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Renew Your AOCA Membership Today
2016 has been a busy year for AOCA, and we're working on a number of new programs and resources to be launched in 2017. Our goal is to not only be your industry voice, but to help you run your business more efficiently and save on operational costs.

Our growth and success as an organization is dependent upon your support. Renew today and make sure you have uninterrupted access to AOCA member benefits

Check your inbox for your renewal link.

If you have questions or did not receive a renewal notice, contact AOCA Headquarters at info@aoca.org.
Don't Miss Out on iFLEX 2017!
Held April 4-6, 2017 at the Las Vegas Convention Center, iFLEX 2017 is an event you won't want to miss! Check out the top three reasons to attend:
  1. The size and scale of the event. Last year's event hosted 400 exhibitors and 8,000 industry professionals.
  2. Powerful networking opportunities. Network with operators and vendors from around the globe.
  3. Be inspired. iFLEX 2017 will open your eyes to the latest trends in the industry. Return home feeling inspired with new business ideas!
Still not convinced? Click here to see the full list of reasons why you should attend iFLEX 2017.
 
Registration for iFLEX 2017 will open soon. 

Click here to see photos and access presentation recordings from iFLEX 2016.
AOCA Partner, PISTN: Marketing Accelerated

Email marketing is still one of the best ways to get the word out about your business and to engage your loyal customer base.

Your email list should be populated by customers who have given you permission to send them marketing material directly-you should never buy an email list from a vendor-so you already have piqued their interest.  Click here for email marketing tips.

As an AOCA partner, PISTN: Marketing Accelerated offers AOCA members discounted services. Visit their member page to learn more .
Q&A with Affinity HR's Charlotte White
Q:  Given that we will now have a Trump Administration in the White House, what are the prospects of still having to implement the new overtime provision of the Fair Labor Standards Act, requiring that employees earning less than $47,476 per year (or $913 per week) be classified as non-exempt and eligible for overtime?

A: As the Society for Human Resource Management said in its article the day after the election, the long-term fate of the overtime provision remains cloudy, but the rule is still set to take effect December 1, 2016.  President-elect Trump did state in one campaign speech that he favored an exemption of the rule for small business, but beyond that we have few details as to how he would change the rule. Given the timing, employers are recommended to continue with their plans to comply with the new rule.   

Learn more about AOCA's partnership with Affinity HR Group and how you can access custom support to your most challenging people management issues.
Get Additional 25 Percent Off Your First Order with MSC for a Limited Time
Receive 25 percent off, plus FREE Ground Shipping on your very first MSC order! (No minimum order quantity). After take advantage of your everyday member benefits including a 10 percent minimum discount, access to over 1 million products and free ground shipping on orders of $49 or more. MSC's team of knowledgeable industry experts will work tirelessly to help you drive costs down and keep your business running smoothly. 
Don't Pay Twice as Much for a 1 Percent Difference
Sprint beats T-Mobile's reliability and performs within 1 percent of AT&T and Verizon. Click learn more and fill out the form to get an update on coverage in your area, plus additional information on the 19 percent discount and exclusive promotions for AOCA members. 
A Paycheck for Life
During retirement, you will face a variety of living, medical, and discretionary expenses. To cover these, your retirement
nest egg should ideally replace at least 75 percent of your current income. 

Don't outlive your assets. 
A Single Premium Immediate Annuity (SPIA) is one way to produce retirement income by converting a single lump sum payment into a guaranteed series of payments over your lifetime and/or a guaranteed period. The single lump sum payment for an SPIA can be obtained from savings and investments, selling a business, or payouts from a retirement plan.
 
CAUTION: SEVERE WEATHER DRIVING AHEAD
If you live in an area that gets wintery weather, does the first snowfall of the season seem to bring on a rash of fender benders and crashes? Even though we all know what happens to the roads in the cold weather, that first dose of winter can be a real eye-opener on how to drive on snowy, wet, and slippery roads or when visibility is poor.

To avoid getting caught off-guard when road conditions go from good to bad, a little advance preparation-for you and your car-may help you steer clear of those fender benders.