PRESIDENTIAL ADDRESS

This past Friday night, IFCA celebrated its annual Finish First Awards Gala. What a wonderful evening and perfect time to see business associates and friends ... this year’s party took place at the Park Hyatt Philadelphia at the Bellevue which was a new location for our event and we plan to return there for next year’s program (SAVE THE DATE—April 24, 2009).

Of those who attended, special thanks to Lafarge, our Title Sponsor, as well as to ALL of the sponsors who continue to support IFCA and its members year after year. You ALL are a big part of the success and in helping to make this affair possible. I want to say “thank-you” to the JUDGES too for giving your time to see the sites and to choose the winners.

Next, CONGRATULATIONS to our award winners. The jobs that were presented are unique in design and craftsmanship. The Finish First Awards recognizes the contractors who have had the opportunity to build these projects. In addition, special praise is to be given to the superb UNION labor forces that have the ability and skills to produce such quality and detail.

One more thing I need to mention ... Kim Clerkin spends the whole year planning and organizing this event, along with all her other duties. The Finish First Awards is a wonderful industry event! Thank you Kim.

Respectfully submitted by Ray Shoemaker, Raymond Shoemaker, Inc.

Disclaimer: While this newsletter is designed to provide accurate and authoritative information on the subjects covered, IFCA is not engaged in rendering legal, accounting, other professional or technical advice. IFCA cannot warrant the accuracy of the information contained in this newsletter and disclaims any and all liability which may result from publication or of reliance on the information provided herein. If legal advice or other expert assistance is required, the services of a competent, professional person should be sought.

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UNION UPDATE

METROPOLITAN REGIONAL COUNCIL

Edward Coryell, Executive Secretary-Treasurer/Business Manager

IFCA attended this year’s graduation of the carpenters which took place on May 22 @ the Hyatt. It is an honor to participate in it and to listen to each of the spokespersons address the graduates. This year’s line-up included Ed Coryell, Jim Clemens, Charlie Brock and the Honorable Mayor Nutter — they were great.  At IFCA, we know that the four year Apprenticeship Training Program prepares the graduates to tackle the many complex projects that IFCA contractors deal with on a daily basis. We congratulate YOU, the GRADUATE!!!

The Joint Association Committee met on June 10 to discuss (1) House Bill 2400; (2) Work Outlook for 2008/2009; (3) Jurisdictional Disputes; (4) New Apprenticeship Policies; (5) Job Stewards; (6) Working Hours; (7) Pension Funding Notice; (8) Electronic Fringe Benefit Payments—Future Date Option; (9) IFCA Update; and (10) Industry Advancement Funds. The meeting was productive and another one will take place in October — a date to be determined.

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INTERNATIONAL UNION OF PAINTERS & ALLIED TRADES DISTRICT COUNCIL 21 ("DC 21")

Harry Williams, Business Manager/Secretary Treasurer

Al Pisacano wants to make you aware that some members have been hiring non-union members who have been dropped from the union for various reasons ... please contact Al to discuss this topic in greater detail. IFCA encourages all members to reach out to Al to discuss any problem or issue you may be encountering ... DC 21’s goal is to build a good working relationship with each of the signatory contractors and to provide you with qualified manpower.

Chuck Murtha wants to remind our contractors to work with him on supporting the Apprentice Program. DC 21 currently has a pool of 40 who have taken and passed the aptitude test, a pre-employment drug test and have been interviewed! With your help, DC 21 can train these men and women to be safe, productive members of the drywall finishing industry. As a reminder, please adhere to the proper apprentice ratios (3 journeypersons to 1 apprentice).

IFCA attended this year’s Graduation on May 30 ... it was another fine event hosted by the IUPAT DC 21 ... congratulations to ALL graduates ... our contractors look forward to seeing you on their jobs!!!

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LABORERS' DISTRICT COUNCIL ("LDC")

Wade H. Stevens, Jr., Business Manager

Please join IFCA in wishing Wade Stevens well in his retirement — who’s jealous?!?!?! Next, it is IFCA’s pleasure to welcome and to congratulate Wade’s replacement—Samuel Staten, Sr. The association looks forward to working with Mr. Staten on various union industry concerns.
As you know, training is a big part of union construction. The laborers’ training facility, which is located in the suburbs, is well equipped to train all those interested in pursuing a career in union construction. Give them a call!!!

IFCA is available to assist any contractor member with respect to labor relations-contact Kim Clerkin, the Executive Director (610-225-1050).

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JUST THE FACTS

The line-up for Guest Speaks at our monthly General Membership meetings is as follows:

• July 2008: There will not be a meeting of the Board of Directors or General Membership.
• August 4, 2008: The annual meeting of the Board of Directors and General Membership — there will not be a Guest Speaker.
• September 2008: There will not be a meeting of the Board of Directors or General Membership.

EDUCATION:

• OSHA TRAINING: OSHA training is available to our members through several sources — the Mid-Atlantic Construction Safety Council, the JAC or District Council 21. For more details, contact the association office.
• COLLEGE COURSES: If you are interested in taking construction-related courses, tuition reimbursement is available to any field or office personnel. In order to be eligible you must work for an IFCA member in good standing or industry contributor and you must send in your Tuition Reimbursement Application to the IFCA office in accordance with our Guidelines. For information about Drexel, contact the Carpenters JAC @ 215-824-2300. For information regarding the community colleges, contact the Consortium @ 215-218-3886.
• COMPUTER CLASSES: Don’t forget — the association can arrange for you and your office personnel to take computer classes @ DC 21 or the JAC. Scheduling is flexible — we request a minimum of 8 participants. Contact IFCA for more details.

BOND REIMBURSEMENT: IFCA provides bond reimbursement to our members and industry contributors. The carpenters require a $75,000 bond; the tapers’ bond is tiered based on manpower (1-15 is $30, 000; 16-35 is $40,000; over 35 is $50,000.

INDUSTRY GOLF OUTING: Attention all IFCA Members and Industry Friends ... this year’s outing is scheduled for 9/8 @ Cedarbrook Country Club. Look for your invitations the first week of August ... can’t wait to see you there!!!

WORKSHOP: IFCA continues to work on the details for this fall's employer workshop on "How to Protect your Assets." A complete Outline will be distributed to you in our next newsletter ... we hope to offer this workshop in November.

“Don’t let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do.” -J. Wooden

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HEALTH & SAFETY SEGMENT

Omega-3 Fatty Acids

This information was extracted from an article prepared by Martrese M. Young, RN, BSN, by John H. Young, Member, MACSC

Arctic Explorers noted that despite a diet high in fat and cholesterol, Eskimos had a very low incidence of heart disease. What researchers found is that the Eskimo's diet is rich in omega-3 fatty acids. Some researchers believe the reason Americans suffer a high rate of cardiovascular disease may be due to an imbalance of omega-3 fatty acids in relation to omega-6 fatty acids. Ideally the ratio should be 1:1 but the typical American diet is low in omega-3 and high in omega -6 fatty acids.
  
Omega 3-fatty acids are polyunsaturated fatty acids. They are also called essential fatty acids because the human body needs them to survive. Our bodies cannot make them so we must get them from food. Mackerel, Tuna, Salmon, Sardines and Herring are good fish sources of omega-3 fatty acids. A precursor to omega-3 fatty acids called ALA (alpha-linoleic acids), can also be found in plant products such as flaxseeds, walnuts, tofu and flax, canola, soybean and olive oils and in some green vegetables such as Brussels sprouts, kale, spinach and salad greens.
            
Omega-6 fatty acids are also polyunsaturated and our bodies do not make them either, however, they are typically adequately abundant in our food supply, commonly found in snack foods, cereals and baked goods and they are in safflower, sunflower, cottonseed, corn and soybean oils.

It is recommended that we eat foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids as opposed to taking supplements; most of the fish and plants that have these good fats are also rich in other good nutrients such as protein, vitamins and minerals. Those who do not eat fish or enough other foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids should consult their physician to determine if supplements are right for them.

The table below gives guidelines on how much of what type of fish is appropriate per meal at least twice per week

It is not known if taking large amounts of omega-3 fatty acids is safe or if mixing them with other drugs can be a problem. Since they increase blood cholesterol and inhibit blood clotting, people who take anticoagulants, blood thinners or aspirin should not take extra omega-3 because of the risk of bleeding. Another concern is that larger predatory fish such as shark, swordfish, golden bass and golden snapper, although an excellent source of omega-3 fatty acids, also contain high levels of mercury. Tuna and salmon may contain other compounds such as dioxin and PCBs but have lower mercury levels. The recommendation is that the greatest risk is to pregnant women and young children therefore these groups should not eat the highly contaminated fish at all and to limit the intake of moderately contaminated fish.

References: www.americanheart.org/ New Guidelines focus on fish. Fish oil, omega-3 fatty acids, 11/18/2002 www.medicinenet.com/Omega-3 Fatty Acids, 2007 If you have a family or personal history of cardiovascular disease or are concerned about the importance of omega-3 fatty acids in your diet, consult your physician.

If you need help, give Robin, Kramer & Green a call!!!

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ROBIN KRAMER & GREEN

Are I-Bonds a good deal?

Lately the Federal Reserve has responded to the subprime mortgage fiasco by lowering interest rates, which in turn is causing some economists to fret that inflation will soon heat up. If you're looking for a safe long-term investment that keeps pace with inflation, the U.S. Treasury's inflation-adjusted savings bond - known as the I-Bond - is worth considering. Sharing many characteristics with its sister, the EE Savings Bond, the I-Bond is backed by the U.S. government and can be purchased at your local bank, over the Internet, or through payroll deductions. You won't be charged commissions for buying or redeeming either type of bond, and the interest on these bonds is exempt from state and local income taxes. Federal income tax is deferred until the bonds are redeemed.

Unlike EE Bonds, I-Bonds are sold at face value - $50 will buy you a $50 I-Bond. In addition, the interest rate on an I-Bond has two components: one that's fixed, one that's variable. The fixed rate is set when you purchase the bond. The variable rate, based on the consumer price index, is adjusted every six months to track inflation.

You should also be aware that I-Bonds have some drawbacks. For one thing, you can't redeem an I-Bond until you've owned it for at least a year. As a result, these bonds are less liquid than, say, a money market account. Also, if you redeem an I-Bond within five years, you'll forfeit three months' of interest.

For those planning to leave their money invested at least five years, stock mutual funds may provide a better hedge against inflation. Historically speaking, the broad stock market has generated higher returns than either EE Bonds or I-Bonds. Over the long term, you may earn a 4-5% return with an I-Bond versus a 10-12% return on a stock growth fund. Of course, history is not always an accurate predictor of future performance. But for long-term investors, a diversified portfolio of mutual funds may significantly outperform either type of U.S. Treasury bond.

So are I-Bonds a good deal? It depends on your personal risk tolerance, how soon you need to withdraw the money, and whether you're subject to significant state and local taxes.

If you'd like some help determining whether I-Bonds make sense for you, give Robin, Kramer & Green a call!!!

If you need help, give Robin, Kramer & Green a call!!!

Robin Kramer & Green, LLP
425 Commerce Dr.
Ft. Washington, PA

215-641-8300 (O)
215-641-8335 (F)
info@rkgcpa.com

Contact Robin Kramer & Green to discuss your retirement options.

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KIM Says...

2008 FINISH FIRST AWARDS

On June 6 we learned who walked IFCA's red carpet to collect their chunk of crystal ... Ladies and Gentlemen ... the 2008 Finish First Winners!!!

Acoustical Ceiling: Frank T. Lutter, Inc.
     Project: CBS Studios
Drywall Finishing: Frank T. Lutter, Inc.
     Project: Commercial Project in the Suburbs
Millwork: Plumbline Construction, LLC
     Project: Wilson Student Center
$100,000 or Less: Talon Construction Co., Inc.
     Project: Body Central
Innovative Use of Materials: Frank T. Lutter, Inc.
     Project: Commercial Project in the Suburbs
EIFS: Guy C. Long, Inc.
     Project: Norwood Fontbonne Academy
Furniture Installation: Aimm Philadelphia Installations
     Project: Commercial Project in the Suburbs
Ornamental Plastering: All Surfaces Plastering, Inc.
     Project: Roebling Mansion
Lafarge's Project of the Year:  All Walls & Ceilings, Inc. (Dave & Buster's)
Member of Distinction: Tony Iannucci, Aimm Philadelphia Installations
Kamco Building Supply's Weekend Getaway Winner: Heartwood Building Group

The association thanks the following sponsors: Title Sponsor: Lafarge; Presenting Sponsors: The Kempf Company; The Metropolitan Regional Council of Carpenters of Philadelphia & Vicinity; and the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades District Council 21; Awards Sponsor: Marjam Supply Company; Centerpiece Sponsor: USG; Weekend Getaway Sponsor: Kamco Building Supply; Contributing Sponsors: Armstrong Ceilings; Certainteed Ceilings; George F. Kempf Supply Co.; Labor Management Cooperative Fund of the Painters & Allied Trades; Marino/Ware; National Gypsum; Specialty Products & Insulation Co., and Stevens and Lee.

The association recognizes the following participants - this year we had over 27 applicants! Aimm Philadelphia Installations, All Surfaces Plastering, Inc., BCT, Blasz Construction, LLC, Ceilings Inc., Heartwood Construction, Fastrack Construction, Guy C. Long, Inc., Frank T. Lutter, Inc., Plumbline Construction, LLC, Sloan & Company, Supreme Ceilings, and Talon Construction Co., Inc.

We are moving up next year's event ... SAVE THE DATE -- April 24, 2009!!

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LEGAL NOTES FROM STEVENS AND LEE

Employers now have a new law to consider when making employment decisions. On May 21, 2008, President Bush signed into law the Genetic Information Non-Discrimination Act ("GINA") which prohibits employers from discharging, refusing to hire, or otherwise discriminating against employees on the basis of genetic information. The law also prohibits insurance companies from denying coverage or charging higher premiums based on predisposition as a result of genetic information. Moreover, insurance companies are not permitted to require genetic tests. GINA's definition of "genetic information" includes "the manifestation of a disease or disorder in family members" of an employee.

GINA aims to eliminate any fear of discrimination held by those who decline to undergo potentially beneficial genetic tests. According to the legislative history, one purpose of the legislation was to establish basic protections that encourage individuals to take advantage of life-saving genetic screening, counseling, testing, and new therapies, without fearing that this information will be misused or abused.

Prohibitions.

In regard to employment discrimination, GINA:

prohibits discrimination on the basis of genetic information in hiring, compensation, and other personnel processes; prohibits the collection of genetic information from employers and allows workplace genetic testing only in very limited circumstances, such as monitoring the adverse effects of hazardous workplace exposures.

In regard to health insurance discrimination, GINA:

prohibits enrollment restriction and premium adjustment on the basis of genetic information or genetic services; prevents health plans and insurers from requesting or requiring that an individual take a genetic test.

Effective Date.

GINA's employment title takes effect 18 months after enactment (i.e., November 20, 2009) and the Act requires the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission ("EEOC") to issue final regulations within a year of enactment (i.e., May 20, 2009).

Submitted by Stevens & Lee (Michael G. Tierce)

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LOBBYING EFFORTS

Wolf Block .... submitted by Brian Preski, Esquire
1650 Arch St., 22nd Flr., Phila., PA 19103 (215) 977-2000 • e-mail: bpreski@wolfblock.com

As the summer approaches, it is budget time in Harrisburg and the General Assembly is in full swing to wrap up this budget season and begin to look to the fall elections. Passage of the state budget on time, as always at this part of the negotiations, looks uncertain as the parrying between the legislative leaders and the Governor over priorities continues. The Governor raised the stakes last week when he announced that he intended to furlough all non-essential state employees on July 1 if the budget is not in place. The legislature responded by calling for the Governor to deem all state employees as essential. Since it is an election year this gamesmanship will continue and it appears that the budget will not be passed on time and may last until well into the summer.

Complicating the budget process is that fact that this November all of the 203 seats in the State House of Representatives are up for election and 25 of the 50 State Senate seats are up as well. As usual, the most talked and highly contested races are within the Southeast portion of the state. This is pretty well the norm because of the sheer number of seats and the voter rich nature of the Southeast districts and the availability of televised and print media outlets. While poll data indicates that the public's perception of the state legislature is dismal, the Primary Election indicates that while people dislike the legislature as a body, they seem to like their own lawmaker. This year the numbers indicate no incumbent state Senator seeking re-election faced Primary opposition and only twenty-seven, out of 203, House members faced Primary opposition in 2008.  Currently, ninety-four House members face no opposition.

Further complicating budget negotiations and the legislative calendar was the announcement of the majority Senate Republicans that they will not reconvene the Senate Chamber post-election for a lame duck session in 2008. By law, the Pennsylvania Legislature could hold regular session until November 30. However, such post-election sessions have consistently been criticized by "reformers" since they tend to produce more controversial legislation than usual session.

Given the Senate's pronouncement, after June, there would remain only 9 announced session days available before the November elections, accordingly no one believes much will be accomplished before the November elections since it is clear that the members facing opponents will not want to alienate any potential voting group.

Of particular interest to our members, the House passed the Construction Industry Independent Contractor Act by a vote of 122-76 on June 9. This legislation was directed at employers in the construction industry who cut costs by misclassifying workers as independent contractors. Violators would face criminal penalties under House Bill 2400.

Opponents to the legislation argued that its penalties were too severe and that it would hurt the state's economy. Supporters said the practice is unfair to competitors, deprives the state unemployment and worker's compensation funds of income and shortchanges workers in pay and benefits. The measure's standards for properly classifying independent contractors would include proof that they are free from an employer's direction and control. Intentional violations would be a third-degree felony; cases of negligence would constitute a less severe summary offense.

Another matter of interest to our members, that we should continue to watch is the economic stimulus package proposed by the Governor. Last week, the Senate Finance Committee approved a four-bill stimulus package expected to provide nearly $96 million in tax relief across lower-income working people, small businesses and major employers.

• SB1385 expands the cap on the net operating loss provision of the corporate net income tax to $5 million or 20 percent of taxable income, effective January 1, 2009.
  
• SB1386 increases eligibility limits for personal income tax forgiveness for low-income residents. Families of four earning $27,000 or less would be exempt from state income tax under the bill.
• SB1387 doubles (from $25,000 to $50,000) the amount that small businesses may deduct for costs of machinery and equipment used for business purposes.
• SB1388 amends the state's corporate net income tax to expand the sales factor from 70 percent to 85 percent for companies determining their business income for multiple states.

We will continue to track and report back to the membership of matters of import in Harrisburg.

Please support those suppliers and manufacturers that supported IFCA's FINISH FIRST AWARDS!!! Armstrong Ceilings; Certainteed Ceilings; Kamco Building Supply; Geo. F. Kempf Supply; Steven Kempf Company; Lafarge; Marino/Ware; Marjam Supply Company; National Gypsum Company; Specialty Products & Insulation; Stevens & Lee and USG. We also received support from the District Council 21, the Philadelphia Carpenters and the LMCI. If you haven't supported this event in the past and wish to get involved, please do not hesitate to contact the IFCA office (610-225-1050).

CALENDAR

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IFCA

Kimberly A. Clerkin, Executive Director
Valley Forge Office Center
530 E. Swedesford Rd., Ste. 106
Wayne, PA 19087
Phone: 610-225-1050
Fax: 610-225-1052
Email: kim@ifcassociation.com

We're on the web at www.ifcaassociation.com