Alumni News
CLICK HERE FOR PAST ALUMNI NEWS
Paul Johnson (89), Neely Ford (89) and Willie Krasnick (88) decided to get together the week of April 13 – 18 to hike part of the Appalachian Trail in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Paul, who lives just outside of Charlotte, NC and Neely, who lives just outside of Nashville, TN decided to drive and meet ½ way between the 2 cities to pick up Willie in Gatlinburg where he was flying his King Air into. Since Willie has his own plane, it was easy for him to meet up from his estate in Florida. After spending 4 nights in tents and shelters, and hiking 50+ miles from 2,500 feet to 6,500 and back down again (several times) on the AT, it was great to stay in Willie’s mountain chalet the last night where the weary travelers finally had hot showers, big comfortable beds and 5 course feast prepared by Oscar who is Willie’s personal chef that flew up with him. Overall, a great trip.
The NC and TN Webber Alumni Associations would like to share these pictures of us on the AT for the Alumni Newsletter.
Picture 1 – Day 1 of the hike from Newfound Gap to Clingman’s Dome. (The road to Clingman’s Dome was closed until May 27).
Picture 2 – A glimpse of one of the shelters that we stayed in each night
Picture 3 – Day 5, the last day of our hike and the last sign (or first) when you leave the North end of the Smoky Mountains National Park.
Cal Poly Pomona’s Jeffrey Brown, Ed.D., CEC, CCE, Receives 2010 ACF Western Region Chef Educator of the Year Award
Jeffrey Brown, Ed.D., certified executive chef (CEC), certified culinary educator (CCE), of Upland, Calif., received the 2010 American Culinary Federation, Inc. (ACF) Western Region Chef Educator of the Year award at the 2010 ACF Western Regional Conference held at the Hyatt Regency Albuquerque, Albuquerque, N.M., Feb. 6-8. Brown is an associate professor at The Collins College of Hospitality Management at California Polytechnic University, Pomona, Calif.
The 2010 ACF Western Region Chef Educator of the Year award pays tribute
to an active culinary educator whose knowledge, skills and expertise have
given culinary students leadership and guidance for the future. As this year’s
Western Region recipient, Brown will vie for the national title against three
other candidates at the 2010 ACF National Convention in Anaheim, Calif., Aug.
2-5. Candidates will participate in a lecture and demonstration for a panel of
judges who will decide the winner.
Click here to read full article |
|
 |
| |
|
|
Book Scholarships Awarded
The Webber International University Alumni Association Book Scholarship Program is designed to award scholarships to deserving students each semester for maintaining a minimum GPA of 3.0. The selection committee recently announced the following awards for the Spring Semester 2010.
All applicants must submit a paper (two page minimum) to the Alumni Office detailing need and qualifications for this scholarship request.
Scholarships are awarded as follows:
GPA: 4.0 $400.00
GPA: 3.75 - 3.99 $300.00
GPA 3.5 - 3.74 $200.00
GPA 3.0 - 3.49 $100.00
The following students have been awarded an Alumni Book Scholarship for the Spring Semester 2010.
Jeanette Hicks, a sophomore from Lake Wales, Florida, with a major in Corporate Communications…$200
Tyler Reichwein, a senior from Eustis, Florida, with a major in Sport Management…$400
Rodrigo Hernandez, a sophomore from Soria, Spain, with a major in Marketing…$300
This program is funded by donations received from our generous alumni.
Webber International University Alumni Association Office
P.O. Box 96
1201 North Scenic Highway
Babson Park, Florida 33827
863-638-2941
Our offices are located in Old Main on campus.
Webber International University Savings Connection Announced
Announcing the Webber International University Savings Connection. Your powerful new member savings benefit program!
Have you heard the news? The Webber International University family may now enjoy incredible savings on movie tickets, travel, shopping and more. This value-packed benefit is called the Webber International University Savings Connection and it’s FREE for all of our members!
To save, simply click on the Savings Connection logo and login to access your members-only deals. Activation Code is 10983. If you need help saving, call 888-302-1276 for assistance.
With the Webber International University Savings Connection, you get:
NATIONWIDE SAVINGS. Save on clothing, electronics, footwear and more at over 100 popular retailers, like Target, Eddie Bauer, Foot Locker and Dick’s Sporting Goods. |
|
 |
DISCOUNT TRAVEL. Discover BIG savings worldwide on hotels, car rentals, cruises and travel packages. Simply log in and make your travel plans online at our new travel savings center.
ONLINE FACTORY OUTLET. Visit our online “mega-mall,” packed with factory-direct products from top merchants and enjoy savings of up to 50% off MSRP.
DISCOUNT MOVIE TICKETS. Receive discounted rates—up to 30% below box office prices—at all major theater chains.
Make the Webber International University Savings Connection your portal to instant savings. Just log on today and start enjoying your savings!
This member benefit is being offered to you by your WIU Alumni Association.
IRA Charitable Rollover Restored
Older Americans are once again able to contribute directly to public charities from their individual retirement accounts, thanks to a provision in the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 (H.R.1424), signed into law on October 3, 2008 . The IRA Charitable Rollover tax incentive, which is available through 2009, allows individuals aged 70½ and older to donate up to $100,000 from their Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs) and Roth IRAs to public charities without having to count the distributions as taxable income.
The law includes incentives for those 70½ years of age and older who would like to make charitable gifts from potentially taxable Individual Retirement Account (IRA) funds. Our nation’s tax system has long encouraged charitable giving. Gifts to qualified charities, for example, may be deducted from income that could otherwise be subject to tax under federal law and the laws of many states.
Some taxpayers, however, may encounter limits on the amount of charitable gifts they can deduct and see other benefits phased out as their AGI increases. For example, retired persons may find that increases in income can cause more of their Social Security benefits to be taxed. In other cases, they may not be in a position to fully benefit from their charitable deductions.
This new law gives those at least 70½ the opportunity to help overcome these and other challenges to giving by making tax-free charitable gifts.
Making gifts in 2008 and 2009 from IRA funds that would be subject to tax if withdrawn voluntarily or under mandatory withdrawal requirements may be a wise choice for many. Congress is allowing these individuals with traditional or Roth IRAs to make tax-free gifts directly to qualified charities.
Donors may choose to make charitable distributions from their IRA in any amount up to $100,000, if so desired. A couple with separate IRAs could each give up to that amount. Individuals who are required to take unneeded IRA withdrawals, and others who have experienced limitations on tax benefits in the past, will find the new law of particular interest.
Assets held in Individual Retirement Accounts are not only subject to income tax when withdrawn during one’s lifetime or by survivors, but they may also be subject to estate tax if left to loved ones other than a spouse. For that reason, IRAs may be a good choice for some when deciding how to fund charitable gifts. The provisions of the law will affect individuals in a variety of ways.
Current Law
The reenacted IRA Charitable Rollover provision permits individuals age 70½ and above to make charitable donations of up to $100,000 from IRAs and Roth IRAs without having to count the distributions as taxable income. The IRA Charitable Rollover is intended to benefit donors of all incomes, as well as big and small nonprofits alike. Now is your opportunity -- as a charitable organization or as a donor -- to take advantage of this valuable incentive.
• How does the IRA Rollover Work? Taxpayers age 70½ and older are required to make annual distributions from their IRAs. The distributions are included in the taxpayers’ adjusted gross income (AGI), and taxpayers pay taxes on them. The IRA Charitable Rollover permits taxpayers to make donations directly to charitable organizations from their IRAs without counting them as part of their AGI and, consequently, without paying taxes on them.
• Give Now. Only contributions made between January 1, 2008 and December 31, 2009, are eligible for the enhanced tax benefit.
• Age Requirement. Donors must be 70½ years old or older when the distribution is made.
• Donation Limit. A donor’s total combined charitable IRA rollover contributions cannot exceed $100,000 in any one year.
• Eligible Charities. Charitable contributions from an IRA must go directly to a public charity. Contributions to supporting organizations, donor-advised funds, and private foundations, except in narrow circumstances, do not qualify for the tax-free treatment.
• Eligible Retirement Accounts. Distributions can only be made from traditional Individual Retirement Accounts or Roth IRAs. Charitable donations from 403(b) plans, 401(k) plans, pension plans, and other retirement plans are ineligible for the tax-free treatment.
• Directly to the Charity. Distributions must be made directly from the IRA trustee payable to the public charity.
• No Gifts in Return. Donors cannot receive any goods or services in return for charitable IRA rollover contributions in order to qualify for tax-free treatment.
• Written Receipt. In order to benefit from the tax-free treatment, donors must obtain written substantiation of each IRA rollover contribution from each recipient charity.