2B

THE SUNDAY CONSTITUTION

BUSINESS

SUNDAY, APRIL 8,2012

Congress: GSA broke its gift awards limits

WASHINGTON (AP) The General Services Administration developed an employee awards program that spent more than $438,000 over four years, far exceeding the agency's pergift limit of $99, congressional investigators reported Friday. Investigators for the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee said the "Hats Off Program" initially gave out items of nominal value. Over time, the awards became iPods, digital cameras, GPS devices and other electronics. The spending occurred from 2007 through 2010, the report said. The GSA, the real estate agency for federal buildings, said in a statement that the program has ended. "Operations have been suspended pending a continuing top down review of all spending," the statement said. The agency has been under fire from Congress after its inspector general reported this week that GSA lavishly spent $820,000 for a Las Vegas conference in 2010. The head of the agency resigned, two deputies were fired and other employees were suspended. The Transportation panel and the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee are just starting investigations of the agency's wasteful spending.

Job market takes break after big hiring binge

WASHINGTON (AP) The U.S. job market took a breather in March after its best hiring stretch since the Great Recession. Employers added 120,000 jobs last month half the December-February pace and well short of the 210,000 economists were expecting. The unemployment rate fell from 8.3 percent in February to 8.2 percent, the lowest since January 2009, but that was largely because many Americans stopped looking for work. Still, few economists expect hiring to fizzle in spring and summer, as it did the past two years. And they blamed seasonal factors for much of Friday's disappointing report from the Labor Department. "We don't think this is the start of another spring dip in labor market conditions," said Paul Ashworth, chief U.S. economist with Capital Economics. The report was also closely watched in political circles. If employers retreat on hiring, consumers could lose confidence in the economy and potentially dim President Barack Obama's re-election hopes.

AP

In this file photo, hotels and casinos are lit up along the strip in Las Vegas. A report released this week detailing an extravagant conference held by federal employees near Las Vegas in October 2010 has set Nevada abuzz. The internal report by the General Services Administration resulted in the termination of two top deputies and the resignation of the little-known agency's top official hours before its release.

Think about taxes before you start a new business

Before you launch a new business, it's a good idea to prepare for an uninvited partner the tax man. Knowing your tax obligations in advance can save time, money and even the life of your business. Here are a few tips. n Open a separate checking account for your company and don't mix your business and personal payments. IRS auditors are trained to hunt for, and disallow, personal expenses claimed as business deductions. n Apply for an employer identification number penses. Save business pawise to consult a professional before getting startpers such as canceled checks, receipts and invoic- ed. A professional can adTAX TIPS vise you about the specific es. You'll need them if tax requirements for your you're audited later on. (EIN). Even if you're a sole business, set up records n If you're a sole propriproprietor with no employthat will pass government etor, partner,or owner of a ees, you'll need an EIN to scrutiny and continue to limited liability company, start a self-employed reguide you as your business you could owe substantial tirement plan. Go to the grows. Your payoff will be IRS website (www.irs.gov ) self-employment tax. This tax should be included with more time to build your to obtain an EIN in a matter your quarterly estimated firm and peace of mind of minutes, or call the IRS while you're doing it. income tax payments. and ask for Form SS-4. The information in this n Depending on your lon Keep complete acarticle is general in nature cation and type of business, counting records. Although you also could owe state and should not be acted no special system is reupon without first checking and local taxes on income, quired by the government, with a professional to detergross receipts, payroll or mine its applicability to your records must clearly business property. reflect your income and exWith all these issues, it's your situation.

AT&T Aspire scholar program to aid Oklahoma youths

AT&T is launching a quarter-billion-dollar campaign to help more students graduate from high school ready for careers and college and to ensure the country is better prepared to meet global competition, Gov. Mary Fallin and AT&T Oklahoma state President Bryan Gonterman announced last week. The AT&T Aspire program, which already has invested more than $100 million since 2008, will tackle high school success and college/career readiness for students at risk of dropping out of high school through a much larger, "socially innovative" approach, the company said. Social innovation goes beyond traditional philanthropy which typically involves only charitable giving to also engage people and technology to bring different approaches, new solutions and added resources to challenging social problems. The Aspire effort already has affected more than a million U.S. high school students, helping them prepare for success in the workplace and college, the company said. The expanded effort centers on a new, $250 million financial commitment planned over five years. AT&T Aspire will use technology to connect with students in new and more effective ways. The company also will tap the innovation engine of the AT&T Foundry to look for fresh or atypical approaches to educational obstacles. AT&T Aspire also will capitalize on the power of personal connections in the form of mentoring, internships and other voluntary efforts that involve many of AT&T's approximately 260,000 employees. Between now and April 18, AT&T is encouraging Oklahoma organizations to submit applications to prequalify for funding through the Local High School Impact Initiative requests for proposals. AT&T is most interested in funding local programs that have strong, evidence-based practices and data-driven outcomes demonstrated to improve high school graduation rates. More information on the process is available at www.att.com/educationnews (click on the "Aspire Local Impact RFP" option).

FRED FOX, ATTORNEY

MMG Orthopaedic Surgery Welcomes Erin McLemore, MD

Dr. McLemore comes to CCMH from Deaconess Orthopedics in Oklahoma City. Specializing in sports and general orthopaedic surgery, she has practiced at Oklahoma Sport Science & Orthopaedics and Oklahoma Orthopedics, Inc. providing her with 14 years of orthopaedic surgery experience. Dr. McLemore received her medical degree from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School, Dallas, Texas. She then completed a residency in orthopaedic surgery at the University of Oklahoma Health Science Center, where she also finished a fellowship in orthopaedic sports medicine. "I enjoy working in Oklahoma," said Dr. McLemore. "Coming to Lawton provided me the opportunity to keep in touch with my friends in Oklahoma City while staying close to family in Texas. And MMG Orthopaedics is a good group to join." In her free time. Dr. McLemore enjoys photography and the outdoors, She was also a founding member and former board member of Impact Oklahoma, a charitable organization in central Oklahoma developed to help families in the area of health and wellness. Dr. McLemore also volunteered for Project Medishare following the earthquake in Haiti. "I look forward to
becoming a part of the community and establishing my practice."

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How to support innovative and strategic thinking in an organization will be the topic for a meeting of the Great Plains Chapter of the Society for Human Resource Management from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday in Room 655 at Great Plains Technology Center, 4500 W. Lee. Speaker will be Jeanne Neugebauer, training administrator for OPUBCO Communications Group in Oklahoma City, who is responsible for companywide training initiatives, including a leadership development program that helps employees grow both personally and professionally. The program will provide tips on how to support innovative and strategic thinking in an organization and will provide ideas for how to lead an initiative to develop more advanced thought. The chapter invites all human resource managers who want to transition to being strategic partners and talent developers for organizations or are looking to help employees become better thinkers and innovators to attend. Cost for lunch is $5; register by sending email to dreed@greatplains.edu .

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