From the President's Desk - April 12, 2024
Welcome back to Legatus’ weekly From the President’s Desk!
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On the Road
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This has been a blessed week –?I have been in Rome for what they call “American Week,” joining with many members for various events, including a Legatus-hosted evening for potential European members. ?A highlight was visiting the Pontifical North American College for the annual Rector’s Dinner, with many cardinals, bishops, priests, seminarians, and supporters -- mainly from America. ?We can see the Church is alive and well with so many young American vocations!
Paper route – early lesson in business
How many once had a paper route? It was one of those first jobs thought not too important, but for decent pocket money at the time. (My parents had paper routes and relayed many stories.)
It was a daily drill – get home from school, fold papers, load the bike basket or sack (or “borrowed” supermarket cart!), and get the papers out before dinner. It was a status symbol to have a paper route … good routes were in demand. Rain, snow, wind, ice, heat … the papers had to get out. And not wet or damaged -- no excuses, just an airtight commitment.
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But the job was much more. It instilled people- and service skills, how to engage tough customers, and how to bring soured ones back. The proof was on collection day – prompt payment and good tips meant valued service. Lack of them, well … maybe time to cut bait. Or change the service model.
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Here’s a reminiscent essay written by a once-upon-a-time Catholic Brooklyn paperboy , which rooted instincts in him about customers and what they’re really about. You might even enjoy a replay of this Bill Haley song about the prized paperboy .
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Skyrocketing hidden home ownership costs
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As many of us see in our personal scenarios, correlating costs of home ownership have been creeping up; in some cases, abruptly. It’s not just lending rates that have jumped – in fact, borrowing costs have levelled a bit recently. It’s the ‘sister’ costs that are on the ascent. And now, many average homeowners are beyond their threshold.
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This week’s WSJ article confirms what many have been experiencing , but perhaps haven’t gotten clarity from agents, utilities, or tax offices. The article delves into many situations that just a few years ago, were unthinkable.
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What used to be a several-hundred-dollar home repair now slides into the thousands. And to replace major appliances – AC system, heater, or water heater, among others – the costs can be more than double what one would expect. Rebuilding after a catastrophic weather event may now be impossible for some.
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This chart shows the drastic decrease in overall housing affordability over the last few years – at its lowest since 1985. This has greatest impact on first-time buyers – but it also affects those on fixed incomes.
Teaching our children well
A recent study on what keeps kids Catholic into adulthood got my attention – as today, stats show that only 15 percent of kids raised in Catholic homes continue their faith as adults. Wow.
The study – “Future Faithful Families Project” – showed what successful parents did that worked. Its findings were nicely interpreted by Legate Dr. Greg Popcak, renowned Catholic counselor/theologian, founder of the Pastoral Solutions Institute, and host of EWTN radio show, “More 2 Life.” The study showed that kids raised in a warm, affectionate home – where time includes fun, prayer, and service to others – more likely remain Catholic as adults. So what are the nuts and bolts?
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These kids attended Mass with family on Sundays. They had an active household prayer life – before dinner, at bedtime, and with additional devotions like family rosaries. Their parents were still married. But Popcak adds, “… whether you’re a traditional family … or blended … or a single-parent family … each household can live out these practices … to raise their children to faithful adulthood.”
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Enjoy this Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young ‘70s favorite, “Teach Your Children ,” done up fresh by the Army’s Six-String Soldiers.?
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Thank you for reading!
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