The responsibilities of the Jackson Parish Financial Resource Management (FRM) Advisory Leadership Council are to represent their peers, identify needs and issues, identify opportunities for collaboration, be active in sharing their skills and knowledge to help the parish and understand Louisiana Cooperative Extension Service as a community resource.
Next Meeting Date:
January 19, 2010
FRM Advisory Leadership Council Members
|
Name |
Affiliation |
Program Area |
|
Brister, Steve |
Rural Development |
FRM |
|
Buckelew, Bonnie |
Jackson Parish School Board |
FRM |
|
Gray, Melba |
“Real World” Leader |
FRM |
|
Moore, Zettie |
Pine Belt Head Start |
FRM |
|
Page, Tim |
STOP/JP Hospital |
FRM |
|
Satcher, Sharon |
Day Care Owner/STOP |
FRM |
|
Smith, Wilda |
Chamber of Commerce |
FRM |
Jackson Parish Financial Resource Management ALC Meeting
September 29, 2009
Jackson Parish Library
Diane Uzzle welcomed everyone and members introduced themselves and gave a brief information blog.
Melba Gray agreed to serve as the meeting Facilitator and Bonnie Buckelew served as the Secretary.
The council members reviewed the minutes from the January 2009 meeting. The top three priority areas were reviewed:
- Youth Financial Management
- Families Financial Management
- Small Business Financial Management
Diane Uzzle discussed the plan of work areas that need to be implemented to address the three priority need areas.
1.Youth need financial education
2.Youth need skills and workforce training
3.Families need money management skills
4.Families need home buyer education
5.Small businesses need information regarding budgeting and available resources
Diane reported that the Louisiana Promise Program was already in place. She visited with Mr. Wayne Alford about this program. He encouraged her to work through the principals to create an awareness of the financial resource management programs offered.
Saving And Investing for Life (S.A.I.L.) flyers have been distributed to schools. Diane has presented an overview of the program at some school faculty meetings and will work toward making the information available to all school employees. She is working now to get S.A.I.L. information into the hands of small businesses and churches.
The LSU AgCenter is working through the School Board office to provide the High School Financial Planning Program. This program for high school students was presented to Jackson Parish high school teachers as a professional development opportunity. Substitute fees were paid by the Jackson Parish School Board office and materials were provided by the LSU AgCenter.
Family area-LSU AgCenter is working with Mr. Zettie Moore to provide training on budgeting to parents of Head Start students.
Home Buyer Education is set up on a monthly schedule. Diane has two days in Jackson and two days in Bienville per month working with this program. The program helps individuals who are interested in becoming home owners and also is sometimes a requirement for loans and involves twelve hours of instruction. It is the only class Diane teaches that charges a fee. It is $30 per individual or per couple. The charge helps to defray the costs of the materials.
The USDA Rural Development and the IRS groups have the LSU AgCenter on a list to provide instruction to new home buyers.
The LSU mobile unit has been coming on a yearly basis to provide programs for small business owners.
Diane is also working closely with Wal-Mart to provide programs to employees at the Jonesboro store using the Financial Management program.
After Diane's presentation, the advisory council divided into small groups to identify ways to address the five priority needs that were previously identified at the January 2009 meeting.
The following ideas were presented by the advisory council:
Youth Need Financial Management Education
a. Continue providing the professional development program to teachers so they can provide the program to students.
b. Work with local youth clubs (e.g. FBLA, FTA, Boy Scouts) and local churches to provide youth with training.
c. Teach the program within the Pre-GED/options program at Jonesboro-Hodge High School.
Youth Need Skill and Workforce Training
a. One stop (Job Search) at Community Center
b. High School curriculum including welding, CNA, alternate education
c. Greater North La. Community Training Center (opens October 24, 2009)
d. Presentation to police jury regarding the JET program.
Families Need Money Management Skills
a. Suggested that Diane contact education coordinators at local churches. Felt that personal contact was important.
b. Classes to be taught at local library
c. Contact the Greater La. Community Training Center and the Office of Family Services to find ways to present training through their organizations.
Families in Need of Home Buyer Education
a. Get young people involved in the effort
b. Involve local realtors in the program
c. Involve home education in our community activities
d. Have training in the workplace
e. Coordinate effort with public housing
Small Business Education
a. Coordinate with Louisiana Tech Business Department, the Small Business Development Center
b. Visit various local businesses
Next meeting date: Tuesday, January 19, 2010, at 10 a.m. at the Jackson Parish Library.