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On the radio…

Let me start by warning you.  This radio interview explores the new silver bullets of PR and Marketing and is 60 minutes long.  Yes, one whole hour.

Given that our new Internet led attention span has been reduced to 4 seconds or less, this might be a challenge to some of you. Heck, it was a uphill battle for me and I was being interviewed.

For the brave and the patient, here is a link to my recent appearance on the radio show “When Opportunity Knocks ” which is part of the eWNradio and hosted by Nancy OKeefe, Small Business Consultant and Executive Coach.

The show caterers to entrepreneurs who want to increase their value in the marketplace. eWN has a network of 500,000 business owners and professional women.

http://tobtr.com/7973959

Steven V. Dubin

Quote for this blog edition –

“A world without radio is a deaf world. A world without television is a blind world. A world without telephone is a dumb world. A world without communication is indeed a crippled world.”

― Ernest Agyemang Yeboah

 

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An Evening with the Authors of We Are Market Basket at Edgewood LifeCare Community on October 29th

Grant Welker
Grant Welker

Edgewood LifeCare Community, an award-winning, non-profit independent living LifeCare community, is proud to present an evening with the authors of We are Market Basket – The Story of the Unlikely Grassroots Movement that Saved a Beloved Businesson Thursday, October 29, 2015 at 7:30 p.m. in the Auditorium at Edgewood located at 575 Osgood Street in North Andover. This event is open to the public and there is no cost to attend.

Grant Welker, a reporter for the Lowell Sun, covered the Market Basket story from start to finish. He, along with Daniel Korschun, an Associate Professor of Marketing at Drexel University’s LeBow College of Business and a Fellow at the Center for Corporate Reputation Management, co-authored the book We are Market Basket – The Story of the Unlikely Grassroots Movement that Saved a Beloved Business, and will captivate the audience with the story of Market Basket, a popular New England supermarket chain that is so treasured and trusted that people literally took to the streets by the thousands to save it.

We Are Market Basket coverWelker and Korschun will talk about the struggle for control of Market Basket, from when long-time CEO Arthur T. Demoulas was ousted by his cousin Arthur S. Demoulas and managers and rank-and-file workers walked out, to the huge protest rallies, empty shelves and how they prevailed in the end.

“We anticipate this event to be very well-attended. Not only is it a truly captivating story, but many Edgewood residents shop at our local Market Basket in North Andover,” noted Kathleen D’Amico, Marketing Director at Edgewood.

To reserve a seat, contact Paula Kelley at Edgewood, (978) 738-6446.

The Edgewood Difference

Founded in 1997, Edgewood LifeCare Community is an award-winning, non-profit senior living community focused on enriching the lives of their members. For four years in a row, Edgewood’s Meadows Health Center has been awarded the U.S. News & World Report best nursing home ranking for the greater North Andover region. Edgewood has received the Wicked Local Reader’s Choice Award for Retirement Living Residence in North Andover, and is also the first retirement community nationally to be awarded The Hearthstone Foundation’s “I’m Still Here Center of Excellence” certification.

Edgewood offers independent living, health care and support services, which empower members to be the architects of their own well-being. Edgewood is dedicated to providing a well-rounded, intellectually stimulating and physically active environment for older adults. Members enjoy entertainment, trips, wellness programs and a wide range of unique lectures, classes and films, which are offered on an ongoing basis through the Edgewood LifeLong Learning (ELL) program. Many of these programs are also open to the public.

As the only LifeCare community in the Merrimack Valley, Edgewood offers refined independent apartment and cottage home living for active older adults as well as short term rehabilitation and long term care at the Meadows Health Center. Edgewood LifeCare Community boasts lower entrance fees as compared to the Greater Boston area, and monthly rates for services remain stable regardless of the level of care needed. Edgewood LifeCare Community is located at 575 Osgood Street in North Andover, MA. For more information, contact (978) 738-6145 or visit www.edgewoodrc.com.

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Author and creator of the What if …Workbook develops Get it Started Tutorial

Gwen W. Morgan
Gwen W. Morgan

Good intentions are not enough when it comes to end-of-life planning. Crucial choices may be overlooked and legacies lost.

That is why Gwen W. Morgan, Scituate, MA-based author and creator of the What if … Workbook developed the What if … Workbook “Get it Started” Tutorial. The “Get it Started” Tutorial set is an online self-directed audio/video series designed to assist the owner of the What if … Workbook in actually getting it filled out! After purchasing the tutorial, the reader receives a link to where they may access and view the What if … Workbook “Get it Started” Tutorial.

The What if … Workbook is a comprehensive, easy to use guide for end-of-life planning. By filling out the Workbook you are providing your loved ones the necessary information they need should anything happen to you. The Workbook is 67 pages long, with generous spacing to write all pertinent information.

Morgan didn’t write the “What if … Workbook” for families to passively read it.  She wrote the book so that families could take ACTION and express their wishes and be fully prepared.

“Given my own personal experience with the passing of loved ones, I am passionate about having the conversations and steps to be prepared for end-of-life,” noted Morgan. She added, “In workshops and conversations with users of the Workbook, I found that all too often the reader had good intentions but many never followed through to complete the workbook and document the critical wishes of their family member. This new tutorial adds the nudge and knowledge to help complete the task.”

From the pragmatic (finances and estate matters) to often forgotten details (where does Fluffy go) to end of life issues (burial vs. cremation, service preference, special gifts) to your legacy (how do you want to be remembered), the What if … Workbook is a tool for starting and sustaining the conversation for a family before it is too late.

Gwen Morgan has personally experienced the positive and negative of good or bad planning.  In addition to her Workbook, Gwen regularly provides workshops to facilitate conversations and subsequent planning.

The What if … Workbook hard copy is $24.95, eBook is $19.95 and the “Get it Started” Tutorial is $39.95.

For information about Gwen and the book, please visit http://www.WhatIfWorkbook.com

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OCES’ Mayflower RSVP Honors Troops for September 11 National Day of Service and Remembrance

Old Colony Elder Services (OCES), the regional agency that serves older adults and individuals with disabilities throughout the greater Brockton and Plymouth county area, continued the tradition of writing letters to the troops for September 11 National Day of Service and Remembrance. OCES’ Mayflower Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) had over 60 volunteers write more than 100 letters that were included in care packages for service members overseas.

OCES’ Mayflower RSVP partnered with the Massachusetts Military Heroes Fund to provide letters for care packages which were assembled on the Rose Kennedy Greenway on September 11, 2015. Volunteers from various agencies and businesses built 1000 care packages for our troops serving overseas and local veterans in need. Letter writing events were held with OCES partner agencies including local Councils on Aging in Halifax, Hanover, Pembroke, Plymouth, and Lakeville; the Bridgewater, Brockton, and Stoughton Housing Authorities; Cornerstone Assisted Living in Canton; plus OCES staff & their families. Volunteers included children and grandchildren, which made it a multi-generational event.

“This is the third year that our volunteers have embraced this meaningful activity,” said Darcy Lee, OCES’ Volunteer Program Manager/RSVP Project Director.

In 2009, Congress designated September 11th as a National Day of Service and Remembrance, and charged the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) with supporting this effort across the country. CNCS provides tools and resources for organizations and individuals to become engaged in service activities, including grants to organizations to support volunteer projects.

“September 11th National Day of Service and Remembrance is an opportunity to honor and thank our troops who serve and protect us. By writing letters to troops overseas, we express our gratitude and continued support for them, and create meaningful connections,”said Diana DiGiorgi, OCES’ Executive Director.

About OCES

Founded in 1974, OCES serves 20 communities in Plymouth County as well as Avon, Easton and Stoughton. OCES is a private, non-profit organization headquartered in Brockton and designated as one of 27 Aging Services Access Points (ASAPs) in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. OCES’ mission is to support the independence and dignity of elders and people with disabilities by providing essential information and services that promote healthy and safe living. The agency has 225 employees and operates more than 15 programs serving older adults, individuals with disabilities, their families and caregivers. For more information call 508 584-1561 or visit www.ocesma.org.

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Tax tips for starting a new business

Paul Dion CPA
Paul Dion CPA

MILLBURY, MA and NEWPORT, RI…

Many people dream of owning their own business. It probably goes without saying that dream does not include paying taxes. Yet for new entrepreneurs, how you plan for taxes can greatly determine whether or not your new business can survive and, ultimately, grow.

“Thomas Edison said that genius was 1% inspiration and 99% perspiration. The percentages might be a little different for becoming an entrepreneur, but tax planning would definitely fall into the perspiration category,” said Paul Dion, owner of Paul Dion CPA. “When you start a business, a key to your success is to know your tax obligations. You may not only need to know about income tax rules, but also about payroll tax rules.”

For getting a new business venture off to a good start, Dion recommends several initial steps. The first is deciding on the type of structure for your business. The most common types are sole proprietor, partnership and corporation. The type of business you choose will determine which tax forms you will file.

You will also need to clarify the types of business tax you need to pay. There are four general types of business taxes. They are income tax, self-employment tax, employment tax and excise tax. In most cases, the types of tax your business pays depends on the type of business structure you set up. You may need to make estimated tax payments.

Another question new business owners have is whether or not to get an Employee Identification Number (EIN). The IRS has several criteria for whether or not you need one. Those can be found at http://www.irs.gov/Businesses/Small-Businesses-&-Self-Employed/Employer-ID-Numbers-EINs.

New business owners must also choose an accounting method.  An accounting method is a set of rules that you use to determine when to report income and expenses. You must use a consistent method. The two that are most common are the cash and accrual methods. Under the cash method, you normally report income and deduct expenses in the year that you receive or pay them. Under the accrual method, you generally report income and deduct expenses in the year that you earn or incur them. This is true even if you get the income or pay the expense in a later year

If you have employees and you provide healthcare benefits, you are eligible for tax credits. The Small Business Health Care Tax Credit helps small businesses and tax-exempt organizations pay for health care coverage they offer their employees. A small employer is eligible for the credit if it has fewer than 25 employees who work full-time, or a combination of full-time and part-time. The maximum credit is 50 percent of premiums paid for small business employers and 35 percent of premiums paid for small tax-exempt employers, such as charities.

The employer shared responsibility provisions of the Affordable Care Act affect employers employing at least a certain number of employees (generally 50 full-time employees or a combination of full-time and part-time employees). These employers’ are called applicable large employers. ALEs must either offer minimum essential coverage that is “affordable” and that provides “minimum value” to their full-time employees (and their dependents), or potentially make an employer shared responsibility payment to the IRS. The vast majority of employers will fall below the ALE threshold number of employees and, therefore, will not be subject to the employer shared responsibility provisions.

Employers also have information reporting responsibilities regarding minimum essential coverage they offer or provide to their fulltime employees. Employers must send reports to employees and to the IRS on new forms the IRS created for this purpose.

“There are two parts to any business. First, there’s the actual business—e.g. selling widgets—and then there’s the business of running the business—all the bookkeeping, bill-paying and, of course, paying taxes,” said Dion. “Most entrepreneurs don’t think too much about the latter, even though they know it comes with starting a new venture. That’s why it’s recommended that new businesses include a consultation with a tax planning professional prior to opening their doors.” That’s why it’s recommended that new businesses include a consultation with a tax planning professional prior to opening their doors since taxes will typically be their biggest expense.”

For an initial consultation or for more information on tax planning and small business deductions, you can call Paul Dion CPA at (508) 853-3292 or visit www.pauldioncpa.com.

ABOUT PAUL DION, CPA

Beyond simple “bean counting”, Paul Dion, CPA and associates work side by side and speak in common English to help clients fully understand their tax situation and take proactive steps to pay the least amount of tax legally allowed while minimizing the risk of an audit.  Clients save money and sleep well as night.

Business services include small business accounting, payroll, cash flow management, strategic business planning, new business formation, internet controls, QuickBooks, part-time CFO, bank financing, succession planning and non-profit organization direction.

For a free book, more information or a complimentary consultation, please visit www.PaulDionCPA.com or contact Paul Dion CPA, via Info@PaulDionCPA.com or (508) 853-3292.  Offices are conveniently located at 22 West Street, #6, (Felter’s Mill), Millbury, MA  01527.

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Oh, my raking back. How to rake without backlash

photo of Dr. Michael Gottfried, president of the Chiropractic Society of RI
Dr. Michael Gottfried, president of the Chiropractic Society of RI

RHODE ISLAND…

Raking leaves is a necessary evil of home ownership in New England. While raking your yard can take a few hours, the soreness our back, neck, legs and arms can last much longer. Without taking the proper precautions—like stretching–raking can even lead to injury.

“You wouldn’t think to go for a run or bike ride without stretching, especially in the cooler fall weather. Yet people head outside to rake without doing more than reaching up in their closet for a sweatshirt,” said Dr. Michael Gottfried, president of the Chiropractic Society of Rhode Island and chiropractic physician at Aquidneck Chiropractic in Middletown, Rhode Island. “Raking leaves really should be treated like any other workout. To prevent soreness and injury, you have to stretch.”

Dr. Gottfried recommends 10 to 15 minutes of stretching before and during the course of your raking session. That stretching could include knee-to-chest pulls, trunk rotations, and side bends with hands above your head and fingers locked. You also may want to take a short walk before or during to stimulate circulation. When finished with the yard work, repeat the stretching exercises.

Dr. Gottfried also cites posture as a key to avoiding soreness or injury during yard work. While raking, stand as tall and straight as possible and use a “scissors” stance: right foot forward and left foot back for a few minutes, then reverse, putting your left foot forward and right foot back. Bend at the knees, not the waist, as you pick up piles of leaves. Make the piles small to decrease the possibility of back strain.

“Of course, you will want to drink lots of water to remain hydrated and wear supportive shoes as good foot and arch support can stop some of the strain from affecting your back,” said Dr. Gottfried. “If you do feel soreness or stiffness in your back after raking, use ice to soothe the discomfort. If there’s no improvement in two or three days, see your local chiropractor.”

If you are not currently seeing a chiropractor, you can utilize the “Find A Doctor” feature on the Chiropractic Society of Rhode Island’s website, www.richiro.org.

About Chiropractic Society of Rhode Island (CSRI)

Founded in 1918, CSRI is one of the oldest chiropractic associations in the United States and represents more than 25 percent of the chiropractic physicians in the Ocean State. In addition to providing a regional voice for chiropractors in the business and legislative arenas, CSRI also helps educate the general public on the benefits of chiropractic. Those all-natural benefits can include relief from headaches, asthma, osteoporosis, osteoarthritis, carpal tunnel, colic, and stress, just to name a few. Olympic ski champion Picabo Street, NFL legend Jerry Rice and Basketball Hall of Famer Nancy Lieberman are but a few notable celebrities who have embraced chiropractic.

The Chiropractic Society of Rhode Island is located at 1272 West Main Road, Building 2, Middletown, RI 02842. For more information, call (401) 207-0700 or visit www.RIchiro.org.

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Remote Quality Bookkeeping launches New Dental Division

photo of Mark Kilduff, president of Remote Quality Bookkeeping
Mark Kilduff, president of Remote Quality Bookkeeping

BRIDGEWATER, MA…

Remote Quality Bookkeeping, a Bridgewater, MA-based firm serving clients throughout the U.S., has launched a new “Dental Division” that focuses on the specific bookkeeping needs of the dental practices.

“The way many people feel about going is how many dentists feel about bookkeeping and accounting—they would much rather focus on treating patients than bean counting,” said Mark Kilduff, president of Remote Quality Bookkeeping. “Having worked with several dental practices over the years, we understand the special bookkeeping needs dentists and their staffs have.”

Kilduff continued, “Applying discounts taken by banks, credit card reconciliation and other discrepancies are the kinds of minutia that take the joy out of providing dental care. We tend to take on the bookkeeping tasks that keep a practice both in compliance and in command of the numbers.”

Most dentists and/or their office managers do not have a background in accounting or finance and interpreting financial results may be overwhelming. Remote Quality Bookkeeping often arranges remote sessions to walk the doctor and key administrative staff through the reports and translate the numbers into easy-to-understand pieces.

Among the services offered by Remote Quality Bookkeeping are accounts receivable, collections, accounts payable, full service payroll, and tax preparation.

Remote Quality Bookkeeping clients can outsource just a few bookkeeping tasks or the whole accounting and bookkeeping department. Remote Quality Bookkeeping’s team approach ensures that the books are accurate and up-to-date all for one low monthly fee.
Remote Quality Bookkeeping hosts data on secure servers providing clients with a safe haven accessible from anywhere at any time. This allows accessibility and peace of mind so business owners can focus on their business.

Remote Quality Bookkeeping is located at 12 Spring Terrace, Bridgewater, MA 02324. For more information, call (508) 889-0201 or visit www.myrqb.com.

Remote Quality Bookkeeping hosts data on secure servers providing dental practices with a safe haven accessible from anywhere at any time. This allows accessibility, peace of mind and a more patient focus practice.

Dental practices can outsource just a few bookkeeping tasks or the whole accounting and bookkeeping department. Remote Quality Bookkeeping’s team approach ensures that the books are accurate and up-to-date all for one low monthly fee.

Remote Quality Bookkeeping is located at 12 Spring Terrace, Bridgewater, MA 02324. For more information, call (508) 889-0201 or visit www.myrqb.com.

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See-something, Text-something. Free Text-A-Tip service announced for transit customers

photo of Ed English, CEO of ELERTS
Ed English, CEO of ELERTS

WEYMOUTH, MA…

ELERTS Corp., the leading provider of See Something, Say Something mobile apps for mass transit systems, announced free Text-A-Tip service for new ELERTS Transit customers who sign up before December 30.

ELERTS Transit app works with iPhones and Android Smartphones. Riders use the app to submit reports containing photos, video, text descriptions and GPS maps, pinpointing the problem area.  Now, riders who do not have a Smartphone may also submit tips, by texting to ELERTS Text-A-Tip service.

“Presently, the ELERTS Transit mobile app is used by major transits, including MARTA in Atlanta, the MBTA in Boston, the NFTA in Buffalo, the VTA in Santa Clara and BART in San Francisco. Daily, more than 2.5 million riders may use ELERTS Transit app to report security and safety concerns to transit police and security dispatchers,” said Ed English, CEO of ELERTS. “With the Text-A-Tip service, ELERTS can offer an additional resource to further contribute to the safety of transit riders.”

ELERTS Text-A-Tip service is integrated with a web-based report management console, ELERTS EPICenter.  Transit operators gain the convenience to receive and reply to rider-reports submitted by Text-A-Tip in the same manner as they do for reports from ELERTS Transit app.

A dedicated SMS phone number is provided to ELERTS Transit customers who wish to utilize the free Text-A-Tip service.

English said, “Riders have demonstrated a willingness to help keep their transit systems safe. Over fifty thousand incidents have been reported to transit police using our app. These include assaults, vandalism, abandoned bags, robberies, suspicious activity, drug and gun dealing, sexual harassment and medical concerns.”

Pricing for ELERTS Transit app with Text-A-Tip Service, starts at $9, 995 (plus setup fee) for transit systems with less than 50,000 daily riders.

English added, “ELERTS cut its teeth in the transit environment, where cellular and Wi-Fi connectivity can be less than ideal. Our apps are designed to never slow the rider from submitting a report. If a phone’s signal is too low to send, our transit app stores the report and sends it as soon as the signal returns. In the four years ELERTS has served the mass transit industry, we’ve steadily improved our product to make it very user-friendly to riders.  Transit police gain visibility to incidents occurring on buses, trains and in stations that previously went unseen. Even though most transits have surveillance cameras, video is mostly recorded for future reference, post-incident.  With ELERTS app and Text-A-Tip service, a transit receives real-time reports of trouble from riders.”

The ELERTS Transit Alert app encourages riders to be watchful and to report something that is not right. The app is designed to be discreet. The camera flash is automatically disabled to not draw attention to the person submitting the report to police. The app also allows a two-way chat between the sender of the report and the transit dispatcher, so further details can be asked or instructions provided to the rider.

ELERTS Transit connects the public to transit police in a seamless way.  The web-based console also enables transit systems to broadcast alerts to ELERTS Transit app users.  For example, advisories on service disruptions; safety advice or BOLO (Be On the Look Out) messages may be sent to riders.  Transits have used ELERTS system to ask riders to find lost children, missing dementia patients and criminal suspects, by broadcasting messages to the rider’s app.

For more information on ELERTS Transit, please call 877-256-1971 or visit www.ELERTS.com.

About ELERTS

ELERTS Corporation, headquartered in Weymouth, MA, develops best-in-class emergency communication software empowered by community-sourced reporting of safety and security concerns. The company’s cloud-based approach leverages Smartphone technologies to provide robust, two-way communication between multiple parties. ELERTS mobile technology integrates with video surveillance, access control and mass-notification systems. The result is actionable information for emergency situations – to help First Responders become faster responders.

For more information, visit www.ELERTS.com or call 877-256-1971.

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RI chiropractors support National Chiropractic Month’s pain-free nation platform

photo of Dr. Michael Gottfried, president of the Chiropractic Society of RI
Dr. Michael Gottfried, president of the Chiropractic Society of RI

RHODE ISLAND…

The American Chiropractic Association (ACA) recognizes October as National Chiropractic Month. The doctors of the Chiropractic Society of Rhode Island (CSRI), one of the oldest chiropractic associations in the country, recently announced its support of the theme for this year’s NCHM–#PainFreeNation.

“The #PainFreeNation hash tag points to chiropractic as an all-natural, prescription medication-free way to treat back and neck pain and other ailments,” said Dr. Michael Gottfried, president of the Chiropractic Society of Rhode Island and chiropractic physician at Aquidneck Chiropractic in Middletown, Rhode Island. “We will be including #PainFreeNation tag to all our social media posts to help bring awareness.”

Said Gottfried, “With the prescription pain killer epidemic in this country, this campaign is very timely.”

On its website, the ACA cites a recent study comparing prescription medication treatment for lower back pain versus spinal manipulation. The study showed that 56 percent of medical care recipients who received prescribed medication had a 30 percent reduction in lower back pain by week 4. Conversely, 94 percent of patients who received manual thrust manipulation through chiropractic had a 30 percent reduction in lower back pain by week 4.

In addition to its social media, the Chiropractic Society of Rhode Island also plans a number of informational activities. One of those is to host a booth at the upcoming Ronald McDonald House of Providence Women’s Classic Road Race on October 11. CSRI was also instrumental in Governor Gina Raimondo issuing a proclamation declaring October as Chiropractic month in the Ocean State.

“A recent Gallup poll indicated that two-thirds (61 percent) of adult Americans believe chiropractors are effective at treating neck and back pain,” said Gottfried. “That number represents quite a bit of progress but there’s certainly more to go. The proclamation by the governor and efforts by ACA go a long way to getting the word out about the drug-free, health benefits of chiropractic.”

All natural and without prescription medications, chiropractic has been found to be beneficial for numerous conditions above and beyond neck and back pain. Some of those include: headaches, asthma, osteoporosis, osteoarthritis, carpal tunnel, colic, and stress, just to name a few. For a complete list of conditions treatable with chiropractic, visit www.richiro.org.

For information about #PainFreeNation and National Chiropractic Month, visit www.acatoday.org.

About Chiropractic Society of Rhode Island (CSRI)

Founded in 1918, CSRI is one of the oldest chiropractic associations in the United States and represents more than 25 percent of the chiropractic physicians in the Ocean State. In addition to providing a regional voice for chiropractors in the business and legislative arenas, CSRI also helps educate the general public on the benefits of chiropractic. Those all-natural benefits can include relief from headaches, asthma, osteoporosis, osteoarthritis, carpal tunnel, colic, and stress, just to name a few. The Chiropractic Society of Rhode Island is located at 1272 West Main Road, Building 2, Middletown, RI 02842. For more information, call (401) 207-0700 or visit www.RIchiro.org.

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