Students registering for classes at Sul Ross-Rio Grande College may now get all the information they need from one point of contact rather than having to step their way through office visits and phone calls. With the start of signups last week for the Spring 2013 semester, RGC opened offices at its three campuses where student workers trained as “Person of First Contact” greet and help answer the questions of new students. Modeled on the “One-Stop-Shop” for student assistance at RGC’s parent campus in Alpine, the information centers will be staffed weekdays from 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Questions about financial aid, tuition and fees, how to register on line, obtaining transcripts, laying out degree programs, accessing internet Banner accounts, dropping courses and withdrawal, are readily answered at the centers. Administrative staff stand by to offer additional help, as needed. First Contact offices may be reached at (830) 703-4809 in Del Rio, (830) 758-5012 in Eagle Pass, and (830) 279-3028 in Uvalde. Enrollment for the Spring semester ends January 22, 2013. Classes begin January 14.

By Sen. Carlos Uresti  

There is new reason to hope that the state agency charged with protecting our children and the elderly will soon step up its efforts on behalf of the most vulnerable citizens in society.   Senior district Judge John J. Specia Jr. of San Antonio, who has been on the front lines of the fight against child abuse and neglect for many years, was appointed by Gov. Rick Perry as commissioner of the Department of Family and Protective Services.   The appointment comes at a pivotal point for the department, which oversees Child Protective Services and the Department of Aging and Disability Services. These agencies have challenging missions because of the people they serve and must operate under tightening budget restraints, including a 44 percent cut for child abuse prevention programs by the 2011 Legislature — funds that I will work to try and restore in the upcoming session.   Morale is on the wane at CPS in particular as that agency fights a growing epidemic in child abuse and neglect, and investigators are assigned increasingly high caseloads, leading to costly turnovers of personnel. Add to this a criminal investigation of CPS workers in Abilene who may have withheld information in a child death case, and it becomes clear that Specia has his work cut out for him.   Fortunately, the governor picked the right man for the job.   Specia was among the first members of the Bexar County Blue Ribbon Task Force, a group I formed in 2004 after the horrific starvation death of Jovonie Ochoa by his grandparents. The judge helped get the task force off the ground, and I consider him a mentor in the fight I have taken up on behalf of Texas children.   One of the state's first child welfare attorneys, Specia was a district judge in Bexar County for almost 20 years before retiring in 1996 and becoming a senior district judge. During his tenure he established the Bexar County Children's Court and another program that has become a model for the state — the Family Drug Treatment Court.   His resume on child protection doesn't end there. He served as vice chairman of the Texas Supreme Court's Permanent Judicial Commission for Children, Youth and Families and chaired the Supreme Court Task Force on Foster Care. CASA named him Judge of the Year.   When his appointment was announced, Specia told the San Antonio Express-News that his first priority is the 28,000 children in foster care "and all the others who rely on us for their protection and well-being.”   Specia is a man who does what he says, and I believe he can transform a child protection system in need of new vision and leadership. His appointment becomes effective Dec. 1 — an early Christmas gift for at-risk kids across Texas and all of their advocates.

(StatePoint)

In challenging financial times, it can be difficult to pay bills today, let alone save for the future. In fact, a recent survey conducted by Lincoln Financial Group found that 72 percent of Americans say that the state of the economy is making it challenging for them to stay on track with their retirement savings. “With everything that Americans have on their minds today, the economy can weigh heavily on retirement savings decisions,” says Chuck Cornelio, president of Retirement Plan Services at Lincoln Financial Group. “But it’s important not to take a break from saving.” Even if you are already enrolled in your employer-sponsored retirement plan, like a 401(k) or 403(b), there are steps you can take to help better prepare you for retirement.

Here are five tips to help you get you started.

• Enroll in your employer sponsored retirement plan: Participating in your employer-sponsored retirement plan reduces your taxable income today, while helping to build retirement savings for tomorrow. If you don’t know how to get started, contact your benefits administrator or human resources department to help you enroll.

 • Consolidate assets: Consolidating your retirement assets into one account helps to simplify the savings and income planning process and can help your money grow over time.

 • Schedule a retirement plan check-up: Make it a habit to schedule an annual plan check-up just as you would your health exam. An annual meeting with a financial professional will help you stay on track of goals.

• Resist the temptation to borrow against your retirement plan: While the best plans can be impacted by unexpected events, avoid borrowing against your retirement plan savings. When you do that, you may miss out on potential returns when the market recovers. All the time you spend paying back the loan is time you’re not making contributions, missing out on the ability for your money to grow.

• Increase contributions with income boosts: Whenever you receive extra cash from a tax refund, a bonus, a salary increase or some other pleasant surprise, consider increasing your retirement plan contributions. Even increasing by a percentage or two can make a big difference in the long run. When you hit the maximum contribution level in your employer-sponsored retirement plan, a financial advisor can help you find the right place to invest additional savings. Although retirement may seem far off when you are in the middle of your working years, getting on track early and saving steadily can help you fund the lifestyle you want to live in your retirement years. For more information, visit www.lincolnfinancial.com.