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Showing posts from October, 2014

Scholarship Support

One the best parts of CFMA is being able to support the future generations of our Construction Leaders. Recently we received a thank you letter from one of our scholarship recipients and we would like to share it with you: Dear CFMA Valley of the Sun Chapter, My name is Naomi Kartz and I am a sophomore at Arizona State University with a major in Construction Management. I am quite excited and very grateful for the CFMA Joseph J. Quigley Memorial Scholarship that I have recently been awarded. I would like to take this opportunity to personally thank you for your immense contribution to the future of my education. During my freshman year at ASU last year, I kept very active in the Construction clubs as well as trying to maintain a high GPA. I really enjoyed the connections that I made through Advancing Women in Construction (AWIC) as well as the numerous site tours I was able to take. I really feel that my involvement with activities in construction outside of my regula

Current TPT Status & Recommendations, Courtesy of David James, CPA, CCIFP

As part of this process, we will have identified several issues that must be addressed in the next legislative session (begins 1/12/15) in order to provide DOR with the legal directives it needs.  DOR cannot address these potential changes in their FAQ, as they are limited to responding to the law as it currently exists. So you will NOT see this in the final FAQ.  The plan would be to make these clarifications/changes retroactive to 1/1/15.  But that does not help us “now” . . . . Obviously, this time line is way too late for those of us who are currently bidding jobs and negotiating change orders and buying inventories which will roll into 2015.  At this point, there is not much we can do – except for you to plan that: -           The “hybrid” method of taxation WILL go into effect 1/1/15 -           For those jobs that are clearly MRRA  - you should price the projects accordingly – taxes to be paid on the cost of materials.  That said, it appears that the purchase of ma

Our St. Mary’s Emergency Food Packing Event is next Friday!

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If you have been putting off signing up, please sign up today !    We would like to have as many as possible registered by Friday, October 31 so that we can plan for a lunch afterwards (St. Mary’s can provide this, but we need to give them a headcount by Monday). St. Mary’s is very strategic in their volunteer staffing schedule, so they do need to know for their planning purposes how many hands we’ll have on deck.     Please take a moment and sign up now – the details are attached!    

Scholarship Application

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The Valley of the Sun Chapter of the Construction Financial Management Association (CFMA) will award an educational scholarship up to $2,500 in value for the Spring semester.     We acknowledge that one of our primary goals is education. We also acknowledge the need for qualified employees in the construction field. These needs will be filled largely by students graduating from our area schools. We hope these scholarships will prove to be an investment in the Arizona field of construction by providing promising financial/construction professionals with some assistance while completing their studies .     Candidates applying for this scholarship for the first time will be given preference over  those who re-apply.   Applications are due October 31 for the Spring Semester and will be awarded within 60 days after application deadline. Click here to download the Scholrship Application.

Join CFMA in a volunteer outing to St. Mary’s Food Bank!

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  We will be packing emergency food boxes for local families in need.                                               Friday, November 7, 2014                                                    9:00 am – Noon                                   2831 N. 31st Avenue Phoenix, AZ 85009 To sign up, click here , and follow these steps: 1.  Click “Register” (in orange bar) and create volunteer profile. 2.  Click “Individual and Small Groups” (top white section) and then “Pick an Opportunity” (in orange bar). 3.  Click “Search Opportunities” above calendar, then scroll down to “Additional Filters” below the blue box and maximize “Invitation Code”. 4.  Enter our group invitation code: SSCG14, click refine, and then select the November 7 event.  Scroll to the bottom and choose the blue “Sign Up” button (not the “Sign Up As A Team” option – by registering for this event you are automatically with our group/team.) Volunteer Notes: •  Dress code: o  Must wear Closed Toe Shoes o  Shirts need

Happy Fire Prevention Day!

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When: Always on October 9th. Fire prevention week is during the week in which  October 9th falls.       According to legend, on October 8, 1871, Mrs. O'Leary was in her barn, milking her cow. The cow kicked over a lamp, which started the Great Chicago Fire of 1871. The fire burned for over 27 hours. When it was over,  more than 300 people were killed, 100,000 people were left homeless, and over 17,000 structures were destroyed.       The Great Chicago fire sparked major efforts in fire prevention.  Forty years later, the Fire Marshall's Association of North America(FMANA) held the first Fire Prevention Day. In 1920 , President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed Fire Prevention Week.       The Saturday during Fire Prevention Week is Fire Service Recognition Day. Did You Know? Dalmatians became fire dogs because they were often kept around the horses at fire houses to guard them. Remember "EDITH"

Earn Your CCIFP in 2014!

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One of the VoS chapter goals for 2014 is to increase the number of CCIFPs in its membership to surpass the Denver Chapter.  Help the chapter meet its goal while you meet your professional goals by becoming a CCIFP!  Wednesday, October 15 is your chance to take the CCIFP overview seminar in time to prepare for the Phoenix exam date scheduled for December 13 (12-13-14 - Come on numbers people, you can't get better than that!).  VOS wants to help by offering scholarships - members that take the overview class and then write and pass the exam will be reimbursed $350 of the exam cost.  Register today  to take this important first step in gaining this valuable certification.

Gov. Office denies CFMA VOS request for delay in Tax implementation

Recently CFMA VOS partnered with other concerned Construction Industry trade associations, including, the ABA, AGC, ASA, Roofing Contractors of America, etc. to solicit support from its members to request Gov. Brewer to call a special session to delay implementation of HB 2389, TPT tax simplification.   Unfortunately these efforts fell on deaf ears, as our request was dead on arrival . The construction industry fully supported CFMA's initiative with over 550 construction professionals representing nearly 350 companies signing the joint association letter. The letter simply requested a six month delay in implementation of the law. The industry was seeking to ensure that the law would be enacted in a thoughtful manner allowing for the highest level of compliance. The initial timeline of Jan. 1 2015 was established in June 2013 with the passing of HB 2111, however, new legislation in HB 2389, passed in April 2014, altered the original law without changing the implementation date.