Volunteer State Bank welcomes Lisa Perdue to our bank family as a part time floating teller.
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Lisa was born in Dickson County, Tennessee and she called White Bluff, Tennessee home for many years. She graduated from Dickson County High School and later attended Nashville College of Medical Careers where she received training in medical coding and billing.
Lisa and her husband, Dean, have lived in Gallatin for over 30 years. They have four children, Dena, Devin, Cherisa and Loren. Her favorite hobbies are spending time with her grandchildren, walking and reading. Lisa states "I have been blessed with wonderful friends and I'm thankful for the opportunity to meet and make new friends as an employee of Volunteer State Bank".
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Volunteer State Bank in Portland, Tennessee gets ready for a special event:
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Volunteer State Bank will be participating in a "Relay For Life" event scheduled for April 27-28, 2012 from 7:00 PM -7:00 AM at the First Baptist Church parking lot in Portland, Tennessee. This is a family oriented event so come out to cheer for the VSB Team. Food and other items will be available to the public. Funds raised will benefit the American Cancer Society.
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Gas Card Winner:
|  | Congratulations to Misti Harlinger for being selected as the "March Winner" of our $50 gas card. To sign up, go to the bottom of our website home page and fill out the registration section. Our monthly newsletter is full of helpful information about banking, personal finance and everyday living. In the photo, Sarah Hord, Manager at our Springfield Branch, is shown presenting the gas card to Ms. Harlinger.
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| Featured Article |  | It's a fact ... The average U.S. worker spends $1,092 on coffee each year, according to a survey reported in Bloomberg Business Week.
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How to save money on cruises:
| | Book as early as possible. Some passengers book a couple of years in advance for the best prices, according to industry watcher CruiseGuy.com. * Or book late. If a particular cruise doesn't fill up, and if your schedule is flexible, you might get a big bargain. Your travel agent will find the best deal for you. * Skip the Christmas cruise, New Year's week and spring break when kids are out of school. Prices are the highest, say agents at Expedia CruiseShip Centers in Plantation, Fla. * Book a May or September cruise. During these off-season dates, cruises are usually the least expensive. The best and most popular ships won't reduce prices very much. * Reserve in January through March (called the Wave Season) when cruise lines offer deals to lock in business for the year. The lines may also throw in a cabin upgrade, or a special free dinner.
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Reminder!
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Diet, Lifestyle can help preserve vision:
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Diet and lifestyle can help preserve vision The National Eye Institute acknowledges that the greatest risk factor for age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is age. But they also say diet and lifestyle play important roles in preventing or slowing the progression of this sight-robbing condition. A Peking University study on effects of dietary intake of the carotenoids lutein and zeaxanthin shows a 26 percent reduction of later-stage AMD and a 4 percent reduction of early-stage AMD. Contributing food sources identified in the study included spinach and other dark leafy greens, broccoli, zucchini, romaine lettuce, corn and peas, along with egg yolks. The study included only foods, but supplements are also recommended. As early as 1994, Harvard researchers concluded that consuming food with these carotenoids lowered the risk of AMD. The studies were reported by Tufts University that Lutein and zeaxanthin provide the yellow pigmentation in the center of the retina of the eyes. With aging, levels of these pigments decrease. The yellow color blocks harmful blue light from the retina, which can damage vision cells. Other preventive steps suggested by the institute include maintaining normal blood pressure, watching your weight, and not smoking. One study reported in the British Journal of Nutrition online shows that eating foods containing lutein may protect the eyes from problems caused by long-term computer use.
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Welcome to the April 2012 edition of the Vol Street Journal.
This April is going to be remembered as an early start to summer. It seems each day the temperature nears a record that was recorded decades ago. I can only imagine what August is going to be like this year. April is a time of new beginnings as the flowers are blooming and the trees are providing us with shade once again. All around us people are getting out of their houses dusting off their lawn mowers, working in the garden, heading out for a picnic or just relaxing in a hammock working on that summer tan. The kids are excited because April brings the annual hunt for the colored eggs. So many of us remember standing in our parents kitchen coloring eggs then later experiencing the thrill of running through the grass turning over every leaf hoping to find the "Golden Egg". April is an important month for the Christian Religion as April 1 is "Palm Sunday", April 6 is "Good Friday, April 7 is "Pass Over" and April 8 is "Easter." Happy Easter!
While kids are thinking about giant rabbits the parents are thinking about getting their tax return in the mail. Don't forget, April 15 is just around the corner. A reminder, this year you have two extra days to get your tax return in the mail. The new target date is April 17, 2012.
Other April events include: April Fool's Day or All Fool's Day,holiday of uncertain origin, known for practical joking and celebrated on the first of April. Prior to the adoption of the Gregorian calendar in 1564, the date was observed as New Year's Day by cultures as varied as the Roman and the Hindu. The holiday is considered to be related to the festival of the vernal equinox, which occurs on Mar. 21. The English gave April Fool's Day its first widespread celebration during the 18th century. More Information: April Fools DayAdministrative Professionals' Day, previously known as Secretary's Day, is celebrated to recognize and show appreciation of the work of administrative employees. It is observed as part of Administrative Professionals Week. More Information: International Association of Administrative Professionals Administrative Professionals Day Earth Day is a global holiday celebrated as a day to bring awareness and appreciation for the Earth and it's environment. It is celebrated internationally on the first day of Spring in March, usually on March 20th or 21st and in some places on April 22nd. It doesn't matter which day you celebrate (or celebrate both!) because it is the focus on saving the earth's environment that should be celebrated every day of the year! More Information:
Earth Day-Events Around the WorldEarth Day InformationEarth Day for Kids
Patriots' Day is a civic holiday observed in the commonwealth of Massachusetts and Maine. It commemorates the American Revolutionary war, fought on April 19, 1775. More Information: Patriots' Day in the United States Cancer Control Month is designated to renew our commitment to fight against cancer by learning more about its prevention and early detection and to rededicate our nation to fighting this deadly disease. More Information: National Cancer Society Alcohol Awareness Month encourages communities to focus on alcoholism and alcohol related issues by raising public awareness and educating people about the devastating effects alcohol can have on our youth, individuals and families. More Information: National council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence I hope all of our readers have a safe and prosperous April 2012. |
| Home Owners:
 In spite of being underwater on mortgages, homeowners are sprucing up and renovating their properties. Home improvement stores are breathing a sigh of relief and the construction sector is seeing a ray of light. Homeowners and landlords are improving their properties for the first time in several years. IHS Global Insight is predicting a nationwide increase in home-improvement spending of 5.7 percent for 2012. Small-scale improvements are popular with most updates, including new light fixtures and faucets, kitchen cupboards and exterior doors, rather than room additions. The rise in improvement spending comes as the economy and consumer confidence are picking up. It's encouraging to the construction industry, which has seen new-home construction fall since the recession. Though more new homes are being built, the number is still low. One interesting fact is that people who know they are underwater on their mortgages are going ahead with improvements. Whatever their homes are valued at by others, they and their children like where they live. They can afford their mortgage payments, and are secure in their employment. People in such situations think their property values will rise in the future but know that could be some years away. If they need a room or a patio, they think they might as well go ahead with it. Financing with home-equity loans probably isn't available for them, so personal savings or other types of loans have to be used. |
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National Financial Literacy Month
April is National Financial Literacy Month. This is a good opportunity to learn more about personal finance, and Volunteer State Bank is here to provide you with the financial tools you need. Visit www.volstatebank.com and check out our Resources Page for access to Financial Calculators, Money Matters for Students, Kids Corner, Identity Protection, and other Financial Education topics. In addition, here are several resources that may also be helpful. Then stop by any of our nine offices in Sumner and Robertson Counties for assistance with your financial needs. Real People. Real Solutions. Right Here. Volunteer State Bank Member FDIC
FDIC Consumer News
The FDIC's quarterly publication for consumers offers information and tips on credit cards, bank accounts, loans, scams, money management, and much more. FDIC Consumer News provides practical guidance on how to become a smarter, safer user of financial services. Each issue offers helpful hints, quick tips, and common-sense strategies to protect and stretch your hard-earned dollars.
Money Smart
The FDIC's basic financial education curriculum is designed to help low- and moderate-income individuals outside the financial mainstream enhance their financial skills and create positive banking relationships. The curriculum is available in instructor-led, self-paced online, and Mp3 podcast formats.
MyMoney.gov
MyMoney.gov is the U.S. government's website dedicated to teaching all Americans the basics about financial education. Whether you are buying a home, balancing your checkbook, or investing in your 401(k), the resources on MyMoney.gov can help you maximize your financial decisions. Throughout the site, you will find important information from more than 20 federal agencies and bureaus designed to help you make smart financial choices.
The April 2012 National Financial Literacy Month Presidential Proclamation is available online. http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2012/04/02/presidential-proclamation-national-financial-capability-month-2012
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Prep school: How to ready your walls for paint or paper Brian Santos, The Wall Wizard, gives this advice: 1. Clean the surface. Buy a 90-percent pure solution of rubbing alcohol and a self-wringing sponge mop with a scrubbing strip. Put a half gallon into a bucket and scrub the walls with an up-and-down motion. Wring the mop into an empty bucket so the solution isn't contaminated. Rubbing alcohol will remove dirt, fingerprints, cooking grease, nicotine stains and crayon. 2. Smooth the surface. Darken the room and put a halogen work light ($15) on the floor next to the wall. Use a wall board sanding strip to remove anything that shows up. To fill any depression, use a vinyl surfacing compound and a drywall knife to smooth it out. Tap in nail heads and use the compound to fill the holes and depressions made by hammer strikes. 3. Apply the first coat. Use a sealer over any remaining stains, mold, mildew, and porous surfaces, such as unpainted plaster or drywall and large areas of joint compound or patching plaster. Use a primer on all other surfaces. If the top coat will be paint, have the primer tinted to match the finish color so you don't have to apply a second coat.
Congratulations to Kenny Collins for winning our $50 gas card for the month of April. To become eligible to win go to our web site home page and sign up! |
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Thanks for taking a look at the April 2012 Vol Street Journal. Remember, you can view back issues of the Vol Street Journal by visiting our web site: www.volstatebank.com. Go to "About:", to "General Information", to "Newsletters/Archives", click on the appropriate month. Until next month...... Sincerely,
Terry Durham
Marketing Director
Volunteer State Bank
615-323-1285
  
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