Three, dynamic guest speakers provided a unique women’s experience on Thursday, February 21, 2013. They included, left-to-right, Mary Black, owner of SuperWash, Inc.; financial consultant Angie VanderVinne of Farmers Insurance VanderVinne Agency; Whiteside County State’s Attorney Trish Joyce.
Each shared 30 minutes of “Practical Points for the Everyday Woman” at the SuperWash Training Center, 657 W. Lincolnway, Morrison.
Morrison Community Federal Credit Union and Farmers Insurance VanderVinne Agency organized the workshop, to give back to their community and celebrate its female leaders. On Friday, February 22, VanderVinne stated, “We’re going to do other workshops in the near future, [perhaps] health oriented, finances, or legal information for single women.”
Prior to the event, 74 people had registered. Although a few less attended, perhaps due to the impending snowstorm, a few unregistered guests filled in. Goodie bags were provided to the first 50 registrants.
The evening began at 6:00 p.m. with free hors d’oeuvres crafted by chef/caterer Darnell Blacklock, owner of Darnell Dishes It Out. Planners from the Credit Union added whimsy by naming desserts after the speakers: Mary’s Berry Dessert, Angie’s Popcorn Candy, and Trish’s Delicious Lemon Cake, stated Manager Mary Lindstrom. Raspberry tea and citrus lemonade complemented the sweets.
From 6:30 to 8:00 speakers addressed the audience, who sat at tables decorated by event Hostess Kathy Frederick in a plethora of “womanly” themes. Some of these were farm, medicine, beauty, police officer, firefighter, homemaker, military, legal, and teacher.
- State’s Attorney Trish Joyce spoke of her first work experiences as a junior, and high, school student who earned money to pay her parochial school tuition. This taught her “the value of a dollar” and her ability to work hard toward a goal. “Legal Must-Haves” was her topic. She was the first woman attorney to open a practice in the County. Besides a will, women need two Powers of Attorney documents in place, for property/assets and health care. These can be simple, inexpensive documents to protect what happens to your stuff and you, respectively. They also should determine what happens to their business after you die.
- SuperWash, Inc. owner Mary Black discussed ways of “Giving Back.” She and husband Bob will have been in business 37 years at the end of March 2013. They have donated tens of thousands of dollars to secure drug dogs for law enforcement, but smaller “gifts” are as valuable–if they are just what the person needed. “Don’t put a value on your gift; everything matters to the recipient, even a smile. Search out your passions, give from your heart, and you will never regret it.” Mary has grown out her hair three times after donating 37″ to Locks of Love.
- Financial Consultant Angie VanderVinne showed a PowerPoint presentation called “Financial Wellness.” She teaches Financial Peace classes over 12 weeks. “Seventy percent of consumers live paycheck-to-paycheck,” she said. “We have lost focus regarding ‘wants’ and ‘needs.'” She discussed Five Baby Steps to Financial Wellness. The first is to save $1000 and leave it in a savings account for emergencies. The second is to pay off all debt except the house, and she offered ways to “snowball” your debt-removal power. When those have been accomplished, next on the list is to save–but not invest–from three-to-six times the amount of your monthly expenses. This becomes an emergency fund that could last through serious income emergencies or over time.