Urban Views Weekly December 9, 2015 by Urban Views Weekly

Dec. 9, 2015

Scholar of the Week - Télisi Johnson

Holiday Traditions:

Some old – Some new

Civic Beat FUNdraising Good Times

Five ways to improve donor relations We trust your year-end fundraising is going well. Perhaps you gained new donors during Giving Tuesday. Maybe your fundraising appeal letter is generating increased gifts from current donors. Perhaps your long-term donors are thinking of you as they complete their charitable giving for the year. In all cases, there are people to thank and a “donor relations” program to launch or improve. There is much a small to mid-sized nonprofit can do to engage and retain its donors. Here are five suggestions. 1. Engage your volunteers, staff and board members. Take a moment to ensure that those associated with your organization can “tell the story” of your nonprofit – quickly and accurately. Create 10 talking points. Share them. Make it fun – test each other: “Tell our story in less than 90 seconds.” Ask those closest to your nonprofit to send a personal email or place a phone call to five new donors. A personal touch lets people know you care. 2. Offer engagement opportunities. A lot of people want to be engaged. They want to make a difference. They want to do more than give money. Think of ways that your donors can help your institution. Can they participate in a short term “think tank” to grapple with a challenge you need

resolved? Are there “day of service” opportunities you can offer?

a cloud based system, take the time to print out a list of your donors. Look at the data. Are your donors’ names spelled correctly? Are you asking people for a gift when you didn’t acknowledge the last one they gave? Do you “know” that someone gave you a significant gift last year but you don’t see it in your data? Take a moment now to clean up your data so you don’t offend your donors in 2016. These questions are offered as a reflection guide and to help you plan for 2016. We admire your belief in your community and your willingness to raise funds for organizations you believe in.

3. Upgrade your benefits and naming opportunities. Find a way to entice and recognize donors in ways that are meaningful to them. Be creative. Take the time to ask a few donors their thoughts on how they would like to be recognized. 4. Answer the phone. With websites and email, very few people make a phone call anymore. When they do call, most want to talk – they don’t want voicemail or a recorded system that directs them from one extension to another. Have a “live person” answer the phone. Someone who makes every caller feel glad they called, and someone who knows how to direct callers to the right person. Especially donors who want to talk about giving or volunteering.

5. Review your donor data. Whether you use a spreadsheet or

Letter To The Editor

If you would like to respond to Viewpoints, your submission should contain your name, a full valid address and a daytime phone number. We cannot acknowledge submitted letters. We reserve the right to edit for accuracy, clarity, legality and taste. E-mail (without attachments) to editor@urbanviewsweekly. com. Mail letters to Editor Urban Views Weekly.

Ervin B. Clarke, Publisher publisher@urbanviewsweekly.com VOL. 9, ISSUE 49

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Scholar of the Week

By Janeal Downs

GPA: 4.77 College of Interest: Savannah College of Art and Design Major Community Service: MARS (Mentoring and Student Reading Program), Key Club Strong Interests: Interior Design Favorite Activities: Cleaning and organizing

Télisi Johnson

of Richmond Community High School

Télisi Johnson’s favorite hobby isn’t like most high a school like Harvard, Télisi said she just had to schoolers. Unlike many, she loves to clean, organize follow her heart and do what she liked. While she different spaces and makes things aesthetically knew her parents wouldn’t force her into a career pleasing. “I pay close she did not want, she attention to details needed to find something and am somewhat a that was for her. In order perfectionist,” Télisi said. to follow her dreams, Télisi “So I do what I can to applied and was accepted make things look as good into the Savannah College as they can.” This hobby of Art and Design in ™ is what influenced her Savannah, Georgia. In the ek of the We to want to help other past, she has visited the people who don’t enjoy school for spring break and it as much as she does. for a week in the summer Because of this, Télisi desires to pursue a career where she was able to get a taste of the campus by as an interior designer. She plans to further her taking interior design and acrylic painting classes. education not to just get ahead, but to learn more “I wanted to go somewhere down South where it’s about what she already enjoys doing. warmer, the attitude is nice, you know, Southern hospitality,” Télisi said. “I just like the atmosphere While she has often been encouraged to major in and what they have to offer me.” She also liked something like math, law or economics and attend the fact that the school recycles old buildings such

Scholar0

continues on page 9

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make a difference in the community. The Board Certified Doctor is a member of both the Physician’s Alliance of America and the Physician’s Alliance Health Plan Trust. Dr. Steele’s hobbies include cooking, reading, and relaxing at the beach. Her favorite color is red, her favorite movies are “The Sound of Music” & “It’s a Wonderful Life”, and her favorite music group is Earth, Wind and Fire. The latest book she has read is “The Bully Pulpit” by Doris Kearns Goodwin. Her pet peeve is self-centered people and her favorite saying is “Be True To Yourself”. She is ready to serve you at the Northside Medical Center.

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Dr. Carla King is a Richmond native with an amazing passion for Adolescent Health, Childhood Obesity and Nutrition as well as Asthma. But that’s not all. She is the Site Coordinator for the national reading program Reach Out and Read and oversees the family planning program at four sites for the Capital Area Health Network. After receiving her undergraduate degree from the University of Virginia she completed medical school at the University of Maryland-Baltimore. She competed her residency at Howard Hospital in DC. She collected numerous awards all along the way. Finishing her post graduate at VCU she continues to enjoy teaching medical students, nurse practitioner students and physician assistant students in her office. Dr. King is a Capricorn. Her favorite

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Urban Views Weekly | December 9, 2015

ViewPoints

By Dr. T

“A little leaven, leavens the whole loaf.” No matter how many times you tell a lie you can’t make it be true. A lie is a lie, is a lie is a lie. We are not only in the holiday season, but also the political season where the public is inundated with a continuous stream of commercials, rhetoric, propaganda, information and mis-information all rolled into news stories and media memes that often cause overreaction, compulsive behaviors and fear. The public gets whipped up into a frenzy based on the storylines and bylines of current events and the multiple tragedies of the 24-hour news cycle. The state of hypervigilance that the public is primed, prepped and directed towards makes the atmosphere the perfect petri dish to grow the bacteria of discord, dissent and hysteria, infecting the society with disEASE. And that’s exactly what irresponsible, self-promoting “wannabe leaders” do by telling lies and distorting the truth to promote their own personal and political agendas.

irresponsible contrived performance by political candidates that continues to fan the flames of Islamaphobia, and challenges America and Americans to a higher level of discernment.

Tawnya Pettiford-Wates, Ph.D.

No matter whether or not you support a particular man or woman vying for your vote to become the next President of the United States, you must hold them each accountable for the words that they speak and the fuel that they add to the fires of discontent we may feel as a nation. The standards of leadership must give rise to the heavy weight of the leadership to which one is called. The President of the United States must be a person of integrity and endeavor to uphold the platitudes we as Americans have fought for and stand for as a nation. This is a nation founded on the freedom of religion. In fact, those who first landed here, in what would become the United States, were themselves fleeing religious persecution. To intentionally demonize people of a particular ethnic origin, racial identity and/or religious affiliation using false statements, innuendo and outright lies is abhorrent and should exclude such a person from even being considered as a serious candidate to lead this nation. And yet, many Americans want to justify or ignore these lies as merely “politics as usual.” No matter what political tendencies you may or may not have, what is happening right now in American politics is not usual. It is frightening.

Founder and Artistic Director The attempt to demonize an entire group of people based on a The Conciliation Project and false story set in the midst of a national tragedy is despicable, but to double down on that falsehood by even more distortions Associate Professor and deceit should be a disqualification for leadership. One of the Virginia Commonwealth University frontrunners in the race for the Presidency of the United States DrT@Margins2theCenter.com of America has been called out on one of the lies told, “There www.theconciliationproject.org were thousands and thousands cheering in Jersey City when those towers were coming down”, referring to the 9/11 attack and the What is true is that if we don’t call that which is false the LIE that it is, we cheers were supposed to be coming from the Muslim community living in New Jersey. might have reality-TV going on in the White House instead of leadership come 2017. A According to the candidate, there is videotape proving the veracity of these claims. lie repeated is still a lie, no matter how many times you say it…. you can’t just sprinkle in Although this candidate continues to repeat the story at every rally, interview and any a little truth on top. A little lie makes the whole thing false. media event in which there is an opportunity to speak, the claims (LIES) have been completely debunked by the majority of media sources and no video has ever been Up Next Week: It’s not about that…! produced to, in any way, support the story told. It is this type of behavior and outright

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In an age when gender roles and traditions are constantly evolving, the questions of whether women should propose and men wear engagement rings have been all the buzz on social media.

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What’s Your Take? Should women propose? How do you feel about men wearing engagement rings? Check out the story and respond to this week’s poll at TanyaFree.com and the Urban Views Weekly FACEBOOK Page. Listen to the Tanya Free and Friends Talk Show Wednesdays @ 2 p.m. on WCLM1450AM streaming LIVE @ TanyaFree.com and BlackTalkRadioNetwork.com.

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Statepoint

Students: Great Tips for Finding a Scholarship College is expensive, and while families should focus on saving what they can, students should not forget to apply to the wealth of scholarships available nationwide.

recommend free, reputable scholarship search sites, such as Scholarship Search by Sallie Mae, which just added two million scholarships to its database, offering access to more than five million scholarships worth nearly $24 billion. Those who register are automatically eligible to win the Plan for College Sweepstakes, which awards $1,000 each month to a winner selected at random.

Millions of scholarships, worth billions of dollars are awarded annually. Beyond in-house scholarships offered by the institutions themselves, a number of federations and organizations offer money to students with particular aptitudes, achievements and aspirations.

•

“Scholarships can make a significant dent in out-of-pocket college spending, but finding and applying for them requires an up-front investment of effort,” says Martha Holler, senior vice president, Sallie Mae. The college financing experts at Sallie Mae are offering scholarship application tips: •

•

Applying is worth the time and effort. Even if the award is small, take the time to apply to every scholarship for which you are eligible. It is money that doesn’t have to be paid back, and it can be used for textbooks, supplies or other college-related expenses.

Take the time to apply annually to ease the year-to-year tuition burden.

For more tips on how to get started finding free money for college and for information on saving, planning and paying for college, visit www.SallieMae.com.

•

Impress the judges. Something seemingly as small as a thank you note can have a disproportionately large effect on how an application is regarded. Be courteous and thoughtful throughout the process.

Spend some time investigating all your college financing options. Scholarships are an excellent way to supplement your savings and other funding sources.

•

Shop around. Go deep. There are scholarships for students who want to study subjects as diverse as candy making, potato growing and welding technology. Additionally, scholarships are available for particular circumstances, such as community college students transferring to four-year institutions, or students who are the first in their family to attend college.

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Urban Views Weekly | December 9, 2015

Add a new twist to your Make Ornaments

Ornaments and holiday traditions go hand in hand. How many of your children’s ornaments from when they were small still hang on your tree to this day? Ornaments are sentimental in that they bring us down memory lane, helping us connect past holiday seasons with what was going on in our lives at that time. The best ornaments can be funny, sweet or downright goofy — but they all have one thing in common: personalization. Including handmade or monogramed ornaments on our Christmas trees helps remind us of the love we have for our friends and family members. Don’t have an ornament tradition in your home? Start one today. Make a pledge to your significant other to buy or make a special ornament every year. You’ll soon have a box full of meaningful treasures to open every Christmas season when the time comes to decorate your tree. Include the Kids Your children will likely bring home handcrafted ornaments throughout the years. Hang them proudly. Take it a step further by prompting your kids to make similar creations to decorate at home. Plan an afternoon of ornament-making that involves Christmas caroling, special treats and hot chocolate to make the experience a fun one. Once your children’s ornaments are finished, ask them to hang them on the tree. Involving them in the decorating process will help them take pride in their creations, and may even 6

Urban Views Weekly | December 9, 2015

convince them to become more creative in other areas of everyday life.

Volunteer Opportunities

There are many military-focused groups and organizations looking for volunteers this time of year. You can check with your local veterans’ associations to help provide volunteer hours during a holiday event. You also can find volunteer opportunities at your local hospital or nursing home — any kind of facility where people may be spending time away from their home during the holidays due to physical issues. Many hospitals and nursing homes schedule holiday dances, meals and even trips from Santa Claus for kids in children’s hospitals. All of these efforts require a strong force of volunteers to aid in planning and coordinating. Contact the auxiliary arm of your local hospital to find out their needs and how you can meet them.

Cook Something New

Traditions are by definition stable and unchanged activities that serve as pillars of special occasions. But that doesn’t mean creativity can’t come into play. Cooking is one of the most instrumental parts of any holiday celebration. Some families stick to the same ham, potatoes and dessert recipes for decades. But why not mix it up a bit? This year — and every year from now on — add a new recipe to your repertoire. You might just find something that you enjoy cooking throughout the year. Keep it Simple — At First Maybe you’re intimidated to try out a new recipe with so many guests coming to your home. That’s OK. Besides trying it out weeks ahead of time, one tip is to keep the dish as simple as possible.

Once you become more practiced in various cooking techniques and unique ingredients, you should feel confident enough to test the waters and try complex dishes. Until then, remember that oftentimes during the holidays, simplicity wins out when it comes to our favorite recipes. Consider Your Guests Can you see Uncle Dave sitting down to a fancy French-inspired dish with a smile on his face? Consider who you’re serving when trying to come up with your new menu item. If your friends and family look forward to your special potato casserole every year, don’t try replacing it now with something more unique. Think about what might complement your most popular dishes and build your menu from there.

Scavenger Hunt for Gifts

Why not combine classic American traditions from Christmas and Easter during the holiday season? The Easter egg hunt is a classic staple of Easter. Children enjoy the anticipation of finding — and eating — their Easter treats while adults have fun thinking back to their own childhoods participating in their own hunts. Consider starting a new Christmas tradition that involves sending your children on a search for their presents. Here’s how: Hide the Presents If Christmas morning is your dedicated time to open presents with your children, set aside a few to hide for your scavenger hunt. You also can hold a hunt for smaller items such as candies, gag gifts or Christmas cards. Whatever you choose to hide, spread them throughout your house to make the chase more exciting.

r Christmas celebrations! Create Your Clues Depending on the age of your children, think of clues that will challenge them to think. Using riddles or rhymes is a great way to make younger kids use their brainpower, while older children may be more challenged by more complicated brain puzzles. Write down your clues on gift tags to infuse a bit more holiday spirit into your scavenger hunt. You also can tie a candy cane onto each clue as mini gifts before your children uncover the main present.

Movie Night

Many people have turned going to the theater into a Christmas Day tradition. Hollywood has taken notice, holding many major blockbusters for around the holiday season. But if you aren’t excited about any of this year’s releases, why not host a holiday movie night from the comfort of your own home? From the Griswolds to Charlie Brown and his friends, we all have our favorite Christmas movie characters. Enjoying the classic holiday films of our time is a great way to spend time together with friends and family members. Here’s how to throw an amazing holiday movie party that will surely turn into an annual event: Step 1: The Movies You can’t have a memorable holiday movie party without great holiday movies. Plan to play two to three movies during your gettogether. If guests can’t stay for that long, choose one. Poll your guests ahead of the party to gauge their interests in film options. Are they in the mood for slapstick holiday humor or a sentimental tear-jerker? Keep the movie list a surprise.

Keep your guests waiting in anticipation until you hit play and watch their faces as they start quoting their favorite parts before the movie even starts. Step 2. The Food Popcorn and soda are the traditional snack options for a movie, but why not get fancy with your menu? Treating your guests to more substantial treats, such as grilled steak tips or chicken wings, will help satisfy their cravings while they take in the flick.

Go skating If you are fortunate enough to live in an area that features places to ice skate, you can enjoy one of the true outdoor treasures of the cold weather season. Ice skating is one of the most popular holiday activities because it can be enjoyed by all ages. Local skating rinks are a great place to strap on the skates because they provide safe, supervised skating areas. Make sure to be fitted for skates before heading out on the ice to make sure you’re getting enough ankle support.

You also can go with more of a potluck style, asking guests to bring along their favorite appetizers and drinks. Just make sure you plan accordingly with the amount of food needed for the number of guests. Step 3. The Trivia Every great holiday movie has great trivia associated with it. Consider turning your viewing party into a game of sorts, full of pauses to answer questions about upcoming scenes or about factual tidbits on the movie’s star actor. Divvy up your guests into teams and have them battle it out for a prize. Add a scoreboard on a dry-erase board to keep track of points. Your friends and family members will admire your creativity, and your holiday movie party will become a must-attend for years to come.

Get Outside

One way to start a tradition while also getting some exercise is planning an outdoor adventure — even a simple one in your own backyard. Playing outside is a great idea for all ages around the holidays. Kids need to run off energy, and adults need to run off the extra cookies they’ve consumed.

Even if the weather is cold around Christmastime in your neck of the woods, there are plenty of ways you and yours can enjoy the great outdoors.

Make it a Game Starting an annual football or ice hockey game on Christmas Day is a great way to combine family fun with a little healthy competition. If you have a large holiday party every year, you should have plenty of available players for your game. Whatever activity you decide to make into a tradition, it can be fun to make it a competitive event. Keeping score every Christmas can establish bragging rights for the rest of the year. This will help strengthen the tradition and make it one that everyone looks forward to each holiday season. Keep it Safe The key to enjoying the outdoors during the colder weather is safety. Follow these tips from the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons to prevent injuries while enjoying the most common wintertime activities: •

Adults should always supervise children during any outdoor activity.

•

Children should always wear helmets when sledding, skiing, skating or snowboarding.

•

Never go down a hill headfirst; always sit facing forward and steer.

•

If you’re playing in the evening, make sure the area is well lit and away from roadways.

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The Deal

Leasing v. Buying Your Next Car So would leasing be a good deal for you? Don’t decide without research, qualified advice and a thorough look at your finances. Start with the major pros and cons: Leasing Pros: Lower down payments and monthly payments than required with a conventional auto loan; low repair costs thanks to factory warranties typically tied to the term of the lease (usually three years); easy drop-off or trade-in once the lease expires; and lower sales tax expense because the lease is based on only three or four years of use. According to Edmunds.com, more than 25 percent of new American cars are now financed by lease instead of loan, and most of the people making that choice are under age 35. It’s all about the lowest possible monthly payment. Yet, for drivers young and old, leasing has grown substantially because it can also be done with little or no money down and the chance to get a newer, better car for less money overall. The main disadvantage? You won’t own the car unless you buy it at the end of the lease, which may or may not be a good deal. Experian Automotive – a division of the major credit reporting service – reported in mid-2015 a nearly $100-a-month savings for those who lease cars versus those who buy their cars by loan. Their numbers showed the average monthly payment for a brand-new leased vehicle was $394 a month against $483 for a new vehicle purchased by loan.

Urban Views Weekly | December 9, 2015

Cons: You’re essentially renting a car, not buying it – payments are cheaper because you’re really only paying interest and depreciation expense and not receiving any equity in the vehicle; annual mileage caps (usually 12,000-15,000 miles) come with stiff penalties if you exceed those limits; and potentially steep fees for excessive wear-and-tear on the car or early termination of the lease. Buying Pros: Freedom to put as much or as little mileage, wear-andtear and modification on the vehicle as you choose; long-term (100,000 miles or over) car ownership with good maintenance can be much more economical long term; and because you own the car, you can sell at any time. Cons: You’ll generally require a higher down payment than a lease; monthly loan payments are generally higher because unlike leasing, you’ll be taking ownership of the car once it’s paid off;

By Nathaniel Sillin

once factory warranties expire, you’ll take on full maintenance costs for an aging car that may or may not be expensive; and you’ll have more cash tied up in a depreciating asset for as long as you own the car. All these positives and negatives aside, it’s important to know that with loans and leases most details are negotiable, so it’s important to do your research. Start by estimating how much car you can actually afford and seek out qualified financial and tax advice to shape how you’ll approach the best possible deal for your financial situation. For many, leasing requires more extensive study because this form of financing is relatively new to most drivers and the terminology can be daunting. But generally, the best deals depend on two major factors – negotiating the lowest price on the vehicle going in and making sure it’s a vehicle that has a high estimated post-lease value. In short, the lessor’s ability to keep making money on a high-value leased vehicle allows a lower monthly payment at the start. Bottom line: If you need a vehicle, it pays to evaluate whether lease or purchase makes the most sense for you. Know your needs and get advice so you can make the most affordable choice for you. Nathaniel Sillin directs Visa’s financial education programs. To follow Practical Money Skills on Twitter: www.twitter.com/ PracticalMoney.

www.UrbanViewsWeekly.com

as an old train station, banks or office buildings and turns them into education buildings.

said. However, because of this she hopes to plan ahead.

From Scholar page 3

Télisi said she motivates herself to succeed because while her parents may continue to push her, no one else is going to do the work for her. “It’s not about what my parents want, it’s not about how my friends are going to see me 10 years from now at my reunion,” Télisi said. “It’s just about me being happy, me having a good job doing something that I want to do and not having a job that makes a lot of money just because it makes a lot of money.” When all of the seniors at her school had to pick a six-word memoir for the yearbook, she chose “sometimes you got to lose to win” like Fantasia’s song “Lose to Win.” What this means to her is that sometimes everything won’t be easy, life will be challenging, and some things will have to be put on the back burner, but she said she knows it will all be worth it in the end.

For Télisi, going to college will be “about starting a different chapter in life, turning the page and writing my own story.” She has been preparing for life in college by participating in numerous extracurricular activities in high school. She spends a lot of time with children working with the Richmond Public Schools Education Foundation’s MARS program where she mentors and reads to first graders. She is a member of Future Business Leaders of America, the National Honor Society, Richmond Community High School Council, the Key Club and she is also an ambassador. One thing she will take from her high school years to college is the importance of not procrastinating. “Focusing on the future is hard to do when your present is so chaotic,” Télisi

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Classifieds

How to Guide

How to Choose a High-Definition TV High-definition television is one of the most dynamic and useful electronic investments you can own. It is the centerpiece of most American living rooms. Families often gather around the TV set to watch their favorite programs. Many people own more than one set. They place them around their homes to make sure they don’t miss a moment of news or entertainment.

LED TVs have a deep, rich color spectrum. Their thin screens are slick and easy to mount on a wall. In the past, they’ve been more expensive than basic LCD sets, but that price gap is rapidly narrowing. LCD TVs are the most popular type of HDTV. They have the widest range of sizes. Although they can be inexpensive, these TVs might not offer the same quality of color and brightness as the other sets.

Here are some things to keep in mind while shopping for a new HDTV.

When you are not familiar with brand names, inspect the warranties. Quality manufacturers will support their products with strong warranties directly from the factory. The best retailers will offer additional warranties that will certainly give you peace of mind.

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Plasma TVs look best in dark or dimly lit rooms because their screens reflect light easily. So keep these TVs away from windows or bright lamps. They do offer vivid picture quality for sports, video games and other fast-moving action.

There is an enormous amount of flat-screen TVs on the market. All that competition means you are likely to find good deals. But with all of the modern features and styles available, it is easy to feel overwhelmed.

Be very cautious about purchasing bargain brand names. Any deal that seems too good to be true is likely to be a rip-off. There are a large number of low-cost flat-screen TVs from no-name manufacturers. Many of them will fail after only a short amount of time.

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Plasma, LED or LCD The most common HDTVs these days have plasma, LED or LCD screens. Which one is the right choice? Keep in mind where you will put the set, along with how you plan to use it.

High-definition television, or HD TV, is the most popular television on the market today. Everything is going high-definition, including many cable companies.

Reputation Consider the reputation of the manufacturer as well as the retail store.

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Purchase your TV from a solid retailer with a long track record of happy customers. The salespeople should be informative, not insistent. They should be able to explain the technology and various features so you can make an informed decision. Size For many Americans, the biggest TV is the best TV. Large screens give you the feeling that you are in a theater. But before you begin shopping, take out the measuring tape. Make certain that the TV will fit correctly wherever you are planning on putting it. Remember that screen sizes are measured diagonally, so you will also need to know the external dimensions for the new TV. If you think it might be tight, bring the tape measure with you to the store to double-check the dimensions.

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Features These days, TVs are becoming more integrated with computers. You will find plenty of extra features that will help you create a more enjoyable experience. You can find TVs that connect directly to the Internet so you can stream videos or access services such as Netflix. Others can provide a 3D viewing experience with or without the special glasses. As always, think about the sound quality of the TV’s speakers. You may want to connect them to a home theater audio system. Check the number of inputs and outputs to make sure you have the amount you need in case you want to connect video players and other accessories to the TV set.

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