News from Raiche & Co., CPAs - Filing Delay for Reinstated Deductions and Taxpayers Who Itemize

Following late December’s tax law changes, the Internal Revenue Service announced recently the upcoming tax season will start on time for most people, but taxpayers affected by three recently reinstated deductions need to wait until mid- to late February to file their individual tax returns. In addition, taxpayers who itemize deductions on Form 1040 Schedule A will need to wait until mid- to late February to file as well.

The start of the 2011 filing season began in January for the majority of taxpayers. However, December’s changes in the law mean that the IRS will need to reprogram its processing systems for three provisions that were extended in the Tax Relief, Unemployment Insurance Reauthorization and Job Creation Act of 2010 that became law on Dec. 17.

People claiming any of these three items - involving the state and local sales tax deduction, higher education tuition and fees deduction and educator expenses deduction as well as those taxpayers who itemize deductions on Form 1040 Schedule A - will need to wait to file their tax returns until tax processing systems are ready, which the IRS estimates will be in mid- to late February.

The IRS will announce a specific date in the near future when it can start processing tax returns impacted by the late tax law changes. In the interim, people in the affected categories can start working on their tax returns, but they should not submit their returns until IRS systems are ready to process the new tax law changes.

The IRS urged taxpayers to use e-file instead of paper tax forms to minimize confusion over the recent tax changes and ensure accurate tax returns.

Taxpayers will need to wait to file if they are within any of the following three categories:

* Taxpayers claiming itemized deductions on Schedule A. Itemized deductions include mortgage interest, charitable deductions, medical and dental expenses as well as state and local taxes. In addition, itemized deductions include the state and local general sales tax deduction extended in the Tax Relief, Unemployment Insurance Reauthorization, and Job Creation Act of 2010 enacted Dec. 17, which primarily benefits people living in areas without state and local income taxes and is claimed on Schedule A, Line 5. Because of late Congressional action to enact tax law changes, anyone who itemizes and files a Schedule A will need to wait to file until mid- to late February.

* Taxpayers claiming the Higher Education Tuition and Fees Deduction. This deduction for parents and students - covering up to $4,000 of tuition and fees paid to a post-secondary institution - is claimed on Form 8917. However, the IRS emphasized that there will be no delays for millions of parents and students who claim other education credits, including the American Opportunity Tax Credit and Lifetime Learning Credit.

* Taxpayers claiming the Educator Expense Deduction. This deduction is for kindergarten through grade 12 educators with out-of-pocket classroom expenses of up to $250. The educator expense deduction is claimed on Form 1040, Line 23, and Form 1040A, Line 16.


For those falling into any of these three categories, the delay affects both paper filers and electronic filers. Please give us a call or email if you have further questions about this delay.

The IRS emphasized that e-file is the fastest, best way for those affected by the delay to get their refunds. Those who use tax-preparation software can easily download updates from their software provider. The IRS Free File program also will be updated.

Updated information will be posted on IRS.gov and you can of course call our firm for help and clarification. In addition, our firm would like to remind employers about the new withholding tables released last week for 2011. Employers should implement the 2011 withholding tables as soon as possible, but not later than Jan. 31, 2011. We also remind employers that Publication 15, (Circular E), Employer’s Tax Guide, containing the extensive wage bracket tables that some employers use, should now be available on IRS.gov.

Visit Our Website: www.raichecpa.com

Happy New Year from the HUB

2010 has been a year of change for the HUB Family Resource Center! We are in the process of a merger with Community Partners yet the financial need for HUB parent education, home visiting programs and support groups is at its highest level ever. We intend to continue to offer the types of programming our community has come to rely upon - but we can only do this with your help.

Our parent education and home visiting programs, which are only partially funded through private donations and small grants, have been particularly hard hit. Parent education and home visiting are as important today as they were when the HUB first began. These programs offer long term solutions; break negative cycles and give families hope.

In order for the HUB to continue to offer our community the varied and quality educational programs it has for the past 16 years, we need you. The HUB is dedicated to our community. We are asking you to choose to dedicate your annual charitable gift to the HUB.

The financial foundation of the HUB is built from community members like you. Our goal is to grow stronger in 2011, with a full schedule of classes and parent education programs. Please help us achieve this important goal.

Best wishes for a happy, healthy and peaceful 2011!

Matt Lahr

President of the Board

Friendship Force plans trip to Russia

Friendship Force of NH Seacoast is offering its members and the public an opportunity for a home hosting experience in Kaluga and the surrounding area of Russia.

The Kaluga Club, created in 2009, is hosting its first-of-a-kind home hosting exchange with Friendship Force. This new club will be sharing some wonderful local highlights with us. Estimated Price: $800.00 includes optional Moscow stay 3 day/2 nights.* International airfare NOT included. Air transportation is into Moscow. Transportation to host family departs from Moscow airport.

Basic Exchange: 5 nights home stay experience. After the first home stay, options exist for independent travel in the region or participating in a group tour.

Participation as an ambassador on an exchange is by application, with ambassadors and hosts carefully selected to ensure compatibility with the program.

For more information, contact Exchange Director Carolyn Ricker: 603-520-7385.

HRCU Scholarships Now Available

Applications are now available to Holy Rosary Credit Union’s (HRCU’s) 16th Annual College Scholarship Program. This year, five (5) $1,000 scholarships will be awarded to members who are enrolled in an accredited college.

Eligibility requires applicants to be a member in good standing of HRCU for a period of not less than six months, and cannot be receiving tuition reimbursement as an employee of HRCU. Applicants must also be accepted to, or attending an accredited college or university as a full-time undergraduate student.

Award selection will be based on students past academic success, grade point average and rank in class, as well as financial need. Applications are available at all HRCU branches located in Dover, Farmington, Rochester, and Spaulding High School, or online under “About Us” at www.hrcu.org. The application deadline is April 15, 2011. If you have any questions, contact Danielle at (603)332-6840.

Holy Rosary Credit Union is a full service financial institution proudly serving more than 16,000 members in the State of New Hampshire with assets over $160million dollars. The Credit Union’ s main branch is located in Rochester, New Hampshire with other full service branches located in Dover and Farmington, New Hampshire. Visit Holy Rosary online at www.hrcu.org.

The Homemakers Health Services Appoints Interim CEO

The Homemakers Health Services, a nonprofit health care agency which provides nursing, rehabilitative therapy, home support and adult day care services throughout Strafford County, has announced the appointment of Linda Howard, as its interim chief executive officer, effective January 15, 2011. Howard will replace Claudette Boutin, who has resigned her post for personal reasons, effective January 14th.

“I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of the loyal employees and volunteers who supported me and The Homemakers over the past 16 years,” said Boutin, who served 10 years as the CEO of home health care agency and six years as the director of clinical services. “You truly make a difference in the individual lives of many Strafford County residents by protecting them with your unique array of quality care service offering and programs. I will remain proud of my association with such a worth group of mission-driven caregivers. I can’t thank you enough and wish you all continued future success.”

“The Board wishes Claudette all the best as she pursues the next step in her career,” said Jeff Taylor, president of the Agency’s Board of Directors. According to Taylor, a formal search for a new chief executive officer is currently underway.

“In the interim, the Board has selected Linda Howard to continue the quality day-to-day operations of our organization,” said Taylor. “As the current director of our adult day care program and a staff member of more than 35 years, Linda has displayed the ability and expertise to successfully lead our Agency through this change, while ensuring that our professional, high quality and compassionate health care service standards are maintained.”

Prior to becoming the director of adult day care, Howard, who has a B.S. in social services from New England College and an Associate’s degree in business management from McIntosh College, was a home care coordinator with The Homemakers. She currently serves on the executive board of the Transportation Coordination and Consolidation Committee, is a member of the NH Transit Association and a member and former vice president of the Adult Day Care Providers of NH. She is also a past member of NH Quality Assurance for Medicaid and the Rest in Peace Foundation.

For more than 35 years, The Homemakers Health Services has provided home health care services throughout Strafford County. Services include visiting nurse, physical and occupational therapy, medical social work, home health aides, homemakers, in-home care providers, Alzheimer’s respite and adult medical day care. For more information about The Homemakers Health Services visit the Agency’s website at www.TheHomemakers.org , call (603) 335-1770 or email info@thehomemakers.org.

Tonya Rochette Joins Human Resource Partners as VP

President and Founder of Human Resource Partners LLC (HRP), Delise West announces that her company has merged with Human Resources Consulting of New England LLC (HRCNE) located in Concord, NH. Tonya Rochette, former owner and operator of, HRCNE recently joined forces with West and will serve as HRP’s Vice President of HR Solutions.

HRP will operate out of its main office in downtown Dover, NH as well as its new downtown Concord location in Bicentennial Square.

In addition to bringing her client base under HRP’s service, Rochette will expand the Organizational Development and Technology-Human Resource Information System support aspects of the business. She specializes in working with businesses to develop alignment practices that identify human capital needs as well as infusing technology to aid in the management of resources and communication of information throughout a global workplace.

“Delise has developed an exceptional business with a solid reputation, one that I am proud to be a part of,” said Rochette. “She shares my enthusiasm for embracing today’s dynamic changes in the HR field. Together, we can provide broader resources to help businesses develop tools that support their growth and ongoing need to remain competitive in their markets.”

In addition to Rochette’s industry experience, she is deeply involved in the local community, broadening HRP’s reach to Concord, NH. She sits on the Greater Concord Chamber of Commerce’s Steering and Enrichment Committees for Concord Young Professionals Network (CYPN) as well as the Steering Committee for Leadership Greater Concord and Concord’s Capital Area Student Leadership (CASL) program. In addition, Rochette is a member for both Main Street Concord’s Organization Committee, and Concord Hospital’s Business Partners in Health Committee. Tonya was also recognized as the Concord Family YMCA’s 2010 Volunteer of the Year.

“Based on the exceptional feedback I’ve received from our clients who have had the good fortune to work with Tonya on key projects, I am thrilled to have her formally join Human Resource Partners in this new role,” said West. “Her expertise in human resources coupled with her passion for organizational development and technology, will help enable our clients to meet their organizational objectives sooner and more efficiently.”

For more information, visit www.h-rpartners.com.

Business of the Month - Trident Communications Group

Ray Mitchell of Trident Communications Group recently sat down to discuss his business and is featured here as the January 2011 – Business of the Month.

How long have you been in business?

Trident Communications Group was established in 1995. (16 years in June 2011)

How did you get started? What made you choose this particular business?

In mid-June of 1995, my position as Vice President for Development and Public Relations at Addison Gilbert Hospital (Gloucester, MA) was eliminated, after four and a half years of service, due to a merger of AGH with Beverly Hospital. I was given my severance package, and off I went. It seemed to me a perfect opportunity and juncture to establish my own consulting practice, and I concluded that if I was ever going to take the plunge, this was the time to try.

This was not a case of trying a new business. Organizational advancement, particularly in the nonprofit sector, was the kind of work I had done for just about all of my professional life. With the exception of four years spent in corporate communications, public relations and marketing, I have been involved in nonprofit organizational advancement since 1970 --- about 36 years. In the nonprofit sector, organizational advancement encompasses governance management, constituency building, constituent-relationship cultivation and management, public relations and communications, marketing, and fund raising (philanthropy).
When you meet someone and they ask you what you do, what do you say?

I say that we are professional organizational advancement consultants providing counsel and direct services to both nonprofit organizations and conventional businesses.

The more formal response to that questions is: “Trident Communications Group is a full-service consultancy, providing a wide range of organizational advancement counsel and direct services to nonprofit organizations throughout New England and the northeast region.

We are skilled, experienced professionals consulting in fundraising and donor relations, governance management, public relations, special events management and marketing communications --- focused on your organization's strategic interests.

Trident Communications Group's mission is to help organizations, large and small, to build and communicate with constituencies --- to manage and nurture the relationship with them, to enhance perceptions, to earn and sustain loyalties, to encourage and steward their philanthropic support --- and to achieve the goal of successful competition in today's challenging marketplace.

We provide a range of organizational advancement services to nonprofit organizations and specialize in fully integrated fund raising, governance management, public relations, special events, marketing communications and related advancement services. We also work with traditional businesses in the advancement of their strategic communications interests, providing services that address issues of branding, market position and market share.”

What makes your business stand out from your competition?

We are a full-service consultancy, providing counsel and direct services across the entire range of disciplines that constitute and operate within the process of organizational advancement, most especially in the nonprofit sector. In other words, a “one-stop shop” that brings together, under one roof, all of the expertise and resources needed for client projects.

We provide fully integrated services that address the critical role of communication, education and relationship management in all aspects of nonprofit organizational advancement, particularly fund raising.

We are a small, independent consulting firm that operates on the consortium model, thereby minimizing our mission-critical overhead and enabling us to offer our clients first-quality counsel and services, a very competitive schedule of service fees, and more flexible contractual arrangements.

Why did you choose to locate in the greater Dover area?

In 2003, I decided to move my full-time residence and business location from Gloucester, Massachusetts to New Hampshire. I already had a residence and a business office in Plaistow (NH) but wanted to get closer to the New Hampshire seacoast. I was interested in concentrating my consulting business in New Hampshire, because the state has a very vibrant nonprofit environment and community.

I chose Dover as my residence location, because I found an excellent housing value here; I also had family roots here. I sold my properties in both Gloucester and Plaistow and moved to Dover in December 2004. Shortly thereafter, I moved my business here as well. It was the right decision.


Over the years, what do you see as the single biggest change that’s taken place in your business?

The explosive growth in the overall size of the nonprofit sector, both in New Hampshire and across the nation, has made the business of organizational advancement consulting much more varied and interesting. It also has become better understood and much more competitive at the same time.

As nonprofit organizations have become more skilled and discerning in their engagement of outside resources and services, such as consulting, it has made the process of cultivating a client from a prospect a lot more time-consuming and challenging. Over the past two calendar years, the economy also has negatively impacted the volume of consulting business undertaken in the nonprofit sector.


What are your visions for the short and long-term future of your business?

Short-term goals include an expansion of TCG’s own marketing efforts, a broadening of the types of nonprofit organizations with which we work, as well as a renewed emphasis on the cultivation of more clients among conventional businesses.

Longer-term goals include an expanded reach into new areas of New England and the northeast region, an increase in the number of participating consultants, and the development of packages of smaller-scale and collaborative services for partnered or merged nonprofit organizations.


If there was one thing that you’d want people to know about your business, what would it be?

That we are highly skilled professionals working in a field of endeavor that many do not see as requiring any special skills or experience to practice and achieve success, particularly in the nonprofit sector. That we are dedicated to optimum client service and committed to doing whatever it takes to achieve our client’s advancement goals. That we offer first-class services with very competitive fees.


What do you think is the most difficult thing about owning/running a business?

Living with it and thinking about it, day and night. Eating, drinking, sleeping, walking and recreating with it “by your side” all day, every day. It’s like parenting!

What is the most rewarding?

Knowing that you have complete control of your own work life and that your ability to be successful begins first inside of yourself and depends on your own personal commitment to achieving goals.

Knowing that our counsel and direct services are instrumental and make all the difference in helping a nonprofit organization or a business to achieve its advancement goals.

Completing a client project and realizing that people do understand the difference your involvement has made in the success of that project.


Based on your experience, what advice would you have for someone just starting up a business today?

Work especially hard. Be willing to maintain a focus on your business in every waking hour of the day (and sometimes the sleeping ones, too!). Concentrate on what you do best and what differentiates you from your competitors. Get some professional advice on a regular basis. Network a lot with others “in your boat.” Take great pride in what you do. Remember that your name is on every action that you take on behalf of your clients or customers.


Any particularly funny, poignant, memorable or otherwise noteworthy stories or anecdotes about your business that you could share?

While it did not seem or feel like a particularly funny occurrence at the time, an incident that nearly upset a major fund-raising event for a big Catholic client is now something that I can look back on and chuckle (at least a bit). We were staging a big gathering for a diocesan bishop to thank some major donors. On the day before the event, we learned that the hotel we were using as a venue had the Chippendales, a well-known male strip show, booked into the adjacent ballroom on the same evening. One might ask why the hotel staff would have made such an arrangement in the first place! Thanks to some quick thinking and action by all involved, including the hotel staff, we were able to put a “firewall” between the two events. As best we could determine, none of the women attending the bishop’s event stole away to see the Chippendales!

In another vein, I was personally involved some years ago in arranging a major, commemorative gift to a capital campaign by a very elderly gentleman who wanted to honor his deceased wife. I got to know this man very well during the process, and we became fast friends. He established an annuity contract that would pay him income during life and revert to the organization after his death. Before any payments could be made to him, he passed away. His family asked me to be a speaker at his funeral service. The story illustrates just how personal and intimate the role of advancement professionals can be in the lives of the people they encounter and with whom they interact.


Is there a question(s) that you wish you’d been asked about your business? If so, what is it, and what is the answer?

Why did you choose the name “Trident Communications Group” for your particular type of consulting firm?


Originally, the “trident” concept appealed to me, because we were focused on fund raising, public relations/marketing and special events. As time has passed, and our service offerings actually have broadened, particularly for nonprofits, I see the “three teeth” more as a metaphor for building constituencies, cultivating and managing relationships, and turning strangers and acquaintances into “investors” or “stakeholders.”

The word “communications” in our name confuses some people and often leads them to ask if we are in the telephone or computer-networking fields. The simple answer is that communication (along with education, which is also based on communication) is at the very heart and core of the entire organizational advancement process. It’s the instrument for the entire process, from the beginning to a conclusion.

The word “group” defines and denotes our approach to consulting. We are a consortium of skilled and experienced professionals who align their capabilities and interact, as needed, in an integrated manner, to meet the needs of a specific client.


Please add any notes or thoughts that you think might not have been conveyed in your responses above.

Trident Communications Group was proud to serve as fund-raising counsel for the successful capital campaign in support of the new headquarters and visitor center of the Greater Dover Chamber of Commerce. Between late 2007 and late 2010, we were privileged to work with the Chamber staff and many dedicated volunteers who shared the vision of a new home for the organization. We were delighted to play a role in this project.

News from the Dover High School Career Tech Center

One hundred years ago, Dover Industrial School offered classes in cooking, woodworking, blacksmithing, sewing, laundry, drafting, and machine shop. “Underachievers” were often guided toward vocational programs, which led directly into the workforce with little expectation for further formal education. Today, however, as a result of recent school reform efforts, Dover’s Career Technical Center (CTC) integrates discipline-specific academics with industry-specific knowledge and skills to provide many career and postsecondary options for students after graduation. CTC offerings now include programs such as Pre-Engineering Academy, Fire Science Academy, Biotechnology Academy, Licensed Nursing Assistant, Animal Science, Computer Technology (and others) that often embed industry-specified certification and transferrable college credit for qualifying students.

Why the bold transformation? Leaders in education and business recognized that high-quality Career Technical Education (CTE) is critical to our nation if we are to compete in a global market. CTE values high achievement in academic and technical skills, encourages innovation, and demands critical thinking, teamwork and creative problem solving. Using both “hands-on” and “minds-on” learning, students apply academic theory to practical purpose.

Partnerships between businesses and career technical centers are becoming more and more vital to local economies. Career tech educators rely on the input of business and industry (in the form of advisory committees) to inform the development of curriculum and to keep technologies and training current. Businesses provide paid work experiences, job shadow opportunities, and internships. They often demonstrate new technologies in the classroom or host informational tours and activities at their workplaces.

Studies show that employers prefer to hire CTE graduates because they need 20 percent less formal on-the-job training. Students view their education as relevant and practical because learning happens in the classroom, lab and the workplace. Career technical students make a solid connection between academic coursework and future goals, so they are more likely to graduate high school and value further training and education. In addition, business partners have access to skilled, motivated, entry-level workers who enjoy their profession and have a realistic vision of what employers require of them. Together Dover’s Career Technical Center and local business partners provide both academic education and career training for the 21 Century workforce. Now that’s “Education With A Purpose.”