E-news Jan-2009

IDLCPA NEWSFLASH!!!
ISSUED: Thursday, Jan 29, 2009

<<Click here for a full color printable PDF>>

TREASURE’S REPORT: It’s About the Money By Katie Nowak

As Treasurer of the IDLCPA it is my duty once a year to report to the membership on the financial state of the coalition. The IDLCPA maintains two separate budgets, the General Fund and the PAC account. These budgets are set up by the Finance Committee and are approved by the Board.

The General fund contains the “day to day” operating funds of the coalition. This is used for events, fundraisers and committee expenses. Its current balance is $25,256. For 2008 here are the major incomes and expenses.

Income:

• $15 decal sales
• $120 general donations from designers
• $247 donation from KMA for a sample sale and Post NeoCon Party
• $500 ASID reimbursement for travel to Legislative Symposium
• $735 raffle sales
• $3,505 membership dues
• $9,433 ASID West donation
• $11,433 IIDA PA/NJ/DE donation

Expenses:

• $57 raffle tickets
• $112 PO Box rental
• $129 administrative supplies
• $169 postage
• $210 decals
• $375 tax preparation
• $1,325 website overhaul
• $2,362 board travel and meals
• $7,172 lobbyist fees

Our other account, the PAC (Political Action Committee) fund has only one purpose and that is to collect donations for and make contributions to legislators’ campaign funds. The PA Campaign Finance Bureau carefully monitors all activity in this account. All donations must be made out by check to “Interior Designers PAC” and all income and expenses are reported twice a year to the state. Our lobbying firm has targeted specific legislators that can help our bill become law and we have donated to their campaigns. Right now the legislators that we are donating to are on the House Professional Licensure Committee. This committee is the first stop for our bill before it goes for a vote in front of the whole House and then on to the Senate and then the governor.

When we make these donations we have the opportunity to hand deliver them and meet the legislators face to face and explain our position. These donations and the time in front of the licensing committee members are extremely important to our cause.

Our current balance in this account is $1,382. We collected $7,500 last year in donations and paid out $7,400 in contributions. This year we will need closer to $15,000 in funds.

The only income for this account are checks from you made out specifically to the “Interior Designer’s PAC”. No other means of income are accepted by law. Please consider making a donation to the PAC fund on a regular basis, it is one of the most important ways we can get our cause in front of the lawmakers who will pass our bill.

All donations can be mailed to:

IDLCPA
PO Box 44144
Pittsburgh, PA 15205

PENNSYLVANIA LICENSING FUN FACTS Submitted by Katie Nowak

What do the following have in common?

• Real Estate Appraiser
• Auctioneer
• Natural Hair Braider
• Nail Technician
• Funeral Director
• Acupuncturist
• Cemetery Broker
• Time Share Salesperson

Yes, they all must be licensed in Pennsylvania, yet Interior Designers, the people whoselect fire resistant materials for your hospital, who specify slip resistant flooring for assistant living facilities and maintain wheelchair clearances around office furniture arenot required to provide proof of education, experience and testing in our field.

MEMBERSHIP, MEMBERSHIPS, MEMBERSHIPS Submitted by Katie Nowak

Happy New Year! It’s time again to renew your IDLCPA membership for 2009! As we make our New Year resolutions, lets commit to renewing our memberships and becoming more active in the fight for licensing. We can’t stress enough how important memberships are to our cause. We currently have 783 members, but our goal is to reach 1200 by the end of 2009. If you are not a member, please become one. If you are a member, please renew and sign up your spouse, parents, friends and co-workers! The more members we have, the more the legislators will listen to us and take us seriously. The board can talk to legislators, but it means so much more when it comes from someone who lives in their district.

Please submit your membership renewal today and look for your “Support Interior Design Licensing” decal to be mailed back to you.

FIND YOUR NEW 2009 LEGISLATORS!!!

Please learn the facts and talk tothose around you, including your legislator about what professional interior designersdo and our importance to the public. Please take time to visit www.legis.state.pa.usand find your representatives in both the House and the Senate. If any of yourlegislators sit on the Professional Licensure Committee, PLEASE contact MaryAnn Mozelewski at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.