From the PresidentNational Council of Jewish Women Greater Detroit Section Excerpts from Winter 2011-2012 NEWSLINK, by President Irma Glaser: 2012 -- a new year full of exciting promise and worrisome concerns. On the plus side, our Section is working hard to bring a new project to fruition that will enable Jewish women and children in our community to have better concepts of money management. Through a generous grant from Jewish Women's Foundation (JWF) and a partnership with JVS, we have started "Money Matters," a series of financial workshops designed for all teens and their parents that will help the children to understand how to spend and how to save their money, and how money choices have an effect on them now and in the future. Bar and Bar Mitzvot students will learn from material geared to their level. Older teens will receive information that should help them before going on to college or to a job. The adult component will be more sophisticated and will explain in greater detail what everybody should know about finances, but too often does not know. Along with the workshops, NCJW/GDS is offering the opportunity for Jewish women, 18 years and older, to get a secured credit card. For women who never had credit in their own name or whose credit has been compromised by a spouse, a significant other, or by lack of knowledge of what poor credit can do, this is a huge chance to become fiscally responsible and independent. Our own Section volunteers will help with applying for the loans, JVS will provide financial counseling and a bank will decide whether the card, backed by a $300 loan from our Section, will be extended to the applicant. If the card is approved, the card is good for a total of $300 in purchases and must be paid back in a timely manner. These payments will lead to gaining credit in a partially secured or unsecured card for the holder. The loan money for the cards is part of the JWF's grant, and the paybacks will go toward our Section helping other women to participate. If the program is successful, we envision that the secured cards will be offered indefinitely. There is nothing else like this pilot program that is available locally. Our National organization planted the seed for it a year ago by recognizing the financial aspect of domestic abuse, and introducing Higher Ground that focuses on this. With the unceasing efforts of our Domestic Abuse Awareness Committee under the direction of Co-Chairs Fern Ettinger and Susan Marwil, along with VP Sue Simon and Executive Director Susan Gertner, and the unstinting help of Beth Martinez of JVS and Cheryl Berlin of Hebrew Free Loan, we are looking forward to a successful outcome. Also, very exciting is the launch of our new ReDesign Home Consignment Store. This addition means that we now have three resale stores that hopefully will generate much more income to be used to fund our programs. See information about ReDesign HOME Consignment on our website, and Council ReSale Shops website. Now for the worries of 2012. We are entering into the primaries and general election that will impact directly and indirectly on NCJW/GDS's and our national organization's programs and on our ability to carry out our mission to improve the lives of women, children and families. It is vital that we become better informed about the candidates and their views in order to make good choices. Attending election forums, asking questions, writing the candidates, writing legislators and the media to share concerns, reading about the issues, are some of the ways to educate oneself. An important resource is NCJW's Action Line that provides immediate updates on our issues, and allows easy access to be able to send responses to our legislators at all levels of government. It is simple and free to join: Enter www.ncjw.org online and follow the prompts concerning "action." Share the information with others and encourage them to join and take action, too. Finally, we all need to reach out to others to become members of our organization. More members add to the power of our voices to be heard in support of our issues, and to gaining positive action on our concerns. Recruit at your affinity groups, talk to your friends, and wherever you go. You belong to a great organization; be proud to share it. A happy, healthy, prosperous, and peaceful 2012 to all of you. |