(StatePoint)

For many years, the average 50-something American looked forward to a leisure-based retirement. But as Americans are living longer and feeling younger, many are finding it necessary to remain professionally active beyond traditional retirement age -- forging new paths that supply both money and meaning. “Boomers are opting to stay in the game, or better, change the game by leaving a mark and making a difference,” says Marci Alboher, vice president of Encore.org, an organization helping people transition to the nonprofit world and public sector. While moving into a new kind of work is not always quick or easy, some experts say that middle-aged Americans are well-equipped to handle it. “With midlife comes a newfound capacity to tap into your accumulated experience and wisdom to accomplish new things you may have been unable to do earlier,” says Alboher, whose new book “The Encore Career Handbook,” is a comprehensive guide for anyone looking to make such a shift.

Whether you’re looking to jump right in or make a plan first, here are some tips and things to consider:

• Your new work may involve a trade-off. You may trade money for meaning and flexibility. You may trade power and influence for the chance to work more closely with people you can help. • Transitions will take longer than you think, so be patient. • Be prepared to face age discrimination. You can counter employer prejudices by ensuring your skills are up to snuff, especially when it comes to technology. Show you understand the job market today by having a great LinkedIn profile. Consider tailoring your resume to show your strengths as an adviser and mentor. • Don’t be discouraged by today’s tight job market. The nonprofit sector has added jobs over the past decade and our government’s need for highly skilled employees in a variety of sectors continues to grow. Between now and 2018, experts say that there may be as many as 1.7 million jobs available at all levels of government. • Instead of jobs, think about projects. Instead of thinking about what you want to do forever, think about what you want to work on for a year or two. Think about a series of engaging commitments with periodic gaps for a personal break, retraining or travel in between. • Rarely can you find and craft the job opportunity you want, simply by applying to job postings. Create your role through networking, volunteering and retooling for a new kind of work. Consider going solo as a freelancer, consultant or entrepreneur. For tips on making the most of this chapter of your life and work, visit www.encore.org. Don’t approach your mid-life and beyond with trepidation. With skills, experience and care, you can launch a successful new career that combines your passion with a paycheck.

(StatePoint)

There has been a lot of talk lately about the costs of public employee pensions and whether governments have set aside enough money to make good on their promises. Concerns are real -- and growing -- about these retirement benefits and what must be done to honor the obligations if enough money is not available to cover the benefits public employees have been promised. When local and state governments have not set enough money aside to adequately fund pension obligations, the conversation very quickly turns to whether making up for the shortfall could mean tax increases, service reductions, or cuts in retirement benefits. To best understand the size and impact of your government’s pension liability, you should find out what type of pension plan your government offers and its current pension obligations and funded status.

New Standards Offer Transparency

In an effort to equip interested parties with the tools they need to evaluate government pension benefits, new pension standards issued by the Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB)—which are set to take effect in 2014— will require state and local governments to plainly show their net liability for pension benefits on the face of the financial statements, alongside other liabilities. The GASB is the independent group that sets accounting and financial reporting standards for U.S. state and local governments. Under the new standards, anyone interested in pension information will be better able to assess a government’s overall financial picture as it relates to pensions by helping them evaluate such questions as: What pension promises has my government made? How much is it obligated to pay? How is my government doing compared to other communities?

Where to Find This Information

While governments are becoming familiar with and preparing for the new financial reporting standards, there are steps that taxpayers and public employees can take to better understand their governments’ financial obligations: • Contact your government officials: Ask how your elected officials are preparing for the changes and how they will address funding pension benefits. • Get talking: Talk to friends, neighbors, and colleagues and share what you know. Find out how pension funding issues may affect the future of your community. • Stay Informed: As a citizen, you can access pension information on your own through Internet searches or government websites that provide access to local financial reports. Whether local and state governments are prepared to pay promised pension obligations now and in the future are issues that will affect every taxpayer.

The Del Rio Track Booster Club will have its 4th Annual BBQ Cook-Off on Saturday Feb. 9th in the Plaza Del Sol Mall parking lot. The event is Sanctioned by the Lone Star BBQ Association.   The entry fee is $125 for a 4 man team.  The categories of competition are in BBQ Pork Spare Ribs, Chicken, Brisket. Trophy and shirts will be award for 1st through 3rd places in each category.  Prize money & trophy for the Grand Champion of $300 and Prize money for the Reserve Champion of $200. If interested please contact Lupe Costilla 830-734-6270, Rick Torres 830-469-8861, Jesse Limon 830-422-7567