Monadnock United Way Request for Proposals Announcement

Monadnock United Way (MUW) is soliciting proposals from 501(c) 3 non-profit programs that provide asset building training, services, and/or education that enhances financial stability and independence. Services could include, but are not limited to: budgeting, credit, credit repair, checking and savings accounts, tax assistance, retirement and disability related income counseling.

The primary purpose of this Request for Proposals is to communicate the process steps to all applicants. The secondary purpose is to encourage all applicants to apply for funding to enter into a partnership with MUW to bring into reality a shared vision for change and to implement a collective plan of action to make this vision/change demonstrable.

For more information and details on how to apply, contact Kelly Steiner at kelly@muw.org or 603-903-4738.

The IRS Adopts a Taxpayer Bill of Rights

The chief objectives of the Low-Income Taxpayer Project are to advocate for clients facing controversies with the IRS and to educate them about their rights. Meeting these objectives just got a little easier, thanks to the Internal Revenue Service’s adoption of a Taxpayer Bill of Rights. The Taxpayer Advocate Service explains:

Since assuming her position in 2001, National Taxpayer Advocate Nina E. Olson has emphasized the protection of taxpayer rights in tax administration. In her 2007 Annual Report to Congress, and in later reports, she proposed a new Taxpayer Bill of Rights. On June 10, 2014, the IRS formally adopted the Advocate’s proposal, to renew the focus on protecting the rights of taxpayers in all of their dealings with the IRS.

This document groups the dozens of existing rights in the Internal Revenue Code into ten fundamental rights, and makes these rights clear, understandable, and accessible for taxpayers and IRS employees alike.

TAXPAYER BILL OF RIGHTS

1. The Right to Be Informed
   Taxpayers have the right to know what they need to do to comply with the tax laws. They are entitled to clear explanations of the laws and IRS procedures in all tax forms, instructions, publications, notices, and correspondence. They have the right to be informed of IRS decisions about their tax accounts and to receive clear explanations of the outcomes.
2. The Right to Quality Service
   Taxpayers have the right to receive prompt, courteous, and professional assistance in their dealings with the IRS, to be spoken to in a way they can easily understand, to receive clear and easily understandable communications from the IRS, and to speak to a supervisor about inadequate service.
3. The Right to Pay No More than the Correct Amount of Tax
   Taxpayers have the right to pay only the amount of tax legally due, including interest and penalties, and to have the IRS apply all tax payments properly.
4. The Right to Challenge the IRS’s Position and Be Heard
   Taxpayers have the right to raise objections and provide additional documentation in response to formal IRS actions or proposed actions, to expect that the IRS will consider their timely objections and documentation promptly and fairly, and to receive a response if the IRS does not agree with their position.
5. The Right to Appeal an IRS Decision in an Independent Forum
   Taxpayers are entitled to a fair and impartial administrative appeal of most IRS decisions, including many penalties, and have the right to receive a written response regarding the Office of Appeals’ decision. Taxpayers generally have the right to take their cases to court.
6. The Right to Finality
   Taxpayers have the right to know the maximum amount of time they have to challenge the IRS’s position as well as the maximum amount of time the IRS has to audit a particular tax year or collect a tax debt. Taxpayers have the right to know when the IRS has finished an audit.
7. The Right to Privacy
   Taxpayers have the right to expect that any IRS inquiry, examination, or enforcement action will comply with the law and be no more intrusive than necessary, and will respect all due process rights, including search and seizure protections and will provide, where applicable, a collection due process hearing.
8. The Right to Confidentiality
   Taxpayers have the right to expect that any information they provide to the IRS will not be disclosed unless authorized by the taxpayer or by law. Taxpayers have the right to expect appropriate action will be taken against employees, return preparers, and others who wrongfully use or disclose taxpayer return information.
9. The Right to Retain Representation
   Taxpayers have the right to retain an authorized representative of their choice to represent them in their dealings with the IRS. Taxpayers have the right to seek assistance from a Low Income Taxpayer Clinic if they cannot afford representation.
10. The Right to a Fair and Just Tax System, Including Access to the Taxpayer Advocate Service
    Taxpayers have the right to expect the tax system to consider facts and circumstances that might affect their underlying liabilities, ability to pay, or ability to provide information timely. Taxpayers have the right to receive assistance from the Taxpayer Advocate Service if they are experiencing financial difficulty or if the IRS has not resolved their tax issues properly and timely through its normal channels.

Low-Income Taxpayer Project is a program of NH Pro Bono, a Monadnock United Way Agency.

FREE Home Buyer Seminar in Keene

Saturday, July 26th 2014 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.

HOMEteam will help you clearly understand all the steps of home ownership. They give you a great sense of comfort and confidence when getting to those tricky stages of purchasing a home, which can be very nerve-racking.

Learn and understand the responsibilities associated with homeownership.

This program reviews the Nine Steps to Home Ownership and gives people the tools and resources they need to understand and make good financial decisions at every stage of the process. Speakers from both the financial and real estate fields will share their expertise on how to buy home.

Register online at www.HOMEteamNH.org or call 866-701-9097

This Free Seminar Includes:

• How and where to start in this complicated process
• The major steps to buying a home
• Are you ready to purchase a home?
• How to establish a spending and savings & improve your credit
• How to improve your chances of getting a mortgage
• What you need for down payment and closing costs
• Learn about special program resources to finance your home
• Understanding the roles of real estate agents,loan officers, home inspectors,insurance agents and title companies
• The opportunity to ask real estate professionals questions in an educational environment

The seminar will take place at Keene State College, Putnam Science Center, Room 127 Keene, NH 03431. Park in the Science Lot adjacent to Blake Street or at any Faculty/Staff or Commuter lot.

When you get Homesmart, you can be confident about your biggest investment!

CVTC & Grand View Estate Present a Summer’s Evening Concert

Andy Avery & Fred Lantz Performing a Mix of Folk, Pop, Country, Standards & Originals

Thursday, July 31, 7:30 p.m.
The Banquet Hall Barn at the Grand View, Rt. 124, Jaffrey
BYOB — mixers, soda & ice available
After-Party at Parson’s Pub at Monadnock Inn

Andy has been the house performer at the Marsh Tavern at the Equinox Resort in Manchester, VT for close to 30 years. Fred, known as “Vermont’s own Johnny Cash” backs Andy up on base and vocals.

How about a picnic on the grounds around the main house? Starting at 6:00 p.m. bring your own picnic or let Sunflowers Restaurant prepare and deliver your picnic in a returnable picnic basket for $19.50 plus 9% tax, pre-paid. Call 603-593-3303 for menu options and to order. If it rains, come inside the Banquet Hall Barn.

Advance Tickets: ONLY $25 per person (cash or checks, made payable to CVTC), Tables of 8 available. For reservations, contact CVTC at 821-4081 or email to info@cvtc-nh.org. Mail checks to 375 Jaffrey Rd., #3, Peterborough, NH 03458. At the door: $30 per person.

Help support CVTC’s efforts to enhance community transportation through our Volunteer Driver Program and Monadnock Rideshare, an on-line carpool program.

Lucky 13

For the first time in CVTC’s history (five years), 100% of the 13 towns served by CVTC are supporting their efforts. Francestown, Hancock and Peterborough joined the ranks of the other 10 towns in the Eastern Monadnock Region with positive results from this year’s town meetings. The donations totaled $6250. CVTC is grateful for the support and endorsement of the meaningful work they do!

CVTC is a Monadnock United Way Agency.

Monadnock RSVP Volunteer Center Needs Volunteers
to Become Representative Payees for Individuals with Chronic Mental Illness

Being able to manage personal finances is difficult, sometimes impossible, for many people here in the Monadnock Region due to their disabilities. Often, family members or friends can step in to help. But there are those who don’t have anyone and without assistance, will not have these basic needs met.

In an effort to provide support to these individuals with their personal finances, Monadnock RSVP Volunteer Center is recruiting volunteers to become Representative Payees to manage the finances of individuals with chronic mental illness. No special skills are needed other than the ability to balance a checkbook, keep accurate records and have patience and compassion for people with disabilities. Training and support will be provided.

If you are interested in learning more about becoming a Representative Payee, please call Mary Delisle at Monadnock RSVP Volunteer Center (603-283-1686).

Monadnock RSVP Volunteer Center is a program of Monadnock Family Services, a Monadnock United Way Agency.

2014 Annual Keene IDOL Kicks Off July 19

The 11th annual Keene IDOL, a regional talent showcase and fundraiser to benefit AIDS Services for the Monadnock Region, will be held at McCue’s, Emerald Street, Keene on Saturday, July 19, 26, August 2, 9, 16.

Keene IDOL is an amateur singing competition. For the purposes of this event, “amateur” is defined as a performer who engages in singing occasionally, paid or unpaid, rather than as a sole profession.

The Top 20 adult and Top 10 youth contestants have been chosen. Adults will perform all five weeks and include Bobby Baker, Taryn Bettez, Julie Cermola, Mackenzie Christiansen, Melaina Cominoli, April Cushman, Maxine Dunn, Lara Germana, Janice Gutteirrez, Maggie Halley, Jerilyn Kiniry, Gregory Knight, Mary Leighton, Allie McGahie, Hannah Mansson, Alana Martineau, Brooke Martineau, Maggie O’Brien, Brittney O’Connor, and Scout Williams Landry. Featured youth perform in weeks 3, 4 and 5 and are Alani Besson, Bailey Tucker, Dana Dearborn, Katelyn Every, Mackenzie McGreer, Maddie Phaneuf, Tristan Prescott, Charles Staggers, Chloe Swett, and Rebecca Thomas.

This year the event adds two more nights to recognize the high caliber of talent. The Last Chance Audience Save will also be held at McCue’s. Adults compete on July 18, and youth on August 1. Performers who would like another chance to be in the show will sing a song of their choice, and the audience will decide which one person from each age category will join named contestants.

Adults compete for a grand prize of $2000. Event details found on the Keene IDOL website, www.keeneidol.com. Tickets may be purchased on the website.

For more information, please call 603-354-3241, or email susan.macneil@asmronline.org.

Proceeds benefit AIDS Services for the Monadnock Region funded, in part, by the Monadnock United Way, City of Keene, Broadway Cares and many individual supporters.

Hoffman-Haas Fellowship, Application Deadline July 15th

Hoffman-Haas Fellowship, Application Deadline July 15th

What is the Hoffman-Haas Fellowship?

The Hoffman-Haas Fellowship, an initiative of the NH Center for Nonprofits, is designed to engage, prepare and inspire participants to meet the demand for 21st century board leaders.

Named after two NH philanthropists, Tom Haas and John Hoffman, the program will immerse Fellows in an interactive 6-month experience which will advance their understanding of the strategic leadership needed for today’s nonprofit boards, connect them to inspiring Mentors and link them to potential board seats.

The design of the program offers a combination of cutting-edge course content presented by both national and local thought-leaders along with opportunities for online learning, debate and exposure to how board service also builds leadership expertise. Fellows will gain the skills, experience and connections which will enable them to be an asset to any nonprofit board they serve on in the future. The Fellowship will strive to populate NH nonprofit boards with inspired, prepared and ready-to-engage new leaders who can bring a solid grounding in board essentials and serve as an infusion of energy for existing boards.

Applications for the program are available online at http://www.nhnonprofits.org/page/hoffman-haas-fellowship.

Monadnock United Way On Cheshire TV

Watch Cheshire TV Channel 8 (Time Warner Cable) every Wednesday at 7:00 p.m. and see how our partner agencies, donors, volunteers, and corporate partners LIVE UNITED!

Can’t watch it on Wednesdays, or you are not a Time Warner subscriber, episodes are posted on the Monadnock United Way YouTube Channel (www.youtube.com/monadnockunitedway).

Also, on the third Saturday of the month at 10:00 a.m., be sure to listen to Sound-Off with Chris Coates and Greg Parent on WKBK Radio (1290 AM of 107.5 FM) — a Monadnock United Way partner agency will be on the air discussing their agency and programs. The scheduled guest on Saturday, July 19, 2014 is SCS WIC Program.

How do you LIVE UNITED? Email LiveUnited@muw.org and tell us. If your story is read on the TV show you’ll win a LIVE UNITED t-shirt!

All schedules are subject to change without notice.

Agency/Program Wish List

Please send your Wish List updates and additions to gary@muw.org. Wish List items that have not been confirmed or updated are purged every quarter (January, April, July, and October), so please remember to keep your items current.

The deadline for Wish List items in the next U Review (August 2014) is Monday, July 21, 2014.