IBOAI Blog

Artistry Partners with Miss America Organization

Amway Global is teaming up with one of the nation’s leading achievement programs for young women: Artistry is now partnering with the Miss America organization. Read the exciting news on the IBOAI website, then tell us what you think.

Amway Global Haiti Relief Update

Amway Global matches $85,374.46 in donations for Haiti and asks for more – how can you help? Plus, Amway Global sends 10,000 hygiene kits and flies in medical supplies by Corporate jet. Read the whole story, then let us know what you think.

Tax Tips: How to Be Treated as a Business by the IRS

One more asset in your IBOAI portfolio: “More Tax Tips for IBOs” by Joe DePetris, Jr., Tax Consultant to the IBOAI Board. This month, learn the seven important steps that you must take to show the IRS your business is definitely a business. Read about it on our main website, then tell us what you think.

Our Hearts Go Out to the People of Haiti

Our hearts go out to the millions of citizens and hundreds of IBOs and IBOAI Members of Haiti affected by the recent 7.0 magnitude earthquake. Anyone who has watched the news knows this is a huge calamity, and people from around the world are trying to provide help, including the people and companies from the U.S. and Canada. The crumbled infrastructure has made it difficult to plan material aid. However, those who regularly provide comfort to those devastated by natural disasters like this are saying the one thing everyone can do is donate money that can be used immediately to purchase desperately needed medicine, water, food, and other supplies in Haiti. 

How You Can Help Now

Amway Global has offered to match donations made on its website at www.amwayglobal.com, committing $100,000 to be divided between American Red Cross and SOS Children’s Village. They invite those who want to help ease the suffering of those affected by this disaster to donate $10 to SKU 101900 or $25 to SKU 101901. Update: In Canada, donate $10 to SKU 110698 or $25 to SKU 110699, also a matched donation.

The company issued a press release this morning announcing their support and relief efforts:

“We are fully committed to offering assistance quickly and meaningfully,” said Jim Hunking, Managing Director of Amway operations in the Caribbean.  “Our IBOs and employees have always responded generously in the past, and we look forward to their support again. Our hearts go out to the victims, and we will be there to help Haiti recover from this tragedy and put the country back together.”

Other Ways You Can Help

The American Red Cross is accepting donations from the general public for immediate relief in Haiti. From your cell phone, text the word HAITI to 90999 and a $10 donation will be added to your account. You may also make a donation by calling 1-800-REDCROSS (1-800-257-7575 in Spanish), and you may also donate at www.redcross.org. 

The Canadian Red Cross is accepting donations for Haiti at 1-800-418-1111, by going online, or by visiting any Red Cross office.

Other organizations that are already on the ground in Haiti are also accepting donations. Here are news pages with links of groups with which you may already be familiar.

• Fox News
  
• CNN
  
• CBC

Be careful of solicitations for help. Scam artists are very active in time of great need. Here is an ABC News posting about what to look out for.

When recovery and rescue efforts clear up the infrastructure and companies and individuals begin to provide more material comfort to the people of Haiti, there may be more that we can do.

How to Search for Loved Ones Visiting Haiti

More than 45,000 Americans were thought to be in Haiti when the earthquake hit, many of them difficult to contact because of the crumbled infrastructure. If you are trying to account for the whereabouts of someone visiting Haiti, here are numbers you can call.

• U.S. State Department: 1-888-407-4747
  
• Canadian Dept. of Foreign Affairs and International Trade: 1-800-387-3124
  

New IBOAI Chairman's Message for 2010

Your new Chairman shares his vision for the new year on our main website. See what 2010 IBOAI Chairman Steve Woods says in his Chairman’s Message. Then come back and tell us what you think. 

2010 IBOAI Board Takes Office

Meet your 2010 IBOAI Board, who just took office. Includes new Chairman Steve Woods, Vice Chairman Brad Duncan, the new Executive Committee, plus new members of Awards & Recognition, Business Operations, Legal & Ethics, Hearing & Disputes, and Governance & Oversight Committees, plus the 2010 MAC (Marketing Advisory Committee) and new MAC Chairman Kathy Victor. They’re your voice with Amway Global!

“Amway Global Improv-Ice” to Rebroadcast in January

Coming up in January: Three more opportunities to see “Amway Global Improv-Ice”, a unique televised Christmas Day special featuring many of figure skating’s biggest stars – and Amway Global as presenting sponsor! If you missed the original airing on Christmas Day or if you want to see it again, catch the rebroadcast January 9 on Comcast SportsNet at noon ET; January 18 on Hallmark Channel at 6 p.m. ET; and January 24 on Hallmark Channel at 1 a.m. ET.

See more about "Amway Global Improv-Ice" on our main website.

Yearend Tax Planning

Time to plan for the 2009 tax year that’s ending December 31. Joe DePetris, Jr., CPA, Tax Consultant to the IBOAI Board, shares Tax Tips on deductible expenses, standard mileage rates, and meal per diem rates. Save time by planning ahead -- read the December "Tax Tips for IBOs" on our main website.

Thousands Converged on Orlando to Celebrate Achievers 2009

Achievers 2009 was another exciting event as Amway Global and the IBOAI celebrated with the thousands attending. Read our wrap-up story from the big welcome to the exciting recognition event and everything in between. We cover all the action on our main website -- read all about it and then tell us what you thought.

Think of U.S. Dream Academy When You Think Yearend Charitable Donation

We’re nearing the end of another tax year. If you’re thinking of making another charitable contribution, the U.S. Dream Academy is a cause the IBOAI is proud to support. Learn more on our main website, then share your thoughts.