BLACK JEWELS LADIES GOLF ASSOCIATION HELPING TO CHANGE THE FACE OF GOLF NATIONWIDE

Encouraging African American Women and Girls to Golf for Health, Socializing and Mentoring

-- The National Golf Foundation reports that more than 780,000 women between the ages of 18 and 49 took up golf in the last few years. Forty-one (41%) percent of new golfers are women, representing the fastest growing segment of the golf industry. The Black Jewels Ladies Golf Association, Inc. (BJLGA) membership is well versed in the game of golf, and having lots of fun exercising and socializing while learning, competing and mentoring girls. Establish a Black Jewels Ladies Golf Association chapter in your area. --

Rasheena Wilson, Founder/CEO Black Jewels Ladies Golf Assoc.

New York, NY (BlackNews.com) - On Monday mornings at office coffee stations around the world, millions of people - women in particular - find themselves incapable of participating in conversations when golf enthusiasts fervently recount their respective weekend golfing escapades. Birdies, chips, putts, fairways, woods, irons: what's all that about? Starting with the basics, Black Jewels Ladies Golf Association, Inc. (BJLGA) ensures that its membership is well versed in the game of golf, and having lots of fun while learning and competing. From the game's history to its jargon; from game rules to course etiquette; even addressing course fashion, BJLGA covers it all. The New York City-based organization's founder and CEO Rasheena Wilson is establishing Black Jewels Ladies Golf Association chapters nationwide.

"Each week, my office receives a growing number of inquiries from ladies asking how they can locate recreational and social golf activities in their cities and towns across the country," said African American Golfer's Digest publisher Debert Cook. "Still others seek to learn how they can become involved on the business side of the game to work in the golf industry in sales and marketing."

Like Tiger Woods' influence on the game, Black Jewels Ladies Golf Association is "Changing the Face of Golf." Woods' success and notoriety is responsible for several hundred thousand African Americans having become involved in the sport over the last nine years. After Woods won The Masters -- his first major professional championship -- scores of blacks came to view golf as a sport in which they could participate, and even excel," The Golf Channel reporter Brian Hewitt said, "Trying to measure the breadth and depth of Tiger Woods' influence on the game of golf is a little like trying to get your hands around the sun; it is impossible and even a little dangerous." Black Jewels Ladies Golf Association is looking to make a similar impact on the game by influencing women and girls nationwide to take up the sport.

HEALTH & EXERCISE
Regular physical activity reduces people's risk for obesity, heart attack, colon cancer, diabetes, and high blood pressure; reduces symptoms of anxiety and depression; and is associated with fewer hospitalizations, physician visits, as well as less use of medications. According to Department of Health and Human Services reports, more than 50 percent of U.S. adults do not get enough physical activity to provide health benefits: 26 percent are not active at all in their leisure time. Moreover, more than one third of young people in grades 9–12 do not regularly engage in vigorous physical activity. Daily participation in grade school and high school physical education classes has dropped to record low levels.

INTERPERSONAL SKILLS
BJLGA programs promote healthy personal development and relationships for African American women and girls through programs focused around the game of golf. The golf course and clubhouse are ideal venues for networking, socializing, making new friends and developing business relationships while encouraging fair play and healthy competition.

MENTORSHIP
Black Jewels Ladies Golf Association programs provide opportunities for African American women and girls to form mentoring relationships, which can assist girls and young women in personal achievement, goal setting and professional success, while bolstering self-esteem and social skills development.

ESTABLISH A BLACK JEWELS LADIES GOLF CHAPTER WHERE YOU LIVE
The game of golf offers numerous benefits -- physical, emotional, social, and professional. "More women are taking to the golf course and leaving behind the traditional golf widow stereotype," said Dallas Business Journal columnist Sandra Zaragoza. "For these women, the personal and professional rewards of golfing are well worth the cost of club membership." To join an existing Black Jewels Ladies Golf Association, Inc. chapter, or to establish a chapter where you live, contact:

Black Jewels Ladies Golf Association, Inc.
Rasheena Wilson, Founder, President & CEO
P.O. Box 6615, New York, NY 10150
917-545-9996 | rwilson@blackjewelsgolf.com
www.BlackJewelsGolf.com

ABOUT Black Jewels Ladies Golf Association, Inc. (BJLGA):
Rasheena Wilson founded Black Jewels Ladies Golf Association, Inc., a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, in 2004 to enhance the representation of women of color to the game of golf. BJLGA offers networking opportunities for minority women to provide exceptional mentoring for at-risk girls, to keep them "out of the rough" through programs structured around the game of golf. BJLGA provides clinics, golf instruction and opportunities for athletic development and competition, enabling young ladies to positively address many issues they will face and live extraordinary lives.

CNNMoney.com

Lawmakers have given their final seal of approval to a $170 billion plan intended to spark the slowing economy.

The plan's centerpiece: tax rebates.
But questions remain about how the program will work, and officials at the Treasury Department and IRS are scurrying to work out the details.

In the meantime, here are some answers based on currently available government information and experts' analysis.

Do I qualify for a rebate and how much can I expect?
One-time rebates will be sent to at least 117 million low- and middle-income households, 20 million senior citizens living off of Social Security, and 250,000 disabled veterans.
To be eligible for a full rebate, single tax filers must have 2007 adjusted gross income (AGI) below $75,000 and joint filers must have AGI below $150,000.
Adjusted gross income is not your annual salary. It's equal to gross income minus 'above the line deductions,' which are reported on page 1 of the 1040 tax form. Above-the-line deductions include deductible IRA contributions, alimony paid and, for the self-employed, some portion of money spent on health insurance or Social Security.
Single filers with AGI below $75,000 will get rebates of as much as $600. Couples with AGI below $150,000 will receive rebates of up to $1,200.

MORE THAN 6,000 BLACK ENGINEERS TO CONVENE AT ORLANDO CONVENTION

Hill Harper, host of 11th Annual NSBE Golden Torch Awards

Alexandria, VA (BlackNews.com) - The National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE) is expecting more than 6,000 engineers to take part in its 34th Annual National Convention, which will be held March 19-23, 2008, at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Fla.

Also participating in this year's convention, which boasts the theme Igniting the Torch: Engineering In Action, will be more than 300 sponsors and exhibitors, including companies such as Baxter Healthcare, The Boeing Company, Exxon Mobil Corporation, Microsoft Corporation, Texas Instruments Incorporated and Toyota, and some of the nation's leading colleges and universities and largest government agencies. In addition to a wealth of technical and interactive workshops, the convention will offer many educational, informative and fun events, such as an Engineering Deans Forum, a Technical Paper Competition and a Graduate School Conference, as well as a Model Rocketry Launch for middle school and high school students.

The Opening Session on Thursday will feature a keynote address from Susan L. Taylor, editorial director emerita of Essence magazine and the founder of the National Cares Mentoring Movement.

NSBE's 34th Annual National Convention is expected to have an economic impact of more than $41 million on Orange County, according to the Orlando/Orange County Convention & Visitors Bureau. NSBE also held its 2002 national convention in Orlando.

"Each year, during spring break, we bring thousands of engineers and technical professionals together, and this year we're excited to 'Ignite the Torch' in Orlando," says NSBE National Chair Darryl A. Dickerson, referring to the organization's symbol, the torch, which stands for NSBE members' everlasting, burning desire to achieve success in a competitive society and to positively affect the quality of life for all people.

Richard K. ("Rich") Templeton, president and chief executive officer of Texas Instruments (TI), will deliver the keynote address at the 11th Annual NSBE Golden Torch Awards, which honor the best and brightest in engineering and technology. The event will be hosted by the award-winning actor and author Hill Harper.

"At TI, we believe that technology offers the potential to solve the toughest problems the world faces today," says Templeton. "Young, talented engineers, like those involved with NSBE, will play a key role in innovating and building solutions that can change the world. TI is proud to foster student innovation through support for organizations like NSBE."

On Saturday, March 22, NSBE will host a Community Day for Orlando area pre-college students who are curious about engineering. Local residents are invited to participate in or observe engineering events at the convention center on that day. Also on Saturday, the College and Graduate School Fairs will be held, to provide valuable information for those preparing to advance their studies.

ALPHA PHI ALPHA FRATERNITY, INC.'S COLLEGE LIFE TO CORPORATE LIFE (C2C) -- "CHAMPIONS OF CHANGE" NATIONAL INITIATIVE PARTNERS WITH WELLS FARGO

L to R: Desmund Adams, national chairman of C2C; Darryl R. Matthews, Sr., 32nd general president of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.; and, Mark Merkel, president of Wells Fargo Financial Leasing Inc. Photo by Melvin Adams

Baltimore, MD (BlackNews.com) - The 102-year-old historic national fraternity, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated is launching a national internship program in partnership with Wells Fargo Financial in an effort to provide career opportunities in financial services for minority college men and women.

The partnership between the fraternity's College Life to Corporate Life (C2C) -- "Champions of Change" internship program and Wells Fargo Financial was announced at the annual Black & Gold Ball of the Zeta Kappa Lambda Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated on Saturday, February 16, 2008 in Des Moines, IA.

Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. 32nd General President Darryl R. Matthews, Sr. shared, "When I assumed this office my vision was to provide our collegiate members with the tools and resources needed to maximize their potential and rapidly ascend as leaders in their chosen fields."

Alpha Member Desmund Adams, national chairman of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc.'s College Life to Corporate Life (C2C) and chief architect of the internship initiative stated, "We are pleased to have Wells Fargo on board as the inaugural national corporate partner. We believe their presence will inspire other corporations to join in -- providing a direct and substantial impact on the success of diverse professionals. Many professional careers will be launched from this solid foundation."

Wells Fargo Financial will provide up to 25 summer internships each year to Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc. collegiate members as well as other diverse women and men within participating markets. Initially the program will launch in 14 Midwestern states where Wells Fargo Financial has a presence.

"All of us at Wells Fargo Financial are proud of our continued work in helping our great partners at Alpha Phi Alpha with their vision of creating unlimited professional opportunities for minority women and men", Mark Merkel stated. "It is our hope that this program will help individuals bridge the gap from career opportunities to career success in corporate America."

The program, designed to be replicated through other chapters of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc. across the U.S., will begin with an initial five year commitment running through the end of 2012.

The internship program on which the national launch is modeled was created by the Zeta Kappa Lambda Alumni chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. in Des Moines, IA. It began as a local initiative between Zeta Kappa Lambda and Wells Fargo Leasing in Des Moines in the summer of 2006 with participating companies Iowa Health Systems and Equitrust joining Wells Fargo Financial. After much success it was determined that this effort should go national.

In 2008 the national office of Alpha and local sponsor Wells Fargo Financial committed the necessary resources to launch it nationally, whereby creating unlimited professional opportunities for minority women and men from across the U.S. The goal from inception continues to be to help bridge the gap in corporate development and career opportunities within corporate America. This internship provides that bridge.

Founded on December 4, 1906 at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. has continued to supply voice and vision to the struggle of African Americans and people of color around the world. The Fraternity has long stood at the forefront of the African-American community's fight for civil rights, through Alpha men such as Martin Luther King Jr., Adam Clayton Powell, Thurgood Marshall, Andrew Young, and Cornel West. among others that include members of the 110th Congress including: Emanuel Cleaver, II (MO), Charles B. Rangel (NY), Danny K. Davis (IL), Chaka Fattah (PA), Al Green (TX), Gregory Meeks (NY), David Scott (GA), Robert C. Scott (VA). The fraternity through its college and alumni chapters serves the community through nearly a thousand chapters in the United States, Europe and the Caribbean. To learn more visit www.apa1906.net