In This Issue...

The Pension Protection Act of 2006: Tax Law Changes You Should Know About

New Approach to Volunteering

Tocqueville Society Weekend

United Way's Website

Seminar speaker Susan Frazier, CPA, MST

The Pension Protection Act of 2006 was passed by a wide margin by both houses, and signed into law on August 17. It includes some of the most favorable charitable legislation in many years, but there is much more to this bill than simply being able to roll your IRA directly over to your favorite charity.

On November 30, 2006, United Way’s Gift Planning Services hosted a free seminar featuring Susan Frazier, CPA, MST, partner in MacFarlane Faletti & Co., LLP.   Susan explained how this new law redefines your charitable deduction of household goods and tangible personal property, increases substantiation requirements, tightens appraisal rules, and much more.

Susan specializes in estate planning and taxation, individual and fiduciary income taxes, international taxation of individuals and small business consulting. She serves as an advisor to United Way as a member of the Endowment/Gift Planning Services Committee.

If you would like to know more about the Pension Protection Act of 2006, please contact Judy Goodbody, Gift Planning Services Officer at 965-8591 ext.120, or e-mail jgoodbody@unitedwaysb.org, or visit our website at www.unitedwaysbgift.org .

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In our continuing commitment to grow volunteering opportunities within the Santa Barbara County community, we are proud to announce the coming of our new volunteer website for individual volunteers and charitable agencies in need of volunteers.

This site will enable volunteers to choose from a variety of agencies and volunteer opportunities such as health, human services, environmental, cultural, advocacy and education sectors; and for charities to sign up and communicate their individual volunteer needs to the community and to specific individuals who request contact.

Individuals can specify volunteer opportunities based upon their age, age of clients, types of skills or interests, time of day or year available, frequency and other criteria.

Volunteers coming to our web-site will be able to choose from a variety of volunteer opportunities that fit their interests and dedication to our community. By registering on our volunteer website, charities will be able to update their varying needs on a continual basis and volunteers will be notified of all of these updated volunteer opportunities.

We have a pilot launching date of January 18^th for the Volunteer website. Forgoing any unseen complications, volunteers and agencies should be able to get on to the website and start registering with United Way of Santa Barbara County. 

Our hope is that we will have hundreds of volunteer opportunities listed during 2007 and to exceed 1,000 opportunities in 2008.  Our first pilot agency is Isla Vista Youth Projects with seven different opportunities.  They will be followed by twenty five agencies through our First 5/ Success by 6 Partnership.  Other county-wide agencies will be contacted during spring and summer.

All of those interested can log into our website via our already existing website www.unitedwaysb.org and clicking on the volunteer link or by logging directly to www.volunteersbc.org.

We hope that you all will take advantage of this new opportunity to get in touch with the volunteering needs of the Santa Barbara County community.

If you have any questions please contact Angela Lawlor at United Way of Santa Barbara County, (805) 965-8591 x105 or email alawlor@unitedwaysb.org.

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It is that time of year when Tocqueville Society Leaders Weekend 2007 is on our minds.

The 2007 Leaders Weekend event will be held in Atlanta, Georgia, home of the largest Tocqueville Society, April 26^th-28^th.

United Way Tocqueville Society offers its members unique opportunities to enjoy special events in the company of other philanthropic and community-minded individuals.

Tocqueville events vary widely from community to community, from an overnight holiday gala on a luxury super liner, a First Tuesday Breakfast featuring a keynote by a local CEO, to an elegant seated dinner in a magnificent private home. However all Tocqueville events across the country share characteristics in common:

• Leadership from dedicated volunteers
• Commitment to planning a special experience that "money can't buy"
• The opportunity to network with top community leaders
• Thanks and recognition for the investment in results that Tocqueville donors make.

United Way of America offers Tocqueville members ($10,000 and up annually), National Society Members ($100,000 annually), and Million Dollar Roundtable Members ($1 Million pledged over 5 years or $1 Million cumulative over 10 years), opportunities to enjoy special events with other like-minded donors from across the country, in addition to the annual Tocqueville Leaders Weekend.

How You Can Give

There are several ways to give to your United Way of Santa Barbara County to become a member of the Tocqueville Society. Examples include gifts of cash, stocks and securities, or by payroll deduction. Gifts of assets, rather than income, are becoming increasingly important strategies for giving among United Way donors.  Contact United Way of Santa Barbara County for more information on the various options you have on ways you can give to those in need in your community.

Levels of commitment and giving

Top reasons to attend Tocqueville Leaders Weekend

• The top social and business network in the country

• Local Santa Barbarans who have attended in the past were most enthusiastic about their experience

• Network with top movers and shakers from around the U.S.A.

• Get a start with top United Way learning

• Learn to be an even better volunteer

• Meet remarkable people

• Learn about special events and opportunities for Tocqueville members across the country

• Meet with national business and civic leaders to make the social infrastructure of today and build the future of tomorrow

• Have a great time

• Get inspired 

For more information or a list of national members please contact Angela Lawlor at United Way of Santa Barbara County by phone at (805) 965-8591 ext. 105 or by email at alawlor@unitedwaysb.org

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