Senate Job Creation Bill Extends Tax Credits to Associations and Other Nonprofits
On February 24, the Senate passed legislation designed to reduce the unemployment rate by providing a tax credit for hiring unemployed workers. The bill extends tax credits to a wide variety of nonprofit organizations, including associations, philanthropic organizations, universities, and other nonprofit organizations as well as for-profit businesses.
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New York City Was 2009's Most Popular US Tourist Destination for First Time in Nearly 20 Years
In 2009, New York City was the most popular tourist destination in the United States for the first time since 1990, announced Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, Deputy Mayor for Economic Development Robert C. Lieber, and NYC & Company CEO George Fertitta. The 45.25 million tourists exceeded projections, declining just 3.9 percent from 2008 versus the 10 percent expected.
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Green Light For Midtown' Project Will Be Made Permanent
Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg and Department of Transportation Commissioner Janette Sadik-Khan announced that the Green Light for Midtown pilot initiative to improve traffic and safety at Times and Herald Squares will be made permanent.
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Association Fights Rental Car Tax Increase
The National Business Travel Association (NBTA) and the Arizona Business Travel Association (AZBTA) are urging civic leaders in Phoenix, Arizona, to reject a proposal that would establish a new rental car tax to fund training facility upgrades for the Arizona League Cubs. This new tax would establish Mesa as one of the highest taxed areas in the country.
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Going the Distance: Three Keys to Successfully Leading in a Virtual Workforce World
Just 20 years ago, going to work meant waking up, getting dressed, jumping in the car, and driving to a physical location where you interacted, face-to-face, with your boss and coworkers all day. In 2009, it might mean stepping across the hall to your home office and getting on a videoconference with a boss you haven't seen in years, if, indeed, you've ever met her. Yes, everything about work has changed. It's gone from a permanent, flesh-and-blood world of people who know their coworkers well (from where they live to how many kids they have to how they drink their coffee) to a transient one where the voices on the phone may change week-to-week and project-to-project.
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To Tweet or Not to Tweet:Thoughts on Twitter
What is all this fuss about Twitter? What use is it to associations and other nonprofits? For those who are new to the world of social media, Twitter is a simple, free, web-based tool that allows you to send a short message (140 characters or less) to a group of people who have decided to follow you and receive your messages. The message gets disseminated instantly to your followers' Twitter accounts and can be received on their phone, mobile device, or laptop-wherever they are. Because it is free, there is not much to lose by giving Twitter a try, except for the fact that it does take some time and effort to manage.
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Trade Association Settles FTC Charges of Misleading Advertising
On January 26, 2010, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced it had entered into a voluntary settlement, subject to final approval, with the Indoor Tanning Association (ITA) over allegations that the ITA made misleading representations in its advertising and marketing for indoor tanning. Under the consent order, the ITA is restricted in the claims it may make in its future advertising, must send a notice to its members and recipients of its advertising materials, and must adopt a record keeping program.
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Researchers Design Model to Produce Quarterly Estimates of Household Giving
Researchers at Boston College's Center on Wealth and Philanthropy (CWP) have developed the first model designed to estimate future charitable giving by households on a quarterly basis and have put it to a successful test run. Paul Schervish, CWP director, and John Havens, associate director, describe the model and the results of the first trial in the January/February issue of Advancing Philanthropy, the journal of the Association of Fundraising Professionals. Their report provides estimates of U.S. household giving for 2009 (calculations that prior to the development of the model would not have been available until June 2010), as well as preliminary estimates for 2010.
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Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation Spurs Congressional Action Using Phone Messaging Technology
Getting quick Congressional action takes a compelling message, exceptional communication, and a constituent base uniquely motivated to call Capitol Hill. The Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) delivered all three by rallying their national network of grassroots advocates with voice messaging.
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Congratulations New CAEs
Seven NYSAE members were among the latest association executives who earned their Certified Association Executive (CAE) credential from the American Society of ASAE and The Center for Association Leadership. Less than five percent of all association professionals have achieved this mark of excellence.
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