Portland Financial Planning Day – a free personal finance event

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City of Portland, CASH Oregon, and the Financial Planning Association of Portland invite you to attend Portland Financial Planning Day on Saturday, October 22, 2011 from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm at the Portland Building, 1120 SW 5th Avenue, 2nd floor, where you’ll be able to meet one-on-one with dozens of professional financial planners to discuss your personal finance questions, concerns and interests.

Information will be provided on a pro-bono basis by experts from the Financial Planning Association and highly qualified CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professionals. There are no strings attached – volunteering financial planners will not pass out business cards, marketing materials or sell products or services.

You may seek information and advice on a wide range of topics, including:

GENERAL FINANCIAL PLANNING
Buying a Home – Debt Management
Building a College Fund – Savings Goals
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SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES
Job Loss and Job Change – Foreclosure Assistance
Change in Marital Status
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INVESTMENT PLANNING
Investment Strategies – Asset Accumulation
Generating Investment Income
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RETIREMENT PLANNING
Building a Retirement Fund – 401(k) and 403(b) Plans
IRA Accounts – Social Security
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INCOME TAX PLANNING
Tax Reduction Strategies
Charitable Contributions – Small Business Taxation
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ESTATE PLANNING
Building an Inheritance – Wills and Trusts
Estate Tax Strategies
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INSURANCE PLANNING
Life Insurance Coverage – Disability Insurance
Long-term Care Planning
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EMPLOYEE BENEFITS
Managing Health Insurance – Health Savings Accounts
Pension Benefits
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In addition to personalized advice, Portland Financial Planning Day will also feature a series of classroom-style 50-minute Educational Workshops

October is Domestic Violence Awareness month.

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“During Domestic Violence Awareness Month, we recognize the significant achievements we have made in reducing domestic violence in America, and we recommit ourselves to the important work still before us.  Despite tremendous progress, an average of three women in America die as a result of domestic violence each day.  One in four women and one in thirteen men will experience domestic violence in their lifetime.  These statistics are even more sobering when we consider that domestic violence often goes unreported.”  — from President Obama’s presidential proclamation declaring October 2011 as Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

To raise awareness, the YWCA of Greater Portland has organized several events in the area, including those listed below:

 

“The Untouchable Girls” Screening

Tuesday October 18, 7:30pm (YWCA, 1111 SW 10th Ave, 3rd floor Conference Center)

Watch this fun, informative biopic about a lesbian twin sisters folk music duo from Australia! In partnership with Raphael House and Bradley Angle. More information on the film here: http://topptwins.com/tv-and-film/untouchable-girls

 

Candlelight Vigil

Thursday October 20th (time and location TBA)

PWCL’s vigil honoring people from our community who have been killed by family or loved ones in domestic violence situationsduring the past year; visit www.pwcl.org for more information.

 

Dine4DV

Thursday October 27 – All Day, multiple locations:

Dine at participating restaurants on this day and a percentage of the cost of your meal will benefit services to survivors at YWCA Yolanda House, Listen to Kids, Portland Women’s Crisis Line, and the West Women’s and Children’s Shelter! View list of restaurants and plan your meals at www.ywca-pdx.org/dine4dv.html.

 

Purple Light Nights™

Throughout October, honor DV survivors and victims by shining a purple light bulb inyour window, porch or office. The YWCA is selling light bulbs ($3 each or 2 for $5).Proceeds benefit YWCA Yolanda House.

For more information: (503) 294-7480, choyaa@ywcapdx.org or visit www.ywca-pdx.org.

Join Donate Dinner & help raise funds for MLK Loaves & Fishes Center!

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It’s early notice, but we’re going to let you know about a volunteer opportunity that will be coming up next month. We invite you to join the MLK Loaves & Fishes staff and volunteers in helping to raise money for the center. It’s easy – all that’s required is a friendly face, a smile, and the chance to say hello to some of your neighbors who are heading into the Concordia (NE 33rd) New Seasons store!

Food security issues have really come into the forefront of public discussion in the past couple of years, as study after study has documented hunger in our community.  Loaves & Fishes is an excellent example of one of the many ways community efforts are being drawn together to relieve hunger and help us to help each other be well-fed.

I, hedda, will be signing up to volunteer. I hope you will to! Details on the event are below…

Got two hours? Join my Donate Dinner team!

I’m helping Loaves & Fishes Centers, The Meals-On-Wheels People, provide meals to local seniors by leading up a Donate Dinner team. I hope you’ll consider donating two hours to help us greet customers at the New Seasons Market – Concordia store on Tuesday, November 22, 2011.

Donate Dinner is one of the largest fundraising events in the Portland metropolitan area, held the five days before Thanksgiving. Last year, more than 1,500 people volunteered for 2-hour shifts and the outcome was incredible – they raised more than $220,000 to support the Meals-On-Wheels program. That’s 60,000 meals!

We’ll greet customers as they come in to the store to shop for their Thanksgiving dinner, offer them a Donate Dinner card, and let them know they can buy dinner for a senior just by telling the cashier when they check out. It is that simple!

Please join my team for a 2-hour shift. Having volunteer greeters more than triples the amount of money that’s donated each hour. Last year, each volunteer raised an average of $225 per shift – That’s enough to feed 61 seniors!

Together, we can make sure that no senior in our community goes hungry or experiences social isolation. Click here to see my team’s current schedule and pick a shift that works best for you.

If you are not available on Tuesday, November 22, 2011 to volunteer for my team, please go to www.donatedinner.org and see if another date and store are available. It takes a village to feed our seniors!

–David Lomax, MLK Loaves & Fishes Senior Center Manager
Loaves & Fishes Centers, The Meals-On-Wheels People is a secular nonprofit corporation that prepares 5,000 meals each weekday for seniors in Multnomah, Washington and Clark counties. Unlike most other Meals-On-Wheels programs, our local Loaves & Fishes has never had a waiting list for meal services. Why? Because of the generous community support from volunteers and donors, a meal can be delivered within 24 hours of notification.

Liquor License Renewal –North of Burnside

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All liquor licenses North of Burnside within the Portland City Limits (East & West) will expire on December 31, 2011, unless renewed by the Oregon Liquor Control Commission (OLCC). As part of the renewal process, the City of Portland makes recommendations to the OLCC on renewal applications using information gathered from neighbors, community organizations, and public safety officials. The City of Portland is home to approximately 2,700 liquor license establishments, about half of which are coming up for renewal. Neighbors, Neighborhood and Business Associations, and Community Organizations have a very important role in this process.

The annual renewal is an opportunity for communities to address problems or concerns with licensed establishments in their neighborhoods. Concerned neighbors and community organizations wishing to oppose a license renewal north of Burnside should advise the Office of Neighborhood Involvement as soon as possible. Licensed establishments not identified by the City of Portland as problem locations are processed as though they received a “favorable” recommendation. Opposition received by individuals and organizations is considered by the City before a recommendation is made to the OLCC. If neighbors have concerns but do not wish to formally oppose the license renewal, this is an excellent opportunity to engage in problem solving to address concerns informally.

Information about liquor establishments with ongoing problems must be received by November 15th, 2011, to be considered in the City of Portland’s recommendation process.

Please contact Theresa Marchetti, City of Portland Liquor License Specialist, at 503-823-3092 or theresa.marchetti@portlandoregon.gov.

Step It Up’s Teen Art Festival this weekend, at Lloyd Center!

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Join Step It Up, Inc. for “It’s a Scream!” Teen Art Festival on October 15, 2011, from 1:00-5:00 p.m. at Step It Up’s office in Lloyd Center Mall. Join us for an expert pumpkin sculpting demonstration and decorate your own, amazing art for sale, treats, face painting, and more fun!

When: Saturday, October 15, 2011, 1:00-5:00 p.m.

Where: Step It Up, Inc., 2203 Lloyd Center, Portland, OR

“It’s a Scream!” is free if you wear a costume, or there is a suggested $5 donation for adults, $1 for teens, and kids ages 12 and under are free!

All proceeds from the event will benefit Step It Up, Inc. and our youth development programs.

See http://www.stepitupinc.org/ for more information on Step It Up’s youth programming!