Mary Jane Oliveri, Commission on the Status of Women, and Ann Diamond, financial adviser to women

Sonoma County, a diverse county of over one million acres, is famed for its agriculture, industry and recreation, boasting a booming economy and unique lifestyle for its citizens. Described by the same Luther Burbank as the chosen spot of all the Earth, Sonoma County is the place to

live, work and play as we move into the 21st century. Led by the forward looking philosophy of its governing bodies, Cinema Counties, 340,000 residents are, Ah, harmonious, successful blend of ethnic and economic backgrounds. We invite you to take a closer look at Sonoma County in the

nineties with your host Rich McGlinchy. Hello again, everyone. Welcome to this edition of Sonoma County in the nineties. You know, every once in a while we come up with what I consider a very unique and interesting program. We like to think all of them are fairly

interesting, but this is really special. We'll be talking to two women. Were we talking to Mary Jane Allah very of the Commission on the Status of Women and an be diamond, who is a nationally known financial counselor to women. We're gonna talk about women and how

they can better handle our finances, and it's nice to have you here visiting from New York. Mary Jane. It's nice to have you reading here from Santa Rosa. Um, we're going to talk to both these women about the financial services for women. But before we do

that, I'd like you to take a quick look at the beautiful art on the walls. The first painting is they're both by Joe Hoffman, who we consider to be the outstanding equine art artist in Northern California. This is from the back stretch exercise Boys at the

morning work. Now that's a 24 by 48 inch painting, and it is really beautiful. The other painting is the Del Monte Forest Point appointed Bird Rock open to members of Hunts in hunting attire, and this is the 26 by 46 painting. Both of these are exquisite

works, and we thank Joe, hoping very much for letting um, us have these to decorate our set. Okay, now, let's talk Teoh to very, very interesting people and let's didn't tell a little bit about themselves. How about you, Mary Jane? Uh, who was Mary Jane Oliveria?

Where does she come from? And how did you get here today? Well, um, I'm a commissioner on the Commission on the Status of Women. I'm an appointed commissioner. Some of the things that I'm involved in our I'm involved with the Education Task Force and a new

program called Wink or Women and Non Trish Traditional careers. I'm also ah, co chair for the new effort that we have. Also, it's called a volunteer development committee, where we're trying to build a volunteer base for the commission. I'm a registered civil engineer in the state

of California. I worked for Cinema County Water Agency as a civil engineer and I've been there since 1987. Unique. That's great. That's when you do go into the field and do all the work. You know why I would say it that way. But then the list

I did So all the work that you do, all of that together, which a formerly male oriented profession that you're doing a magnificent job. So it just proves once again anything a man can do a woman can do better. Uh, and how's about you? What's a

little background on and be diamond? Well, I was a I and currently A from a financial counselor on what that means is I have individuals who come in and I help them get their finances organized and have them have, um, objectives that they're trying to meet.

We try to meet them together, and currently I'm traveling with Citibank, MasterCard and Visa across the country, doing different seminars on keeping your financial balance. My background in this is that was a portfolio manager for a private investment banking firm for 15 years, and I started

my own business five years ago. I do seminars and I counsel individuals and I go on national speaking tours. You know, I think I've been Henry Kaiser, someone who once said, find a need and fill it. You certainly did. Well, that's exactly right, just from my

friends. Going into different careers, I discovered that women really did not have the financial education, and that is how I started my business. Honestly, I started doing seminars for women, and 10 of my friends got together and sat with me for two months to tell me

what it is they needed to know. And we came up with a seminar and it became very popular. And now We've taken it on the road, so to speak. I know you'll be doing seminars in San Francisco and do them in the East Coast. Great deal.

That's what gets you do everywhere. All the major cities in all the major cities. All right, we'll be back and talk more about this instant. I don't want to go over here to this girl. Ah, girl. No, she was. Once she's now moving, she's definitely the

commissioner. Is that I think I just blue it, Uh, but we'll go back. There is one question that many people do still asked whether or not why is there a need for a commission on the status of women? Well, there. I wish there wasn't a necessity

for such a commission. But even though women have made really great strides in many areas in the last 20 to 30 years, and they're always women in the past who have stood out and who have advanced and gone into a men's career traditional marriage men's careers.

But unfortunately there is still a lot of discrimination off their based on sex race, sexual preference, um, physical handicaps, things like that. So it's for that reason and also to advance women that we need a commission. Well, we had a Marine or is very Who's the

commissioner of the head of the office force in the county on with this recently? And she was talking about the tremendous difference even that still exists in the wage for a woman. Men doing the same job. It's never been right. It's not right now, and it's

gonna change. It will. And it is. That's even better. What are some of the commission on the status of women's current activities related to the financial betterment of women? Because we've got an here? Well, you have a question, or do you want to ask her later?

No. Right, right. I do. I do. Well, there's some things that we do. Ah, the commission is, ah, small office of the director and secretary and we get many calls and we do a lot of job referrals. We have a resource library. We have job listings

there for women, sources of education. We refer them to the private Industry Council or the center as a junior college or Sonam estate, any of the other ones. And then, besides a referral service, we also have the education task force that I was talking to you

about. What is the education task force and who's involved with what you're doing with, Well, it's it's Ah, it's a fledgling task force. It's getting off its feet right now on its feet right now. And there's we have three parts to it. One is, uh, working

in the schools with gender equity issues, the title nine restraints that that schools have. And then the other thing is Women's History Month, which is a Z you know, a big thing for the commission that would essentially the Women's History Project was an offshoot off women's

history months through the commission. Um, there's that outreach to the school for the Women's History Month, and then the third thing is, ah, a new program. Uh, it's called women and nontraditional careers, and that is going to be about training women to go into careers that

have usually been a male dominated. Well, you know, every time you mention this, or or any of the commissioner's mentioned the Women's History Month, we always try to put in that initial plug. Portman, I think, is very important because I remember I was here is the

public information officer. When it began, it actually began here instead of telling about 14 15 years ago. I'm not sure exactly, but I know that it has. It was acknowledged here and celebrated and highly thought off. And now it has been, shall we say said across

the country and its observed almost every point. It was a vision inspiration for nationwide. That's the more questions we want to ask you a little later on. The volunteers want to talk to you and a M B diamond for a few moments. Are you warm enough

now? Yes, I'm much better. Thank you, she said to California. Whether it gives her chills gets here. Very article. Such good weather. It gets beautiful later on. Just just like they say, You don't like the weather and I'll wait around an hour. Um, how does the

issue of personal financial management differ for the days women, then from women, historically past? Well, I think one of the big issues is that more women are working now than ever before, and as women are earning their own money, they should have control over the money.

And there are a lot of issues. In today's society, there are more divorces than evermore, women remaining single, and so women are need to be in control of their finances. Even the women who are in traditional families with Children. There should be a partnership there. We're

seeing too many women who get divorced or lose their husbands, and then they have no idea how to handle their finances. Not only are there dealing with an emotional issue, but then they're also dealing with this financial issue that just complicates matters. So the educational program

is is meant to get women up to speed now before there's a crisis. And I think that Citibank has done a terrific job in putting together an entire package of programs that's not just for women, by the way. They are starting where I think it's very

important in the schools. They have a program called Dollars and Cents, which is for grammar school students. And there's a workbook that it's given to the teacher. The regular teacher on bacon work with the individual students on what money is about, how we use money, and

that is really where we need to start because women have never really learned these things. I mean, that's one of the That's one of the real problems. Men. Traditionally, no matter where they are in life, they somehow get the picture that they're gonna be responsible if

there are single or divorced, have Children, don't have doesn't matter. They know this is their function, and women have not gotten that message. I hope that women in this generation will be getting that well. You're helping to get it out, and they are getting it. I

really believe that they are in your some of the background material about your career and background. You mentioned the fact that women handicapped er were a bit handicap for many years because they expected or were taught that somebody would take care of them. They didn't have

to enter into the marketplace or into the business world. But that's not true anymore. And then what you're doing right now is of extreme importance. How are women in general coping with modern day financial responsibilities? Are they doing better? Well, I think they are doing a

little bit better. I think this generation is doing better, but the message that we're trying to get across is that education is the key to everything. And if we haven't my generation and the generations before me have not been educated by their parents or in schools

than what you have to do is go out and find a place to be educated. We're hoping that thes seminars will get women out there free seminars on and we and the reason we're doing them for women is because we want women to have a forum,

ah, place to go where they're not intimidated, where they can ask whatever question that they want and not have to feel that whatever they're asking is inappropriate or will make them appear foolish. Because there is no such questions, you don't know the information, then you should

be able to ask everything. And that's one of the real reasons that we've targeted women for these seminars. Not that we don't have men show up. Oh, make sure, but this is extremely important because, as you said, not overly simplify it. But for so many years,

many women did not feel that they had to be involved in this, and it's maybe it wasn't wrong. Then it's wrong now and now the women need to know all they can to survive in the marketplace, to survive in the investment market or to make their

money work for them. That has every right to do so. Many women are establishing terrific careers, but they're focusing in on their careers. And And I would say to people, If I could offer you a part time job that would assure you financial your financial future,

would you take that job? And of course, everybody would take that job. You'd have to be foolish not to take that. When does it start? It starts today. It starts today. And if people would just take the initiative to find out about different types of investments,

find appropriate investments for what it is they're trying to fund, then that is the part time job. It takes a couple of hours a week, and everybody can have it, and it really can promote your independence, which is what this is all about. I think what

we have in common is that we are trying Teoh assure that women have financial independence because now that they're working and even working in the home that's working also, women should feel in control. They should protect the people they love. That's what independence is all about.

And they should reach their objectives. Um, is it true that women control most of the money in the United States? I sure hope so, Uh, at the statistics. Do you know that I have read that? I read that. I'm not sure whether that's a factual statement

or where there was just something I read, but I was, and I didn't mean that facetiously in any way. I just wonder, Is it true? I think that I read that women in the country and generally do control most Well, well, I think that might also

be because women outlive their husbands usually. And so they inherit a lot of the money. And whether they're investing it themselves is another question. We're gonna come back and talk more about investments for women and how you are through your seminars helping women. We're gonna find

out a little bit more about commission on the status of women and volunteers. Ladies and gentlemen, Mary Jane Allah very and diamond. I will return. But first, just important message. So how's your cousin's new car? Oh, yeah, And my cousins New car. He picked it up

last week. Alright. Big celebration. Yeah, and I felt like a jerk telling him he should take a taxi home because he had one too many. But you did. No, I didn't. What happened? Totaled what? And him with it. Oh, no. Oh, yeah. Take the keys. Call

a cab. Take a stand. Friends don't let friends drive drunk. Pete Sampras comes up to serve. John Stevenson makes the drive a C Green and Charles Smith pound. The board's Marcus Allen rushes up the middle J. Schrader with touchdown. There are a lot of different parts

to play. American Red Cross. Play your part. Welcome back to this edition of Sonoma County in the nineties. We're talking about very interesting subject. We're talking about women and we're talking about women's financial management. We're talking to and be Diamond, who is here with us from

New York and roasted talking to Mary Jane All a very And when we left a moment ago, we made the remark that we've read someplace that it seemed to us we had heard women control most of the money in the United States, and I know when

we were off camera for a moment. You said you would like to address that. How do you feel from the commission? Well, from at the commission, we have piles and piles of stats that do not reflect these kinds of things. Some of them are that two

out of three adults and poverty are women. That, um, let's see some things about women making less than $30,000 a year. How in light of those kinds of facts and and also the fact that women make up to 2/3 of, ah percentage of the workforce, can

you maybe just clarify or explain why, why somebody would make that claim that I don't I don't know why. Why do you feel that the remark that I quoted came about because it may be because a lot of women, the husband turned over paychecks to the

women If they were in a marital situation and they, you know, went out and bought the groceries, what have you I don't know where this came from, but you have anymore. Well, I No, I can't say with with authority. However, it occurs to me that most

people in this country who are working are make just making ends meet. So whether we're talking about women who make you know less than half of what men do for comparable jobs, when we're talking about families or women or or head of households, most people are

just getting by and and maybe we can address that later, one of the points of the seminars to try to get people to create some cash flow for themselves, no matter what level off income that they have. But I think where this statistic is coming from

is in the savings rate, and you know that we don't save as we should. And most of the wealth that has accumulated has accumulated, I believe through inheritance. And so I don't really believe we're talking about the major corporations. We're not talking about that. We're talking

about US savings ratings. That's good. This was a statement and a lot of rest a place, and I'd like to see it taking apart, because if it's a Miss Norma, we should know it on. Let me jump back over here to you. What are some of

the issues women have to take into consideration when they're thinking about setting up a personal financial program? how buys there's other particular steps they should take. Yes, there are particular steps. Any time you're going to do any kind of financial plan, there are certain areas that

you have to look at. The first thing you want to do is get organized. You must know where you're starting from, so that means looking at all of your assets and all of your liabilities and figuring out which need to be reworked. So we need to

organize that step. A Step B is perhaps the most important step that is figuring out what our objectives are because, as we all know, if you don't have goals, it's very difficult to come up with anything. And so that's point C, so to speak. Now we

know where we're starting from. We know what it is that we're trying to accomplish. The next step is to analyse the situation and then find different ways of completing the picture, so to speak. Now there are many ways to accomplish any goal, and anyone who's trying

to sell you a product will tell you that's the only way to accomplish it. But I am here to tell you that it's not so you. There's usually there are usually 45 or maybe even more ways Teoh be able to accomplish your goals. So what you

have to do is analyze each of those. And it depends on who you are and how you feel about risk as to which one you're going to choose once you choose a certain path to take. Then you put a plan together. This is not cast in

stone. So many women come to me and say, You know, I'm in a transition in my life right now, and so why should I plan? Now? Um, I wanna wait until I'm out of this transition in my life really begins. And I need to tell these

women that I don't want to disappoint them, but their life, This is their life now. It may not always be this way, but for the time being, this is the way it is. And so it's very important to start now. The last step is to review

and revise if you get married. If you get divorced, if you have Children, whatever you could always make a revision. It is a lot easier to start when there are fewer complications And so it's always good Teoh just to review toe, organize yourself, have objectives, analyze

the situations, come up with different ways to accomplish your goals and then review and revise them. Well put. Um, there we go over here to you for a minute. E sw Other volunteer available dress, I should say volunteering opportunities available. See? Estimate there are. Well, let

me just clarify that the appointed commissioners are also volunteers. Okay, that that's a political appointment by the supervising in that they're appointed by a member of the border Super right, right in the district. Um, the other opportunities are, um, working along with the task forces that

we have right there. Some of them are task force against violence against women. Um uh, pro bono task force that we have. Okay, Um um, anybody in and ask you one other thing talking, talking about Well, during, um, Howard volunteering it at the city s Debi

assist in the financial betterment of women, which is you ever Okay talking about right? That's a good way, right? Well, in my experience, I've found that that volunteering or interning in a place that you doing a skill that you might be able to do out in

the in the real world. Getting that skill while you're volunteering that I see is one of the greatest values off any volunteer program, but particularly for women wanting to come to work at the commission. Some of the opportunities that we have, our newsletter coordinator Grant writer,

which is a tremendous job. If if you're a good grandmother, that's very much in demand. Um, let me see. We have an events coordinator, somebody who's going to take over the entire Women's History project to do outreach to the schools, that living. That's incredible public relations,

experience, that kind of things that you just can't learn in school. And that's really what we have become apparent. Bring, Bring, bring your seminar. That's yeah, we have to do that. Ranger. Let me get a couple of questions bacteria and you have been conducting the $7

on behalf of Citibank on and part of the effort to provide America with certainly American woman with pregnant with personal financial education. Now, why don't you talk just a little bit more about that program? I think Citibank's entitled Plug for putting You Out to do this

well, me Bank believes, as I do, that education is the key. And so they've come up with a program that is not just my program, but there are other programs involved. Ah, one program I already mentioned is dollars and Cents, which is four grammar school Children.

Then we have the Money Matters program, which goes to high school students and college students and also women, which is my program and young family formations. The other program that Citibank is sponsoring is coping with a a credit crisis. We have a person from the Council

on Credit come in and discuss all different kinds of problems. How to get credit, how to keep your credit record clean. How Teoh, if you do have a problem, how to get it fixed. And this is a non profit organization that works with people on their

budgets and getting their credit clean. So it really is a very comprehensive program. And one of the reasons I'm particularly proud of it is because ah, Citibank has taken independent financial counselors and planners come in and do this program. This is this is purely educational. It

has nothing to do with selling any kind of products. And so I think it's putting the education where we really need it. To people who traditionally have not gotten the education schoolchildren, college students, women, young families and people who are having problems with their credit. He's

a really very, very important things. And the fact that you're making it available at no cost of women is I commend you for your expertise in this hate that word for your excellent experience, but also Citibank for doing that. Citibank has an address, and there's a

little brochure. You. Yes, yes, I have a brochure. I'll hold it out. It's full money matters for women, and we hope you will be able to come out to some of our seminars. Watch for our publicity and our newspaper advertisements. But if you can come for

some reason, there is a brochure that talks about a lot of these issues, and you can get it from Citibank, MasterCard and Visa. The address is, and I think it's going to be up on the monitor bump. Not mistaken. It's 301 East 57th Street, Suite 300

New York, New York, one OO to to Okay, and that's what they can get a copy of this. What you call money matters for women, right? All right. Um, we're down to a couple of minutes here. What are some of the other thought you had a

question, or do you want to throw it out and we'll have a couple minutes. So throw. Okay. What? I wanted to ask you, anise, what good can financial investment planning do for a woman much like of women that we encounter at the commission who, uh, convey

really pay their rancher and feed their kids and keep them in clothing? What could? Well, it's interesting because I find that no matter how much money people make, they seem to spend right up to the limit. I mean, this is just I don't know if it's

the American way or it's just the human way, but we all seem to spend everything that we make. What I try to do with people is to get them to try to see how they're spending their money. Cash flow is the key to everything. If most

people know how much money is coming in, so that's not the problem. It's the amount of money that's going out. So we need to analyze the the items that were spending our money on. And instead of spending money for items that depreciate, get thrown out or

get forgotten about after a year or so, we need to start to focus on funding items that are meaningful. Tow us. And I think too many people are focusing on those items that depreciate. The cars get thrown out, the clothing, the vacations that, you know, pass

and then, you know, hopefully you feel mentally refreshed. But, you know, maybe we could do with a little less spending on that and and use the cash flow for something that couldn't stay with us. I hate to stop this because it's really interesting and you both

have had a great deal of that's important, but we are out of time and thanks a 1,000,000 Coming. Having and good luck in the seminars sincerely compliment you, I think extremely worthwhile. Thank you. They're meaningful. Very Jane, Your job is very, very worthwhile because you're helping

people here in Sonoma County and we appreciate it and we are proud of commission with steps with my name is rich McGlinchey Program said Omagh County in the nineties. I'll be back with you next week with a member of the county government, family or related agency

or outstanding individual like and another outstanding individual like Mary Jane. Until then, Good night. Good luck. And we always say, good health that each and every one of mind your