BEXAR-BONES MEDISCRIPT
The New Online Newsletter from the BCMS Alliance
Volume 2| Number 3
April/May 2007
Updated March 30, 2007

Doctors’ Day is Friday, March 30th – a day set aside to thank doctors for their caring, skill and support of their patients. The Bexar County Medical Society (BCMS) and the South Texas Blood & Tissue Center (STBTC) are joining together to show appreciation for our area physicians by dedicating the weekend of March 30th to doctors. Come by the STBTC headquarters at 6211 IH 10 West, Friday, March 30th through Sunday, April 1st and sign a big "Thank you card" and/or donate blood in honor of our great physicians.

For more information, please check out the article at the following links: doctors_flyer.pdf or Flyer_2.pdf.

TMA GRASSROOTS ACTION CENTER BELOW.
ACT NOW for your spouse, your family, and every patient!

Please Join us for the 2007 Executive Board Meeting
Monday, March 26, 2007
9:30 AM Coffee and Social |10:00 - 11:30 AM Meeting
BCMS Office | 6243 I10 West, Suite 600

Please bring any reports to give to Lisa Trevino and your summary to present. If you are unable to attend, please notify me in advance @ 210.690.9456 or afoster@frostbank.com.

Your input and attendance are appreciated.
Remember Together Everyone Achieves More!

You are Invited to attend a Special Evening for
Members of the BCMS Alliance

Sponsored by Inside Outside Wellness Center and Medical Spa (www.insideoutsidespa.com)

Presented By: Dr. Charles Christian, Medical Director

What: Multimedia PowerPoint Presentation of "The 6 Components of Optimal Health and Aging with emphasis on nutrition (Zone Diet) and exercise (SuperSlow Strength Training). Plus an overview of new technology for skin rejuvenation.

When: Tuesday, April 3 from 7:00 - 8:30 PM
Where: Methodist Plaza
4499 Medical Drive #225
San Antonio, Texas 78229
210.616.0836

RSVP: Lisa Atkins 210.545.9217 or lisacatkins@yahoo.com

Other: Drawing for Clarisonic Professional Skin Care Brush and each attendee willreceive a gift certificate for a free Diamond Microdermabrasion & Javani Procedure

Catered by Four Sisters Catering

Dear Alliance Members:

The Alliance has joined the Bexar County physicians again this legislative session to represent practice issues, give our legislators information and insight on these issues, and fight for patient access to medicine. Alliance members are key in supporting our physicians, meeting and developing relationships with our legislators so that when you do call with an issue, they will recognize your efforts and listen, and just generally showing support for the practice of medicine. You, by no means, need to be an expert, but you can carry stories from your spouse's practice as well as concerns they have to share at the meetings. Everyone who has ever gone has learned much and garnered a greater appreciation and understanding of the process. Whether you can attend the whole day (in Austin from 8:30 AM to 4 PM) or just a half day, we encourage you to join the effort. Tuesday, April 3 and Tuesday, May 1 are the next dates for First Tuesdays. We will be happy to set up carpools, but need to know if you are going. Call Magda (210.545.6253) or Louise (210.492.9861) if you have questions or want to join our team. You can register at http://www.texmed.org/firsttuesdays or register at the event.

Together we can make a difference !!!

Sincerely,
Louise and Magda

Our next Professional Networking Committee will meet Tuesday, April 10 @ 5:30 PM @ Aldino's. Please E-mail or contact me by telephone with feedback or questions (dlane@phyllisbrowning.com or 210.326.4294).

Thank you and I look forward to seeing many of you there. I think this is a great professional networking opportunity and of course as always, a great way to get to know more members of our fabulous organization.

BRING BUISNESS CARDS….and we will see you there!!!!

Deborah Lane

Please register for TMAA’s 89th Annual Convention, AllMed, in Dallas, April 25-27, 2007. You’ll have a great time mingling with your fellow alliance members while learning valuable information. What could be better than that? For the complete agenda and more information, please see our AllMed Web page: http://www.texmed.org/Template.aspx?id=244!

Texas Accent is now posted online. You will also be receiving your copy in the mail, but you don’t have to wait! Read all the information online today!

Hope to see you on April 3, and again on April 25, and then again on May 1!

Sandy Godwin Solís
Director of Programs
TMA Alliance
401 West 15th Street
Austin, TX 78701
512.370.1328
512.370.1636 Fax

You're invited to a special luncheon and style show honoring the Past Presidents of the BCMS Alliance and celebrating mothers and daughters!

Friday, May 4, 2007
11:30 AM - 1:30 PM
Oak Hills Country Club
5403 Fredericksburg Road
San Antonio, TX 78229
http://www.oakhillscc.com

Style Show by Lilly Pulitzer
Past Presidents - Complimentary
BCMS Alliance members & guests - $25
Please RSVP by April 23 (link below to reply card).

Please click on the following links to read more and to access a RSVP card:
PP_Luncheon_Invite.doc and PP_Luncheon_Reply_Card.doc

Meet the Roths!
Getting to know the Roth IRA and Roth 401(k)
Submitted by Nancy L. Thomas, Vice President at Frost Bank

If you’ve never been introduced to the Roths, it’s time to meet them! The Roth IRA and Roth 401(k) are both attractive savings vehicles, and this article will help you get to know them a little better

The Roth IRA

Background. Created as a result of the Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997, the Roth IRA came into existence on January 1, 1998. Why is it unique as a retirement savings tool? If you meet certain requirements, all earnings are tax-free when you or your beneficiary withdraws them (although contributions don’t qualify for a tax deduction).

Contributions. You can contribute to a Roth IRA if your modified adjusted gross income is less than $110,000 for a single person (or less than $160,000 if you’re married with a joint income). You can make contributions at any age, and the annual contribution limit for a Roth IRA is up to $4,000 (or $5,000 for workers age 50 and older).

Withdrawals. You can withdraw your contribution to a Roth IRA at any time by the due date of your tax return for the year in which you made the contribution. Plus, you are not forced to make withdrawals even after you turn 70-1/2, so your earnings can continue to grow tax-free if you don’t need the money immediately. The Roth IRA also lets you withdraw your earnings to pay for major expenses, such as qualified higher educational expenses or to purchase a first home (up to $10,000) as long as the Roth IRA has been established for at least five years.

The Roth 401(k)

Background. The Roth 401(k) started on January 1, 2006. With this program, employers could offer an additional plan for retirement savings that combines the tax-free withdrawal aspect of a Roth IRA and the higher contribution levels of a regular 401(k). What’s the main difference? With a regular 401(k) account, your contributions are deducted pre-tax from your paycheck. When you retire and tap in to the account, the government will tax the distribution as income. With the Roth 401(k), you basically pay the tax up front since contributions are not deducted from your wages. Then all qualified distributions are tax-free.

Contributions. Employees who are eligible for their employer’s 401(k) plan also would be eligible for the Roth 401(k). There is no income limitation, but employers may place a limit on contributions. Contributions are made with after-tax dollars, and the maximum amount is $15,000 per year for 2006 (increasing to $15,500 in 2007). Employees age 50 and older can make an additional $5,000 catch-up contribution per year, up to $20,000 in 2006 or up to $20,500 in 2007. Your employer can make matching contributions based upon the amount of your Roth 401(k) contributions, but these employer matching contributions must be allocated to the pre-tax portion of your traditional 401(k) (these matching employer contributions cannot be added to your after tax Roth 401(k) account).

Withdrawals. Withdrawals from a Roth 401(k) are tax-free after age 59-1/2 if the account has been open for at least five years. Tax-free withdrawals in retirement are usually quite compelling for younger workers who anticipate tax rates will rise in coming years.

If you have any questions regarding "The Roths", please give Nancy L. Thomas a call (210.220.6532).

“Who is this Roth guy anyway?” The word “Roth” comes from William V. Roth, Jr. – the late Delaware senator who pushed for the creation of these savings accounts

For more information on ideas in this article, please contact Nancy Thomas at her office (210.220.6532 or 800.121.1292).

1. 2007 Newsletter Deadlines: January 15 (February - March issue) | March 15 (April - May issue) | May 15 (June - July issue) | July 15 (August - September issue) | September 15 (October - November issue) | November 15 (December - January issue)
2. To view previous editions of the Bexar-Bones MediScript newsletter, please click on the following link: newsletterarchives.html.
3. Or do you want to read the minutes of or print out a report form for the BCMS Alliance Board Meetings? Just click on the following link: executiveboard.html
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