BEXAR-BONES MEDISCRIPT
The New Online Newsletter from the BCMS Alliance
Volume 3 | Number 3
March 2008
Updated March 29, 2008

The Past Presidents' Luncheon & General Meeting March 24, 2008 Silo Restaurant* Ventura Plaza *Raffle Tickets were available for purchase to raise funds for our "Hard Hats for Little Heads" event later this year.

	Doctors’ Day March 27, 2008 South Texas Blood & Tissue Center Blood & Platelets were donated in appreciation of our physicians & in memory of Dr. Kenneth Piest who lost his battle with acute myeloid leukemia last year.

BCMS FOUNDATION NEWS

Many thanks to all of the alliance members who worked on the December Gala for the Foundation. Without your help, the auction, decorations and great profit would never have happened. We are pleased to announce that the gala made $ 67,500, an amount which will greatly help our Scholarship Pprogram. Please be watching for further announcements about our May Golf Tournament. We will be looking for participants and volunteers.

Again - a huge thanks for all your hard work!

2008 BCMS Foundation Golf Tournament is coming up on Thursday, May 1st.

There are three ways the Alliance can help make this a success:

1. Participate in the golf tournament: (see attached registration document)
2. Help that day with registration and "hole in one competitions" - call Amber Shelton at BCMS Foundation (301-4398) to volunteer.
3. Buy a raffle ticket/s for the famous "Helicopter Ball Drop" contest that  comes with a $3000 travel voucher for the winner - just $25 a chance.  See attached ticket to enter. (Merrill and I have already purchased ours. Just open the attachment, fill it out and either fax or send it in.)

 Your help and participation will help insure our highly successful medical scholarship and giving program.

 

Thanks, Louise Chumley

To download forms, please click on the links below:

2008_BCMS_Foundation_Golf_Tourn.doc

2008_helicopter_drop_info.doc

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It's convention time in the River City!

AllMed information and online registration is available for you on our Web site! You can find everything you need to know about AllMed, find links to other events going on with TexMed, and book your hotel rooms online.

See you in May in San Antonio!

Sandy Godwin Solís
Director of Programs
TMA Alliance
401 West 15th Street
Austin, TX 78701
(512) 370-1328
(512) 370-1636 Fax

If you want to ask more questions or volunteer to help with hosting, please contact BCMS Alliance Convention Chair Magda Nava (210.788.2432 or mnava250@satx.rr.com) or Katrina Theis (210.490.3758 or 210.240.1214). For further details, watch this website, your E-mail and your regular mailbox.

A Challenge from the TMA Alliance President!

Join the new TMAA Online Community, a forum for members only! Post messages, ask questions and exchange ideas with alliance members from across the state. TMAA's online community has resources such as the leadership manual and bylaws, photo albums from state and community events, Be Wise - Immunize information, and more! What are you waiting for? Join today.

A new avenue of communication and sharing has been added to the TMAA web site.  Mia Price, TMAA President, has issued a challenge to see which counties can get the most members to register on the TMA Online Communities.  The process is simple.  Let’s show the state how computer savvy Bexar county is!  Go online to www.texmed.org, on the left column will be “TMA Communities”, at the bottom of the login page is a “do you need to register?” Register as an alliance member,  your email address is your username and your last name is the password.  For your communities, be sure you select TMA Alliance. And submit.  Please read through the entries to see what is happening with other alliance members throughout the state.  Any questions or problems, please call Sandy Solis, (sandy solis@texmed.org; (512) 370-1328.

Rebecca Waller
BCMS Alliance President-Elect

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Our Calendar for March & April 2008

March

• 7 & 8 | Culinary Capers | Theme: St Patrick’s Day
• 13 | Playgroup | 10:30 AM | Olympia Gymnastics | 6925 East Sunbelt (78218) | $5/child
• 15 | Deadline for April Bexar-Bones Online Newsletter
• 24 | Past President’s Luncheon/General Membership Meeting/BCMS Alliance Board Meeting | 11:30 AM - 2:00 PM | Silo Restaurant,* Ventura Plaza | $25 per person | Guest Speaker: LeeAnn Kramer, "Expanding Your Wardrobe | Need more information, see read the INVITATION above.
• 27 | Doctors’ Day Event | 10:00 AM | Main Lobby of South Texas Blood & Tissue Center, 6211 IH 10 West | Please see detailed information above.

April

• 11 & 12 | Culinary Capers | Theme: Contemporary Indian
• 14 | Pre-Fiesta Girls Night Out Party for BCMS Alliance Members & Guests | 7:00 - 9:00 PM | Traditions, Ventura Plaza | Want more details, please check the INVITATION below.
• 15 | Deadline for May Bexar-Bones Online Newsletter
• 17 | Playgroup | 10:00 AM | Zoo Train & Picnic @ Brackenridge Park | Please meet @ the train depot.
• 28 | BCMS Alliance Board Meeting | 9:30 AM Coffee & 10:00 AM Meeting | BCMS Office Board Room

You can check out the remainder of the 2008 BCMS Alliance Calendar of Events at calendar.html

CULINARY CAPERS 2008: New pictures and information can be found at programs.html

The Alliance extends heartfelt condolences to the following medical families who have lost loved ones this year:

Because Frost Bank has generously supported our web site and online newsletter for the past 2 years and will do so again this year, we will continue to post articles by Nancy L. Thomas, Vice President @ Frost Bank. They are really helpful, and the Alliance deeply appreciates her contributions and the financial support provided by Frost Bank for this website.

Submitted February 2008

Quick Tax Savings Ideas
Submitted by Nancy L. Thomas, Vice President at Frost Bank

As we prepare our tax returns, take this opportunity to evaluate some tax smart strategies.

1. An easy way to reduce taxable income is to participate in a company sponsored retirement plan.   If your employer doesn't offer one, establish your own deductible IRA.  If you’re the employer there are many affordable retirement plans for every size business.
2. If you list dependents on your tax return, are you taking advantage of the savings tools the available to you to help fund your child's education, such as a Coverdell Savings Account or 529 Savings Plan.
3. Section 8a and 9a do you have interest and or dividends earned that are triggering a taxable event.   A possible solution is consider tax-deferred or tax-free investments.
4. If you are 701/2 and taking out your required mandatory distribution (RMD), as shown on 15a and 16a, what are you doing with the money?   We can't avoid the RMD, but we can put that money to work for you.   You might also consider making a tax-free donation to a tax-exempt charity funded with your RMD.
5. Is your income over the provisional income limits, and you're now being taxed on your social security benefits - see line 20a, consider tax deferred investments to reduce some of your taxable income.

           
Final Thoughts

• Getting a refund - You're withholding too much.  By working with a tax professional you can stop giving the government a interest-free loan from your hard-earned money, and instead have it work for you.  Adjust your withholdings on the W-4.
• Owe on your return - Recalculate your W-4 or estimated tax payment to prevent withholding too little.

Frost Financial Management Services would like to offer a confidential financial
review and an efficiency study of your insurance. This offer is complimentary
to members of the Bexar County Medical Alliance.

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

2008 Newsletter Deadlines: January 15 (February issue) | February 15 (March issue) | March 15 (April issue) | April 15 (May issue) | May 15 (June/July issue) | July 15 (August issue) | August 15 (September issue) | September 15 (October issue) | October 15 (November issue) | November 15 (December issue) | December 15 (January 2009 issue)

To view previous editions of the Bexar-Bones MediScript newsletter, please click on the following link: newsletterarchives.html.

Or do you want to print out a report form for the BCMS Alliance Board Meetings? Just click on the following link: executiveboard.html

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