Oss: Get To Know The Federal Reserve

The Federal Reserve System affects virtually every aspect of our daily lives, but most people only have a vague notion of how it operates and what it does.

If you have a checking or savings account, a mortgage, a credit card, a car loan or educational loan, for instance, Federal Reserve actions can affect the interest rates or fees you pay. Maybe your worried about inflation or whether industries in your region might be struggling?

Then it's time to learn more about the Fed during a special program that will offer a clear and practical look at what the Fed does, how it supports the economy, and the tools available to help you stay informed.

Matuschka Lindo Briggs, senior vice president and regional executive of the Little Rock Branch of the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, will present "An Overview of the Federal Reserve" as part of the Ouachita Speaker Series. Expect an informative, accessible and fun presentation.

Her talk is at 7 p.m. Sept. 9 in the Ouachita Room of the Ponce de Leon Center, 1101 DeSoto Blvd., Hot Springs Village. Tickets are $15 each or two for $25, available at hsvticketsales.com. Admission is free for all students.

Ms. Briggs also will provide a snapshot of current economic conditions in Arkansas and across our region, along with easy-to-use resources that can help you interpret trends in your community.

The Ouachita Speaker Series brings inspiring and stimulating guest speakers to Hot Springs Village six times a year. It offers thought-provoking forums for educational enrichment and the exchange of ideas to adult and student audiences in Arkansas. Other speakers this Fall are Ken Goodman, whose topic will be the history of Hot Springs, on Oct. 14; and Ben Johnson, president and CEO of the U.S. Marshals Museum in Fort Smith, on the history of the U.S. Marshals Service and the artifacts you'll find in the museum, on Nov. 11.