ASSOCIATION UPDATE

March 3, 2015- ​Save the Date! The Northshore Chapter will host its annual "Serve It Up" beach volleyball tournament Saturday, June 27, 2015 at Digs Volleyball Complex in Covington. 

March 2, 2015- ​In keeping with tradition now entering its eighth year, the Louisiana Seafood Cook-Off will take place at the New Orleans Wine & Food Experience in New Orleans Saturday, May 23, 2015 at 11 a.m. at the New Orleans Morial Convention Center. Ten Louisiana chefs will compete to represent the state in Great American Seafood Cook-Off, which will take place during the Louisiana Foodservice & Hospitality EXPO on Saturday, August 8, 2015. Chefs interested in competing must be an executive chef for a restaurant in Louisiana that is an acclaimed free-standing restaurant. Restaurants associated with a luxury country club, resort or hotel are also eligible. Restaurant must be a member of the LRA. Entry forms will be accepted until Friday, April 10, 2015. For details and the entry form, click here.

February 27, 2015- ​The LRAEF will host its 14th Annual Louisiana Seafoood ProStart Student Invitational, March 3-4, 2015, at the New Orleans Morial Convention Center, Hall J. Nearly $1.2 million in scholarship opportunities will be awarded to students whose teams place in the top three in both the culinary and management competitions. Read more.

February 26, 2015- ​The LRA is partnering with the NFIB and the Louisiana Retailers Association to bring you a lunch panel discussion, "2015 Governor's Race and Small Business: A First Look," Tuesday, March 31, 2015 at Ruffino's Downtown at De La Ronde Hall in Baton Rouge, noon-1:30 p.m. Corporate tables of 10, with name recognition are $500 and individual tickets are $35. The panel will include all the announced candidates for Governor: Public Service Commissioner Scott Angelle, Lt. Gov. Jay Dardenne, State Rep. John Bel Edwards and U.S. Sen. David Vitter. Click here to purchase tickets.

February 25, 2015- ​The Masters Tournament at Augusta is recruiting staff for their upcoming event, April 1-12, 2015. Staffing needs are: 2 area chefs, 2 restaurant chefs, 10 sous chefs, 3 lead cooks and 2 pastry chefs. These positions are paid and Augusta covers airfare, hotel and stipend for meals. Interested individuals should contact Dickie Brennan at db@dbcno.com by 4 p.m., February 27.

February 24, 2015- ​Register now for the NRA Public Affairs Conference, April 14-15 in Washington, D.C. This is the most important week for restaurant operators to have their voices heard in Washington. 

February 23, 2015- ​The LRAEF is pleased to announce that the LRA Cenla Chapter has established the LRA Cenla Chapter Scholarship to provide financial assistance to students in central Louisiana pursuing a career in the culinary and/or hospitality industry. Read more.

February 13, 2015- ​Attention restaurants! Louisiana ATC agents have conducted over 600 alcohol and tobacco compliance checks across the state since Feb. 2. Of those businesses checked, 83 sold alcohol and/or tobacco to underage operatives. Please make sure your employees are following ALL laws this Mardi Gras season and beyond. Read more.​
 
February 12, 2015- ​The LRAEF has named Judy Achary of Lakeshore High School in Mandeville as its 2015 ProStart Educator of the Year. Read more.
 
February 5, 2015- ​The LRAEF is now accepting scholarship applications through April 10, 2015. The LRAEF Scholarship Fund was created in 2009 to support the continuing education of individuals pursuing a career in the culinary and/or hospitality industry. Click here for more information and to apply.

IMPORTANT NEWS

ATTENTION MEMBERS: Click here to view the most recent addendum to the recently published 2014 LRA Membership Directory and Buyer's Guide. The members listed on the document have reported changes to their contact information. If you need to update your information, please notify the LRA Membership Department at (504) 454-2277.

Important reminder: Any foodservice establishment having food and/or beverage sales in Orleans Parish and the New Orleans International Airport and has $200,000 or more in taxable food and/or beverage sales in the preceding year MUST COLLECT the New Orleans Exhibition Hall Authority tax. For sales $200,000 to $499,999, the rate of tax is 0.5 percent and for sales $500,000 or more, the rate of tax is 0.75 percent. Monthly returns must be filed on the 20th day of the month following the month being reported. Click here for more info.

The Obama Administration recently announced that employers with 50-99 employees will receive Affordable Care Act transition relief. These employers have until 2016 to comply with the employer-mandate rule. Read more.

Effective January 1, 2014, the IRS will classify an automatic gratuity as a service charge, not a tip. The IRS regards service charges as regular wages, which must be reported for payroll tax withholding. This rule was issued in June 2012, but implementation has been delayed until now. Read this informative article about what is defined as a tip, what to tell your staff and why you may opt to eliminate automatic gratuities in the future.