The annual WIN Woman's Symposium is an opportunity for members and selected exhibitors to promote their businesses or associations in a public forum.  The 2009 event will be held on October 13th from  5pm-9pm at the HCA facility on US19N in Palm Harbor. Its goal is to improve the personal lives and businesses of all women. Attendance at the event is open to the public. It is $10 in advance, $15 at the door and all proceeds will go to The Haven and Women on the Way. Food and beverages are provided for no additional charge.  In addition to the 65+ traditional vendor displays, there are 30 minute, non-promotional presentations of topics of keen interest to women made in classroom environments by WIN members.  As several presentations go on in different rooms at the same time, attendees have many from which to choose.

Since the 1st Woman's Symposium in 2006, this event has proudly raised and donated over $16,000 to charities such as The North Pinellas Pregnancy Center, the Resource Center for Women and the Healthy Start Coalition of Pinellas County. 

For more information, please contact Lori Crawford, Trinity Chapter Meeting Leader at 727-234-8002.  The Trinity monthly WIN meeting is the 3rd Thursday of each month @11:30 held at the Outback Steakhouse on Duck Slough & Hwy 54. 

Did you know that by planting a shade tree at just the right height and in the right spot you can save energy and money? Just by shading your A/C's outdoor compressor you can increase the unit's efficiency by as much as 10 percent!

Before planting, confirm that the root system of the tree will work for close proximity to your unit and then carefully position the tree with respect to the air conditioner and the mid-day sun.

In addition to the cost savings benefit, since very few air conditioner compressors are attractive, you will be bringing a little beautification to your comfort zone!

Like most other markets, the elements that impact it are varied and require time to take their toll. And like anything else, it is time and patience that brings about restoration. After being beaten about, the housing market in the United States is currently experiencing some consistently positive trends that are steadily bringing us back to normalcy.

First time home buyers are really starting to come out in droves to take advantage of the home prices. The Pending Home Sales Index for contracts signed in March, increased 3.2 percent to 84.6 from a level of 82.0 in February, and is 1.1 percent higher than March 2008 when it was 83.7.

Homebuyers are not only seeing the opportunities to buy, but to start out with a trade-up home! In many circumstances, they are able to skip the "starter home step" in favor of an upgraded home at the same price! The $8000 tax credit is a tremendous incentive and the prospect of the transformation of this credit into down payment monies is also an exciting possibility. And not to forget, in the context of this incentive, a first time homebuyer is actually anyone who has not purchased a primary residence in three years!

According to the National Association of Realtor's Housing Affordability Index, there is an increase over last year by 30.8 percentage points. The Pending Home Sales Index in the South rose 8.5 percent to 93.2 in March and is 7.7 percent above a year ago.

NAR President Charles McMillan said, "For buyers who've been on the sidelines and have good jobs, the market has never looked more favorable. Homeownership has always offered immediate benefits and long-term value, but the advantages in today's market are unique."

So what we've got here are indices and opportunities that are really adding up to positive energy and a dramatic increase in consumer confidence. We're moving in the right direction!