you received from GrantStation to ensure that future
communications from GrantStation will go to the proper person in your
organization. If you would like to change the designated recipient for
these emails, please let either myself or GrantStation know. Also in the
email, GrantStation provided your organization with one User Name and
Password. You may change these once you log into GrantStation the first
time. To begin using your Membership, simply go to the login page and enter
your username and password.
TANO will be hosting a FREE webinar tour of GrantStation
Monday, November 17 at 3:00 p.m. central time.
Register at http://www.tano.org/en/cev/317.
These tours are a great way to learn of all the benefits of this wonderful
resource.

Preliminary Contact #'s

I though ya'll might like to know....I have some preliminary reporting numbers for 2008. I say they are preliminary because, I am in shock as to how high they are. I will try to have an official report by the BOD meeting next Friday. Remember the last report combined 2 years:


2008 06 & ‘07
# Partnerships 25 14
# New Volunteers 42 33
# Classes 102 89
# Participants 1357 1063

Volunteer Instructor needed

Thursday, November 20, 2008
Travis County Healthy Families Program
9:00 a.m. - 12:00 noon
Money Matters and Pay Yourself First
12 County staff who work with First Time Mothers - a Train-the-Trainer of sorts

Super Duper Help!

Tim Moulderig came in today to begin his new role as volunteer manager/coordinator. Working with the ACCESS database that Lorraine Beir has initiated, he began entering the data for our current members/volunteers. I can't tell you how excited I am to have this process begin.

Also, I visited with John (administrative assistant) today about writing a desk procedure book related to everything FLCCT. He is so very competent in office management procedures. I am so excited about his capabilities as well.

Tim Moulderig can be added to the list of potential board members (this is for the nominating committee). His banking and financial background is extensive.

Technology is Great

Thanks for the responses to the evite for the upcoming BOD meeting, 11.7.08. These are the totals so far:

11 YES
3 MAYBE
8 NO

FLCCT now has a direct email account. The address is:

travis.flcoalition@gmail.com

The direct address for the blog is:

www.flcct-flcct.blogspot.com

Welcome new administrative assistant

John Riegler began today as my new administrative assistant. He is retired from the Secretary of State office. I know you will make him feel welcome in his new role, which includes work with FLCCT.

Oops! We didn't get finished

Team PayPay did not make the deadline for completing the website.  It will be coming soon. 

FLCCT and Team Paypal Compete in AIR-Austin

Team PayPal:
Nicole Sims
Jeremy Moss
Chuck White

FLCCT:
Jane Parker
Pam Noble

After today, check out our new web presence: www.flcct.org

Classes for next week

Wednesday, October 22

Goodwill New Employee Orientation 9:00 - 10:00 a.m.
12015 Norwood Park Blvd Austin, 78753
Room 1116 Contact is: Shama Blaney de Oliveira
Instructor: Betty Davis
Shadow: Darrick McGill

Keep Austin Housed Americorps Program 1:00 - 4:00 p.m.
500 e. 7th Street Austin 78704
Money Matters
Instructor: Gerry Guerrero
Shadow: Robert Wittmer
Pay Yourself First
Instructor: Betty Davis
Shadow: Robert Wittmer

Thursday, October 23, 2008

Refuge Services of Texas 9:00 - 10:30 a.m. Contact Sofia Casini
109 Denson Dr. Austin 78752
Instructor: Betty Davis
Shadow: Lorraine Bier

WELCOME TO THE NEW FLCCT BLOG

This is an attempt to update some technology for FLCCT. Please add your comments.

WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT MILLIONAIRES?

This came from one of our newest members, Tim Mulderig. He sends it from a post from J.D. Roth at partner blog Get Rich Slowly.

How much do you know about millionaires? My wife recently had dinner with her friend Linda, who is a high school social studies teacher. As they ate, Linda bemoaned the lack of personal-finance and economics education in the United States. She mentioned that every year she gives her economics students a short "millionaire quiz" to see just how much they know about wealth and where it comes from. They do poorly at it, which surprises them. Linda says they always pay attention to the follow-up discussion. Because I asked nicely, Linda sent me a copy of the millionaire quiz in the mail. Here are the questions that give the kids so much trouble:·

1. Most millionaires are college graduates.
2. Most millionaires work fewer than 40 hours a week.
3. More than half of all millionaires never received money from a trust fund or estate.
4. More millionaires have American Express Gold Cards than Sears cards.
5. More millionaires drive Fords than Cadillacs.
6. Most millionaires work in glamorous jobs, such as sports, entertainment or high-tech.
7. Most millionaires work for big Fortune 500 companies.
8. Many poor people become millionaires by winning the lottery.
9. College graduates earn about 65% more than high school graduates earn.
10. If an average 18-year-old high school graduate spends as much as an average high school dropout until both are 67 years old, but the high school graduate invests the difference in his or her earnings at 8% annual interest, the high school graduate would have $5.5 million.
11. Day traders usually beat the stock market and many of them become millionaires.
12. If you want to be a millionaire, avoid the risky stock market.
13. At age 18, you decide not to smoke and save $1.50 a day. You invest this $1.50 a day at 8% annual interest until you are 67. At age 67, your savings from not smoking are almost $300,000.
14. If you save $2,000 a year from age 22 to age 65 at 8% annual interest, your savings will be more than $700,000 at age 65.
15. Single people are more often millionaires than married people.

Here are the answers:

1. True. About 80% of millionaires have college degrees: 18% have master's degrees, 8% have law degrees, 6% have medical degrees, and 6% are Ph.D.s. I'm a firm believer in the value of a college education. These numbers bolster that belief.
2. False. Nearly two-thirds of millionaires work 45 to 55 hours per week.
3. True. Only 19% of millionaires received any income or wealth from a trust fund or estate. Only 10% inherited more than 10% of their wealth.
4. False. A total of 28.6% of millionaires have AmEx gold cards, while 43% have Sears cards. The wealthy do no choose credit cards based on status -- they choose them based on utility. They use them as tools.
5. True. This is kind of a lame question, though: 9.4% of millionaires drive Fords and 8.8% drive Cadillacs. I suspect that's different from the average for the rest of the population. Only 23% of millionaires drive a current-year car.
6. False. Most millionaires work in ordinary industries and jobs.
7. False. This one always blows my mind: 75% of millionaires are self-employed or consider themselves entrepreneurs -- 75%! Most of the rest are professionals like doctors, lawyers or accountants.
8. False. I hope this is obvious. Odds of becoming a lottery millionaire: 1 in 12 million. Odds of a woman giving birth to quadruplets: 1 in 700,000. How many quadruplets do you know? Do you know how to win the lottery? Don't play.
9. True. On average, the more education you have, the more money you'll earn.· True. Again, education means more money.
10. False. About 80% of day traders lose money.· False. Since 1926, the S&P 500 has increased at about 11% annually. There's risk, of course, and this doesn't include taxes or inflation. Still, the point is solid. Long term, stocks are likely to generate growth.
11. True. Again, this is the extraordinary power of compound interest.
12. True. This, too, is the power of compound interest.
13. False. Most millionaires are married and stay married. Divorce, on the other hand, only hurts net worth (except for that of your lawyer).