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1996-1998
MONTHLY MEETINGS

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Here's all you wanted to know about the Internet

Wednesday, January 17, 1996

What is the internet? How do you use it? How much can you benefit from it?

There are now 30 million internet users in 40 countries. You'll hear why at the SWAN kick-off meeting for 1996, to be held January 17 at the Bergen Museum at 7:30 p.m.

Member Bill Cross, a sysop (you'll find out what that is) for Compuserve, will lead a discussion on various on-line services. He will be joined by Phil Patton, a contributing writer for Wired magazine, who will offer an overview of the internet, including what software you'll need and how to connect.

Are you interested in setting up a Home Page? This may be an area where SWAN writers and designers can exchange services. At the meeting, you'll learn what's involved and how to set one up.

It's a taxing time

Wednesday, February 21, 1996

What new tax legislation on the state and federal level affects free lance people? For example, it may be slightly easier to qualify for a home office deduction. You'll find out about these and other tax developments at the SWAN meeting on February 21 at 7:30 in the Museum.

Alyssa Lebovic will again update entrepreneurs on how to plan for the 1996 tax year and how to file for the 1995 tax year. Bring your questions. You'll get practical answers.

Which are you: employee or free lancer?

Wednesday, March 20, 1996

Do you work under a contract? Do you work on the client's site or at home? Does the client provide you with work materials and tell you your working hours?

These are questions the State of New Jersey will ask in determining if you are an independent free-lancer or a contract employee. The answers will affect employers directly and you indirectly. For one thing, they affect Social Security and unemployment insurance payments due from your employer.

Karen Siletti will lead a discussion on this hot topic in the state's tax division. If you work on contract or on site, or plan to, you should attend this meeting on March 20 at 7:30 in the Bergen Museum.

The dilemma of the sales tax

April 18, 1996

Do you charge your clients a sales tax? Should you? Must you charge if you only provide a service, not a product? What is a service? How do you avoid charging a tax when your client is not an end user? What is an end user?

Would you believe that people in state government do not agree on the answer to these questions? So what is a freelancer to do? Come to the April meeting, 7:30 pm at the Bergen Museum, to discuss this issue. Featured speakers include Joseph Dietz, president of JM Kesslinger Associates and founder of the NJ Advertising, PR and Communication Sales Tax Coalition, and Alan Preis, CPA, an authority on the NJ sales tax. SWAN supports the Coalition. What is it doing for you, and what can you do to protect yourself before getting caught in the maze this issue represents?

How to plan a Web page

May, 1996

"You'll miss out if you're not hooked up soon," warned Enrique (Ricky) Silberg at the May Internet meeting. He is a teacher of website design at Bergen County Technical School.

Being on the Internet is "now a way of life," said Silberg. He urged members to get on the Net by offering a "tickler" of their writing, art, or photography via a home page. However, don't "give away the store," he said, since anything appearing on the Web can be copied. "Photographers should be prepared to lose whatever they put up," Silber said. Despite this, he said, having your work available for others not only to read but to see on the Net, "opens up possibilities."

For writers, he advised putting up part of a story or article, stopping at an interesting point, and leaving their e-mail address for further information. Similarly, for all disciplines, Silberg said that when designing a Web page, don't list clients or fees; instead, have people e-mail you for that information.

Those interested in designing their own home page, need to be versed in HTML (hyper text mark-up language) which tells the computer how to color and design graphics. Silberg noted that Bergen Country Technical School offers classes on learning HTML. Once you design a Web page, the webmaster will, for a fee, put it on the Internet. There are also up-keep charges for periodic changes and additions.

Pricing Game

June 19, 1996
Back by popular demand! The most popular program of the year!

Do you know what fee to charge when you are asked to bid on a job? This is the meeting that helps you set your prices. Each member may submit two projects, along with its purpose, its deadline, its complexity, the hours and travel required, and the fee received.

When you attend the June 19 meeting at 7:30 pm at the Bergen Museum, you guess the fee received for each project, and are later told the actual fee paid. This enable you to evaluate your own rates.

Member Speakers:
Patricia Gandolfini, Susan Brierly-Wills, Deb Hoeffner,
Bruce Riccitelli, Wally Littman

Read the
Press Release

All but the December meeting will be held at the Bergen Museum, Paramus, at 7:30 pm. Note that in 1997, some meetings will be held on Thursdays.

New business is the key to a growing business. But how do you do it-how do you get that first foot in the door?

Each discipline will conduct its own roundtable discussion. Led by a successful entrepreneur, members and guests will explore how to approach that hot prospect. What gets you the first interview? What turns prospective clients off? Sharing ideas is what SWAN is all about, so bring your own innovative approaches and network with others in your own discipline. Whether you're entering the field or expanding your business, this program is for you. 

Tuesday December 17, 1996
The holiday party

The season of good cheer in upon us again. This is a fun-filled evening highlighted by music and chatter. Bring a covered dish to share and a book to exchange. 

The meeting place is Flat Rock Brook Nature Center in Englewood, just off Route 4. Time: 7:30 pm.

Thursday January 16, 1997
Tax tips and traps

Should you lease or buy? Should a family member become an employee? When are you an employee and when a self-employed contractor?

This is our most 'taxing' meeting each year, but the audience learns about new tax changes and how entrepreneurs can use the law to their advantage. The speaker is CPA Alyssa Lebovic.

Thursday February 20, 1997
How to market on the Internet

Most members should have their page up on the SWAN website by this winter. Now, learn how to use your page to market your services.

Thursday, May 22, 1997 - Build your network

Need to develop your networking skills? Join Susan Schear on May 22 at the Bergen Museum at 7:30 p.m., as she discusses how to develop relationships with those who hire creative people. Topics include: business cards, developing selling relationships, and how to feel comfortable networking in a room of people. Schear is president of Artisan, which offers business development services for fine arts and crafts.She recently discussed these skills on CNBC, the cable network.

Wednesday, June 25, 1997 - The Pricing Game

Are you charging enough for your work? It's time for The Pricing Game—the most popular SWAN event of the year. Come to the June 25 meeting at the Bergen Museum at 7:30 pm. and discuss about 50 work samples submitted by members. You'll be told the size of the job, the time it required, and its use. You guess the fee that was paid, and then are told the actual fee.

This year, there will also be a brief discussion of how this fee fits into the fee structure SWAN members expect to receive for their professional services.

Sunday, July 20, 1997 - Picnic

Save Sunday, July 20th for SWAN's annual picnic for members and their families. It will be held at Van Saun Park, Paramus, from 1 to 5.

Speaker:
Jill Vitiello of Vitiello Associates

SWAN HOSTS MOTIVATIONAL MEETING

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Press Release

October 1997

Member Speakers:
Phil Cantor and Bill Cross

SWAN Sets FreelanceFest ‘97
for October 22

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Press Release

November 1997

Member Speakers:
Bruce Riccitelli and Deb Kovacs

SWAN Highlights Business Practice Standards
"Profit from the Experience"

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Press Release

 '97-'98 season are confirmed at the Bergen Museum of Science and Art. Topics TBA.

• Wed., Oct 22
• Thu., Nov 20
• Sun., Dec 14
• Thu., Jan 22
• Wed., Feb 18
• Thu., Mar 19
• Wed., Apr 22
• Thu., May 21
• Wed., Jun 29

Thursday, Nov. 20

"When Things go WRONG"

Join Standards & Practices Committee Chairman Bruce Riccitelli in a discussion about fair & ethical business prac-tices, and how SWAN can help resolve disputes that may result when they are breached. Typical complaints and their resolution from the S&P committee archives will be highlighted.

Attendees are invited to describe their own situations.

Dec 14 HOLIDAY PARTY

Join your friends and associates for an evening of fun, food and good cheer on Sunday, December 14th at The Brownstone 351 West Broadway in Paterson, NJ. The party will be held on the 2nd floor from 6:30-10:30pm. There will be a buffet including pasta, chicken, salad and soft drinks. A cash bar will be available throughout the evening.

Turning Contacts into Contracts

February 1998

Speaker:
Tom Barkalow and David Pollack of
O’Brien Financial Services
and CPA Earl Coppock of Totowa

Taxing Questions To Be Answered
At SWAN February 18 Seminar
"Tax Laws/Retirement Planning"

Read the
Press Release

March 1998

SWAN Showcases Creative Works
at March 19 Networking Event

Read the
Press Release
 

"The Creative Café"

Diane M. Eade, President of Advanced Leadership Group, will lead a workshop to help you define and develop goals, communicate with clients, and get and keep yourself motivated.

Come see your fellow members’ work, and try to guess how much they earned for it. An eye-opening event not to be missed.