The Good News: The Wesley Dinner Club helped members thoughtfully think about their futures
10.15.26 - "Everyone needs a plan. You don't need to be old, you don't need to be rich, or sick...you just need to have someone you love. That's it."
Katie Greenwell, the Children's Ministry Coordinator at Memorial, spoke frankly during the last Wesley Dinner Club about how having plans in place now for her children, her assets, and their health directives has made a big difference in her life. She talked about how her husband, Devon, was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis in 2018.
During the first few years of his diagnosis, Katie realized that because her name was not on their banks account, their mortgage, or their loans, she was unable to manage the finances while he was hospitalized. She worked with her husband to not only put her name on everything but to get health directives and wills put in place so that together they could best manage his diagnosis and the finances. Devon now lives full-time in an assisted living home and has limited mobility and was recently diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. Katie is thankful that they took the effort to get those documents in place when they did.
"You don't have to die to need those documents. We all need them now because you never know where life is going to take you," she told the group.
The program for the October Wesley Dinner Club, entitled "What Happens to My Kids, My Stuff, and My Pets When I Die?", was suggested and sponsored by the Chris Bryan Endowment Committee at Memorial. The more that the group learned about endowments and estate planning, the more obvious it was to them that everyone had questions about what happens their family and assets they die. They asked local attorney Manny Mareno to join them and give an overview of what estates and will area and to answer questions about the process. Over 80 people came to learn about how to care for their future, the largest Wesley Dinner Club ever.
Mr. Moreno said, “Everyone HAS an estate plan. The question is whether YOU wrote it or Florida did." He told the group that if they do not have anything in place, in writing with a lawyer, then the State of Florida has set ways to distribute your assets after you pass away. And having it properly in writing in Florida is a must. "Oral instruction are not legally binding," he said.
The differences between will and trust were discussed as well as power of attorney and living will, which "are not the same thing," Mr. Moreno said. "With wills, you 'pay' later and they are public record. Trusts are private and you pay for them upfront."
Mr. Moreno gave a "mile-high overview" of the basics and the process with the hopes that when those gathered at the Wesley Dinner Club go to a lawyer thet will understand better what is going on and know better what questions to ask. And the group had many questions for Mr. Moreno.
Church family members at all stages of life were there asking about starting the process and getting into specifics about Florida laws. One person in attendance said, "I thought I had everything taken care of and he told me things I need to go talk to my lawyer about."
During the Dinner Club, the group also heard a video from member Winette Odom who told about how after the death of her son, who had no will, she was determined to make sure that her family all had wills. So she "gave them wills for Christmas." And the idea of the Wesley Dinner club also spurred her to add her cat to her will. She said, "I know who will have my cranky cat, Pricillia, when I am gone." (You can see the video at right.)
After answering the group's questions, Mr. Moreno ended encouraging everyone to either review their wills and trusts or to get stated on one now. You'll rest easier knowing that your family is taken care of the way you want them to be. "It's about leaving instructions instead of confusion, order instead of chaos - a plan instead of 'someone else's problem.' "
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