NEWS - December 2003
Titles:
- Holiday Luncheon Party Success!
- Electric Industry Seminar
- Holiday Luncheon Raffle Prizes and Recipients
- People Column
- Federal Legislative Update
- Electric League Legislative Meeting
- Electric League Scholarship Applications Now Available
Holiday Luncheon Party Success!
A festive time was had by all at the December 11 Electric League Annual Holiday Party held at Ameristar Casino. More than 275 people were in attendance to deliver holiday cheer to their colleagues in the electrical industry. The generosity of the Electric League was obvious by the donations collected for Harvesters. Two barrels were overflowing with the generous canned goods that were brought by those attending. Jeff Morton, Central Detroit Diesel-Allison held the winning ticket for a one-night stay at the Ameristar Casino for his canned goods donation.
More than 40 companies donated raffle prizes to be given away to individuals who purchased raffle tickets benefiting the Electric League Foundation and Scholarship Foundation. Mike Reeder was the grand prize raffle winner of the $500 donated by the Electric League of Missouri & Kansas. (For a complete listing of raffle prizes and winners see page 3.)
The Annual Business meeting was held and new officers and directors were elected by the members present. Prior to the election of the new board, Joe Privitera, Mark One Electric thanked the staff and the board for their hard work during his year as president. He also presented a 2003 year in review. As part of his presentation he recognized William Fambrough, a digital photographer who donated a portion of his time to preserving the Electric League photos electronically. The photos were shown during the Holiday registration and lunch and were enjoyed by all in attendance. Joe presented the $1,000 Electric League Charitable Donation to the Science Pioneers and their executive director, Laura Dickinson. Science Pioneers’ mission is to create innovative and supportive educational activities that will encourage the youth of Kansas City to understand and use science in their careers and everyday life. Their major program is the Greater Kansas City Science and Engineering Fair. The Fair will be held this year on March 25-28 at Union Station in Kansas City, MO. If you would like to volunteer to serve as a judge for the Fair, contact Laura Dickinson at (816) 460-2261.
Chris Hedges, of Christopher Hedges and Company, was recognized by the League with the Distinguished Service Award. Chris has been instrumental in the safety programs that the League offers. He chairs the Safety Committee and has served on the board for a number of years. Congratulations Chris!
John Kelble was introduced as the 2004 Electric League of Missouri and Kansas president. John’s first order of business was to recognize and thank Joe Privitera for his service to the League. John asked the membership for their continued support of League events and introduced a new educational offering, “The Three Rs of the Electrical Industry: Roles, Responsibilities and Relationships.” He also mentioned in his remarks the League will be looking to communicate more electronically with the membership, so please contact the League to verify your e-mail address.
As you can tell by the pictures, a festive time was had by all. The League extends its best wishes to each of you for a happy and safe holiday season and a prosperous 2004!
What?
- The Three Rs: The Roles, Responsibilities and
- Relationships In the Electrical Industry
When?
- February 10, 2004, beginning at 7:30 a.m.
Where?
- Mark One Annex
- 9th & Forest (Secured Parking)
- Kansas City, MO
This half-day seminar will help you gain an understanding of how the industry at large interacts. As the industry grows together it fulfills the needs of the other sectors. New employees, anyone new to the industry, employees who have changed positions within a company and anyone who wants to broaden their understanding of the industry should attend this event. See flyer enclosed with this newsletter to register. Discounts available for multiple people attending from one company.
Holiday Luncheon Raffle Prizes and Recipients
Donating Company Donation/Gift Recipient Alber Electric George Foreman Grill Tom Gibbens
All Star American Flag Jody Walker Aquila Hamilton Beach Brew Station Mike Griffith Architectural Fotographics Framed Photo of Royals Stadium Jim Lacy Associated Air Products $25 Best Buy Gift Certificate Charlie Dickerson Associated Air Products $25 Best Buy Gift Certificate Tim Scott BA Electric Supply $50 Dick's Sporting Goods Gift Card John Coulter Bernie Wholesale, Inc. $50 Cash Steve Speese Bob Herzig & Associates, Inc. $50 Plaza Gift Card Kim Eagan C & O Electric Sales Co. $50 Plaza Gift Card Gill Jones C & O Electric Sales Co. $50 Plaza Gift Card Eric Brummel Capital Electric $100 Home Depot Gift Card Greg Garner Central Detroit Diesel-Allison Craftsman Drill Judy Fisher Central Detroit Diesel-Allison Craftsman Tool Set Jim Howell Christopher C. Hedges Co. Cordless Wet & Dry Vac Chris Dix Cleaves-Bessmer-Marietti $50 Barnes & Nobel Gift Card Bob Langerstrom Cleaves-Bessmer-Marietti $50 Barnes & Noble Gift Card Chris Dix Cooper Bussmann $25 Dicks Sporting Goods Gift Card Mike Bellman Custom Engineering, Inc Toshiba DVD/CD/VCD Player Tom Gibbens Eaton Electrical $75 Plaza Gift Card Larry Angelotti ECA $75 McCormick & Schmick's Gift Card Bob Herzig ECA $75 McCormic & Schmick's Gift Card Mike Ryan Foley Group $50 Nebraska Furniture Gift Certificate Wendy Rolofson Foley Group $50 Nebraska Furniture Gift Certificate Steve Hosterman French Gerleman $50 Cabela's Gift Certificate Lisa Tiesing French Gerleman $50 Cabela's Gift Certificate Kip Sloan General Cable Christman Celebration Gift Basket Terry Moore George E. Fern $25 Dick's Sporting Goods Gift Card Bonnie Feller Gibbens Drake Scott Engineering $50 JJ's Gift Certificate Fred King Graybar Electric Co. $25 Hereford House Gift Certificate Traci Knudson Graybar Electric Co. $25 Hereford House Gift Certificate Walt Westmoreland Heartland Electric Corp. $25 Best Buy Gift Certificate Denise Welsh Heartland Electric Corp. $25 Best Buy Gift Certificate Chris Keepes Hyatt Regency Dinner for 2 at Skies Restaurant Greg Wellington Kansas City Board of Public Utilities Portable Stereo Margaret Jacques Kansas City Power & Light Food Processor Tyson Robinett Mark One Electric $50 Cabela's Gift Certificate John Shaw Mark One Electric $50 Cabela's Gift Certificate Steve Hosterman Mely's Ice Cream & Gift Shop 3 Willow Hall Figurines (Valued at $50) Jane Male Mercer Zimmerman $50 Oak Park Mall Gift Certificate Win Mathieson Mercer Zimmerman $50 Oak Park Mall Gift Certificate Laura Becker Missouri Valley Electric Stereo Connie Tiesing MWE, Inc. $50 Home Depot Gift Card Doug Lukenbill MWE, Inc. $50 Home Depot Gift Card John Isenberg NECA $100 Plaza Gift Certificate David Farmer On Track Printing $25 Applebee's Gift Card Pam Wishon Phillips Lighting CD Player/Alarm Clock Gayle Franklin Premier Lighting 2 American Heartland Theatre Tickets Mike Scott Raines Electrical Sales $25 Bravo Gift Certificate Kristen Graybar Raines Electrical Sales $25 Bravo Gift Certificate Marilyn Miller Rensenhouse Electric Supply $100 Plaza Gift Certificate Larry Angelotti Rexel Glasco DVD Player Art Williams Shaw Electric Supply Co. $50 Herford House Gift Certificate Duff Greenwood Seimens Energy & Automation $50 Ultimate Electronics Gift Card Don Laffoon Southwire $50 Herford House Gift Certificate Mark Hood Square D Company $75 Dick's Sporting Goods Gift Card Brenda Osborn Stress Crete Group $50 Lowe's Gift Card Jeff Holloway Sys-Tek $75 Cheese Cake Factory Gift Card Keith Albarelli Wesco Craftsman Tool Set Brett Spear Western Extralite GPX Latern TV Radio Carol Barber Western Extralite GPX Latern TV Radio Brian Shaw
We hope everyone had a great time at the Holiday Party at the Ameristar. It was so nice to see everyone all dressed up and somewhere to go!
Best wishes for a speedy recovery to: Doug Young (Stanion, Olathe), Dean Graham (Independent Electric, Topeka), Glenn Crawford and Roger Smith (French-Gerleman).
December Happy Birthdays to: Keith Albarelli (Heartland Electric), Jessica Erdrich (Graybar Electric), Chris Dix (Rains Electrical Sales), Bill Thorp, Jim Moore, and Doug Carlson (C&O Electric).
January Happy Birthdays to: Grant Kitchen and Bob Keller (Cutler Hammer Eaton Corp.), *John Dougherty (French-Gerleman), Shirley Henderson, Derrin Blackburn, & *Mary Coldiron (C&O Electric Sales), David Launder (Independent Electric), Barbara Quijas (Mark One Electric).
Keep those e-mails coming in…this is YOUR column peoplecolumn@electricleague.org or phone them in to Kim Swank at the League office (816-561-5323). *”A couple of Big Ones, Ethel!”
e-mail to: peoplecolumn@electricleague.org
Done for the Year – Having passed major reforms to the Medicare program, including a prescription drug benefit, lawmakers adjourned the first session of the 108th Congress. They will open the second session on Jan. 20.
Internet sales tax – The issue is whether states should be allowed to collect sales and use taxes on sales from out-of-state retailers such as online retailers, telephone marketers and direct mail catalog houses. State governments want the revenue; retailers want the competitive playing field leveled. Remote sellers argue that sales tax rates and rules in the 45 states (and 7,600 localities) with sales taxes are too complex.
Bills were introduced in both the House and the Senate late in the session. They would give states who simplify their sales tax systems the authority to require retailers to collect sales and use taxes on remote transactions. They would require states to provide “reasonable and uniform compensation” to retailers for collecting the taxes and exempt remote sellers with less than $5 million in gross annual remote sales from collecting taxes.
Both bills are in committee, the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Commercial & Administrative Law and the Senate Finance Committee, but advocates are optimistic there will be action in 2004.
Federal estate tax – The problem here is more than the amount of the tax. Family-owned businesses face difficult decisions in transferring ownership from one generation to the next. Owners find themselves involved in expensive estate planning to assure that the business will move intact to their heirs. The Economic Growth & Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001 repealed the federal estate tax in 2010, but only for one year. The law has a sunset date of Dec. 31, 2010; the repeal expires in 2011.
The House has passed a bill to permanently repeal the estate tax and the Senate has similar legislation on its calendar for floor consideration. At this point chance of passage could be considered a draw, with advocates pushing for protection for family-owned businesses and opponents arguing that it would benefit only the wealthiest Americans.
The purpose of the Electric League of Missouri & Kansas Scholarship fund is to provide annual scholarships to both entering and continuing college students who are employees of member companies, their children or grandchildren. The applicant must be pursuing a Bachelor or higher degree program in a full-time program at an accredited college or university. The fund was established in 1996 to provide an ongoing service to members of the Electric League. Awards range from $500 to $1,500 each year.
The application is available in PDF format on the Electric League web site, www.electricleague.org The application deadline is March 5, 2004. The awards will be announced on or before May 1, 2004.
The National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) was represented at the recent Electric League Legislative Meeting held Dec. 17 at Western Extralite Company in Kansas City, Mo. Hal Hudson, NFIB representative in Kansas; John Jones, NFIB representative in Missouri; and Ken Daniel, Kansas businessman and NFIB supporter, addressed the meeting attendees.
In 2004 the Electric League Legislative Committee will be pushing for passage of the Fairness In Construction Contract Act (FICCA). Legislative committee members explained the proposed Act to meeting attendees. The Act includes language on "prompt payment" on both public and private work projects.
Hal Hudson explained the role of NFIB and how they work with business owners to pass important legislation. He also explained the issues important to NFIB members for the coming legislative session. Ken Daniel explained legislative issues of concern in Kansas including: Destination Sourcing, Franchise Tax, and Custom Software Services Sales Tax. He also explained new legislative initiatives in Kansas endorsed by NFIB - Allowance for Collecting Sales Tax and Increase Small Claims Court Limits.
John Jones, NFIB representative for Missouri, outlined the 2004 Missouri Legislative picture. He believes that only a small amount of new legislation will be passed during the 2004 session in Missouri.
All three speakers commented on the importance of Electric League members involvement in the legislative process. They suggested both letters and e-mails sent to legislators were effective ways to communicate with lawmakers. They stressed that communication from business owners and others in the business community have the greatest impact on decisions made by lawmakers. The NFIB representatives also stressed the importance of Electric League members and others testifying before legislative committees when asked to do so as a way to increase the chances of favorable business legislation being passed.
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