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Wishing all our members and readers a lucky and fortunate Friday the 13th and a wonderful weekend ahead! 🍀✨

MRA Board Nominations are now open! 🗳️

Board of Directors nominations are now open until September 30th! If you’re a current paid member, we invite you to self-nominate and contribute your voice to our leadership. Just make sure another current paid member seconds your nomination. Submit your nomination today using our online form!

Let’s shape the future of Memphis’ vibrant restaurant community together! 🍽️

From our by laws:
Any regular member in good standing can be nominated for election by the general membership. Nominations must be submitted in writing and must bear the signatures of at least two members in good standing (this can be done virtually). Nominations must be submitted by October 1st in order to be placed on the ballot along with the nominees from the Nominating Committee.

The elected Board consists of 7 elected members of the Executive Committee (1 shall be the winner of the Presidential race, the other 6 are open elections.)

Following elections, The 10 Appointed Board Members are nominated by the Nominating Committee and President then approved by the officers of the Board, the immediate past president also sits on the Board.

Any associate member nominated below will be considered for an appointed position after the election.

Nominate someone here.

Fundraiser Tuesday Sept 17

You are cordially invited to a fundraiser in support of Representative John Gillespie on Tuesday, September 17, from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM. The event will be held at Patrick’s Neighborhood Bar & Patio, located at 4972 Park Ave, Memphis, TN 38117.

Beer, wine, and appetizers will be provided, with a suggested campaign donation of $250 at the event.

Representative Gillespie, who serves District 97 in Shelby County, will be available to discuss his vision for supporting the success of small businesses. This is a great opportunity to hear more about his plans and share your thoughts directly with him.

We hope you can join us for this important event!

Make your campaign contribution here.

40 days away! Sign Up Now! – Wed, Oct 23, 2024

17th Annual Thomas Boggs Memorial Golf Tournament

You can sign up now!

Spirit of Memphis

The Spirit of Memphis Relay is underway! Welcome to Memphis Executive Director Marcus Cox joined the fun by spreading the word on Live at 9 last week. You can catch the August 27 episode here!

In partnership with Old Dominick Distillery, Welcome to Memphis launched the second annual Spirit of Memphis social media relay on September 1 by asking employees of restaurants, bars, and cafes to go all out in creating a signature cocktail using Old Dominick spirits. The beverages are unique to each place of business and capture the spirit of Memphis in a fun and exciting way. We’re also hosting a non-alcoholic category this year.

Customers and employees alike are encouraged to post pictures of anyone enjoying a Spirit of Memphis cocktail. Social media posts should:

• Tag both Welcome to Memphis (@welcometo901) and Old Dominick Distillery (@olddominick)

• Use the hashtag #SpiritOfMemphis

• Follow both Welcome to Memphis and Old Dominick

At the end of the relay, we’ll feature one signature cocktail and mocktail at our Annual Pick Awards party on October 21, 2024.

It’s not too late to participate! If you are interested, please register by filling out the form at this link. We can’t wait to see your Spirit of Memphis!

🌟 What is Healthier 901? 🌟

Based on our latest Community Health Needs Assessment, cancer and heart disease have been identified as the two leading causes of death in Shelby and DeSoto County. Adding to this, Memphis ranks as one of the top ten heaviest cities in the nation. But we believe we can change our future by working together to create a Healthier 901!

The main goal of the Healthier 901 program is to encourage Mid-Southerners to collectively shed one million pounds over the next three years. We’ll be shedding pounds together, exercising together, making better food choices together, and saving lives together. 💪

This powerful initiative is supported by community pillars such as Cigna Healthcare, Nike, Action News 5, Kroger, the YMCA of Memphis and the Mid-South, and more.

How can MRA restaurants help?

Locally owned restaurants have the unique opportunity to serve the public with delicious and nourishing foods. By joining the Healthier 901 Restaurant Initiative, local restaurants in Shelby and DeSoto County can play a key role in amplifying visibility and involvement in the movement. Together, we can promote healthy changes for all Mid-Southerners and make a lasting impact on our community’s health. 🍽️🌱

Learn more and sign up here.

Appeals Court Strikes Down Onerous 80/20/30 Tip Credit Rule: 7 Things Hospitality Employers Should Know About This Win

A federal appeals court just delivered some good news to hospitality employers by blocking the Department of Labor’s infamous 80/20/30 rule, providing immediate relief to employers around the country by vacating the regulations in question. The DOL’s rule — which creates time-keeping and other compliance nightmares — applies to employers that take the tip credit toward their minimum wage obligation under federal wage and hour law. But the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said the DOL’s interpretation doesn’t align with the Fair Labor Standards Act’s text or the intent of Congress. The August 23 decision cites to the Supreme Court’s recent blockbuster ruling that reined in federal agency power. What does the most recent ruling mean for hospitality employers? Here are the answers to your top seven questions about the 80/20/30 rule and what you should consider doing now.

Read more here.

🎉 Join Us for the 901 Save the Food Challenge: Restaurant Edition! 🍽️

Brought to you by Project Green Fork, a program of Clean Memphis dedicated to fostering sustainability within the Mid-South’s culinary landscape.

What: The 901 Save the Food Challenge: September Restaurant Edition
Facebook Live Tues Aug 27: Featuring Leanne Edwards, Program Director, Project Green Fork

In this Facebook Live, we’ll dive into the challenges and solutions around food waste in our local restaurants. Learn about the significant impact of surplus and wasted food on our environment and economy, and discover practical strategies for reducing waste in your business. This is a fantastic opportunity to build a culture of sustainability and create meaningful partnerships within the restaurant community.

Don’t miss out on this insightful conversation that can help you make a difference—one plate at a time! Tune in, ask questions, and be part of the movement to save the food! 🍃

#901SaveTheFood #ProjectGreenFork #CleanMemphis #Sustainability #FoodWasteReduction #RestaurantChallenge

Associate Coffee Club

Associate and Vendor Members,

This event is for you! Network with others in the restaurant industry. We buy your cup of coffee.

Details:

Date: Thursday, August 1, 2024

Location: TBD.
Looking for restaurants to host us Nov 2024 and Feb 2025!

Time: 8a-9a

Bring your business cards and your elevator pitch! Tell us you’re coming here.

Franchise Tax Refunds

On May 10, 2024, Governor Bill Lee signed Public Chapter 950 (2024), which eliminates the property measure from the franchise tax calculation and authorizes the Department of Revenue to issue franchise tax refunds to eligible taxpayers. Taxpayers who paid the franchise tax on the property measure using Schedule G for tax years ending on or after March 31, 2020, for which a return was filed with the department on or after January 1, 2021, are eligible for a refund. Eligible taxpayers must amend the returns for all eligible tax periods to create the Schedule G overpayment and then request the overpayment amount as a refund. Both the amended returns and the refund claim must be submitted by November 30, 2024.

Overtime Rules Changing Jan 1

The U.S. Department of Labor rule will require employers to pay overtime premiums to workers who earn a salary of less than $1,128 per week, or about $58,600 per year, when they work more than 40 hours in a week.

Under the rule, the salary threshold will increase to $43,888 on July 1 and to $58,656 on Jan. 1, 2025. And starting in 2027, the threshold will automatically increase every three years to reflect changes in average earnings.

Beneficial Owner Reporting Requirements

Beneficial owner reporting in 2024 refers to the legal requirements for companies and other legal entities to disclose information about their beneficial owners to a government authority. A “beneficial owner” is an individual who directly or indirectly owns or controls a certain percentage of the entity, typically 25% or more, or who exercises significant control over the entity’s operations.

Information to Be Reported: The name, date of birth, address, and an identifying number (such as a driver’s license or passport number) for each beneficial owner, plus Information about the reporting company itself, including the name, address, and jurisdiction of formation.

Entities formed or registered before January 1, 2024, have until January 1, 2025, to file their initial reports.

Tennessee ABC Cards Valid Length Changing from 5 Years

Tennessee server permits are now valid for 5 years.

Tennessee Prevention of Drunk Driving Act, passed this year, dictates that server permits issued after Jan. 1, 2025 must be renewed every two years instead of every five years.

Therefore, we are recommending if you have more than 2 years left on your ABC card expiration, you renew before December 31 of this year, to extend your permit by 5 years as any permit after that will only be valid for 2 years.

Here is the passed bill.

Facebook Live with Fallon Murray: ABC Permit Changes & Tennessee’s New Law: What You Need to Know

🎥 Facebook Live Alert 🎥

📅 Join us Monday, Sept 16, from 2:00 – 2:30 PM for an important conversation with Fallon Murray, a certified TABC Instructor and ServSafe Instructor/Proctor from The Memphian Hotel.

Fallon will discuss the new Tennessee Prevention of Drunk Driving Act, which affects all servers with ABC permits. Starting January 1, 2025, server permits must be renewed every 2 years instead of 5.

❗️ Tip: If your ABC card expires after 2026, renew before December 31, 2024, to extend it by 5 years.

Don’t miss this vital info! See you Monday! 👩‍💻🍽

We are excited to announce that the Memphis Restaurant Association will once again sponsor the 66th AutoZone Liberty Bowl on Friday, December 27, 2024, at 6 PM! Be sure to look for our logo during the game! 🎉🍽️

Patrick Accounting Podcast in Partnership With MRA

The Restaurant Grind Podcast

We love the restauranteur story – each one is different, but they have one thing in common: that grit & grind attitude to push through when things get tough. Join JD & Matt as they here a new story each week and tackle modern day struggles faced by restaurant owners today.

Time to Pay Your 2024 Dues

Dear Valued Members,

We would like to remind you to ensure the continued success of our Association by renewing your membership. To make the process seamless, kindly log in to your account and settle your membership dues at your earliest convenience. (Thank you if you have already done so!) Your support is crucial in sustaining the vibrant community we’ve built together. Thank you for your ongoing commitment, and we look forward to shared experiences and opportunities.

Best Regards,

Sally Fienup

Executive Director

Webinars

In addition to our recorded September Learning Summit,

We have a library of recorded education webinars that are free for our members.

Listen to them here.

Exciting Opportunity Alert!

Are you passionate about sharing knowledge and making a positive impact?

📚✨ We’re thrilled to announce that we’re on the lookout for hosts and speakers for our ongoing educational Facebook Live series!

This is a totally separate series from the Patrick Accounting Podcast above. We are excited to support and promote both.

🎙️🤝

If you have a story to tell, expertise to share, or insights that can inspire, we want YOU!

Sign up now for a 30-minute segment where our Executive Director will interview you, giving you the platform to shine and connect with our engaged audience. (Must be an MRA member to participate.)

🚀🌈

👉 Ready to be part of something amazing? Click the link below to secure your spot and be a beacon of knowledge in our educational journey! 🚀👩‍🏫

Sign Up Now by clicking this link.

Let’s ignite curiosity, spark conversations, and empower each other through the magic of education! 🌐🔥

Save the Date – Sunday, February 2025

Food Festival

Give a suggestion for a theme!

Please click here on “register“ (FOR FREE) to submit a suggestion for our 2025 theme!

As we gear up for our upcoming February 2025 food festival, we’re excited to invite you to contribute your ideas and suggestions for this year’s theme.

Your input is invaluable to us, and we believe that together, we can make this event truly memorable. Whether you have a specific theme in mind or simply wish to share your thoughts, we encourage you to participate.

You can submit your suggestions conveniently by clicking on the following link: LINK HERE. Alternatively, you can reply directly to this email with your ideas.

We appreciate your support and enthusiasm for our food festivals, and we look forward to seeing the creative themes you propose. Thank you for being a part of our community and helping us make this event a success.

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