Hegwood Law - August 2020

Hegwood Law - August 2020

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AUGUST 2020

NAVIGATING OUR RELATIONSHIPS IN A POLARIZING TIME

If there is anything good we can say about 2020, it is that human connection has never been more tremendously important than right now. I was thinking today about the lifelong friends I am lucky to have, some I have known since second grade. It feels like we know a lot of people as adults, but it is rare to find quality friends. Facebook would tempt us to broaden the definition of “friends,” but for me, I am a little particular. I think friends are people whose company you enjoy enough to be considerate of their opinions and flaws. Those kinds of friends last forever and change our lives. I know these are difficult times to connect with others, perhaps even especially our friends. A good friend said half-jokingly as we talked about the effects of COVID-19, “All we want to do is have dinner with each other!” Yet, I feel how devastating the pandemic has been for many of the important relationships in our lives, especially for our seniors. Elders in nursing homes have not been able to see their families, and with end-of-life treatment, those visits are incredibly important. They keep you stimulated, happy, and feeling a sense of togetherness. Children have felt just as isolated, completely separated from their usual learning experiences and social stimulation outside of the home.

Just to explain, I can share one personal experience. A wonderful friend of mine gets very passionate every election season, and her conversation and Facebook page tends to fill up with political opinions I do not agree with. But I don’t shut her out of my life for it; I just unfollow her until after November. And I love her to death! I still have pleasant conversations with her and think she is a great person. Maybe just so much has changed since I was young. If someone had an unusual opinion, we would just laugh. It would be something we could all move past rather easily. Today, we live in a world where we can completely control what type of news and content we see. We have more control than ever to develop our individual viewpoints and, perhaps, strengthen our biases. The political climate has become so polarizing and, at least seemingly, unforgiving of other viewpoints. For many issues today, I do not consider them political. I see them as humanitarian issues. We are losing touch of one another. Our human connections are most rewarding when we love and cherish one another. When we truly care about other people, we are more forgiving of the differences in favor of looking out for their well-being. Although I cannot currently (at the time of writing) have dinner with my friends, I still check in with them often so we can get through this painful time together.

We underestimate how important it truly is to have a sense of togetherness.

Some independent people believe they need only themselves, but I think it is unfair to think that sense of self-reliance applies to everyone. It is one thing to have a “friend” you always disagree with (I would argue they may not be a real friend in the first place), but I think it is an admirable trait to have some disagreements with friends and still keep them as a part of your life.

I hope you all have a lovely month, friends, and maybe find someone to reconnect with on Aug. 4, International Forgiveness Day.

-Kim Hegwood

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ARE YOUR THRIFT STORE DONATIONS BEING THROWN AWAY?

Are you thinking about donating your kids’ old clothes or that slow cooker you haven’t used in months? Though donating your unwanted items is a great thing to do, amid the pandemic, many people have not considered the future of secondhand shopping and charity-based thrift stores like Goodwill. In 2018, Goodwill funded nearly $5.3 billion in charitable services, like educational assistance, job training, and work placements. But now, Goodwill and similar organizations are facing a unique problem: They are receiving too many donations. To prevent your items from ending up in a landfill, consider the following before you donate. Under the circumstances, this situation is understandable. Thanks to nationwide stay-at-home orders, many took advantage of their newfound spare time to spring-clean and subsequently donate unwanted items to charity. However, with the confusion about how long the COVID-19 virus can live on clothing, secondhand shoppers have been staying home, worried about the health risks of buying used goods. Famously, thrift stores still keep unsold goods out of landfills. Up to 75% of Goodwill’s merchandise, for example, isn’t sold in their stores. Instead, it’s sent to discount outlets and then into global markets. However, Mexican traders, who account for 30% of

business at thrift stores close to the U.S. southern border, and Kenya, the world’s largest buyer of unsold secondhand clothes, have stopped buying during the economic shutdown. Meanwhile, some good-intentioned Americans are leaving their goods outside thrift stores’ front doors, not realizing that without enough space to house the excess donations,

many of these thrift stores will have to pay disposal fees, costing the business potential revenue and sending your items into local landfills.

However, Goodwill still wants your donations! You just might have to hold on to your items for a little bit. Check to see if your local thrift stores are open for donations. Many recommend waiting until the influx slows down, but others have expanded their inventory storage and are ready to keep up. Just make sure to follow their guidelines on acceptable items because any broken or worn items only add to their costs. Happy donating!

HAVE A COLLEGE STUDENT? DON’T FORGET THESE IMPORTANT LEGAL FORMS!

No. 2: Medical Power of Attorney A medical power of attorney is very important. This means, in the scenario that your student is temporarily incapacitated, you will be the designated decision-maker about their treatment and medical decisions. If the patient does not have a designated medical agent, doctors will decide their care. The National Law Review expands on this best: “While this is not always a bad thing, a physician’s primary duty is to keep the patient alive. A health care provider might not pursue a risky or experimental course of treatment at the risk of exposure to liability.” No. 3: Statutory Durable Power of Attorney Having a medical power of attorney does not cover financial decisions. By being the statutory durable power of attorney for your college student, you will be authorized to help manage their bank accounts, pay bills, file taxes, apply for government benefits, and break off a lease. There is so much for college students to look forward to — that is why it is best to put these legal questions to rest before the college experience begins. Best of all, Hegwood Law Group has made it quick and easy to do! Call us for an added peace of mind about your child's legal protection before they set off into their next adventure. To you and yours, we hope you have a great school year!

When your kids are being sent off to college (whether digitally or in-person), there are a few congratulatory gifts you should not forget: HIPPA forms, medical power of attorney, and statutory durable power of attorney. It may be the least exciting thing your kid could ask for! However, it is all part of what we at Hegwood Law Group call the “college plan.” Especially if your child is moving out of state, being over 18 brings some legal questions that are best answered and put out of the way before they start the next chapter of their lives. No. 1: HIPAA Form If your child is ever injured and hospitalized, you would want the ability to call the hospital and receive information over the phone — however, if your child had not filled out a HIPAA form beforehand, you would not be authorized to know what’s going on. A HIPAA form allows patients to designate family members, friends, and others who may be updated on their medical information during treatment.

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SKIP THE STUDENT DEBT 3Ways to Pay for College That Are Not Loans

Work-Study Depending on your child’s financial need, their college or university may be able to set them up with a part-time position with an hourly rate on campus. Work-study positions are often community-service oriented and/ or matched with the student’s field of study, and the jobs in these programs may be on or off campus. Alternatively, students can also look for other on-campus jobs that aren’t part of a work-study program. Before the school year starts, many schools post job openings for positions like computer lab assistants or event caterers. Private Scholarships There is no shortage of private scholarships. The challenge is finding and applying for them. This can take time, but it is often worth the effort. If you cannot find any scholarships your child is eligible for online, then try using an app like Scholly. It is designed to help students and parents find and apply for scholarships without having to search

We all know how expensive college can be. The bills can pile up fast, and in many cases, paying that debt off can take years, if not decades, especially if private loans are involved. That said, if you have kids who are getting ready to graduate high school, then don’t let the cost of higher education scare you away. If you can’t pay out of pocket, you can help your child apply for loans, but if you’re looking to mitigate debt, or eliminate it entirely, here are some other popular options. Grants Grants are similar to scholarships in that they do not need to be repaid. Many colleges, states, and other organizations award grants based on a number of factors, like academic standing and the income of one or both parents as reported on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, better known as FAFSA. A great starting point for parents who are helping their kids look for grants is the Federal Student Aid website: StudentAid. gov/understand-aid/types/grants.

all over the internet. Another great resource is your student’s high school guidance counselor. They often have resources about local and regional scholarships that may be worth looking into.

FLOURLESS CHOCOLATE CAKE

WORD SEARCH

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup water • 1/4 teaspoon salt • 3/4 cup white sugar • 18 (1 ounce) squares bittersweet chocolate • 1 cup unsalted butter • 6 eggs

directions

1. Preheat oven to 300 F (150 C). Grease one 10-inch round cake pan and set aside. 2. In a small saucepan over medium heat, combine the water, salt and sugar. Stir until completely dissolved and set aside. 3. Either in the top half of a double boiler or in a microwave oven, melt the bittersweet chocolate. Pour the chocolate into the bowl of an electric mixer. 4. Cut the butter into pieces and beat the butter into the chocolate, 1 piece at a time. Beat in the hot sugar-water. Slowly beat in the eggs, one at a time. 5. Pour the batter into the prepared pan. Have a pan larger than the cake pan ready, put the cake pan in the larger pan, and fill the pan with boiling water halfway up the sides of the cake pan. 6. Bake cake in the water bath at 300 F (150 C) for 45 minutes. The center will still look wet. Chill cake overnight in the pan. To unmold, dip the bottom of the cake pan in hot water for 10 seconds and invert onto a serving plate.

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INSIDE THIS ISSUE

1 Navigating Our Relationships in a Polarizing Time 2 Are Your Thrift Store Donations Being Thrown Away? Have a College Student? Do Not Forget These Important Legal Forms! 3 How to Pay for College Without Loans Flourless Chocolate Cake 4 Dr. King’s ‘I Have A Dream’ Speech Influence: 1960s vs. Today

DR. KING’S ‘I HAVE A DREAM’ SPEECH INFLUENCE: 1960S VS. TODAY

Dr. King’s Lasting Influence

Starting 57 years ago on Aug. 28, 1963, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech had a lasting impact not only on the hearts of millions of Americans, but also on American politics for decades to come. To properly immortalize the legendary speech, we would need many, many pages. But we can certainly reflect on a few of the main points that affected us back then and continue to affect us today.

“I have a dream” has become a key symbolic phrase to the civil rights movement that is still vivid in our society’s collective memory today. President Obama once wrote that his mother came home with “books on the civil rights movement, recordings of Mahalia Jackson, [and] the speeches of Dr. King.” Throughout his political career, we have seen echoes of Dr. King’s sentiments and imagery. We have also seen these echoes within the Black Lives Matter movement. With reports of vandalism and looting, there is controversy about the presence of bad actors within the Black Lives Matter movement and how peaceful it will be remembered — however, it would be fair to say that Dr. King’s concerns are as prevalent today as they were nearly 60 years ago. Today, many more protesters are preaching his peaceful ideals to help push the movement forward and find adequate political reform. In an ever-changing world that seems so polarized, I hope that we call work toward increasing our faith and tolerance, and practice forgiveness.

The Dream’s Immediate Influence

Rich with biblical allusions and “moral imagination,” as The New York Times described it, Dr. King's ability to speak reached beyond spreading a message. He focused on connecting with his audience. In fact, it was found later that the phrase “I have a dream” was never written in his highly detailed notes — it was an improvisation. In 1964, a year after his speech, Dr. King received the Nobel Peace Prize. His speech played an important role in helping pass the 1964 Civil Rights Act and offered powerful political momentum as he led the Selma to Montgomery march, which provided passage to the Voting Rights Act later that same year.

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