Masonry Magazine January 1976 Page. 44
Expand '76 Promotion Programs
(Continued from page 18)
The program will begin at noon of Sunday, June 20th and a reception that evening. Daily meetings will be held Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Wives are encouraged to attend the first general session on Monday, a ladies' tea will follow, and a ladies and children's event planned on Tuesday. Afternoons have been left open for family golfing, shopping and sightseeing. Persons interested in attending should contact IMI now at 823 Fifteenth St., N.W., Washington, DC 20005. Telephone: (202) 783-3908.
IMI's newest publication is titled Mason Contractor and is now in distribution. Its purpose is to interpret the increasingly important, professional role being played by mason contractors in the construction industry. For a free, single copy, send a stamped, self-addressed envelope and request to IMI. Multiple copies, in reasonable numbers, will be provided without charge to groups contributing to IMI. Per copy charge, including parcel post for non-contributors: 15¢ each.
IMI's color, network-quality television commercials in 30-Sec. and 60-Sec. lengths, are now available for use by promotion groups and others who buy local TV time. They are available with or without the IMI closing logo. (Non-contributors may purchase the version without the logo.) In either case, the prices are: 60-Sec. for $8; and 30-Sec. for $4, including postage, through IMI.
Many other IMI promotion activities are budgeted and scheduled for completion in 1976. In addition, several proposed projects were discussed. These, however, will not be possible unless additional funds are received from new agreements of MCA Chapters and mason contractors with BAC Locals not yet funding IMI. Several areas, such as Chattanooga, TN., West Palm Beach, FL., Corpus Christi, TX., have negotiated more than the 1¢ an hour fund base for IMI according to Chairman Soloff, and such increases are helping, and will increasingly help, in IMI's growing, aggressive, promotion efforts on behalf of the masonry industry.
New Federal Rules to Solve Credit-Bill-ing Disputes
NEW FEDERAL RULES TO SOLVE CREDIT-BILL-ING DISPUTES have taken effect. A creditor must now acknowledge a customer inquiry and move to work it out. During a 90-day period, the customer doesn't have to pay the contested bill, but a creditor can't close the customer's account or file an adverse report. A creditor would forfeit any disputed bill for failure to follow the rules.
Merchants may give customers a discount of up to 5% for paying in cash. Previously, some credit-card companies barred merchants from offering discounts to cash-payers.
Creditors must notify customers of their rights under the new rules. Notification must be included in the first monthly statements mailed to customers after October 28.
Higher Unemployment Compensation Taxes
HIGHER UNEMPLOYMENT COMPENSATION TAXES WILL BE HITTING many employers because a growing number of the states are exhausting jobless-benefit funds, requiring them to borrow significant amounts from the Federal government. Some 10 states have already borrowed around $1 billion through the summer. And Pennsylvania will likely be seeking a very sizable Federal loan soon. Heavier borrowings loom as the claims-payment trend goes higher seasonally.