Georgia Secretary of State’s Office Empowers Georgians To Invest a Little Time

11/4/2009

New statewide program to help Georgians protect their financial assets

Atlanta, GA (November 9, 2009) - Georgia Secretary of State, Karen Handel today announced a statewide initiative designed to educate and empower the citizens of Georgia to take responsibility for their finances, and to protect themselves from financial scams. The initiative, invest a little time.org, is funded by a grant from the national not-for-profit organization Investor Protection Trust

Invest a little time.org is made up of a comprehensive and educational web site, a public relations campaign and a series of free seminars that will service all 159 counties in the State of Georgia. The initiative will be based on one of the oldest tools in human history to convey messages – the use of stories. These stories of scams and financial fraud will be from everyday people and are designed to not only remove the stigma and embarrassment of victims, but also enable an open discussion to help educate the community at large.

“Georgians have access to a sea of information on finances and avoiding scams, and yet each year investors are cheated out of $500,000,000,” said Secretary of State Karen Handel. “The more of us who learn the stories of our neighbors who have been the victims of these scams, the fewer unknowing targets there will be across the state.”

The web site, which will launch in mid November, will be unveiled at the inaugural seminar to be held in Decatur on November 17th. This seminar on ‘How to avoid getting scammed’ will be hosted by the Decatur Business Association and will feature Robert Terry, Georgia Secretary of State’s Securities Division Director. Local sponsors include free lunch provided by Chick-Fil-A and information and giveaways provided by the Decatur Business Association and the Decatur Police Department.

Following seminars will be hosted across the state and will be supported by speakers from the Secretary of State’s Office, Georgia’s Financial Planning Association and Investor Protection Trust. Seminar listings and information will be presented on invest a little time.org

The program is funded by a grant from Investor Protection Trust. Investor Protection Trust serves as an independent source of non-commercial investor education materials and underwrites important investor education programs such as invest a little time.org

About the Secretary of State

Karen Handel was sworn in as Secretary of State in January 2007. The Secretary of State’s office offers important services to our citizens and our business community. Among the office’s wide-ranging responsibilities, the Secretary of State is charged with conducting efficient and secure elections, the registration of corporations, and the regulation of securities and professional license holders. The office also oversees the Georgia Archives and the Capitol Museum.