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MIFA’s Spring for a Meal campaign 2024 starts April 5! FACEBOOK LIVE today at 11am.

🌷 Join us TODAY at 11 AM for an exclusive Facebook Live event!

Spring for a Meal Campaign 2024 is gearing up, and this is your LAST CHANCE to sign up! Did you know that Memphis ranks third in the nation for senior food insecurity? It’s time to make a change together!

🍽️ Your restaurant is invited to partner with MIFA on the Spring for a Meal campaign in April. Our goal is to support our restaurant partners while raising crucial funds for MIFA’s Meals on Wheels program. Let’s combat senior hunger in our community!

📅 The campaign runs from April 5-14 and is driven by QR codes—no handling cash donations or POS transactions. We’ll provide collateral like table tents and stickers, plus simple talking points for servers.

📢 Partners will be included in promotions reaching 11,000 households, ads in Memphis Magazine and The Memphis Flyer, and boosted social media posts. The Memphis Restaurant Association is already on board, and we want YOU to join us!

🎁 Incentives for restaurants that raise the most include a group bowling party, gift cards, and bikes from Victory Bicycle Studio!

🍴 We’re opening this year’s campaign to a limited number of restaurant partners, asking for a commitment of at least three days between April 5 and 14.

📝 Reserve your spot using our online form, available here. Complete a separate form for each participating location. We’ll be in touch to ensure you have everything you need for a successful campaign!

Don’t miss out on this opportunity to make a difference in our community. Tune in at 11 AM for all the details! #SpringForAMeal #MIFA #EndSeniorHunger 🌟

REPLAY HERE from yesterday!

Andy Nix of MyCityRides Talks About Transportation Options for Employees

Listen to an enlightening broadcast where we delve into the innovative transportation solutions offered by mycityrides.org, specifically tailored for the vibrant city of Memphis.

Discover how mycityrides.org revolutionizes commuting with its unique program, allowing individuals to own a brand new, motorized scooter through affordable monthly payments. Not only will we equip you with the necessary gear, but we’ll also handle regular maintenance until your scooter is paid off. Let MyCityRides be your partner in getting you where you need to go efficiently and affordably!

In addition to individual programs, learn about our specialized offerings for employers. Explore how partnering with MyCityRides can provide your employees with diverse transportation options, ensuring they arrive at work reliably and with ease.

Don’t miss out on this opportunity to explore innovative solutions that could transform your commute and enhance your workforce’s mobility. Tune in to the replay embark on a journey towards more convenient and sustainable transportation choices with MyCityRides!

Click here to tune in.

Beneficial Owner Information Reporting – are you doing it right?

Beneficial Owner Information Reporting refers to the requirement for financial institutions to identify and report information about the owners of legal entities with whom they conduct business. Beneficial owners are individuals who ultimately own or control a legal entity, such as a company, trust, or other corporate structure, and may include individuals who own a significant percentage of the entity or have significant control over its operations or decision-making.

The purpose of Beneficial Owner Information Reporting is typically to enhance transparency and combat money laundering, terrorist financing, tax evasion, and other financial crimes. However, there are complicated legal requirements that you may be overlooking.

Click here for the pdf summary by Evans Petree.

See photos from the events here.

To add your photos to our album, text them to 901-860-5086.

MRAPAC Sporting Clays Shootout – Thank you, Sponsors!

Gratitude to our 15 teams of 4 and our generous sponsors for joining forces in our clay shoot fundraiser, powering our political action committee’s mission. Together, we’re making an impact!

Event Sponsor: OnePOS

Station Sponsors:

• Ecolab

• Hog Wild BBQ

• GEM Restaurant Supply

• Insight Risk Management

• Gordon Food Service

• TSCG

• Ben E. Keith

Food Sponsors:

• Sun Of A Vegan

• Gus’s Fried Chicken

Drink Sponsors:

• Grind City Brewing Co.

• Crosstown Brewing Company

• Memphis Made Brewing Co.

• Wiseacre Brewing Co.

• Ajax Distributing Company

• Empire Distributors

• Athens Distributing Company

• Tennessee Crown Distributing Co

• Eagle Distributing Company

Prize Sponsors:

• Avery | Banded

• Oxbeau

• Ducks Unlimited

Raffle Sponsors:

• Soul Fish Cafe

• Memphis Pizza Cafe

• Eggs Up Grill

• Amerigo Italian Restaurant

• Half Shell

• Chick-fil-A Germantown Pkwy.

• Huey’s

• Corky’s Ribs & BBQ

Save the Date – Beale Street Wine Race April 28, 2024

Beale Street in your bathing suit, lots of grapes, and plenty  of wine – what could be better?  Watch and root for your favorite restaurants and bartenders as they compete in four events for cash, prizes and glory!  Awards for Parade, Queen of the Vine, Grape Stomp and the Great Wine Race!  

This free, public event is loads of fun (prepare to have purple teeth)!  Not to be missed!

Fill out application here.

Joint Employer Rule goes into effect

Feb. 26th

Read all about this rule here.

This is a very good fact sheet (from the National Restaurant Association) here.

On October 26, 2023, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) issued a final rule redefining what constitutes joint employer status under the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA).

The final rule, which will go into effect February 26, 2024, adopts broader circumstances in which an entity can be considered a joint employer and therefore be subject to certain obligations under the NLRA.

Information on Department of Labor’s Overtime Rule

Many restaurant operators would be challenged to pay new overtime wages for salaried managers earning $60,000/year, as explained in Association and Restaurant Law Center comments opposing the U.S. Department of Labor’s overtime rule. The comments detail significant concerns and ask the DOL to rescind the proposal originally issued in August 2023.

Implications for the Industry:

• Operational Impact: Should the rule be finalized as is, many restaurant operators may need to reclassify currently exempt supervisors as non-exempt hourly employees. This is more than a procedural shift; it’s a change that could affect employees’ perception of their professional standing and access to benefits. Reclassifying supervisors as hourly employees could decrease morale, reduce productivity, and increase turnover.

Go Deeper:

Association/RLC Comments

Association Statement on Comments to DOL

The Proposed Rule on Overtime

Association/ RLC Webinar

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,

As we approach the new year, we would like to remind you to ensure the continued success of our Association by renewing your membership for the year 2024. 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 another year of 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.

Save the date!

National Day on the Hill

Join us April 15-17, 2024, in Washington, D.C., for our Public Affairs Conference and be part of the industry’s largest grassroots advocacy event. In addition to meeting with lawmakers on Capitol Hill, conference attendees will hear from top political speakers and celebrate the industry at networking events.

More info is here.

If you have questions on the conference, please email pafc@restaurant.org.

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! 🌐🔥

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, May 2, 2024

Location: Tops Cordova, 7960 Cordova Rd, Cordova TN 38016!

Looking for restaurants to host us in Aug, and Nov!

Time: 8a-9a

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

Save the Date – Wed, Oct 23, 2024

17th Annual Thomas Boggs Memorial Golf Tournament

You can sign up now!

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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