Elizabeth Eknes brought the MIDOL Chapter (Mercer Island Dames on the Loose) of the RED HAT Ladies out for a visit to the Garden. No little bit of rain was any reason to stop the tour, especially since umbrellas are available in the courtyard for those rare misty days we enjoy. It was hard to say which colors were most beautiful, the flowers, or the Red Hat Ladies. ~
Our poor old tractor saw its last day on Monday, March 2nd. Ian Walker has graciously loaned the funds to purchase a replacement, but we are actively seeking donations with which to repay him. Hopefully, the rest can be raised before the old one gives its last gasp! - All contributions welcome!
MAKE A GIFT DONATION TO THE RSF:
In the current economic climate, we are all more aware of our budgets. This is no less true for the Rhododendron Species Foundation & Botanical Garden. Non-profit organizations are going to feel the biggest impact from loss of corporate, government and individual support. We would like to remind our readers that the recently enacted Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 contains several provisions related to charitable giving. One we are particularly excited about is the extension of the IRA Charitable Rollover provisions, which had expired at the end of 2007. Once again, you have a special planning opportunity if you are age 70, or older, own an IRA, and intend to make charitable gifts in 2008 or 2009.
If you meet these requirements, you can make distributions directly from your IRA to one or more charities withouth the distributions being included in tacable income and subject to withhold. An additional benefit is that the funds transferred from your IRA to a charity count toward your mandatory withdrawal, also known as a required minimum distribution.
Making charitable contributions from an IRA rather than other assets may be especially appropriate if you:
do not itemize deductions
would not be able to deduct all of your charitable contributions because of deduction limitations
may lose some of your itemized deductions because of your income level, or
are required to take distributions but do not need them for living expenses.
100% of any such donation is tax-deductable, sincerely needed, and most deeply appreciated.
Current projects in need of funding include:
The Infrastructure Fund - Our 'Thursday Crew', a group of wonderful, skilled and dedicated volunteers lead by Paul Thompson, look to the Infrastructure Fund (also known as Paul's Projects) to purchase supplies needed for repairs and building - wherever needed at the RSF. Whether installing french drains, building potting benches, repairing gutters, or changing furnace filters, The Thursday Crew does whatever they can, based on the $$$ in this fund.
The Tractor - our old tractor has been repaired about as many times as it can be and we need $21,000.00 for a new one (as mentioned above)
The Endowment - Conservatively invested for the future, it is our goal to one day fully support the RSF from the interest on the Endowment.
Operations - Any donation that is not otherwise directed is attributed to the Operations budget and applied wherever it is most needed at the time.