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Fresno Metro Black Chamber of Commerce E-Newsletter
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March 2010
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Greetings!
Over the past 12 months, the Chamber has worked to strengthen
relationships with its members and stakeholders. Since taking on the role as
president, we set out to bring accountability, transparency, and greater
capacity to the board and organization for the benefit of the members. The
Chamber has reinstated activities such as the monthly mixers that connected
potential and current members, continued its youth & entrepreneurship
program that invested over 450 hours with more than 500 students, and advocated
on the behalf of its members and the African-Americans community to elected
officials and policy makers.
With the assistance of a well-respected team of advisers, Chamber
leadership put forward a 2010 Action Plan and solidified the merger between the
San Joaquin Valley and the Central California Black
Chamber to form the Fresno Metro Black Chamber of Commerce.
Today, we are asking for nominations for the first
fully-elected board of directors for the Fresno Metro Black Chamber of
Commerce. This group up to 13 directors will advocate, provide guidance, and help
carry out activities and events along with the members to fulfill the chamber's corporate mission.
If you are interested in serving or would you like to nominate
someone else then click on the 'nomination' link below for the 2010 Board of Directors Packet. In it there
is information about the qualifications and expectations along with the
nomination form. Nominations are due next Friday,
March 26, 2010 with electronic voting taking place for dues-current members
between March 29-31. The new board will be announced on April 1. The new board will be installed at the first Power Breakfast on April 14th.
Thank you for in advance for your support,
Tate Hill II
President
Fresno Metro Black Chamber of Commerce
twitter: tatehill
follow the Chamber on Facebook:
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Need more to start your day off right ?
Power BreakfastApril 14, 2010 - 8 AM
Holiday Inn- Downtown
$20
Call 559-441-7929 for more information
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Lawrence Brookter first African-American elected Fowler Chamber of Commerce BoardOn February 23, Lawrence Brookter became the first African-American elected to the Fowler Chamber of Commerce. Tate Hill, FMBCC President Brookter to celebration the momentous occasion.
Brookter, a retired officer from the Fresno Police Department and currently, owner of Brookter's Investigative Services was installed as Vice President of the Fowler Chamber of Commerce during its annual banquet at the Worship Center. Lawrence Brookter has been a long term resident of Fowler, raising his family and operating his business.
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Chamber attracts some the best & brightest
Chamber board & members are named amongst '40 Under 40'
Earlier this month, Business Street announced the honorees of Fresno's 40 Under 40. The List recognizes some of the area's top business
professionals in the public
and private sectors under the age of 40.
Included amongst the group were: Tate Hill, FMBCC President Candice Hill, FMBCC Board of Directors Laneesha Senegal, Black Business & Professional Network Team
They are leaders in the community, both civically as well as
professionally, and are on the path towards an even greater future.
40 Under 40 Reception
April 1, 2010
6:00 p.m. -
8:00 p.m.
The 600 Club at Chukchansi Park
1800 Tulare St.
Fresno, CA
93721
To see the entire list of the 40 inductees, tickets and more, go to http://40u40.com/.
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Valley Black Talk goes to television
Launch: APRIL 1, 2010
C43, Comcast Channel 10
Advertise your
business, logo and message on Valley Black Talk's new San Joaquin Valley weekly
black-owned and produced TV show "VBTalk." Don't miss out on a mutually
beneficial ground-breaking opportunity!
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Special
rules apply to charitable donations for
Haiti relief efforts
If you make a qualified
charitable contribution after January 11, 2010, and before March 1, 2010, for
relief
efforts associated with
the January 12, 2010, earthquake in Haiti, you can treat the
contribution as if it were
made on December 31,
2009. As a result, if you itemize deductions on Form 1040, Schedule A, you can
elect
to claim the deduction
for the Haitian relief contribution on your 2009 federal income tax return. To
qualify, the
contribution must be made
in cash. To facilitate charitable donations made via text messages, a telephone
bill
showing the name of the
organization, and the date and amount of the contribution, will satisfy
charitable
deduction record keeping
requirements.
Time
running out for first-time homebuyer's tax credit
If you're in the market
for a new home and hope to take advantage of the first-time home buyer tax
credit, you'll need to purchase a principal residence before May 1, 2010 (or
before July 1, 2010 if you enter into a written binding contract prior to May
1, 2010). If you--and your spouse, if you're married--did not own any other
principal residence during the three-year period ending on the date of
purchase, the credit is worth up to $8,000 ($4,000 if you're married and file
separate returns). If you--and your spouse, if you're married--have maintained
the same principal residence for at least five consecutive years in the
eight-year period ending at the time you purchase a new principal residence,
the credit is worth up to $6,500 ($3,250 if you're married and file separate
returns). The credit is reduced if your modified adjusted gross income (MAGI)
exceeds $125,000 ($225,000 if married filing a joint return) and is completely
eliminated if your MAGI reaches $145,000 ($245,000 if married filing a joint
return). You can't claim the first-time homebuyer tax credit if the purchase
price of your principal residence exceeds $800,000. Other limitations and
provisions also apply.
President's
proposed 2011 budget offers Congress multiple initiatives
The proposed 2011 budget
submitted by President Obama offers multiple new initiatives, including several
small business tax incentives, provisions intended to promote college
affordability, and tax benefits targeting the middle class. The budget that ultimately
emerges from Congress will likely differ significantly from that proposed by
the President, but the proposed budget is valuable in that it provides a
framework for discussion over the next few months.
The proposed budget
includes:
· For businesses -- A new tax credit of $5,000 for each new
hire made by an employer, a one-year extension of 2009 bonus depreciation and
Section 179 expensing limits, and requirements for employers who do not offer
retirement plans to implement automatic IRAs for employees
· For students --
Expanded Pell Grant limits, a permanent American Opportunity tax credit, and a
proposal to strengthen income-based repayment plans for student loans
(overburdened borrowers would pay only 10% of discretionary income in
loan payments and remaining
debt would be forgiven after 20 years)
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For individual taxpayers -- A return of the top two marginal tax rates
to 39.6% and 36% in 2011, and an expanded 28% tax bracket; a permanent
extension of the current 0% and 15% rates on long-term capital gain, with a new
20% rate for higher-income individuals; permanent extension of the federal
estate tax and the alternative minimum tax (AMT) rules and exemption amounts,
at 2009 levels.
New
credit card provisions effective this week
The Credit Card Accountability
Responsibility and Disclosure (CARD) Act of 2009 included several provisions
that became effective on February 22, 2010. Some of these changes could affect
you: · Credit card companies are prohibited from increasing annual percentage
rates (APRs) that apply to existing balances unless (1) the index on which the
rate is based changes, (2) the APR was a promotional rate that has expired, (3)
you failed to comply with a hardship workout plan, or (4) you're more than 60
days past due on the account; if an increase in APR is the result of you
falling 60 days past due on the account, the rate will be restored to what it
was before the increase if you make timely minimum payments for six months · If
different APRs apply to separate portions of an outstanding balance, the amount
of any payment beyond the minimum payment due must be applied to the portion of
the balance with the highest APR · If you're under age 21, you won't be able to
get credit unless you have a cosigner over age 21 or can demonstrate an ability
to repay the debt · You can't be charged an over-the-limit fee unless you
authorize the credit card company to complete the transaction that causes the
balance to exceed your credit limit.
Presented by Chamber members: Gary R. Lamb &
John Michael Scott - Waddell &
Reed - 6051 N. Fresno Street
- Fresno, CA.
93710
559-440-9388 - www.lambandscott.wrfa.com
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Are you a Member? 
WestCare representative receieves membership plaque
Join the leading voice for Fresno's African-American business & economic development community.
From networking, workshops, business technical assistance and access to service region wide, FMBCC is there for you.
If you would like to meet with the President/CEO about how the Chamber can help you as a member, contact us @ 559.441-7929 or by email
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Strategic Partners
Fresno Economic Development Corp.
(Fresno EDC)
SCORE
Valley Black Talk Radio
(KFCF-88.1 FM)
Central CA Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
Fresno West Coalition for Economic Development
BlackXChange.net
Greater Fresno Chamber of Commerce
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| Upcoming Events |
Black Business & Professional
Network Mixer
March 24, 2010
5:30 PM-7:30 PM
Sam's Club
7663 N. Blackstone Ave., Fresno, CA
(between Nees and Alluvial)
FREE
SAVE THE DATE
Power Breakfast
April 14,2010 8:00 AM 
$20 (breakfast included)
For more events, go to the Chamber's Event Calendar
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| Contact Information |
559.441.7929
NEW info@fmbcc.com
Join the Chamber on Facebook
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