ASSOCIATION UPDATE

February 28, 2014- Registration for the 61st Annual Louisiana Foodservice & Hospitality EXPO is NOW OPEN! Attendees click here. Exhibitors click here. Early bird registration is $15 per person until May 1, 2014. Price then increases to $25. Onsite, admission is $40.

February 27, 2014- The LRA office will be closed Monday-Tuesday, March 3-4, 2014 in observance of Mardi Gras. Have a safe and happy Carnival!

February 26, 2014- The LRAEF is now accepting applicants for its 2014 LRAEF Scholarship. Interested students should complete this application and mail no later than Friday, April 25, 2014. For more info about the LRAEF Scholarship Program, click here.

February 20, 2014- With Mardi Gras parades in full swing beginning this weekend, the Louisiana Alcohol & Tobacco Control wants to remind restaurants and bars about obeying local alcohol laws. ATC agents will be out enforcing these rules and regulations. Read more.

February 19, 2014- The 2014 Legislative Session is quickly approaching; March 10 is the first day. Read a letter from LRA President & CEO Stan Harris to LRA members about what to expect and how the LRA Advocacy team will be on the ground in Baton Rouge, every step of the way.

February 12, 2014- 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.

January 15, 2014- The 2014 NRA Public Affairs Conference is April 29-30 and registration is NOW OPEN. To register for the conference and view a list of hotels nearby, click here.

January 10, 2014- The LRA SIF has released its 2014 Safety Seminar Schedule. This year's topic is Chemical Hazards in the Workplace: Understanding Changes to OSHA's Hazard Communication Program.

January 2, 2014- 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.