Central Jersey Network of Black Women

Central Jersey Network
of Black Women
P. O. Box 217
Hightstown, NJ 08520
NEWSLETTER
November, 2003

*Printer-friendly version*
President's Thank you Message The president's regular message will continue next month as she is out of town on business. However, she wishes to say thanks to all members for making the annual Open House a huge success, as we had one of the biggest crowds in attendance in some time. Six scholarships were awarded to the following: Brenda Green, Gladys Alvarez, Fereshia Azizy, Kpehe Carter, Fatmata Kamara and Treesie Smith. We wish these ladies continued good luck as they pursue their dreams.

Steering Committee Corner This Committee is made up of the officers of the Network. We meet on the first Tuesday of each month at 7:30 p.m. at the Twin Rivers Library, 276 Abbington Dr., E. Windsor, NJ., (609-443-1880). Any member can attend these meetings, if so desired.

NOVEMBER 2003
*Sun*	*Mon*	*Tue*	*Wed*	*Thu*	*Fri*	*Sat*
						1
2	3	4 No Steering Comm. Meeting	5	6	7	8
9	10	11 Monthly Meeting	12	13	14	15
16	17	18	19	20	21	22
23	24	25	26	27	28	29
30

IMPORTANT DATES

Tues., Nov 4 - (Cancelled due to Election Day) Steering Committee Meeting at Twin Rivers Library, Abbington Dr., Twin Rivers (443-1880). Meetings will resume next month, Dec. 2.

Tues., Nov. 11 - 7:30 p.m. - Regular monthly meeting. Our usual meeting site (Hickory Corner Road Library) will be closed because of the holiday, so the meeting will be held at Mercer County Community College in the Liberal Arts Building, Teachers' Lounge, on Rte. 535 (Old Trenton Road). Check at the Guard House if you need help locating the site.

GUEST SPEAKER - Please remember to come out and enjoy our guest speaker, Pamela Groves, who will be discussing some aspect of home decorating. We can all, at some point, use tips on sprucing up our homes and we look forward to greeting Ms. Groves. Please bring your friends.

OTHER DATES:

Tuesday, Nov. 18 - 9a.m. - 11 a.m.- Interfaith Hospitality Network will be holding a mini symposium/fund raiser on the topic of homelessness, at Mercer County Community College, James Kerney Campus Career Center Bldg. The fee is $50 and all proceeds benefit Interfaith Hospitality, a nonprofit network of houses of worship that provides housing assistance and referrals to homeless families. Our president, Noreen is on the Board of Directors. If you are interested in supporting this cause, contact Karen Carson at (609) 396-8849 or (609) 530-4213.

Friday, Nov. 21, 6-11 p.m. Joyce's Retirement Dinner/Dance (sponsored by her co-workers) at Giovi's on Rte 130.

Remember to sell those greeting cards, calendars, etc. which is one of our annual fund raising efforts. If you have not gotten a catalog, please see Shirley.

OTHER IMPORTANT NOTES

The Book Club (named "Reading Between the Lines") will be on "hold" until further notice.

Unpaid Annual Dues are payable at our the next meeting.

CLOTHING COLLECTION

Clothing (in good condition and clean, for working women) are always needed by the Urban Women's Center, 1201 W. State St., Trenton. Contact: Dir., Doris Williams (609) 989-1925) and Dress for Success, (also known as Suitably Dressed), 640 S. Broad St., Trenton (contact Mary - 989-6639 - from 1 p.m. - 4 p.m.; Mon - Fri). These organizations assist women who are returning to work and do not have the proper attire for work. They also need shoes and handbags. Thank you for your help in this matter. Your donations will be greatly appreciated. If you have large donations, it would be best to contact these agencies and arrange for drop off and to find out if they have the space for large donations. They can use suits and other clothing for men, also.

PLEASE KEEP THE FOLLOWING INDIVIDUALS IN YOUR THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS: Ruth's sister, Laura, the mothers of Marcia and Lorna, and Shirley's uncle.

It is our intention to remember all who are ill, lost a loved one or congratulate members and their families when achievements are made. However, you must let Joyce know so mention can be made in the Newsletter.

TIPS

Coffeemaker: It's best to wash a glass coffeepot after each use with soap and hot water so coffee oils don't build up to create a bitter taste. Run full-strength white vinegar through a normal brew cycle to clean the machine too. Then run several cycles of hot water to clear out the vinegar. CAUTION: After running vinegar through the cycle, don't put the machine on autopilot and put coffee in by mistake.

BIRTHDAYS
November - No birthdays to celebrate this month.

December 1 - Illean

If your birthday has been overlooked, please contact Joyce at 448-4511

CJNBW Officers for 7/2003 - 6/2005

President
Vice-President
Treasurer
Corresponding Sec'y.
Recording Sec'y.
Historian
Member-at-Large/Parliamentarian

---
---
---
---
---
---
---

Noreen
Linda
Shirley
Joyce
Hattie
Illean
Ruth

Top of Page

Previous Newsletter

Homepage

mailto:cjnbw@hotmail.com

Financial Planning for Major Life Events

(3rd Installment submitted by Stanley Hunt)

The last time you want to think about finances is when you’re in the middle of a major life event. Whether it’s marriage, having a child, divorce or death, that is when you are totally caught up in the overwhelming detail of the situation. Yet, that is also the time when you need to think about the financial consequences.

Whether you manage your own finances or have a financial professional to assist you, certain major life events call for a re-examination of your financial plan. Here are some of those events.

Marriage

When you marry, especially if you and your husband already have your own careers, you have to make some decisions about your financial futures. Many working spouses keep separate checking accounts for day-to-day expenses, sharing the major costs (like mortgage payments) on an equitable basis. But most married couples invest for the future together. Saving for children's college education, retirement, a second home, or other long-term goals requires planning and agreement on the best investment tactics. You and your spouse should determine how much you need to save, what your investment options are, and how best to reach your goals, with the help of a financial professional, if necessary.

Having Children

When children enter your life—whether through birth, adoption or step-parenthood—many of your priorities will change. Having children means setting new priorities—for example, how much to save for your child's education vs. how much to save for your own retirement.

A financial professional can be particularly helpful at this time. She or he can help you by making sure you have adequate life insurance to support your children until they are able to support themselves; suggest methods of addressing your children's college education expenses; work with your legal advisor to help you establish and fund an estate plan that minimizes taxes and makes sure your property is distributed in the way you desire—for example, if you wish to have your estate go to your children by a first marriage rather than to your spouse.

Divorce

Divorce is an emotionally chaotic time, but it shouldn't leave you with financial regrets. You or your financial professional will want to consider these and other issues:

• payment of bills for joint assets (car, mortgage payments, etc.)

• tax implications of dividing marital property

• protecting yourself from any possible bankruptcy of your spouse

• protecting your assets from your former partner’s liabilities, including business or tax liabilities

• college funding for your children, including setting up an educational trust

• equitable division of retirement plans and reinvestment of proceeds to avoid tax liabilities

• renaming beneficiaries of your and your former partner’s life insurance policies and revisiting your estate plan

Death of a spouse

One of the most important functions of a financial plan is preparing for the event of one partner's death. Insurance, estate planning and many other issues should be discussed and understood by both parties so that either is prepared to carry on alone. Still, the death of a spouse, no matter how prepared you may be, is overwhelming. Your financial professional can help you in many ways, including:

• making sure you receive all the life insurance benefits you are entitled to

• assisting you on transferring ownership of investment accounts

• re-examining your investment portfolio in light of your new situation

• helping you determine how best to withdraw funds from your spouse's retirement plans

• funding a new estate plan

If you are currently in the middle of one of these major life changes, you should think about your financial plan now. But don’t wait until change occurs—make sure you are prepared for your financial future.

GE21622 (Exp.8/03)

Stanley K. Hunt offers securities products and services as a Registered Representative and investment advisor representative of AXA Advisors, LLC (member of NASD, SIPC) New York, NY and is an Agent of the Equitable Life Assurance Society of the United States (Equitable) New York, NY. Equitable and AXA Advisors, LLC are affiliated companies.

40 Monument Road, Bala Cynwyd, PA 19004.(www.stanleyhunt.myaxa-advisors.com)

Top of Page

Previous Newsletter Next

Homepage

mailto:cjnbw@hotmail.com