1540 Sul Ross  Houston, Texas 77006   (713) 526-4876    info@talarts.org     http://www.talarts.org

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Newsletter

January 2009
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 	  Topics in this Newsletter include, New Form 990 Information, TALA Volunteer Information Session January 31, Legal and Accounting Open House
  	  Dates with Spacetaker, and Form 990 Seminar at the United Way.

IRS Rolls out New Form 990:

TALA will be distributing a series of email newsletters shared by Blazek & Vetterling LLP pertaining to accounting and tax issues over the next few months.  The first one deals with changes to the 2008 Form 990.  Please click the link below to view or download the Form 990 newsletter as a Microsoft Word document or a Rich Text file (RTF).

Revised 2008 Form 990 Information (Word document)

Revised 2008 Form 990 Information (RTF)

Texas Accountants and Lawyers for the Arts will be holding a Volunteer Information Session on January 31, 2009 at the TALA office.  The session will give attendees information on common issues of TALA’s clients including, non-profit organization, formation and maintenance; copyright and trademark registration and ownership; tax and accounting issues and pro bono representation issues.  Alex Bentlif, Kathy Ploch, Al Staehely, and Erin Rodgers will be speaking on these issues.  New attorney and accountant volunteers are highly encouraged to attend, as well as current volunteers and any interested members of TALA or members of the public.  The details are as follows:

Volunteer Information Session
Saturday, January 31, 2009
9:00 am to 11:30 am at the TALA Office, 1540 Sul Ross, Houston, Texas 77006

CLE credit will be provided
Session is free for members and volunteers
$30 fee for non-members

Coffee and bagels will be provided

Please RSVP to Erin Rodgers   erinrodgers.tala@gmail.com
or call (713) 526-4876

Legal and Accounting Open House at Spacetaker

With the success of the clinic held in conjunction with Spacetaker in November of 2008, Texas Accountants and Lawyers for the Arts is pleased to announce the continuation of the program for 2009.  The TALA open house clinics provide individual artists and representatives of arts-related not-for-profit corporations an opportunity to consult with TALA law and accounting volunteers on legal and accounting issues.  The date is as follows:

Saturday, May 16, 2009 

The open houses will take place at Spacetaker's Artist Resource Center at
2101 Winter Street
Houston, TX 77007

There will also be two Fall dates to be announced later in the year

Interested volunteer lawyers and accountants should contact TALA at  < info@talarts.org >, and artists and non-profits interested in attending the open house should contact Spacetaker at  < info@spacetaker.org >  in order to make an appointment.

IRS Form 990 Seminar at the United Way:

A two part seminar on the new IRS Form 990 will be presented March 24 and March 26 at the United Way Center for Philanthropy, Leadership and Volunteerism by Jody Blazek and Amanda Adams of Blazek and Vetterling.   The information is as follows:

Tuesday, March 24, 4-7 pm,  Uses of Funds and Compliance Issues, Jody Blazek 
Thursday, March 26, 4-7 pm, Sources of Funds, Compliance, and Public Charity Status Issues, Amanda Adams

United Way Center for Philanthropy, Leadership and Volunteerism
50 Waugh Drive at Feagan (north of Memorial Drive)
$30 per session fee
$50 two part discount

Please download this registration form and return it to the United Way in order to register:

United Way Registration Form

Membership Information: 

TALA needs your support!  Please consider becoming a member, or renewing your membership today.  Follow the link below for Membership Information and the Membership Form.

/// Membership Information ///

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Texas Accountants and Lawyers for the Arts is a 501(c)(3) organization and has been providing pro bono legal and accounting services for artists and non-profits since 1979.

1540 Sul Ross  Houston, Texas 77006   (713) 526-4876    info@talarts.org     http://www.talarts.org

In these uncertain economic times, Texas Accountants and Lawyers for the Arts is grateful for the support of the legal and accounting communities and their ongoing generosity in rendering much-needed professional services to those deserving artists and organizations of limited means, who otherwise would not have access to such services.  Thank you.