LEHIGH VALLEY AU PAIR CHILDCARE

IRON PIGS BASEBALL - Lehigh Valley Au Pair - May Meeting

Posted by: hcook | May 18, 2012 | (edit)

      “IRON PIGS BASEBALL”  - The Lehigh Valley Au Pairs will meet on Sunday, May 20, 2012 to attend an “Iron Pigs Baseball” game at Coca-Cola Park in Allentown.   Coca-Cola Park is located in the heart of the Lehigh Valley with an address of 1050 Iron Pigs Way, Allentown, PA, 18109.  The Iron Pigs are a farm team of the World Series Winning (2008) Philadelphia Phillies!  

Au Pairs will have grass seating so bring a blanket or towel on which to sit with other Au Pairs. The weather looks good but warm - bring some sun screen!  Be Prepared to cheer when the “Cultural Care Au Pair” name is put on the large billboard sign for the entire stadium to see that WE are there!!   

Please meet LCC Helen at the front of the EAST GATE (the Main Gate) sidewalk between 12:30 and 12:45 p.m. for TICKETS!!   (Game begins at 1:35 p.m. but I will leave the Gate at 12:45 p.m. - so don’t be late.   Sometimes - Early arriving Au Pairs “might” be eligible for free gifts from the Iron Pigs!   Tickets are $7.00 and you can pay Helen inside the Ball Park (have the correct cash please).   (From the ticket - you will be able to use the ticket at a food/drink stand - and receive $2.00 off your purchase).   Driving Directions and Additional Details under Meeting Schedule or see below.  Car Pooling is recommended as there is a $3.00 per car parking charge.

DIRECTIONS
From U.S. 22 (Heading East): Take U.S. 22 E to Exit for Airport Road South. Keep right on the exit ramp and merge onto Airport Road heading south. Make a right on American Pkwy. Make a left on IronPigs Way and into stadium complex.

From U.S. 22 (Heading West): Take U.S. 22 W to Exit for Airport Road South. Merge right off exit ramp onto Airport Road South. Make a right on American Pkwy. Make a left on IronPigs Way and into stadium complex.

      “IRON PIGS BASEBALL”  — The Lehigh Valley Au Pairs will meet on Sunday, May 20, 2012 to attend an “Iron Pigs Baseball” game at Coca-Cola Park in Allentown.   Coca-Cola Park is located in the heart of the Lehigh Valley with an address of 1050 Iron Pigs Way, Allentown, PA, 18109.  The Iron Pigs are a farm team of the World Series Winning (2008) Philadelphia Phillies!  

Au Pairs will have grass seating so bring a blanket or towel on which to sit with other Au Pairs. The weather looks good but warm — bring some sun screen!  Be Prepared to cheer when the “Cultural Care Au Pair” name is put on the large billboard sign for the entire stadium to see that WE are there!!   

Please meet LCC Helen at the front of the EAST GATE (the Main Gate) sidewalk between 12:30 and 12:45 p.m. for TICKETS!!   (Game begins at 1:35 p.m. but I will leave the Gate at 12:45 p.m. - so don’t be late.   Sometimes - Early arriving Au Pairs “might” be eligible for free gifts from the Iron Pigs!   Tickets are $7.00 and you can pay Helen inside the Ball Park (have the correct cash please).   (From the ticket — you will be able to use the ticket at a food/drink stand — and receive $2.00 off your purchase).   Driving Directions and Additional Details under Meeting Schedule or see below. Car Pooling is recommended as there is a $3.00 per car parking charge.

DIRECTIONS
From U.S. 22 (Heading East): Take U.S. 22 E to Exit for Airport Road South. Keep right on the exit ramp and merge onto Airport Road heading south. Make a right on American Pkwy. Make a left on IronPigs Way and into stadium complex.

From U.S. 22 (Heading West): Take U.S. 22 W to Exit for Airport Road South. Merge right off exit ramp onto Airport Road South. Make a right on American Pkwy. Make a left on IronPigs Way and into stadium complex.

    Have you considered hosting an Au Pair?   NOW is the perfect time to act.   Our special May Discount is for Host Families who apply between Friday, May 4th and Tuesday, May 8th, 2012.   New families who apply during that time will receive a waived application fee ($75 savings) and a $350 program fee discount.  To qualify, Host Families must welcome an Au Pair by October 5th, 2012.

Families who apply this weekend and select their Au Pair by May 31, 2012 will receive an additional $400 program fee discount for a total savings of $825!

Please call me at 610-797-5887 for further details and the special Promotion Code to qualify for this discount.

     LEHIGH VALLEY AU PAIRS and HOST FAMILIES OF CULTURAL CARE AU PAIR will meet at the Mack Southside Fire Station.   We will have a Fire Safety Meeting presented by the Fire Chief of the City of Allentown (or a close associate) and the presentation will feature Fire Safety for Childcare Providers!  You will learn about Fire Safety / Fire Prevention / Use of Fire Extinquishers / What to do in the event of a fire, etc.   Bring your camera .. You will have time to meet with Firemen and have Photos! 

     WHEN:     Sunday, April 15, 2012

     EVENT:    Visit To Local Fire House (Fire / Carbon Monoxide Safety CSEP Meeting)

     TIME:      2:00 P.M. TO 4:00 P.M.   (NOTE TIME:   Do not be late!)

     WHERE:   Allentown Fire Department - Mack Southside Fire Station & Training Academy,  1902 Lehigh Street, Allentown, PA   18103

      BRING:   Cookies or Cakes from your Home Country (if possible)!

AU PAIRS:   Here is the Link for the Fire Safety Quiz — Cultural Care tells me that you will be prompted/told to print your answers once completed — please print and bring to the meeting!

https://culturalcare.wufoo.com/forms/quiz-fire-carbon-monoxide-poisoning-prevention/

DIRECTIONS (Use a GPS or follow these basic directions):

  *Travel Route I-78 (Route 309) (either way on Route I-78 to LEHIGH STREET) to the LEHIGH STREET EXIT.

  *Take LEHIGH STREET Exit towards Allentown

  *Travel towards Allentown to the Second (or Third) Traffic Light (Vultee St.) (This is the Traffic Light after you see Blockbuster Video)

  *You will see the “Mack Southside Fire Station and Training Academy” on the Left.  Parking is behind the Station near the Fire Practice Tower)

 THE LEHIGH VALLEY AU PAIRS will have their March Au Pair Meeting on Sunday, March 25, 2012 from 4:30 p.m. to approximately 7:00 p.m..   We will be doing “Zumba” dancing and also will have a Safety (CSEP) Meeting:  Household Poisoning (see note below re Safety Quiz!).  The meeting will be held at Trinity Memorial Lutheran Church, 535 West Emaus Avenue, Allentown, PA  18103.   Park in main parking lot and come thru the side door and down the steps to the Fellowship Hall!  (Directions to Trinity are at the top of this website under Au Pair Meetings).     The class will be taught by a certified fitnss and personal trainer instructor:   Kari Dougan!   Kari works for the fitness publisher Rodale Press in Emmaus and has been teaching Zumba for many years!   She is experienced, enthusiastic and fun to have around!  

Wondering?  What is Zumba?  Zumba is a Latin-inspired, dance-fitness class that combines Latin, Caribbean and African music.   The Zumba class features aerobic interval training with a combination of fast and slow rhythms that tone and sculpt the body.   NO .. you do not need to be a good dancer to “do Zumba”!  It’s easy and a great workout!

Cost:   Au Pairs ($3.00).   Please bring cash (exact change) with you the day of the event!  Wear sneakers or comfortable workout clothes.  Best to bring a towel as well.   Water and snacks will be provided.   

Our Safety (CSEP) Meeting (Household Poisening) will be held after the Zumba Class.  Please see the link below — you will need to complete the Quiz / print out your answers / bring your answers to the Zumba Au Pair Meeting for discussion.   This Safety Meeting is a requirement of Cultural Care Au Pair.  Please be sure to complete the Quiz and bring your answers/experiences!   Here is the link:

https://culturalcare.wufoo.com/forms/quiz-household-poisoning-prevention/

             Lehigh Valley Au Pairs / Wilkes-Barre-Scranton Au Pairs –  Please be aware that a new law banning texting while driving in Pennsylvania has gone into effect as of Thursday, March 8, 2012.    The law makes it a primary offense to send text messages, emails, or to browse the internet, which means that you can get pulled over for using your phone without violating any other driving laws.

Smartphones can be used for GPS purposes and you are still allowed to make phone calls in the car by Pennsylvania residents - BUT AU PAIRS SHOULD NEVER BE ON THE PHONE AND DRIVING.    Please be sure NEVER TO TEXT, BROWSE THE INTERNET or SEND AN EMAIL while driving in Pennsylvania! 

        Lehigh Valley Au Pairs / Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Au Pairs – Please take note of this Tax Information — Quoted from Cultural Care Inforsource for Host Families and Au Pairs.

While Cultural Care is not able to provide specific tax information for Host Families because their circumstances are so different, we are pleased to provide general guidelines regarding Host Family and Au Pair taxes, as well as information to help Au Pairs complete their tax returns.   Because we update these guidelines on a regular basis, we suggest that you download our most current guide to Host Family and Au Pair taxes Host Family and Au Pair Tax Information.   You can also call our office and request a copy by email.

Please note that Cultural Care is not licensed to provide official tax advice, so none of our staff may counsel Host Families or Au Pairs regarding tax issues.  Since tax laws vary from state to state and are changed on a frequent basis, we advise Host Families and Au Pairs to speak with a local professional tax advisor or directly with the Internal Revenue Service for definitive answers to any specific questions regarding taxation.

Important Au Pair Tax Information

• The IRS considers Au Pairs to be “employees” of the Host Family for tax reasons, even though they are in the United States on a “cultural exchange” visa.  This means that Au Pairs are required to file U.S. individual income tax returns even though many Au Pairs will not owe any taxes
• By April 15, the Au Pair should file form 1040NR-EZ or 1040NR to report his or her Au Pair stipend for the previous calendar year
• In order to file income taxes in the United States, all Au Pairs need to have either a social security number or an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (”ITIM”)
• Au Pairs are allowed to claim a personal exemption for themselves, but are not eligible for the standard deduction in their tax filing.   As stated above, Au Pairs are not considered “students” by the IRS so they are also not eligible to exclude Au Pair wages from gross income under the student article of any U.S. income tax treaty
• Because the maximum tax burden for the vast majority of Au Pairs is less than $1,000, there is usually no need for the Au Pair to make quarterly estimated payments, or to have the Host Family withhold taxes.  There are some exceptions to this rule which are explained in our more detailed guide which is downloadable above.

Important Host Family Tax Information

• Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit: As long as you have used the Au Pair’s child care services in order to work or look for employment, the stipend paid to your Au Pair, the costs of room and board and the program fees paid to Cultural Care are all eligible under the Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit.  Cultural Care’s federal tax ID number is 20-2020345
• Dependent Care Reimbursement Programs: The eligibility requirements for these programs (often called “Flex-Spending Accounts” or “FSAs”) are usually identical to those for the Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit.  Please note that expense paid for using Dependent Care Reimbursement Program funds are not also eligible for the Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit
• Flex-Spending Account Paperwork: Cultural Care is happy to provide Host Families with a summary statement of payments received during a tax year.  We are also able to sign and complete most forms that your plan might require for reimbursement.  Please note, however, that we are only able to provide you either the total amount you paid in a given calendar year, or the amount you paid in a given calendar year with the dates of the applicable full Au Pair term of service (e.g., one year, six months, etc.).  Cultural Care cannot provide documentation explicitly pro-rating payments received to a specified range of dates.  Contact our office if you require any assistance in claiming a Dependent Care reimbursement
• Withholding for Au Pair Taxes: Because the maximum tax burden for the vast majority of Au Pairs is less than $1,000, there is no need for the Au Pair to make quarterly estimated payments.  In addition, because Au Pair wages are deemed by the IRS to be paid for domestic service in a private home, they are not subject to mandatory income tax withholding on Forms 941 and W-2 by the Host Family. Host families usually do not need to pay federal unemployment taxes for their Au Pair or to withhold Social Security and Medicare taxes.  There are some rare cases where this rule might not apply - please refer to our downloadable guide for more details
• Other Potential Host Family Tax and Financial Issues: We strongly recommend that you inquire with a professional insurance advisor about specific state laws and requirements which may include, but not be limited to, workers’ compensation insurance and state unemployment taxes

GREAT NEWS!!  As you may have already heard, Congress extended the payroll tax extension earlier today. We are happy to report that the payroll tax cut passed does not include a provision to impose a FICA tax on J-visa program participants.

We remain grateful for the thousands of au pair program supporters who contacted their representatives in opposition of a proposal which would have introduced this new tax. With over 10,000 letters sent and countless phone calls made to Congressional offices across the country, your efforts undoubtedly had an impact in the final version of this.

Thank you for all you did to help make this campaign as successful as it was.

Sincerely,

The Staff of Cultural Care Au Pair

A proposal currently pending in Congress would, if enacted, impose a new 7.65% FICA tax burden on both Au Pairs and their American Host Families.   We ask you to take two minutes today and send a letter to your Senators and Representative, asking them to oppose the imposition of Social Security and Medicare tax on Au Pairs and their American Host Families.

Please know that we are sending this to all active families as well as families who have previously hosted with our organization in order to express their opposition to this proposal.   All other program sponsors are engaging with their families as well, and we strongly urge you to contact your Host Families to make sure that they click on the link and submit a letter to their representative should they wish to do so as time is of the essence. 

Act now, as this proposal will be voted on as early as next week. Click here to send your letter.

You will need to enter your name, address, and email, as well as to edit the text in the beginning of the letter to explain you are an LCC. After you have done this it will be sent automatically to your Senators and Representative. (You may also edit the text of the letter further if you wish.)

As background on this issue, Congress is currently working to pass an extension of the Payroll Tax Cut, which expires at the end of February. As part of this extension, Congress must find ways to pay for the resulting loss of revenue.

One proposal by the Senate Finance Committee to raise extra revenue would impose FICA (Social Security and Medicare) tax on all J-1 visa holders, including Au Pairs, and on their Host Families. If enacted, this proposal would require that Au Pairs and their Host Families each pay an additional 7.65% FICA tax.

Au pairs and other J-1 visa holders have always been exempt from FICA taxes because they return home after their programs and will never benefit from the Social Security or Medicare that these taxes fund.   Thus, to impose these additional taxes on au pairs and American working families seems both inappropriate and unfair.

The link below will take you to the website of the Alliance for International Educational and Cultural Exchange, an association of many U.S. exchange organizations.   We ask you to write your Senators and Representative, asking them to oppose the imposition of FICA tax on Au Pairs and their American Host Families.

Click here to send your letter now.

Again, using this link will allow you to express your views in a matter of just a few minutes. It is critical that Congress hears from you as soon as possible. Currently this is all of the information we have, and should further updates become available we will keep our program participants updated.

Thank you for your support!

Best,
The Staff of Cultural Care Au Pair

        The Lehigh Valley Au Pairs will be “SNOWTUBING” this weekend as the February Official Au Pair Meeting!   YES, ladies .. there is snow at Blue Moutain and the Ski Area tells me that all the snowtubing lanes are open!  Please be there on time.   Please CAR POOL!    It will be a fun morning — you will be home in time for the Super Bowl — and it won’t be very cold!    Here are the details:  

WHEN:    SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2012

WHAT:    SNOWTUBING (Area has tubes that fit 4 Au Pairs!)

WHERE:   Blue Mountain Ski Resort, 1660 Blue Mountain Drive, Danielsville, PA 18038  (DO NOT GO TO THE MAIN LODGE — Go past the Main Entrance — Go Down Hill to “Valley” area for Snowtubing)   http://www.skibluemt.com/SkiBlue/index.aspx

TIME:      8:00 a.m. (We have morning ticket .. good until 12:30 p.m.)  PLEASE be at the Snowtubing Building no later than 8:00 a.m. — that’s when the tubing starts and I need to purchase the tickets — the quicker you get on the Mountain - the more chances you will have to do snowtubing before the crowds arrive — then you will have to stand in line!

COST:     $22.00 (Bring exact money .. no coins)  (Most of You Have Already Paid)

WHAT TO WEAR:   Normally — I would say “dress warmly” .. it will not be as cold as usual — still definitely bring gloves, wear snow pants if you can borrow them (or wear jeans but bring a changing pair with you)  a hat.   DO NOT WEAR HEEL-TYPE BOOTS!

      Snacks will be provided — Food and Drinks are available at the Snack Bar at the Snowtubing Lodge — BUT very expensive — if you want to bring some small snacks of your own — that might be a good idea.

Directions:

NOTE:  When arriving at Blue Mountain — DO NOT GO TO THE MAIN LODGE — YOU MUST FOLLOW THE SIGNS (Directions Below) TO THE SNOWTUBING AREA (Not The Main Lodge!)

FROM THE LEHIGH VALLEY —  (Approximately 17 miles). Take Route 145 North (MacArthur Road) (Route 145) is the Main North-South Road by the Lehigh Valley Mall) for approximately NINE (9) MILES to the Traffic Light at far end of long bridge.   At this intersection, TURN RIGHT  onto BLUE MOUNTAIN DRIVE and travel approximately THREE (3) MILES to the Traffic Light in Cherryville.   Go straight thru Cherryville for approximately THREE (3) MILES to Danielsville.  Go straight thru Danielsville to Entrance Sign for Blue Mountain Ski sign just past the top of the mountain BUT CONTINUE PAST THE MAIN SIGN DOWN TO BOTTOM OF HILL — You are looking for “Valley” (Snowtubing Area) on the Right.  Park and Meet at the building the looks like a “Bubble/Igloo”.