The Delaware Restaurant Association cordially invites you to

DRA/PAC Fundraiser

Please click the following link to view the invitation PAC Fundraiser Invitation 2010

Summer 2010 Newsletter

There are only two-weeks left of the legislative session and I want to share with you some updates on important legislation that we are following on your behalf. It is more important now to continue to read these updates and potential alerts. Bills can slide through quickly when legislators get down to the wire in an attempt to pass their agenda items. It may be vital to make calls swiftly if necessary and we will do our best to get you the most up-to-date information, talking points and phone numbers if needed.

DRAM SHOP (PETERSON) SB 243
Dram shop legislation is very much alive and awaits a hearing in the Senate Judiciary Committee. DRA members were active last month when the bill was scheduled and we were successful through our calls at keeping it off of the agenda. It could be brought up at any time between now and June 30th.

SOCIAL HOST/DRAM SHOP UNDER 21 (BARBIERI) HB 428
After two committee hearings and many phone calls by DRA members, HB 428 has been tabled but continues to remain active. DRA has raised many questions and continues to fight any liability language that would implicate restaurant owners or employees. The intent of the bill is to hold adults liable for selling, purchasing or providing alcohol to underage minors.
This bill remains in the danger zone as Representative Barbieri continues to work on language acceptable for committee passage.

There are many other bills that the DRA is monitoring at this time. We will re-cap the entire legislative session after the June 30th deadline.
Thank you again for your persistence. I have been told that legislators continue to hear from our members who have been passionate and articulate in debate! It really does matter! We will continue to keep watch and work on the industry’s behalf.

Respectfully,
Carrie Leishman, President/CEO
UPCOMING WEBINARS

The National Restaurant Association’s Membership department is hosting a number of webinars in June. Please see below for webinar details. Please remember that in order to register for these webinars you will need your member number.

1) Secure Mid-Term Rent Reductions

Take advantage of millions of dollars in rent concessions, deferrals and abatements from commercial landlords. Find out how in a members-only webinar with tips from Dale Willerton, TheLeaseCoach.com. Get tips on how to approach your landlord for a mid-term rent reduction, and learn which strategies work and which don’t. Learn the difference between rent deferral and abatement and which is better for you. Discover the kinds of questions your landlord will ask and the financial information you’ll need to present. Plus, find out how to get rent arrears forgiven.

Wednesday, June 23rd

2:00pm - 3:00pm EST

Register Here!

2) Health Care Reform and You

Learn how the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act will affect your business and the restaurant industry. Discover the implications for companies of your size and what you can do to prepare. Join representatives from the National Restaurant Association and United Health Care for this members-only webinar to learn more about this evolving new law.

Thursday, June 24th

2:00pm - 3:00pm EST

Register Here!

Wednesday, July 14th

2:00pm - 3:00pm EST

Register Here!

 http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#!/album.php?aid=176539&id=117735599167&ref=mf

SAVE THE DATE

The Delaware Restaurant Association invites you to play in our

1st Annual DRA Beer, Bocce & BBQ

Date: Monday May 24^th, 2010

Time: 4pm to 8pm

Where: Dogfish Head Craft Brewery

# 6 Cannery Village Center
Milton, DE 19968                                                          

DETAILS

$200 per team (4 people per team): Includes tourney entry, food and beer.

Registration due by May 15^th

Championship Bocce Cup awarded to the winning team to proudly display!

Themes Team Costumes (HIGHLY ENCOURAGED): Prizes awarded for the best costumes

$15 Spectator Tickets: Includes beer, food and good times

ALL PROCEEDS FROM THE EVENT BENEFITS THE DRA/PAC

For more information, contact Carrie Leishman

(302)738-2545 or (302) DRA 2545 or carrie@delawarerestaurant.org

Beer & Bocce Flyer

SAVE THE DATE

The Delaware Restaurant Association invites you to play in our

4^th Annual DRA Golf Outing

Date: Monday May 10^th, 2010

Time: 12:00 pm – Registration

            1:00pm – Shotgun Start

Where: Deerfield Country Club

507 Thompson Station Rd
Newark, DE 19711                                                                                                 302.368.6640     www.deerfieldgolfclub.com

LUNCH ON THE COURSE!

Dinner & Awards:

Immediately following at Deerfield

Single Golfers and Foursomes Welcome!

SPONSORSHIPS AVAILABLE

__ $3,000 TITLE SPONSOR (Includes 1 Foursome)

__ $1,500 AFTER PARTY SPONSOR (Includes 1 Foursome)

__ $1,500 AWARDS SPONSOR (Includes 1 Foursome)

__ $200 INDIVIDUAL HOLE SPONSOR

For more information, contact Carrie Leishman by Friday, April 30^th 2010

(302)738-2545 or (302) DRA 2545 or carrie@delawarerestaurant.org

Golf Tournament Invitation

The Hospitality Industry of Delaware

Cordially Invites You to Attend

The 8th Annual

TASTE OF DELAWARE

A Unique Reception

Honoring the Delaware General Assembly

Wednesday, April 28^th, 2010

5:30 pm until 7:30 pm

At

The Sheraton Dover Hotel

Atrium

1570 North DuPont Highway, Dover

Sponsored By

Delaware Restaurant Association

Delaware Hotel & Lodging Association

Delaware Tourism Alliance

Fine Food & Drink Provided By

McGlynn’s Pub Dover, Christiana Hilton, Doubletree Hotel, Harry’s Savoy/Seafood Grill,

Michelle’s at Dover Downs, Pizza by Elizabeths, Sheraton Dover Hotel, Mexican Post, Courtyard Marriott, United Distributors of Delaware, Dogfish Head Brewery,

 …and more!

Complimentary to Legislators

Hospitality Industry Members

45.00

RSVP

Carrie Leishman

Delaware Restaurant Association

302.738.2545

Email carrie@delawarerestaurant.org

Menu Labeling Passes Senate
SB81 Heads to House

A bill to require restaurants with 20 or more locations (at least one location in Delaware) to post calories on their menu’s and menu boards has cleared the Senate with a 15-5 vote. The bill’s sponsor, Senator Dave Sokola (D-Newark) calls the bill a “consumer awareness” measure aimed at fighting the obesity epidemic. (SB81 Amendment 5)
SB81 could affect chain restaurants as well as convenience stores, ice cream shops, deli’s, bakeries, fast food outlets and any establishment trading under the same name in Delaware or nationally with 20 or more locations.

The Delaware Restaurant Association (DRA) opposes this legislation. “This will affect our local businesses such as Grotto Pizza, Capriotti’s and Bruster’s Ice Cream,” said Carrie Leishman, DRA President/CEO. “Menu labeling laws are best handled on a federal level,” she stated. (DRA POSITION)

The DRA supports federal legislation sponsored by Senator Tom Carper which advocates for a national standard in menu labeling. The Labeling Education and Nutrition Act has since been rolled successfully into the federal health bill and has support from both the House and Senate.

The bill now heads to the House Economic Development, Banking and Insurance Commerce Committee. It could be considered in March. DRA members are urged to contact their House Member to oppose a state mandated menu labeling bill.

House Economic Development Committee:

Byron Short (Chairman)            475-2252
DE Williams (Vice Chairman)     373-0115
E Bradford Bennett                   697-8110
Gerald L. Brady                         655-1373
Gerald W. Hocker                     539-4140
Deborah Hudson                      651-9571
Helene M. Keeley                     655-7071
Gregory F. Lavelle                    478-6128
Michael Ramone                       737-7529
John J. Viola                             832-2209

ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND PROFITABILITY

Alan Levin, Secretary, Delaware Economic Development Office
Addresses Members of Delaware Restaurant Association at Annual Membership Luncheon
Highlighting the importance of helping small business to the state of Delaware, DEDO Director, Alan Levin spoke to a group of DRA members promoting Governor Jack Markell’s LIFT Program—a $5 million dollar loan subsidy for small businesses. Businesses who apply and receive LIFT subsidy will repay the money to the state after two years, with the individual business owners themselves giving personal guarantees as part of the program.
“Small businesses need to be an engine driving our economic recovery, “Levin said. To qualify for LIFT, a small business must be in operation for at least three years and can have as many as 50 employees. Participating banks agree to defer principal payments during the two years the state is subsidizing the interest. For more information on LIFT go to dedo.delaware.gov/pdfs/business/Business_LIFT_program.pdf

The Delaware Restaurant Association, National Restaurant Association and Heartland Payment System Align to Deliver Best-In-Class Business Services to Restaurateurs

New Partnership Delivers First-Ever Unified Payments Processing Platform to Restaurants

The National Restaurant Association, Delaware Restaurant Association and Heartland Payment Systems®, one of the nation’s largest payments processors, are forming a strategic partnership that will deliver the first-ever unified payments processing platform to the restaurant industry. This alliance will provide restaurateurs nationwide with effective tools, solutions and resources that will help them reduce their expenses, improve operations and increase profitability - all from one source with integrated technology product platforms.

The partnership’s “Full Course Business SolutionsSM” offering is initially launching with an exclusively endorsed suite of payments products - including card processing, payroll, check management and tip reporting and compliance services.
For more information contact the DRA at 302-738-2545.
http://www.restaurant.org/pressroom/pressrelease/?ID=1880

Jobs and Careers

Delaware Restaurant Association Speaker’s Bureau
DRA President to address Culinary Graduates

Carrie Leishman, DRA President/CEO will address the Delaware Food Bank’s Culinary School Graduates on February 14th at the Food Bank Headquarters in Newark. The Culinary School at the Food Bank of Delaware provides valuable job training to unemployed and underemployed individuals. The 12-week program includes 10 weeks of hands-on training in basic and high-end kitchen skills, safe food handling and life skills. The 10-week training culminates with a two-week paid internship at a food serve company, restaurant or catering company.
The school is a certified trade school by the Delaware Department of Education. The mission of the Culinary School is two-fold. First students are taught skills that are highly desirable to employers in the food industry and second, these newly developed skills have the potential to lead to jobs in the industry that provide job security and economic sustainability. Under the direction of the Food Bank’s Executive Chef, Noah Mathay, and Production Manager and Chef Instructor, Nick Durbin, students are introduced to a commercial kitchen; learn culinary mathematics, basic cooking techniques, presentation and baking skills, knife handling basics, ServSafe® food safety skills and more.
For more information go to www.fbd.org/
Sustainability and Social Responsibility

Visit Restaurants for Relief-Haiti
See what the restaurant industry is doing for Haiti through the National Restaurant Association and Share our Strength. www.strength.org/get_involved/restaurants_for_relief/

Now, Claim a Deduction for Last Year

Americans have been given a special tax break for donations to help earthquake victims in Haiti, thanks to a new law signed by President Obama.

Leaders of the House Ways and Means Committee from both parties introduced a bill Tuesday that makes contributions made between January 12 and February 28 count toward an individual’s or family’s 2009 taxes. Normally, contributions are deductible for the year in which they are actually made. So without the special exception, you wouldn’t be able to claim deductions for this year’s charitable gift until you filed your 2010 tax return in 2011. The new law also allows taxpayers who donate via text messages to use phone bills as proof of a donation. Taxpayers can claim the deduction in either 2009 or 2010, but not both.

It is important to note that only monetary gifts made specifically to qualified organizations for Haiti earthquake relief are eligible for the accelerated tax break.Contributions to domestic charities that provide assistance to individuals in foreign lands, such as Haiti, can qualify as tax-deductible contributions for federal tax purposes — if the U.S. organization has control and discretion over the use of the funds.Domestic organizations are defined as those created under the laws of the United States or its possessions. Religious groups are also qualified charitable organizations. Direct contributions to foreign organizations are generally not tax-deductible, unless they are permitted by a tax treaty.

Keep in mind that charitable deductions, which reduce the amount of income subject to taxes, can only be claimed by those who itemize, rather than take the standard deduction.

Keep Records to Prove a Donation.
The IRS requires that you have a bank record or written acknowledgement from the charity before filing your return.

Where to Give:
There are numerous qualified charities collecting for Haiti victims. In a fund-raising appeal made last week, President Obama recommended Americans give to the fund created by former Presidents George Bush and Bill Clinton.

Stay away from unsolicited Haiti appeals. Contact reliable charities directly to avoid being caught in a scam. The FBI warns Internet users to “apply a critical eye” if they receive messages to donate money to help Haiti victims. “Past tragedies and natural disasters have prompted individuals with crimnal intent to solicit contributions purportedly for a charitable organization and/or a good cause,” the FBI stated. Don’t click on links, attachments or pictures in unsolicited messages because they many contain viruses.

For more information see IRS Publication 526, Charitable Contributions and Publication 3833 , Disaster Relief: Providing Assistance through Charitable Organizations. To determine if an organization is a qualified charity visit IRS.gov, keyword “Search for Charities”. Note that some organizations, such as churches or governments, may be qualified even though they are not listed on IRS.gov.

Consult with your Tax Advisor to review the details of this legislation.

CIRCULAR 230 DISCLOSURE

  ”To ensure compliance with requirements imposed by the IRS, we are required to inform you that any U.S. federal tax advice contained in this communication (including attachments) is not intended or written to be used, and cannot be used, for the purpose of 1) avoiding penalties under the Internal Revenue Code or 2) promoting, marketing, or recommending to another party any transaction or matter addressed herein.”

“The information contained in this message may be privileged and confidential and protected from disclosure. If the reader of this messages is not the intended recipient, or an employee or agent responsible for delivering this message to the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any dissemination, distribution or copying of this communication is strictly prohibited. If you have received this communication in error, please notify us immediately by replying to this message and deleting it from your computer.”

Conserve: Solutions for Sustainability

The National Restaurant Association’s Conserve initiative is designed to inspire actions that improve a company’s bottom line, but also are good for people and the planet. Conserve explores conservation efforts being adopted by restaurants around the nation and offers suggestions and resources to help you reduce the cost of running your operation — both to your bottom line and the environment. Learn more.

Position Statement

Statewide Menu Labeling Legislation (SB81)

OPPOSE

As an industry, we support disclosing nutrition information at chain restaurants.  Our customers ask for it and we want to provide it.  In fact, many chain restaurants already provide this information to their customers through product packaging, posters, kiosks and other formats available at the point of sale. 

The Delaware Restaurant opposes SB81, or a statewide menu labeling bill. As written, the bill would require small local restaurant groups (10 locations) such as Grotto Pizza, Brew Ha Ha and Capriotti’s  to incur costly changes to their menus and menu boards while leaving them vulnerable to litigation if staff does not adhere to strict recipes. The state would bear the financial costs of policing restaurants and testing menus.

While it seems politically popular by some, local menu labeling laws do not make sense.   They contribute to a growing patchwork of inconsistent regulations that confuse both restaurateurs and their customers.  We believe that nutrition disclosure laws are best handled at the federal level to insure a uniform, nationwide standard for chain restaurants that operate in multiple jurisdictions. We strongly support “The Lean Act,” Senator Tom Carper’s national nutritional disclosure bill that currently has support and is moving through Congress as part of healthcare reform legislation.  Menu labeling language has been included in both the recently passed House and Senate versions of legislation.

The federal legislation reflects a negotiated compromise between representatives from both sides of the debate.  The National Restaurant Association (NRA) and the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) worked hard to reach a compromise that, if passed, would require restaurant chains with 20 or more locations nationwide (regardless of ownership) to display total calories next to each item on a menu board or printed menu.  Additional nutrition information must be made available to customers upon request.  Grocery stores, convenience stores, movie theaters, vending machine operators and other chain foodservice providers would also be required to comply.  The federal legislation also allows appropriate time for drafting enforcement regulations and soliciting public/industry comment before all provisions of the legislation take full effect.

The Delaware Restaurant Association strongly supports this compromise because it will allow chain restaurants to provide nutrition information to customers while ensuring nationwide uniformity, liability protection and flexibility in how nutrition information is provided.  It also protects small businesses with fewer than 20 locations by allowing them to voluntarily comply with federal menu labeling rules which means that they cannot be forced to comply with inconsistent state and local regulations. 

For your information, a summary of the federal menu labeling compromise is attached. Please click the following link:

Proposed Federal Menu Labeling Law

NRA Chef’s Survey- What’s HOT in 2010

PART-TIME WORKERS
The restaurant industry is comprised of a high proportion of part-time workers, with only 43% of restaurant employees working more than 30 hours per week. Nearly one-half of the industry’s workforce is under the age of 25. It is also a very seasonal business, with one quarter of all restaurants not open year round and others that are open year round are subject to wide variations in their average employment levels.

• It is critical restaurateurs be allowed to set the criteria for offering health benefits to part-time workers which is why we support a part-time worker exemption.
• Part-time employees are an essential component of the restaurant industry. Many of our employees work for multiple employers, or receive coverage under another’s health plan.

SMALL BUSINESS EXEMPTION

The restaurant industry is dominated by small businesses, with more than 9 out of 10 restaurants having fewer than 50 employees. Further these small businesses operate on average profit margin of less than 4 percent.

• It is critical that any reform have a robust small business exemption.
• The restaurant industry is comprised mainly of small businesses with seven out of 10 eating and drinking place establishments part of a single-unit restaurant business. In the current economic environment, total industry sales have been down considerably over the last two years

90 DAY WAITING PERIOD FOR NEW HIRESThe restaurant industry has a high average turnover rate. Seventy-five percent of the employees in the restaurant industry leave their jobs annually, which is much higher than the overall private sector that typically sees 49
percent of employees leave their jobs annually

• We need a 90-day waiting period for new hires to provide our committed full-time employees the highest quality benefits at the most affordable price.
• A 90-day waiting period before being required to provide coverage could have a significant impact on
  lowering costs of health care provided to new and existing employees. The waiting period would mitigate the resources spent to cover employees who have no intention of staying with the company for an extended period of time.

MODIFY THE FULL-TIME EMPLOYEE DEFINITION

Nonsupervisory employees in the restaurant industry worked an average of 24.3 hours per week in 2008, well
below the average hours of counterpart employees in the retail, goods-producing and private non-agricultural
sectors.

• The definition of full-time employee should be modified to 390 hours per calendar quarter (13 weeks) instead of the current 30 hours per week on average.
• The modified definition takes into account the fluctuations in hours an employee works, which can be
  common in the industry.

PRESERVE ERISA PROTECTIONS

• The restaurant industry is a strong proponent of that allows some of our larger restaurant companies the regulatory framework to offer a uniform health benefits package across state lines.
• By preserving the framework, employers maintain the ability to offer competitive and more affordable coverage in part through the financial and administrative savings permitted by this uniform national
  standard.
• Also, allows employers the flexibility to tailor benefits to fit the needs of their workforce.
  With a workforce of 13 million and over 945,000 eating and drinking establishments nationwide, we are a
  powerful lobby group and we need your help to spread the word about our principles and our asks in the health care debate.

HOW YOU CAN HELP!
1. Email Your Senator: If you have not already done so, visit www.RestaurantHealthCareReformInfo.com to send an email to your personal elected officials. You can also read up on the industry’s economic facts and learn more about our 5 key industry provisions.
2. Call Your Senator: Your Senator is Senator Tom Carper (302) 573-6291 or (202) 224-2441
3. Schedule In-District Meetings with Your Senator’s Office

Senate Bill NRA Summary Analysis

Industry Provisions

Sample Letter

Discover tried-and-true e-mail marketing campaigns that offer value to your guests and keep them coming back.

When: November 4, 2009, 4 p.m. EDT

Presenters:

§ Jay Lerdal, manager, market solutions, NRA Solutions, LLC

§ Scott Shaw, founder and CEO, Fishbowl

Registration: Register here!

**Please be sure to choose the correct time zone.

Monday, November 16th 6-9pm

Dover Downs Hotel and Conference Center

Go to (link) for more information.  RSVP deadline is November 11th. 
Cornerstone Invitation-Side 1

Cornerstone Invitation-Side 2

RSVP to the event using the following form:  Cornerstone RSVP Form

CC:         State Restaurant Association Executives

From:      Dawn Sweeney

Date:       October 21, 2009

Subject:  Greater Access to Credit for Small Businesses

The White House announced measures today to help banks provide credit to small businesses. The plan is intended to help small businesses recover from the recession. The Obama Administration says the measures will make it easier for small businesses to access credit and create jobs.

The White House plan calls for lower-cost capital for community banks and increased limits for certain Small Business Administration-backed loans. Also included are plans to convene a conference of regulators, lenders, Congress and small businesses to discuss more ways to help small businesses access credit. The National Restaurant Association will ensure the meeting includes restaurant industry representatives who can explain the industry’s unique lending needs and risks.

The Association is working closely with the Obama Administration and the International Franchise Association to expand the flow of capital to small businesses. More than 98 percent of restaurant companies fall under the SBA’s definition of a small business. We continue to believe that expanding access to capital will help restaurant operators meet their day-to-day payroll needs and preserve thousands of jobs.

Please visit our Web site for more details or contact David Koenig for additional information.

For more information, visit www.restaurant.org or call (202) 331-5900
National Restaurant Association, 1200 17th Street, Washington, DC 20036

Celebrating restaurants as the cornerstone of the community–The Delaware Restaurant Association invites you to reserve tickets today for the 8th Annual Cornerstone Awards which will be held on Monday evening, November 16th from 6-9pm at Dover Downs Hotel and Conference Center in Dover.

This year’s celebration will honor Carl Georigi from Eclipse Bistro/Capers and Lemons as the DRA Restaurateur of the Year as well as Delaware Today Magazine as the Allied Member of the Year. The Association will also present the prestigious Cornerstone Award to The Starboard.

More than 300 industry members will attend this year’s awards which will benefit the Delaware Restaurant Association’s scholarship program. Each year a student from the University of Delaware’s HRIM program will recieve a scholarship award.

Tickets for the event are $65 each. Dover Downs is offering a special room rate of $79 for Monday evening. You MUST mention the Group Code: GDRA09 and, be attending the Cornerstone Awards in order to receive the discounted rate.

Please call the DRA to reserve at 302-738-2545 or download a reservation form.

Download and RSVP for Cornerstone Awards

“We are very excited to host the Small Business Caucus meeting in a restaurant”, said Carrie Leishman, DRA President/CEO.  “Restaurants are the largest small business employer in the state, and our members want to be engaged on all small-business related issues in Dover.”

Members are invited to attend this meeting free of charge.

Please contact the DRA at 302-738-2545 for a reservation.

“It is vital that our elected officials understand the importance of the restaurant community in Delaware.  This is a unique opportunity to see many of them at one time,” said Leishman. 

To download this free report, “The Safe Path to Success,” go to  www.ServSafe.com/safereport .

http://www.nrn.com/article.aspx?id=374230

October 1, 2009

Contact:  Carrie Leishman, President 302-738-2545

(Newark, DE)  Underscoring the importance of restaurants and its partners as the cornerstone of our communities, of our economy and of rewarding career opportunities, the Delaware Restaurant Association (DRA) has named Delaware Today Magazine Allied Member of the Year for 2009.

This prestigious award honors the industry supplier company that provides service and/or quality products as well as goes above and beyond to serve the restaurant industry.  The nominee is active in local, state and civic affairs and is a member of the Delaware Restaurant Association.

Delaware Today Magazine has been celebrating life in the First State for 47 years, offering resourceful readers insights on dining, shopping, events and information on what makes Delaware a special place to live, work, and play. With reviews, listings, articles, and other restaurant information, the magazine, Delawaretoday.com, and the weekly e-newsletter “First Things First” have become the dining authority for the region. As a monthly lifestyle publication with 122,000 readers, it is based principally on paid subscription and newsstand circulation.  “Delaware Today is proud of its relationship with Delaware’s restaurants in particular and the state’s hospitality community,” said Charlie Tomlinson, Associate Publisher.  “We are honored at being chosen Allied Member of the Year.”

Delaware Today will be presented with its award on November 16^th at the Delaware Restaurant Association’s Annual Cornerstone Awards held at Dover Downs.

The Delaware Restaurant Association is the state trade association dedicated to promoting, protecting and improving Delaware’s foodservice industry.  Delaware’s 1900 restaurants employ more than 40,000 people and have sales exceeding $1.3 billion annually.