Tuesday, September 25, 2012

Voter Registration


 New voter cards are being mailed. If you do not get a new voter card by October 10th you may not be eligible to vote and need to check with county/city registrar before October 15th.





There's just two easy steps:
  1. Check you voting status on the State Board of Election's website here.
  2. Now share the Virginia Voter Status Reminder on Facebook and Twitter:
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Thursday, September 20, 2012

 
October 2012
Hot Deals and Discounts from NEA Member Benefits
  NEA Click & Save “Buy-lights” for October 2012
NEA Click & Save, the online discount buying service for NEA members, highlights select retailers and merchants each month. Check out these featured “Buy-lights” for October!
Costco:                                            Get $50 in coupons
1800baskets:                            Get 20% off
Endless Vacations:                       Get 35% off
New Balance:                                 Get 15% off
Reebok:                                    Get 20% off
Sears:                                              Get $35 off $300
 Join the 260,000 NEA members already registered for NEA Click & Save. Go to www.neamb.com/clickandsave and start shopping today!
 
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Ready to Buy a New or Used Car or Truck?  Check Out “Steals on Wheels” through NEA Auto Purchase Advantage!
Take advantage of this great time of year to get a fantastic price on the new or used vehicle you’re looking for! The NEA Auto Purchase Advantage Program offers member savings and amazing customer service. In fact, members have seen an average savings of $2,503 off MSRP.*
Purchasing your next car can be quick, easy, and hassle-free! NEA members enjoy:
  Information on what others paid for the car you want before talking to a dealer
  •   Member savings and a hassle-free experience**
  •   Guaranteed savings certificate for new cars**
  •   Dealer-guaranteed prices for used cars
  •   A nationwide certified dealer network committed to great service    
Plus, each week, Steals on Wheels highlights 5 of the very best car prices we can find to help you discover the best deal on your next new car or truck.**
Don’t miss this chance to put your membership to good use – you could save thousands off MSRP!  Check it out at www.neamb.com/autobuying today!
 *Average potential savings of $2,503 off of MSRP based on user-configured new vehicles, effective 10/1/11. Your actual savings may vary based on multiple factors including the vehicle you select, region, dealer and applicable manufacturer incentives. The Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) is determined by the manufacturer, and may not reflect the price at which vehicles are generally sold in the dealer’s trade area, as not all vehicles are sold as MSRP.  Each dealer sets its own pricing.  Your actual purchase price is negotiated between you and the dealer.
**Estimated Price and Savings currently not available in AR, CO, KS, NE, MD, OK, OR, TX, VA and WA. In these states a “Target Price” is presented, which is not an advertised price, but an example of what you can reasonably expect to pay.
Please note:  While new Certified Dealers are continually being added to the NEA Auto Purchase Advantage program, the program is currently unavailable in certain areas of the U.S., including AK and HI, and LA.
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NEA Members Save 15% at Chico’s!
 Chico’s knows NEA members are fabulous and wants their wardrobes to show it! From now until October 9, 2012, NEA members get 15% off their total merchandise purchase at a Chico’s boutique or Chico’s Outlet—retired members are eligible, too!
Simply print the voucher at www.chicos.com/teachersarefabulous and present it with your valid educator or school ID to make your purchase!*
*Offer does not apply to purchases made online at chicos.com or via phone and is for one-time use only. Other limitations and restrictions apply—please see voucher for details.
 
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 Carson-Dellosa
Save 15% on Carson-Dellosa Classroom Essentials and Get Free or Low-Cost Shipping!
 Carson-Dellosa, a premium provider of standards-based, supplemental educational content and classroom solutions, helps teachers create a dynamic, 21st century classroom with inspiring decoratives, innovative hands-on materials, and engaging books for Pre-K through grade 8.
NEA members automatically get 15% off minimum online orders of $15 or more (discount applied at checkout). Plus, shipping is a flat rate of $5.95 for online orders of $15 to $34.99, and FREE for online orders of $35 or more!
Visit www.neamb.com, click on the Shopping and Discounts tab, and find Carson-Dellosa under “Classroom Resources.”
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Enter the "Who do you LOVE?" contest


Enter the "Who do you LOVE?" contest    

Tell us who you love. Win $1,000 in Visa gift cards.

September is Life Insurance Awareness Month. To encourage you to think about life insurance as an expression of your love, the NEA Members Insurance Trust is sponsoring a “Who do you LOVE?” contest from August 13, 2012 until October 15, 2012.

To enter the “Who do you LOVE?” contest, simply submit a story (200 words or less) that expresses why you love someone and why you want to protect them. You may also include a photo. Winning stories may be featured on the NEA and NEA Member Benefits Web sites.

PLUS, if you’re the Grand Prize Winner, you’ll receive two $500 Visa gift cards – one for you to keep and one for you to share with your loved one!

Visit www.mynealife.com for more details or to enter!

 

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Reach Your Personal Weight Loss Goals with Nutrisystem® Success™!


Reach Your Personal Weight Loss Goals with Nutrisystem® Success™!

 

NEA Member Benefits has teamed with Nutrisystem, a company with over 40 years of weight loss research and experience, to offer substantial savings to NEA members who enroll in a Nutrisystem Success weight loss plan. 

NEA members may choose from women’s, men’s, and diabetes plans, all of which are based on the science of the Glycemic Index.  NEA members save an additional 10% off the featured Nutrisystem discount (currently 40%) on every 28-Day, Auto-Delivery order of Nutrisystem® meal plans.

In addition to the structure and convenience of nutritious, portion-controlled meals delivered right to your doorstep, Nutrisystem Success also provides:

  • Balanced meal plans that teach healthy habits for life
  • Daily Planner and Grocery Guide to make healthy eating easier
  • My Daily 3™ fitness program customized to individual levels and preferences
  • Access to interactive tools, trackers, coaching and support

This year, set out to reach your weight loss goals well before the holidays!  Find out more about Nutrisystem Success at www.neamb.com/nutrisystem.

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Refinancing Checklist


Refinancing Checklist

Whether you want to improve the terms of your current mortgage or leverage your home equity for an important purchase, refinancing allow you to take advantage of your most valuable asset -- your home.

Use this checklist to help you think through your options and to track your refinancing progress.

FIRST, DETERMINE YOUR GOALS AND FOLLOW THESE STEPS:

Should you lengthen the term of your loan, thereby lowering your monthly payments?
Can you shorten the term of your loan, thereby building your equity faster?

If you want to change or improve the terms of your current mortgage, or home equity loan or line of credit:

  • Decide if refinancing is advantageous
    • Is the current interest rate for refinancing lower than your existing rate?
    • Can you afford the closing costs and transaction fees?
    • Does your current lender offer special deals for refinancing?
    • What effect will the refinance have on your payments and your current home equity?
  • Compare your best refinance option with your current mortgage.
  • Determine your payoff amount, including any prepayment penalty. (Consult with your lender.)

If you want to get a larger loan or obtain an ongoing source of funding in order to remodel your home, make major purchases, pay off other loans and consolidate debt, or meet any other financial needs:

  • Determine the amount of money you need. Is this an unknown amount, likely to fluctuate over a long period of time? If so, a home equity line of credit might be your best financing option. You can take money out as you need it and pay interest only on what you borrow.
  • Assess current interest rates. Are interest rates generally better than your existing rate?
    • If yes, cash-out refinancing (replacing your existing mortgage with a larger amount) might be your best option.
    • If no, getting a home equity account is a smart way to leverage your home asset. It allows you to keep your current mortgage intact.
  • Determine the details of the products you're considering. Be sure to consider closing and transaction costs, as well as your new monthly payment. Ask your lender for help.

NEXT, GET READY TO APPLY:

  • Assemble the required financial information, such as:
    • Year property was acquired
    • Original cost of the home
    • Payoff balances for your first and any second mortgages, if applicable
    • Income tax forms
    • Income information
    • Information regarding other debts
    • Bank statements
  • Apply.
  • Work with your lender to set up an appraisal and get title insurance.
  • Pay any closing costs, transaction fees, or taxes required, if not already included in the loan. (Your lender will help with this.)

To learn more about refinancing through the NEA Home Financing Program®, go to https://www.benefits-mortgage.com/loans/nea6429/mortgage-refinance/index.page or call 1-866-327-6385 and speak with a Home Mortgage Consultant.

 

Remember, the benefits of the NEA Home Financing Program are extended to parents and adult children of NEA members!

 

The NEA Home Financing Program® is provided by Wells Fargo Home Mortgage. Wells Fargo Home Mortgage is a division of Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.  ©2012 Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.  All rights reserved.  An Equal Housing Lender.

 

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Grants Available for High School Athletics


     
Grants Available for High School Athletics

 

California Casualty, provider of the NEA Auto and Home Insurance Program, has begun its third year of sponsoring the California Casualty Thomas R. Brown Athletics Grant program that supports public high school athletics.

 

California Casualty established the athletics grant program because education budget cuts have drastically reduced support for school athletics, in some cases forcing school sports to shut down altogether. In the first two years of the grant program, $100,000 in grants was awarded to 69 schools in 26 states.

 

During the 2013 grant period, a total of $75,000 will be distributed to public schools across the nation in grant amounts ranging between $1,000 and $3,000. Grant applications are being accepted from September 15, 2012 to January 15, 2013. 

California Casualty will notify selected schools and present them with checks by May 15, 2013.

 

For more information about California Casualty’s Thomas R. Brown Athletics Grant Program or to obtain an application, please visit www.CalCasAthleticsGrant.com . 

 

Learn more about the NEA Auto & Home Insurance Program at www.neamb.com under the “Insurance” tab or at http://www.neamb.com/insurance/nea-auto-home-insurance.htm .

 

 

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Wednesday, September 12, 2012

Voter Registration


Voter Registration:

 Do not forget to register to vote if you have not done so, time is running out! The deadline to register to vote is October15, 2012. It only takes a couple of minutes to complete a voter registration application. You can register at any DMV (Department of Motor Vehicles) or online at www.virginia.gov and www.registertovote.org