Normally the month of November is one for reflection and gratitude. 2020 has been trying in so many ways, and as I write this, it doesn't look like it's letting up any time soon. But now it's even more important to focus on what we can be grateful for.

We still do not have the ability to process credit cards. We ARE making progress and are still shooting for a mid-November deadline... which hopefully will allow us to do some form of a Pledge Drive. The sooner we get set up, the 'quieter' our Drive will be! We've selected a processor that connects to both our membership database and the new bank as stipulated by the State of Maryland. WOOT! Unfortunately, this whole thing has been bogged down in bureaucratic red-tape. (If you're out of the loop, here's a blogpost about the issue.)

We did not process your October Sustainer gifts. Once we have the new credit card processor in place and tested, we will begin processing again. If you would like to switch your sustainer pledge over to checks for a little while, you can send them to:

Your check payments are being counted on your sustainer pledges, so if you made October and November, you won't be charged until December. We will NOT automatically back charge any sustainer payments! You'll get an email once we're back up and running and you can instruct us to back charge then if you choose.

We're caught up on premiums! (I actually have one left in my car I need to deliver). We do not have new premiums yet....and we may not until the Winter or Spring pledge drive. This is another casualty of the college shut-down and the extraordinarily long process to get a vender contract.

Finally, this too shall pass. WBJC is strong and we will survive this inconvenience. We’re just embarrassed that this is all taking so long.

Be well,

All of us here at WBJC-FM

P.S. You can still make pledges on the WBJC.com website, but the only selectable option is "Bill Me" pledge. We will then mail out a pledge form and envelope for you to send in your check.

Michael Shapiro took time to give me the history of his frightening yet multifaceted musical creation. LISTEN HERE

From the San Francisco Conservatory, Garrick Ohlsson and Kirill Gerstein will present a two-piano virtual recital of Rachmaninov, Busoni, and Ravel for the Shriver Hall Concert Series on Sunday, November 8th. They give their insights into this more unusual repertoire. Listen here

The school year is underway and many families are struggling more than ever to provide their kids with the items they need to succeed in class. I spoke with Sharon Matthews, Founder and CEO of Wish List Depot, about how her organization seeks to help students in the Baltimore area.

Shifra Malka, in response to the childhood message that she did not matter, instead built a life that matters to her. In writing about her journey, she offers an example to others who may have been hurt by a similar message, and who want to make their lives large and remarkable. LISTEN HERE

Call 855-WBJC-CAR or donate securely online.  Click here to see how easy it is!

MyWBJC is the online Membership Portal that allows WBJC members secure access to their own membership account. Members can view several years of giving history, update contact info, edit/adjust Sustainer pledges, add/delete/update credit cards, and print on-demand tax receipts

If you have already signed up, click this link to log-in:

If you have not already signed up for MyWBJC:

The 2020 election is upon us. The recent past has taught us that trying to predict the results of an election can be futile at best. Still, our clients need timely counsel regarding their wealth management, and it is our role as advisors to keep them as informed as possible when it comes to potential tax changes on the horizon. While we do not know for sure what the future holds, we do have strong clues as to what the future tax laws may look like... read more here