| Email not displaying correctly? View it in your browser. |
 |
|
Partner Spotlight: Montana Credit Unions for Community Development Jump$tart’s National Educator Conference
|
Montana Financial Education Coalition We strive to improve the personal financial knowledge and decision-making ability of Montana citizens by promoting public awareness of the need for personal financial education, and by uniting and building capacity of financial education programs. This has been an exciting year for the coalition. Thanks to a strong foundation laid over the past several years, the coalition is directly impacting the financial knowledge of Montanans. MFEC has numerous action initiatives over the next several months. We have a series of workshops entitled Can I Afford Retirement? taking place the first week in November across the state. These seminars include information presented in a comprehensive manner both for those already retired or those in the planning process. The MFEC convention has been scheduled for February in Helena. The timing allows for participants to plan their activities for the year while incorporating best practices learned. We also hope to spark a series of activities coinciding with National Financial Literacy Awareness month in April. The convention will be one day, February 23, and focused on promoting programs and offering resources. Materials and programs for all age levels will be showcased. It is our hope to build connections amongst financial education and service providers for the benefit of our citizens. Not only will conference participants receive valuable program ideas and curricula, but we are also working on securing mini-grants. These mini-grants will give organizations an opportunity to apply for seed money to get their idea up and running or supplement an existing program. The evening before the convention we are hosting a special dinner with our keynote speakers Pam Krueger and Jack Gallagher from the PBS series Money Track. This is an exciting time! Look for more information soon, however mark off your calendar’s now. We have recently began work on a project in partnerships with the Montana Society of Certified Public Accountants. The project is to develop a comprehensive web database of financial tools and resources available. This will include presenters, curricula, and materials for all age groups. Keep in mind we will be asking for submissions soon. As you can see from this newsletter and our website, MFEC has updated our look. Hopefully you find our new look and website informative, professional, and user friendly. We envision a Montana where our community members have long-term financial health. The aforementioned strategies are bringing us closer to that vision. The strategies are useless without committed organizations. As our momentum builds, we know that there are voices that should be included and just have not yet received the information. We thank you for your support and ask that you share this information with others whom you know should be part of this dialogue. Jolene Bach MFEC hosts Building a Money $avvy Montana 2010 Statewide Conference Practical Financial Education for Your Community MFEC Presents: “Can You Afford Retirement?” Come hear from a variety of experts about financial entitlements, services, and resources you should know about for your retirement years. The seminars will provide important information for retirees, adults responsible for retired parents, and those planning for retirement. Topics covered include:
Resource information will also be available, as well as representatives of numerous agencies and organizations to answer your questions and provide you with educational materials. These seminars are free of charge to the public. Seating is limited and will be offered on a first-come, first-served basis, so please email Ben Marks at bmarks@cccsmt.org or call 406.454.5703 to reserve your seat. Seminars will be offered in the following locations from both 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m., and from 6:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m. Great Falls- November 3, 2009 at Central Christian Church, 1025 Central Avenue Helena- November 4, 2009 at Gateway Center, 1710 National Ave Bozeman – November 5, 2009 at Best Western GranTree Inn, 1325 North 7th Avenue Partner Spotlight: Montana Credit Unions for Community Development After just five years of service, Montana Credit Unions for Community Development (MCUCD) has been recognized by the National Credit Union Foundation as a leader and innovator in positively affecting the lives of thousands. Each year, the Herb Wegner award is given to one organization that shares the dedicated vision and unyielding passion of the former CEO of the Credit Union National Association, Herb Wegner. It would appear that a relatively young non-profit would be out of contention for this prestigious award, but the tireless work of MCUCD deserved attention on a national level. In its short existence, the MCUCD has established influential programs and meaningful partnerships throughout the entire state of Montana. Montana Credit Unions for Community Development utilizes their connections with Montana’s credit unions to develop and implement programs and services to better the lives and communities of Montanans. Through the support of their parent organization, the Montana Credit Union Network, MCUCD employs a four-pronged approach to advance financial independence in Montana: 1) financial education, 2) free tax services, 3) matched savings accounts (IDA’s), and 4) providing alternatives to predatory lending institutions. The majority of credit unions in Montana now assist with at least one of the four services. This strong relationship with the state’s credit unions has enabled the MCUCD to spread the message of how important it is to address financial empowerment and has put a number of successful programs into practice. The MCUCD’s Director of Outreach Services, Karen Smith, has been an integral part of the Montana Financial Education Coalition (MFEC) since its inception in 2003. She served as President for the MFEC for two years, helping to institute a solid foundation for the coalition. After her term as President, Karen was elected to the office of Treasurer. Her primary responsibilities at the MCUCD include promoting each of the Individual Development Accounts throughout the state and facilitating train-the-trainer events for several financial education courses. The Individual Development Accounts and education programs are not limited in their scope, as Karen and her associates have developed a variety of resources to apply to diverse populations. Montana residents have access to matched savings accounts for higher education, career training, purchase of a first home, and the start of a business. The education courses are just as far ranging with a number of courses including the recent addition of Biz Kids—a PBS program for kids that is being instructed in elementary schools by representatives from local credit unions. Karen’s experience through her work lends invaluable information to the growth and productivity of the MFEC. Credit unions have long been at the forefront of securing and protecting consumer rights and they will continue to be a sage voice of reason in the future. Having access to these critical partnerships will allow the MFEC to disseminate our mission more readily and effectively. The MCUCD also provides a wealth of knowledge in the fields of financial education, predatory lending, and matched savings accounts. We are very fortunate to have such expertise serving on our board at the Montana Financial Education Coalition. Jump$tart’s National Educator Conference Teacher registration for Jump$tart's first National Educator Conference, devoted entirely to financial education, is now open. The National Educator Conference will be held November 6-8, 2009 at the Capital Hilton in Washington DC. The conference has been generously underwritten by Experian, with sponsorship from other partners and in-kind support from the NEA, to make it possible to offer registration to teachers at $175, which includes two nights hotel accommodations, all conference meals, registration and some materials. (Teachers provide their own transportation. Conference Highlights:
For more information and online registration, please go to Jump$tart's website at: www.jumpstart.org Note to Jump$tart National Partners: Jump$tart's semi-annual general partners meeting will also be held November 6th. More information to follow. Partners are encouraged to participate in the conference as sponsors and exhibitors. For more information, please follow the link at www.jumpstart.org. A few months ago, partners of the MFEC were asked to fill out a survey to identify which resources they provide for improving financial literacy in Montana. We used these responses to compile a comprehensive list of services which will be used throughout the state to inform Montanans about what is available in their communities. Click here to see our Partner Resource Guide Soon, this guide will be utilized in a variety of different marketing materials. Additionally, we plan on making it an interactive resource on the new website with direct links to various organizations. If your organization is not on this listing and you would like to be included, please contact Benjamin Marks at bmarks@cccsmt.org with all of the relevant information. |
Montana Financial Education Coalition * www.mtmfec.org |
|
