CYGNETURE
March 1997 |
Slate elected, Referrers named The 1997-1998 slate of officers was approved unanimously. More members voted this year than in any previous SWAN election. The nine-member slate was published in the January issue of Cygneture.New referral coordinators are: writers, Barbara Ross; illustrators, Deb Hoeffner; photographers, Phil Cantor; designers, Wally Littman; film/video/audio, Diane Berson; computer graphics/multimedia, Stan Cohen. Will your listing have the right area code? The 201 area code will be incorrect in the 1997-98 SWAN directory for many members. If your area code is changing to 973 (see your last telephone bill), make sure the new number appears in your listing. Your only chance to review your entire listing in person will be at the March meeting. To make the area code change after that, call Sandy Miller at (914) 639-1463 by April 1. The Swan referral program is one of the main benefits of membership. Can this program be more effective and made more accountable? A new Referral Committee chaired by Deb Hoeffner will look into this, and new second vice president Susan Brierly-Wills will be the liaison to the SWAN board. Among other issues, the committee will evaluate how to report to members, on a regular basis, the kind of job requests that come in, the firm submitting each, and the members referred. "With around 60 writers in my discipline," said Brierly-Wills, "we need to be accountable, because most will not receive a referral in any given month." How can the referral system be more effective for you? Make your special skills known to the referral person. "If everyone is a jack-of-all-trades," said Hoeffner, "whom do we refer?" Lebovic reports 1997 Tax Changes A number of little-known tax provisions took effect on January 1, 1997. They can have a potentially big effect on self-employed taxpayers, according to Alyssa Lebovic, CPA and partner of Keller & Lebovic in Fair Lawn. She addressed the January meeting. A number of tax provisions will make it easier for individuals to save for retirement, including higher spousal IRA limits. In 1996, a non-working spouse is limited to a $250 annual contribution to an IRA. Under the new regulations, the permissible contribution for 1997 is $2,000 annually. Also, withdrawals from an IRA can be taken earlier under certain conditions and not incur a penalty. In addition, self-employed persons can now deduct from their tax returns a larger percentage of their health insurance expense. In 1996, the amount was 30 percent; in 1997, it will increase to 40 percent and continue to rise until it reaches 80 percent in 2006.This year will also see an increase in the amount that can be deducted immediately for the cost of business equipment from $17,500 in 1996 to $18,000 in 1997. This expensing amount will gradually increase to $25,000 by 2003. Lebovic said these changes do not affect current 1996 returns. She also stressed the importance of checking with your tax adviser regarding which new provisions are to your benefit. If you missed the January meeting and would like to be added to Keller & Lebovic mailing list for a free tax tips newsletter, call 797-1966. Luisa Frey-Gaynor, writer SWAN Notes
CREDITSCopyright ©1997 Cygneture SWAN seeks news about members and their achievements. EDITOR: Bob Parker STAFF WRITERS: Printed Newsletter Graphic Design: Carrie Oesmann Return to Newsletters. |
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