NEWS - December, 2004
Titles:
Well, this appears to be my last newsletter as President of the Electric League. I want to thank all those who pitched in and helped make this a productive year. I challenged all of you at last year’s Holiday Luncheon to “ask not what the League can do for you but what can you do for the League.” My hope was that many of you would get more involved in the organization and find the many rewards of being involved. Many did respond. Also a great number have promised to get more involved in the future. It is greatly appreciated as we do need help.
We have the Holiday Luncheon on Dec. 9 at the Overland Park Convention Center (preview of the facility for next year’s trade show). Hopefully, all of you can make it out there. I know I have asked for your help in every newsletter so far and this one will be no different. I feel like a kid asking for everything from Santa. But then I am reminded that these requests are not exactly for me. Myself, and all the Board members, will be asking for donations for the raffle and of course to buy raffle tickets. This is for the League’s selected charity and also for funding of our scholarship programs. All of the recipients of these two groups over the years have expressed their very strong appreciation for the help. In addition, we are asking for canned goods for those in need of the basics in life. They too are very appreciative of your donations.
Finally, we will be asking many of you to take on the responsibility of a Board member or a committee chairperson or a committee member. Seriously consider this request. We are asking because you have something to offer the League and we believe that you will reap the rewards of your efforts on its behalf. Again, help us if you can.
There are a couple of other new items that I will hold until the Holiday Luncheon. See you all there.
John Kelble,
President
Reserve December 9th for Holiday Luncheon
New Location - Overland Park Convention Center!Plan now to attend the annual Electric League Holiday Luncheon set for December 9 at the Overland Park Convention Center. The event will begin with networking from 11 a.m. - Noon. The Luncheon will follow with seating at Noon.
As in the past, the Luncheon will include year-end League business as well as the election of members to the Board of Directors and the presentation of the Industry Achievement Award. In addition to the year-end business, an exciting part of the Luncheon is the prize raffle to benefit the Electric League Foundation. The proceeds from the raffle are donated to the Foundation whose two-fold purpose is 1) to provide scholarships to members, their children and grandchildren and 2) to provide a donation annually to a deserving local charity. The Luncheon will also feature a canned and nonperishable food drive for a local charity. Please remember to bring your food items to the Luncheon and be eligible to win a valuable prize.
The League is asking members to be a part of this year’s event by donating raffle gifts. The donation of company promotional items is discouraged. If you are able to donate a gift, please contact Jane or Kim at the Electric League office - 816-561-5323.
Make Plans Today to Attend This Year’s Electric League Holiday Luncheon!
We understand that we have some people in our industry who have talents (other than electrical) worthy of more than honorable mention:
Ida Edmisten (Crescent Electric) has a beautiful signing voice ...Also at Crescent, Janet Carpenter is a magnificent artist. When you have a chance, ask to see her work, it’s amazing.
Happy Birthday to: Jim Skarvan (Wesco), Chris Dix (Rains Electrical Sales, Inc.), Keith Albarelli (Heartland Electric), Jessica Erdrich (Graybar), and Bill Thorp, Jim Moore and Doug Carlson (C&O Electric Sales).
Hip, Hip Hooray, Hip, Hip, Hooray to: Doug Carlson celebrating 20 years with C&O Electric Sales on Dec. 3rd.
Same Faces .... New Places:
Norma Houtman is now doing quotations at Rexel/Glasco.We are going to miss you when you’re gone: Chris Beseau (C&O Electric Sales) is leaving the Kansas City area for Atlanta, GA where he has accepted a position with CED. Good luck to you Chris.
Congratulations to Ken Keller, Western Extralite, for being named the Credit Executive of the Year for 2004 by the National Association of Credit Managers.
Best wishes to:
Linda Wirsig (CED/Rensenhouse) for recovery from recent surgery.
Bonnie Feller (Graybar) also recovering from surgery.
John Guerdan (Square D) will have undergone surgery by the time you are reading this. Our thoughts are with all of you!We know that several of our members have relatives serving in the military in Afghanistan and Iraq. If you would like for your friends in the industry to send them notes from home, send us their names, addresses and/or e-mail addresses and we’ll publish them in the next newsletter and on the website. Mail always cheers me up, doesn’t it you?
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).
The Annual Meeting of the Electric League of Missouri and Kansas will be held during the December 9 Holiday Luncheon. The Nominating Committee, chaired by Immediate Past President Joe Privitera, of Mark One, has submitted this proposed slate of officers and directors for 2005.
Officers:
President: Deanna Rudd, Rains Electrical Sales
President-Elect: John Guerdan, Square D Co.
Secretary-Treasurer: Paul Kemp, Midland Electric Corp.
Immediate Past President: John Kelble, Associated Air Products
Vice Presidents:
Utilities: Vern Skripsky, Kansas City Power & Light
Contractors: Oscar Lynch, Diamond Electric
Distributors: Sam Marsalla, Crescent Electric
Agents: Doug Carlson, C & O Electric Sales
Engineers: Tim Scott, Gibbens Drake Scott Inc.
Manufacturer: Mike Scott, Milbank Mfg. Co.
Datacom: Brad Yates, Yates Electric Co. Inc.
Directors:
Keith Albarelli – Heartland Electric
Julie Biron – Western Extralite Co.
Gary Burgard – Rensenhouse Elec Supply
Mark Denney – Foley Group
Brenda Danner – Wesco Distribution Inc.
Rob Dowell – Graybar
Duff Greenwood – CBM, Inc.
Greg Hausman – Cutler Hammer Inc.
Chris Hedges – Christopher C. Hedges Co.
Mark Hershman – Yarnell Associates
Tom McLeod – Hubbell Wiring Device
Pam Lickteig – Thomas & Betts
George Powell – BPU
Joe Privitera – Mark One Electric
Jay Rains – Rains Electrical Sales
Steve Tiesing – Aquila
Maurice Williams – Kansas City Power & Light
Congratulations to all nominees! Plan to attend the Annual Meeting to elect our new slate of officers and directors and to help us celebrate the past year’s achievements!
Committees are forming for 2005. If you would like to become more involved in League activities, talk with Deanna Rudd. We welcome your interest and participation.
Commercial General - Grandview Community Center
Commerical Office - Cerner Auditorium
Commercial Merchandise Area - Zona Rosa
Institutional - Visitation Church
Hospitality - The Cheesecake Factory
Outdoor Building - Argosy Casino
Entertainment Facility - Argosy Casino - Riverside
Landscape Lighting - Private Courtyard
Lighting Innovative Technology Award (L.I.T.) - Cerner Auditorium
2004 Lighting Awards Committee:
- Mark Hershman, Chair, Kate Wimer, Co-Chair
- Andria Odrowski, Mark Denney
Photo Credits: Steve Swalwell - Architectural Fotographics
Benefactors:
Kansas City Power & Light
Mercer-Zimmerman, Inc.
R.F. Fisher Electric
Associates:
Aquila
Cleaves-Bessmer-Marietti, Inc./Lutron
Key Lighting
Lankford + Associates
Western Extralite
Yarnell Associates
Patrons:
Custom Engineering
Foley Group, Inc.
Gibbens Drake Scott
Henderson Engineers, Inc.
Kansas City Electrical Supply Co.
Premier Lighting & Controls
RA Sales
Rensenhouse Electrical Supply
Friends:
Bill Scaletty Associates
Bredson & Associates
C&O Electric Sales Co.
French Gerleman
Jay Consulting Engineers
Rains Electrical Sales, Inc.
In the ongoing turmoil surrounding federal estate and gift tax laws,
business owners continue to win some and lose some.
The Good News...
The estate tax exemption equivalent went up from $1 million per person to
$1.5 million per person. This means that if a husband and wife were to both
die in 2004 or 2005, they can leave a total of $3 million to their loved
ones without any federal estate tax whatsoever. That is, if their estate
plan is properly set up. In 2003, the total amount was $2 million, so this
is a potential sizeable savings for their heirs.
The Bad News ... Is In The Details.
First, both spouses would have to pass on in 2004 or 2005. Second, their
plan must include the exemption for both spouses. If it does not, $1.5
million could have a tax bite of as much as $720,000.
The key management questions stay the same – will both spouses pass on in
the next two years and are proper credit shelter arrangements in place?
The Federal Tax Credit for state death taxes has been reduced in 2004, to 25
percent of the pre-2001 state death-tax credit. In 2005, there will be NO
federal tax credit for state death taxes paid. The consequences are
two-fold. First, many states are changing their state inheritance, and/or
estate tax laws so that they will still be able to collect their bite of the
estate apple. Second, the federal estate tax will not give an estate a
credit for death taxes paid to a state. What this means to a business family
is that taxes will essentially go up because there will be both federal and
state transfer taxes.
Make sure you work with a specialized estate planning attorney to keep your
plan up to date.
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