Associates of Rochester College

Founded in 1959 to Provide Financial Support for Rochester College
associates@rc.edu 

July 2007 Newsletter

Dear Associates, 

It does not seem like a month has gone by since I last wrote.  I hope you are "soaring with the eagles".  I trust you are having fun raising money toward the pioneer pin for that special lady in your chapter or group. 

Because of a time conflict, the college had to change the Fall Festival date to September 22, 2007.  Mark your calendars!  You will be contacted soon about participating in the festival.  I hope every chapter will get involved in some way!   

This summer, in addition to the Pioneer Spirit fund-raiser, there are a number of ways for us to be about the business of earning funds for Rochester College.  Please buy flowers through the Fall Bulb Sale. If you do not belong to a chapter, contact Lynne Stewart to get an order form.  Please get involved with SCRIP program. It is such an easy way to raise money without the work.  Ann Luchsinger would love to hear from you.   

In Christian love,
Jeannette Schiele
President

The Rochester College Fall Festival is quickly approaching!  Due to an unforeseen conflict, the Fall Festival is coming a week earlier than originally announced.  This year’s Fall Festival is September 22, 2007. 

We are changing the format some this year.  The Fall Festival Committee is working hard to make this an event for families with children – young children, pre-teens, and teens.  It will be a more carnival-like atmosphere.  The Children’s area is expanding.  Additional Extreme Events for pre-teens will be available.  We are even planning a Battle of the Bands for the teens. 

At this writing, the Fall Festival is ten (10) weeks away.  That means that I need to know as soon as possible how your chapter would like to participate.  What we need most is food and drink!   You could sell pop and water (Pepsi products only), caramel apples, cotton candy, French fries, Nachos, cookies, brownies, cakes, pies, coffee, or smoothies, just to name a few.   I think we already have commitments from three chapters to do hot dogs, walking tacos, and waffles with strawberries.  I’m getting hungry already! 

I will be contacting all chapters about participation, but I would love it if you would contact me before I get to you!  Please call me at 248-218-2092 (work), or email me at lestewart@rc.edu. 

Because we are a little earlier in September, we are hopeful and prayerful that we will have beautiful warm weather.  Begin praying NOW!  Also, start talking about it with people you know.  Encourage them to come and bring their families.  We would love to have families and friends from all over return to campus for a day of fun and fellowship! 

As an added incentive to participate in the Fall Festival, you may use your Fall Festival proceeds as a project for your Pioneer Spirit Award nominee!  It’s just one more way to raise money for Rochester College.

Pioneer Spirit Summer Program

Charitable Giving Opportunities

If you would like to have a better understanding of  these charitable giving opportunities for the Associates please plan to invite Elton Albright to come to your next chapter meeting. ealbright@rc.edu or 248-218-2022.

Pension Protection Act for Charitable 501 C3 organizations. (Outgrowth of Hurricane Katrina. Currently in effect through 2007.) Individuals can give up to $100,000 from a traditional or Roth IRA to a Charitable organization directly from the IRA account without penalty. Both a husband and wife, with separate accounts, can give up to the maximum $100,000 limit. That amount can be given directly to Rochester College or directed to the college account with the Community Foundation of Southeastern Michigan. Amounts given directly to the CFSEM will be eligible for a match of fifty cents on the dollar with a minimum given of $1,000 .

Community Foundation of Southeastern Michigan. Gifts to the Foundation to be credited to the account of a participating charitable organization are matchable during 2007. Minimum amount of donation is $1,000 in order for gift to be matched. For each $1,000 given an additional $500 is added to that amount through a generous grant provided by the Kresge Foundation. Rochester College has an eligible account with the CFSEM. Checks must be made to the CFSEM or the Associates to be eligible for the matching gift opportunity .

Associates Permanent Endowment gifts are critical in this Leave a Legacy effort. Each $100,000 in permanent endowment generates a minimum of $5,000 for the Associates annual budget. Currently the Associates Permanent Endowment stands at $38,000, most of which has been given in the last three years.

1.       Estate planning. Leave the college or the Associates in your will. Specify the gift is to be added to the Associates Permanent Endowment.
 

2.       Outright gifts during the balance of 2007. If gift is given to the college it will not be eligible for the CFSEM matching program. If gift is given to the Associates a check can be issued to the CFSEM from the Associates checking account and is eligible for the match. If given directly to the CFSEM and given to the college it is eligible for the match as long as the check is made out to the CFSEM.
 

3.       Gift Annuities-guaranteed income for life. Again, a gift annuity can be written through the college or through the CFSEM. For example: $50,000 annuity is written. The IRS has devised a chart which shows the amount of interest that can be paid anc~ how much of the gift is actually tax deductible for charitable purposes. If written through the CFSEM the charitable part of the annuity is matchable at the 50 cents on the dollar rate and that amount is added to the college's account when the annuity is written and the remainder of the charitable contribution is added at the time of death.
 

August Board Meeting     Back to Top

The July Board Meeting will be August 14, 2007 at 7:00 pm in the office of Lynne Stewart at Rochester College.