November Notes

Volume 1, Issue 3 November 1, 2009

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JUST NOTES

from Joanne

Applying for Scholarships

Things Change! Things change! Oh my, do they ever! When your address, telephone numbers, or email address change, don’t forget to tell me. It is important for us to stay in contact and that means I need to have your most current information, so keep me in the loop.

Now is the time to apply for scholarships for Fall 2010. Most scholarship applications need to be submitted in January for the following school term. Take every opportunity to seek additional sources of financial aid. Huge amounts of scholarship money go unused every year because students do not apply! Scholarship Application Time First, ask your college about scholarship opportunities. Also investigate organizations that partners or parents might belong to, such as; Knights of Columbus, American Legions, Rotary, Chambers of Commerce, or Masons. These organizations often have scholarships available to members and their families.

Joanne Kost Program Coordinator 763-783-4810 Fax: 763-783-4814 [email protected]

Explore websites like: A Better Chance www.abetterchance.org College Answer www. Collegeanswer.com CollegeNet www.collegenet.com FastWeb Free Scholarship Search www.fastweb.com Scholarship Experts www.scholarshipexperts.com Scholarships offered by MN Institutions www.getreadyforcollege.org/mnscholarships

Do not pay for scholarship information. The information is free and many more resources can be found online and at the library. Act now to meet deadlines.

Registering for Spring Semester INSIDE THIS ISSUE: Things Change!

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Scholarships

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Spring Semester

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U.I. Benefits

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Thanksgiving

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After you register for Spring semester, email or drop off your fee statements with your book costs to your counselor. It takes 24 to 48 hours for an Authorization to be sent to the school once your counselor has the information. When the school has received the Authorization, you will receive a telephone call from the Dislocated Worker Program office to confirm the school received the paperwork. You have plenty of time to submit your fee statements and book costs before the beginning of Spring Semester. Avoid a crisis and get your documents submitted right away. If all your books are not in, consider requesting the ones that are in and submit a second request when the others arrive.

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JUST NOTES FROM JOANNE

Changes in Unemployment Benefits Announced The following announcement was released last week. I do not know more than what is provided below. Any questions about your unemployment benefits should be directed to an Unemployment Representative at 651-296-3644. “Because Minnesota’s unemployment rate dropped during the month of September, the amount of Federal-State Extended Benefits (EB) will be reduced. The reduction is effective November 15, 2009. Under federal law, additional weeks of EB are available only in states where the three-month average unemployment rate is 8.0 percent or higher. Minnesota’s September rate dropped to 7.3 percent, which lowered the rate for the past three months to 7.8 percent. This means that applicants who are currently eligible to receive EB will likely Unemployment Benefits

receive fewer weeks of benefits than they expected. Applicants will be affected differently, depending on the amount of their regular state unem-

ployment account, how many weeks of EB they’ve received, and if they received partial benefits for any weeks. On Monday, Oct. 26th, the letters were mailed to applicants currently eligible for EB (about 9500) to notify them of this change.”

Take a Thanksgiving Break The Thanksgiving holiday is rapidly approaching on Thursday, November 26.

“Take time to enjoy your holiday break.”

The WorkForce Center will be closed on November 26 and 27 for the holiday. Please plan accordingly if you need to get in touch with your counselor or use the Resource Center during the holiday week. Take time to enjoy your holiday break. Plan a visit with family and/or friends and allow yourself a little

rest and relaxation. It’s easy to get so caught up in your studies and daily responsibilities, that you don’t allow yourself any downtime to re-cooperate. It’s important to take care of yourself so that you do not become overwhelmed or run-down, especially in the cold and flu season. Remember, even during tough economic times, there is always something to be thankful for, so try to look for that silver lining!