phxsoul.com

U.S. Census Bureau Really Counting on Minority Participation in 2010

Editor's Note: As an official partner, PhxSoul.com is committed to promoting increased African American participation in the 2010 Census. Starting in January, PhxSoul.com will launch our "Be Counted Because You Matter" campaign to heighten the importance of the 2010 Census among blacks in Arizona. We will be distributing T-shirts, mousepads, magnetic calendars, bookmarks and other marketing materials to local residents in the hopes that we will keep the 2010 Census in the forefront of our minds.

Written by DaVaun Sanders

The US Census Bureau showed a strong commitment to Arizona’s minority population on November 19 through a roundtable discussion with statewide ethnic media in downtown Phoenix to discuss the upcoming 2010 Census.

The discussion was the ninth of 12 such U.S. Census roundtables, hosted across the country by New America Media, a nationwide association of over 2,000 ethnic media associations. The Phoenix roundtable boasted attendees from nearly 30 Arizona minority media outlets. Many participants voiced various community concerns, such as undocumented workers’ fears of exposure, people of mixed heritage being forced to check one box for their identity, and how language barriers may impact the census process.

Census Bureau representatives from the state, regional, and national level readily fielded questions about the implications of the 2010 Census on the minority community, both nationally and in Arizona.

“We wish to capture people who’ve never been in a census before,” said Arnold Jackson, Associate Director for Decennial Census at the Bureau.

The panel of speakers conveyed several key points about the 2010 Census to address local concerns and encourage higher minority participation:

• The 2010 Census questionnaire is reduced to 10 questions, and takes less than 10 minutes to complete.
• It is a requirement by Constitution that all U.S. residents be counted—regardless of incarceration, employment, or citizenship status.
• For the origin and race questions, the Census Bureau provides a write-in section for backgrounds not listed, and respondents can make multiple selections that best fit their heritage.
• Census data is not shared with outside law enforcement agencies, including Homeland Security.

Mixed feelings prevail among Valley African Americans about the pending Census, but the theme of change in U.S. politics appears to be leading the community towards a guarded optimism.

“I think my 20- to 30-year-old [friends] will participate,” says Tynesha White, an African American Psychology major at Arizona State University. “I’m not too sure about the rest — they don’t see the relevancy in it. On one hand, I don’t feel we are informed about things like this — so we miss out on the positive side. But because we are not informed, instead of finding out, we opt out.”

The Census Bureau’s initiative at the roundtable offered compelling information designed to combat minority indifference and lack of awareness throughout Arizona. Bureau representatives further emphasized the positive ramifications of a high minority response for next March, when 2010 Census questionnaires will be mailed out. More than $300 billion in federal aid is based on census data, and a low response could potentially translate into reduced funding allocation for schools, roads, community centers, and hospitals in corresponding minority neighborhoods. Political representation is also at stake, as US House seats are determined by census data.

The Census Bureau’s goal for next year is to provide the most accurate “Portrait of America” possible for the census, and offers more information at www.census.gov. Do you plan to stand up and be counted in the 2010 Census? Let us know why in the Comments section below!

BBB Warns Consumers Nationwide of Local Business Opportunity Company

Better Business Bureau is alerting consumers across the country about Maximum Business Concepts, a Phoenix-based company, also known as Merchant Referral Solutions (MRS) that targets unsuspecting consumers who are looking for a work-at-home opportunity.

According to BBB records, MRS began operating on August 31 of this year and has received significant file activity. Over 2,200 consumer inquiries via telephone and Web were processed by BBB since then, and over 700 of them in the last 30 days.

“Merchant Referral Solutions contacts consumers via telephone and offers them an opportunity to work from home as an ‘affiliate,’ selling credit card terminals to merchants in their area,” said Carrie Lorimer, BBB Director of Operations.  “Once the consumer agrees to pay a monthly Web hosting fee to sell their product, they are billed an additional amount for training materials that were not disclosed at the point of sale,” Lorimer added.

Complaints filed by consumers stem from refund issues to high pressure sales tactics. According to information in BBB files, customers purchased a business opportunity with MRS for $150 to $500 plus an additional $19.95 per month for a personal Website. Complaints also allege that after the product was purchased, consumers were then contacted by affiliates of MRS and were pressured into purchasing an advertising campaign with costs up to $35,000.

MRS typically responds to complaints by stating they are not responsible for refunding their affiliates’ charges and that MRS charges are non-refundable.

MRS currently has an F rating with BBB due to the length of time the business has been operating, concerns about the industry in which it operates, and 21 complaints filed against the business, two of which were unresolved and three serious complaints.  Additionally, the company has 12 pending complaints.

BBB encourages consumers considering a business opportunity to do their homework first and:

Look at the ad carefully. If it claims buyers can earn a certain income, then it must also give the number and percentage of previous purchasers who achieved the earnings.

Get earnings claims in writing. According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), if the business opportunity costs $500 or more, then the promoter must back up the earnings claims in a written document.  If it’s a work-at-home or other business opportunity that involves an investment less than $500, ask the promoter to put the earnings information in writing.

Interview previous purchasers in person, preferably at the location their business operates. The FTC requires business opportunity promoters to give potential purchasers the names, addresses and phone numbers of at least 10 previous purchasers who live the closest to the potential purchasers.  Interviewing them can help reduce the risk of being misled by phone references.

Contact your Better Business Bureau both where the business opportunity promoter is located and where you live to find out whether there is any record of unresolved complaints. While a complaint record may indicate questionable businesses practices, a lack of complaints doesn’t necessarily mean the promoter and the business opportunity don’t have problems. Unscrupulous dealers often change names and locations to hide history of complaints.

Consult an attorney, accountant, or other business advisor before you put any money down or sign any papers. Entering into a business opportunity can be costly, so it’s best to have an expert check out the contract first.

Take your time. Promoters of fraudulent business opportunities are likely to use high pressure sales tactics to get you to buy in. If the business opportunity is legitimate, it will still be around when you are ready to decide.

Never give your personal information to anyone offering you a business opportunity or work at home business. This includes bank account numbers and credit card information.

BBB also encourages consumers to ask the following questions to anyone contacting them about a business or work at home opportunity:

· What tasks will have to be performed? Ask that every step of the job be listed

· Will there be a salary paid or will the pay be based on commission?

· Who will be paying your salary or commission?

· When will the first paycheck be received?

· What is the total cost of the work-at-home program or business opportunity, including supplies, equipment, training materials and membership fees?

· What will be received in return for the money paid?

If a consumer has spent money and time on any of these programs and feels the company has misled them, a complaint can be filed with Better Business Bureau at www.bbb.org, with the Federal Trade Commission at www.ftc.gov and the Arizona Attorney General’s Office by visiting www.azag.gov.

The Financial Guy: Rollovers – What Are They?

Editor's Note: PhxSoul.com is introducing columns from The Financial Guy to help educate African Americans about finances. In order for us to make the right financial decisions collectively, it's extremely important for us to heed advice from experts in the field. Here is the first installment ...

In general, a rollover is the movement of funds from one retirement savings vehicle to another. You may want, or need, to make a rollover for any number of reasons--your employment situation has changed, you want to switch investments, or you've received death benefits from your spouse's retirement plan. There are two possible ways that retirement funds can be rolled over--the 60-day rollover and the trustee-to-trustee transfer.

The 60-day, or indirect, rollover

With this method, you actually receive a distribution from your retirement plan and then, to complete the rollover transaction, you make a deposit into the new retirement plan that you want to receive the funds. You can make a rollover at any age, but there are specific rules that must be followed. Most importantly, you must generally complete the rollover within 60 days of the date the funds are paid from the distributing plan.

If properly completed, rollovers aren't subject to income tax. But if you fail to complete the rollover or miss the 60-day deadline, all or part of your distribution may be taxed, and subject to a 10% early distribution penalty (unless you're age 59½ or another exception applies).

Further, if you receive a distribution from an employer retirement plan, your employer must withhold 20% of the payment for taxes. This means that if you want to roll over your entire distribution, you'll need to come up with that extra 20% from your other funds (you'll be able to recover the withheld taxes when you file your tax return).

The trustee-to-trustee transfer, or direct rollover

The second type of rollover transaction occurs directly between the trustee or custodian of your old retirement plan, and the trustee or custodian of your new plan. You never actually receive the funds or have control of them, so a trustee-to-trustee transfer is not treated as a distribution. Trustee-to-trustee transfers avoid both the danger of missing the 60-day deadline and, for employer plans, the 20% withholding problem.

With employer retirement plans, a trustee-to-trustee transfer is usually referred to as a direct rollover. If you receive a distribution from your employer's plan that's eligible for rollover, your employer must give you the option of making a direct rollover to another employer plan or IRA.

A trustee-to-trustee transfer (direct rollover) is generally the safest, most efficient way to move retirement funds. Taking a distribution yourself and rolling it over makes sense only if you need to use the funds temporarily, and are certain you can roll over the full amount within 60 days.

Should you roll over money from an employer plan to an IRA?

In general, you can keep your money in an employer's plan until you reach the plan's normal retirement age (typically age 65). But if you terminate employment before then, should you keep your money in the plan or instead make a direct rollover to an IRA?

There are several reasons to consider making a rollover. In contrast to an employer plan, where your investment options are limited to those selected by your employer, the universe of IRA investments is almost unlimited. Similarly, the distribution options in an IRA (especially for your beneficiary following your death) may be more flexible than the options available in your employer's plan.

On the other hand, your employer's plan may offer better creditor protection. In general, federal law protects your total IRA assets up to $1,095,000 (as of 4/1/2007)--plus any amount you roll over from a qualified employer plan--if you declare bankruptcy. (The laws in your state may provide additional protection.) In contrast, assets in an employer retirement plan generally enjoy unlimited protection from creditors under federal law, regardless of whether you've declared bankruptcy.

Use the Rollover Guide to help you decide where you can move your retirement dollars. A financial professional can also help you navigate the rollover waters.

 

If you have questions or feedback, you can contact the Financial Guy at rgustavis@wradvisors.com.

1 Required distributions and nonspousal death benefits can't be rolled over.
2 In general, if you make a tax-free rollover from a traditional IRA, you can't make another tax-free rollover from that same IRA for one year. This does not apply to direct (trustee-to-trustee) rollovers.
3 Taxable conversion. Income limits apply.
4 Nontaxable conversion. Income limits apply.
5 Only after employee has participated in SIMPLE IRA plan for two years.
6 Required distributions, certain periodic payments, hardship distributions, corrective distributions, and certain other payments cannot be rolled over.
7 May result in loss of qualified plan lump-sum averaging and capital gain treatment.
8 Direct (trustee-to-trustee) rollover only; receiving plan must separately account for the after-tax contributions and earnings.
9 457(b) plan must separately account for rollover--10% penalty on payout may apply.
10 Nontaxable dollars may be transferred only in a direct (trustee-to-trustee) rollover.
11 Subject to income limits in 2009. Taxable dollars included in income in the year rolled over.

NOTE: Plans are not legally required to accept rollovers. Review your plan document.
 
The accompanying pages have been developed by an independent third party. Forefield's content and information is provided for informational and educational purposes only. Neither Forefield Inc. nor Forefield Advisor provides legal, tax, insurance, investment or other advice and should not be relied upon for such purposes. Waddell & Reed does not guarantee their accuracy or completeness, and they should not be relied upon as such. These materials are general in nature and do not address your specific situation. For your specific financial planning and investment needs, please discuss your individual circumstances with your Financial Advisor.

The accompanying pages may include information regarding retirement plans, estate planning, business planning or a variety of other topics that involve tax and legal issues beyond the scope of Waddell & Reed's area of practice and expertise. Such information is intended to explain or illustrate planning topics, options or strategies that you may wish to consider in advance of, or at the time of, seeking the assistance of legal and/or tax advisors in implementing your plans and should not be considered as an authoritative or comprehensive explanation of any of the particular planning topics, options or strategies described. The information in the accompanying pages describes the general aspects of various planning topics, options or strategies but does not necessarily address all the pertinent facts and issues of your personal situation.Waddell & Reed does not provide tax or legal advice, and nothing in the accompanying pages should be construed as specific tax or legal advice or may be relied on for the purpose of avoiding any federal tax penalties. The selection of appropriate planning options or strategies should be made on an individual basis after consultation with appropriate legal, tax and financial advisors. It is important that you retain the services of legal counsel to plan and implement any legal documents that you may require and that you consult a tax advisor for an explanation of the tax effects of any particular planning options or strategies on your personal financial situation. Waddell & Reed financial advisors are able to offer insurance products through arrangements with insurance companies. Guarantees provided by insurance products are subject to the claims-paying-ability of the issuing insurance company.

Where's the Steppin' Scene in the Phoenix Area?

PhxSoul.com regularly fields questions about the Step Dance scene in the Valley of the Sun. People assume that no one is steppin' out here but that's far from the truth. Steppin' will never be as big as it is in Chicago, but there is a movement here.

Lessons from Skipp the Rhythm & Blues Jazz Stepper

Skipp the Rhythm & Blues Jazz Stepper is working hard to bring everyone up to speed when it comes to steppin' in the Phoenix area.

He is hosting three classes per week, making it convenient for anyone who wants to learn this cultural partner dance style.

• Every Wednesday, Skipp hosts Stepp Lessons at Bobby C's Lounge, 1140 E. Washington St., Phoenix, from 4:30-7:45pm every Wednesday. Cost is $7.00 per session.   
• Every Saturday, Skipp hosts Stepp Lessons at the Star Ballroom, 2848 S. Carriage Lane, Mesa, from 10 AM to 12 PM. Cost is $7.00 per session. 
• Skipp's third Stepp class is held every Saturday (except the first of the month) at the Elks Lodge, 1007 S. 7th Ave., Phoenix, from 1-3 PM. Cost is $7.00 per session. 

For all who mention "PhxSoul.com," Skipp will donate $1 to PhxSoul.com to help keep the general Black population here in Phoenix informed about what's happening in our community.

For more information, contact Skipp at Jam_Ski@Msn.com or 602-571-8424.

Square-N-Compass Steppin' Lessons

• The Steppin' Community has various times and dates for classes. You can find this information on the Square-N-Compass Website (www.square-n-compass.com) under Events Around the Valley.

Saturday Night Chicago Steppin Set

Note: Please send an e-mail to info@phxsoul.com if you have more information about the Step Dance scene in the Valley.

SCHOOL MATTERS: How African-American Males Can Succeed in School

New America Media, News Report, Cynthia E. Griffin

In spite of challenging familial, environmental and school situations, young African-American men can be high achievers in schools if education policy focuses on promoting their strengths instead of emphasizing their problems, according to a recent study by the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation (CBCF).

“Breaking Barriers, Plotting the Path to Academic Success for School-age African-American Males,” by Ivory A. Toldson, a senior research analyst with CBCF, offers important clues to improving academic success for a group with persistent low achievement rates.

Toldson compared the academic achievement of all black males to that of the highest achieving African-American school-age boys, as well as to their white and Latino counterparts. He used data collected in four surveys: Health Behavior in School-age Children; National Crime Victimization Survey: School Crime Supplement; National Survey of America’s Families, and the National Survey on Drug Use and Health.

Toldson does not think that other studies have taken this same distinctive approach.

“A lot of times high-achieving African-American males are left out of the equation. Instead, they lump all African-American males into the same group and tend to look at them collectively in a way that is prone for them to be at the bottom, without looking at qualifying indicators,” Toldson noted.

And while the majority fall in between the high- and low-achieving black males, Toldson noted that most policy is aimed at that small percentage of males at the bottom.

Some factors affecting success or failure, which Toldson identified include:

• Quality of life, particularly whether or not the young men are happy with their lives, can predict success or lack of it. Simply put, the happier African-American males are with their lives, the better they did academically.
• African-American students eat far more junk food than other students, and this combined with the finding that black youngsters more often come to school tired, may explain why young men come to campus angry and irritable.
• The school environment and how it differed across the races was another unique factor Toldson identified as contributing to black male success or failure. The researcher noted that African-American pupils are 500 percent more likely to pass through metal detectors and other screening devices, entering school. Yet black males feel the least secure in their campus environments.

Toldson said that schools that the majority of black students attend look more like correctional environments, and this has implications for how teachers may interact with youngsters. If the focus is more on correcting behavior, Toldson said teachers may be colder or more rigid. And this again has a direct connection with several other findings in the study: African-American males did better in school when their teachers were interested in them personally, treated them fairly, encouraged them to express their views, and gave extra help when needed. Additionally, the more they liked school, the less likely they were to be bored and, consequently, they enjoyed better educational outcomes.

Among the solutions Toldson identified are ensuring that school-age African-American males are encouraged, and that a positive self-image is promoted. They must also be given challenging and relevant opportunities inside and outside the classroom.

It is also key to encourage parents to adopt healthy habits, such as positively encouraging black males. Programs and legislation that promote maximum involvement by fathers must be created; and to overcome the natural social disadvantages students from low-income backgrounds might face, officials must supplement campuses in these areas with resources to implement and maintain school-based activities.

Toldson said there is also a critical need to examine and adjust juvenile justice policies to reduce the frequency and burden of jail and detention center involvement among black males.

In a school setting, because those Black males who like schools and are not bored by them are more likely to do well, efforts must be taken to ensure that more young men “like” school, and a vital part of doing this is examining the way Black males learn. That includes project-based learning, inquiry-based science, student-centered learning, and anti-oppressive education.

Cynthia E. Griffin was awarded a 2009 NAM education fellowship. She is currently a staff reporter for the Los Angles-based Our Weekly.

Black Business Owners in the Phoenix Area Need to Wake Up and Get on the Web!!

This blog is sort of a rehash of a column that I wrote in July titled, "Message to Black Business Owners in Phoenix: It's Wise to Advertise!"

However, this message bears repeating because I see way too many local business owners and organizations making the same mistake ...

What is that mistake?

They are not ONLINE!!

In the 21st century, there is NOOOO valid reason for an entrepreneur to open a restaurant, clothing store, nightclub, etc. or for an organization to recruit members or raise funds without having a Website! No valid reason!

A presence on the Internet is like a 24-hour-per-day/seven-day-per-week commercial for your business! You can write descriptions about your merchandise, services or event(s). You can add photos and videos. You can SELL your products and ship them to clients around the world! If you run a charity, you can collect donations online!

A Website will make your life easier because you don't have to spend hours on the phone or in meetings trying to encourage potential clients to do business with you. Your Website can do most of the work for you! Customers will respect you so much more if you are online because they can learn about your business without having to call! Trust me, a lot of people want to do their research about your company or organization on the Web before they make the physical effort to visit your store or office. If they can't find information on the Internet about you, they will most likely move on to another business!

How to Get a Website  

If you don't have the technical skills to build your own Website, you should have funds set aside in your budget to hire a Web designer/developer. And don't be cheap! Be prepared to pay hundreds or even thousands to establish a high-quality Website that will allow you to sell products (e-commerce), receive donations and/or attract the customers you need to succeed!

How Do You Find a Trustworthy Web Designer/Developer?

Ask your friends and relatives if they could recommend anyone. Billions of people use the Internet! One of your loved ones has to know someone who can help you!

If that doesn't work, search on the Internet for professional Web design companies in your city.

Don't be cheap! Building and maintaining a Website takes A LOT of WORK! You should show your Web designer that you respect his/her craft and compensate him/her for that kind of expertise. Think about it ... what if all your customers asked you to give them your products and services for free? You'd go out of business FAST!

What About a Blog?

A blog could be an effective and inexpensive way to spread the word about your company or organization. A blog is like an online diary. You could write about your daily trials and tribulations as a business owner. The best aspect of a blog is that your readers can write responses to everything you publish. Having a blog shows the world that it is a priority for you to interact with your customers and members. 

You can start a blog through publishing tools like:

• blogger.com
• wordpress.com
• typepad.com

If you have NO money for a Website, you should consider using one of the following FREE Web platforms to tell the world about your products or services:

• OfficeLive.com
• Weebly.com
• Facebook.com
• MySpace.com
• Webs.com
• Ning.com

If you have basic experience with the Internet, many of these FREE platforms make it easy for you to choose pre-designed templates and add your text to the Web pages.

You can even sell tickets for your events online (no upfront money) through Websites like Eventbrite.com or solicit donations with the help of PayPal.com.

What Do You Do After You've Established a Web Presence?

• You can't let your Website sit there - you have to tell everyone about it as often as you can!! It's like a garden, you have to give it constant attention to keep it alive and productive.
• Your Website address should be featured on your business cards and other marketing materials that you distribute to the public.
• If you have a brick-and-mortar store, you should have signs or banners that show your Website address.
• You should find other popular Websites and find ways to list your address on the message boards, guestbooks or other interactive areas.
• You should send press releases to local media that include your Website address.
• If you have the money to produce TV or radio commercials or set up outdoor billboards, make sure your Website address is visible!

Bottom Line

I know technology can be intimidating to people but ask yourself this question ... can you afford to miss out on an opportunity to expose your business or organization to hundreds, thousands or even millions of people per day?

PhxSoul.com encourages all black business owners to recognize that word-of-mouth marketing can only get you so far. If you have aspirations to find a nationwide or global audience, you need to get on the World Wide Web now!!