Greetings TEMPO Madison Members,

Happy February! 

Well, we made it through another brutal (weather & pandemic wise) January. As we turn the page into a new month, hope for longer days of light and less frigid temps seem to be in the air. I just marked my 50th Birthday on January 30th so I find myself feeling reflective but moving along (headfirst and blindly!) into what may be the next half-century of my life.

As we look ahead into all that February brings us, three items come to the top of my mind.  First, it’s National Black History Month.  I read President Biden’s moving proclamation this morning and am reminded that Black History is American History.  Let’s take time this month to celebrate the achievements and contributions of Black Americans, past and present while also recognizing that we have much work to do yet in addressing the injustices and inequities of our past. 

You know by now that we always try to highlight TEMPO Madison Members' achievements and accolades in our monthly newsletter section “Members in the News” but please allow me this space to make a special note of the Black American females who have lately touched TEMPO Madison personally- first there is member Frances Huntley-Cooper who is, as we speak, being considered to have the Fitchburg City Hall named after her.  Then we have TEMPO Madison member, the Honorable, Judge Nia Trammell who was recently highlighted in the Wisconsin State Journal column “Know your Madisonian” discussing her first year sitting on the bench as Dane County’s first Black female judge and the awesome responsibility she feels to her community.  Finally, although she was not a TEMPO Madison Member, the late poet and civil activist, Maya Angelou, who was in fact our 20th Anniversary keynote speaker was the first Black American female to be featured on our U.S. quarter. I am humbled and honored to be in the presence of such impressive women!

Second, I have financial wellbeing and access to investment capital on my mind.  I’m excited for our upcoming guest speaker, Linda Lepe, Director of the Consumer Finance and Financial Planning program at UW-Madison.  Her program has graduated two of the four financial planners in my firm!  She is going to discuss how one’s financial wellbeing is about much more than our intellect guiding us to make sound choices, we are more often drawn to behave in manners that do not resonate with our financial values. I welcome learning more about this normal and common disconnect and how we can improve our own financial wellbeing. Our guest speaker’s message provides us with a natural link to the launch this month of our new TEMPO Madison Kiva Lending Team!  All TEMPO Madison members are welcome to join this nascent team whose mission is to expand access to financial capital to underserved communities via crowdfunding loans.  The team’s priority will be to give loans to women owned/operated businesses and projects in the local area.  I’m excited to take part in this team.  Their inaugural virtual meeting will be on February 9th at 4:00 PM.  Hope to see you there!

Finally, I have matters of the heart on my mind.  How can we not take a moment of our lives to remember February as a month focused on love?  I do not simply mean love for your family, significant others and friends, which is at the heart of everything I hold true but also self-love.  So as Valentine’s Day draws near, I wish you all a healthy, safe and loved-filled month.  Do take some time to care for yourselves and recognize that you are cherished. 

With great respect,

Elaine Rich

TEMPO Madison President