NEWS - September, 2004
Titles:
Haven’t had much chance to visit with others in the industry? Wondering how things are going for them? Ever wonder what happened to the legislative issue that would greatly affect your business? Been just too busy to stop, relax and recuperate?
Well, the Electric League is trying to provide answers to those and many more issues. We continue to hold bi-monthly meetings so we can address industry issues and provide an opportunity to get together with many others in the industry. The next meeting is the "sports theme" meeting and many people typically attend this luncheon. Plan on bringing a couple of non-members from your firm and let them meet many of their cohorts in the industry.
Our "road trip" is planned for Sept. 24 in St. Joseph, Mo. I don’t know about you, but I have not been to St. Joseph in some time. This would be a great opportunity to go see everyone - and don’t forget to bring some of your inside sales personnel. They will appreciate the fun time and the opportunity to meet the customers.
Finally, we have planned a night at the T-Bones (we could not afford the Royals). What a great opportunity to bring the family, "kick back," watch a good ballgame and say "hi" to all your friends. You can plan some "tailgating" or just show up at game time - if you can’t get away sooner. We will have plenty of tickets available - treat some of your inside people for all the efforts they expend for you daily.
The Board members and myself are looking forward to seeing you at the upcoming events. They will be great fun.
John Kelble,
President
The Fall Electric League tournament promises something a little different this year - a Friday afternoon shotgun start and a new location. Members and guests will enjoy the Jim Colbert designed Sycamore Ridge Golf Course in Spring Hill, Kansas. This is one of the few Kansas City area courses that offer global positioning technology (GPS) on board each golf cart. The tournament will begin with a noon registration with shotgun start set for Sept. 10 at 1:00 p.m. All players will want to stay for the awards presentation and barbeque reception at 6:30 p.m. Our friends at C&O Electric will be cooking the barbecue.
The tournament is priced at $105 per player or $420 for a foursome. Team skins are $20 per team. Entry fee includes: green fees, cart rental, range balls, professional tournament scoring, two drink tickets, prizes awarded in three flights and the 19th hole reception and barbeque.
In August 2000, the City of Spring Hill’s Sycamore Ridge was established. The 18 hole championship course offers two nines that are as different as night and day. The length and layout of the front nine is links style, with plenty of native grasses and sand bunkers. Kansas is often perceived as flat, but the "ridges" on the back nine, with tight tree lined fairways and meandering creeks proves quite the challenge. With wild turkey, deer and eagles, the golfer often ends up seeing more birdies than he makes.
A Golf Registration Form is Included With This Mailing - See You Sept. 10 at Sycamore Ridge!
Belated Happy August Birthdays to:
- Doug McGough (C&O Electric Sales)
- Dot Perkins (French-Gerleman)
- Tom Tholl (Crescent Electric)
- Chris Minnick (Minnick Electric - Chillicothe)
- Larry LaBounty (Wesco)
Happy September birthday to:
- Mark Bishop "The Big 40" (C&O Electric Sales)
- Donald Iorio (Wesco)
- Rod Holmes (Wesco)
New faces at new places:
Bob Castaneda, Jr. is the new branch manager at Rexel Glasco. Deb
Wellman is a project manager at Graybar Electric.
That’s all for this time, keep those e-mails coming in. This is your column, send us your news!
peoplecolumn@electricleague.org or phone them in to Kim Swank at the League office (816-561-5323).
Congress has recessed until after Labor Day. Before leaving Washington, however, lawmakers dealt with a flurry of tax-related legislation. A sampling:
Small Business Legislation
The House passed the Tax Simplification for America’s Job Creators Act
with two provisions that would affect small businesses. One would allow
businesses with less than $5 million in annual revenue to continue using the
cash accounting method and index the cap to inflation. A second provision
would extend through 2007 the Section 179 small business expensing limit of
$100,000 and phase-out threshold of $400,000.
Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-ME) introduced legislation to allow small businesses that earn less than $10 million a year to use the cash method of accounting. It would eliminate a current provision that prevents companies with inventory from using the cash method of accounting. The bill is not expected to reduce the amount of taxes owed.
Sens. Charles Grassley (R-IA) and Max Baucus (D-MT) reintroduced a modified version of The Heartland Investment & Rural Employment Act. Although primarily an agricultural relief bill, it includes provisions that would increase the number of eligible shareholders in S corporations from 75 to 100 and allow all family members owning stock to elect to be treated as one shareholder.
Social Security
House members introduced bills that would lead to privatization of Social
Security. The Social Security Personal Savings Guarantee & Prosperity Act
would allow workers to allocate some of their Social Security taxes to
tax-free personal accounts. The Individual Social Security Investment Program
Act would allow workers born after Jan. 1, 1950, to voluntarily invest their
half of the Social Security payroll tax in private accounts; workers born
after Jan. 1, 1982, would be required to privatize.
Commercial Faxes to Customers and Vendors
The House passed legislation to allow businesses to send commercial faxes
to customers and vendors under an established business relationship exemption;
the Senate Commerce, Science & Transportation Committee approved identical
legislation. If the bill passes, which it is expected to, it would overturn
new Federal Communications Commission rules that would require businesses to
get written and signed permission to send faxes.
The Federal Trade Commission opened a new e-mail box to receive samples of deceptive spam. The agency uses the e-mails to generate enforcement actions against fraudulent business offers and other scams promoted via e-mail. Consumers can forward unwanted or deceptive spam to spam@uce.gov.
The End of Float?
The new Check 21 law takes effect Oct. 28. It allows banks and other
financial institutions to move checks electronically rather than transport
paper checks between banks.
This could have major implications for businesses that rely on float in managing their account balances. In theory, moving checks electronically could cut the time it takes for a check to clear from several days to a few hours. Another result could be fewer cancelled checks coming back in monthly bank statements.
According to the Wall Street Journal, banks are developing new services for small businesses as a result of this new law. One such service is remote deposit, a means by which a business could scan checks in the store or office for immediate deposit. These new services would not come free. If nothing else, there would be the cost of acquiring the equipment to take advantage of them from an office or home.
We suggest that you contact your banker to see what implications this new law may have for your business.
Source: National Retail Hardware Association, August, 2004
Many of the League’s committees are in need of members who are willing to be involved and participate in the different committee functions.
You Ask What Will The League Do For Me?
The Electric League provides a forum for everyone in the electrical
industry to socialize and address issues related to all of its members. It
gives an opportunity to get acquainted with all aspects of the industry such
as Utility, Contractors, Engineers, Distributors, Representatives and
Manufacturers. The organization is the glue for the continued growth and well
being of the electrical industry in the Kansas City metropolitan area.
Why Should You Get Involved?
What better way to learn the industry and make new acquaintances than
through the Electric League?
In short, the organization makes our business lives better.
Please contact the Electric League office and find out how you can make a difference in the League (816) 561-5323.
Contact These Committee Chairs to Volunteer!
- Education - Paul Kemp, Midland Electric, (816) 356-9027
- Golf - Pam Lickteig,
Thomas & Betts, (800) 435-0705- Holiday Luncheon - Joe Privitera
, Mark One Electic, (816) 842-7023- Legislative - Ernest Isenberg
, Western Extralite, (816) 421-8404- Lighting Awards - Mark Hershman
, Yarnell & Assoc., (913) 268-8736- Membership - Jay Rains
, Rains Electric Sales, (913) 962-0801- Program - Brenda Danner
, Wesco, (816) 231-7000- Safety - Chris Hedges
, Christopher C. Hedges Co., (816) 753-0921- Scholarship Advisory - Deanna Rudd
, Rains Electric Sales, (913) 962-0801- Trade Show - Doug Carlson
, C&O Electric Sales, (913) 981-0008- Web Site/Buyer’s Guide - Brian Shaw
, Shaw Supply, (816) 221-0060
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This page revised 01/02/08