January 2014 Membership Newsletter

Transcription

1 January 2014 Membership Newsletter 2014 Annual Chamber Gala Tickets on sale January 2nd February 21st Corporate Table (8 Seats) - $ Half Corporate Table (4 Seats) - $ Individual Tickets - $40.00 Don t forget the annual silent auction. This auction will benefit the McAlester Chamber Foundation Scholarship Program. Scholarships are presented annually for secondary adult students in need the McAlester campuses of Kiamichi Technology Center and Eastern Oklahoma State College and once a year for McAlester High School students. This is your opportunity to bid on items donated to help provide scholarships for these students. If you are interested in donating an item for the silent auction, please contact us at

2 P.O. Box S. 2 nd Street, Ste. E Fax: FRIEND US ON FACEBOOK!!!! FOLLOW US ON From the CEO/President Published by: McAlester Area Chamber of Commerce With the ending of 2013 and the recent holidays, businessmen and women are returning to work, and in doing so ushering in a new year. Your Chamber Board of Directors and staff ended 2013 with a focused, honest and productive strategic planning session. As we begin 2014, we will soon be presenting the results of that session. The Chamber Board and staff would also like to thank David Lerblance of Edward Jones Investments for his dedicated service to the Chamber Board of Directors and membership for the past six years. David has served as a Board member, Chairman, Past Chairman, Committee Chair and been active in numerous committees. We hope that you will make plans to join us on February 27th for the Annual Chamber Awards Gala for a night of networking and celebration. We will be honoring many of our Chamber members for their dedication to McAlester. For tickets or event information, contact chamber staff at Yours in Business, Tanaye Harvanek, CEO/President From the Board of Directors Happy New Year! The chamber board and staff had a very productive Strategic Planning retreat in December. Lots of great ideas were discussed and a Strategic Plan is being produced. When it is completed in January, the results will be a reenergized and focused Chamber, ready to meet the ever changing needs of its membership. I hope everyone has a productive and profitable year in 2014! I also challenge anyone reading this, to remember, to give something back to the community. You can do this by volunteering to a worthy cause, donating monetary gifts, but most especially by donating your time or expertise. We live in a great community already - but just think how much better we would all be if everyone gave just a little something back. David S. Lerblance, Edward Jones, Past Chairman of the Board

3 Chamber M2M (member to member) Incentive Program McAlester Chamber of Commerce Discounted event rates MCAAP MWR Annual membership/rentals without requiring MCAAP employment of military service Staples Business Discounted rates on your office needs MRHC Wellness Center Discounted membership rates Joy of Travel Discounted travel rates and business programs Poor Boy z BBQ Free drink with meal purchase Mascoto Chiropractic Free consultation and examination with any donation to their charity of the month Posh Salon Full Service Salon 10% off on all services Pride In McAlester Buy one-year PIM business membership at $100 and get one free year membership plus one free t-shirt S.E. Oklahoma School of Welding - $800 discount on tuition for Master Welder and Pipeline Welder courses Lindley s Paint & Body Shop 5% discount on vehicle repairs and window replacement Show your M2M Card to receive discounts! M2M incentives are designed to encourage new business relationships between members, discounted services, and local spending. If you are interested in offering a M2M incentive, please contact Vicki Jones at vicki@mcalester.org We encourage each of our members to participate in this beneficial program to create and strengthen business-tobusiness relationships and to encourage spending locally.

4 Membership News TFI Family Connections needs your help to help the families and children of your community. Pittsburg County has 140 children placed out of their Biological Home for abuse and neglect. There are only 27 non relative foster homes available to place these children. Your community needs Foster Homes to keep these children placed locally in their community. We are asking that you please pass the word about the need or look at becoming a Foster Parent to a child. I would love to come and talk with your Church, Civic Organization or place of business. Please contact me at and let me know when would be a good time. If you know anyone that would like more information on becoming a Bridge Foster Home please contact us at or visit us at Using a PikePass: PikePass customers receive a 5% discount You can add up to 5 vehicles onto a PikePass account If you travel the turnpikes enough using a PikePass you can get an additional 5% discount You can skip the toll lines and travel without stopping with a PikePass. And, you can check the road conditions and construction updates on The items below are significant and apply to individuals, corporations and other entities: Due Dates: January 31, 2014 Forms W-2 delivered to employees; Forms 1099 to be furnished to recipients. February 18, 2014 Last day for filing Form W-4 by employees wishing to claim exemption from withholding on income for February 28, 2014 Transmittals for Forms W-2 and 1099 to be filed with the Social Security Administration and IRS, respectively. March 3, 2014 Last day for farmers, who owed but did not pay estimated tax payments on January 15th, to file 2013 returns without late payment penalty. March 17, 2014 Due date for corporations to file returns for 2013 or request extension of time to file (Form 7004). April 15, 2014 Due date for individuals, fiduciary (if a calendar year taxpayer) and partnership returns for 2013; First installment of estimated tax payment is due for 2014 for individuals. June 16, 2014 Due date for 2nd installment estimated tax payment for 2014 for individuals. September 15, 2014 Due date for 3rd installment estimated tax payment for 2014 for individuals; Last day for filing 2013 income tax return by calendar-year corporations and estates/trust that obtained an extension of time to file. October 15, 2014 Due date of 2013 individual income tax returns that obtained an extension of time to file. December 15, 2014 Last estimated tax payment due for corporations filing on a calendar-year basis. January 15, 2015 Last estimated tax payment due for individuals for 2014 filing year. A few last minute tax-planning ideas for procrastinators: 1. You can still take a 2013 deduction for contributions to an Individual Retirement Account (IRA) if contributed by April 15, Certain restrictions apply. See your tax advisor for specific advice. 2. Prepare your return by considering married filing separate or married filing jointly to determine the lower tax amount available to you. 3. If you are a member of a 125 Plan, consider utilizing your flexible spending account during the month of January 2014, to remove balances from elections made for Consider itemizing your deductions, even if lower than the federal standard deduction, to mitigate your Oklahoma tax costs. 5. If you are self-employed, consider establishing a Simplified Employee Pension Plan (SEP) for The above information is general in nature and you should seek advice as to your particular tax situation with a competent tax adviser.

5 December Member Anniversaries 37 Years Federal Managers Assn #34 1 C Tree Rd Bldg Liberty Abstract 108 E Carl Albert Pkwy January Member Anniversaries 30 Years Oklahoma State Penitentiary 1306 West Street BancFirst 501 E Carl Albert Pkwy Mann s Flower Shop 1218 S George Nigh Expwy Braum s Ice Cream & Dairy Stores 625 S George Nigh Expwy 1207 E Carl Albert Pkwy Edward Jones Tyler Sellmeyer 320 E Carl Albert Pkwy Brumley-Mills Funeral Home 1410 E Carl Albert Pkwy Giacomo s Italian Cuisine 501 S George Nigh Expwy Years Bemac Supply 836 E Carl Albert Pkwy Welcome Chambers Newest Members ColorTyme 205 S. 6 th Street TFI Family Connections 303 W Taylor Ave OK Small Business Development Center 1100 E 14 th St, PMB S-73, Ada Joshua Hass Insurance 1201 N Main Street Quality Janitorial Supplies 1201 N Main Street