SEMA_________________________________

SOUTHEASTERN MEAT ASSOCIATION
P.O. Box 620777; Oviedo, FL 32762 Phone: 407-365-5661

FSIS INCREASES INSPECTION FEES

The final rule, which becomes effective February 13, 2006, is available at: http://www.fsis.usda.gov/Frame/FrameRedirect.asp?main=/OPPDE/rdad/FRPubs/03-027F.htm

FSIS INSPECTION DIRECTORY

The Meat, Poultry and Egg Product Inspection Directory is now available online. The directory has a listing of all federally regulated meat, poultry and egg establishments. The online directory will replace the book that was discontinued two years ago. The directory is updated monthly and establishments are sorted alphabetically by establishment name or numerically by establishment number.

To view the directory, go to: http://www.fsis.usda.gov/Regulations_&_Policies/Meat_Poultry_Egg_Inspection_Directory/index.asp

WEB SITE - BENEFIT OR LIABILITY?

Web sites cost money to create, but a web site can be beneficial if people can find it and it is user friendly. Most web sites are found through search engines with 75% of online web surfers using them. But how do you make sure they find you? Keywords - the more your site uses keywords and phrases, along with links, the higher you rank.

• The words and phrases need to be keywords that your prospective customer will be using, in
  order for the search to be effective.
• Pictures speak a thousand words but not in the web world, so when using pictures to help
  sell your product, place short captions with keywords next to the picture.
• When using a link instead of having “click on” or “log on”, use keywords your customers
  are looking for.

GROCERY STORES CHANGING STRATEGY

Will the sale of Albertson’s begin a strategy change in the grocery industry? Grocery chains have to find a niche to compete with discount stores such as Wal-Mart, convenient Wal-Mart Neighborhood Markets and specialty stores such as Whole Foods. Some chains have lowered prices, some have discount cards, while others have remodeled and updated their stores. It may be for grocers to compete with Wal-Mart, they will have to offer services and regional products customers are looking for.

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It is not the employer who pays wages, he only handles the money.
It is the product that pays wages.
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SEMA INDUSTRY NEWS

Globe Packaging Co., Inc. has a change of address: 368 Paterson Plank Road, Carlstadt, NJ 07072
Phone number (201) 939-3335 Toll Free Number 888 211-0989

Beef Ind. L.L.C., Adam Chernin has a new Email: adam@centralbeef.com

Jamison Door will be celebrating its 100th anniversary this March.

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THINGS TO PONDER………………
I've learned that making a "living" is not the same thing as "making a life."
Maya Angelou
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MEET NEW SEMA MEMBER

KARL SCHNELL, INC. / Associate member

From the very first single plate emulsifier invented by Karl Schnell in 1948 to the latest in vacuum and triple plate emulsifiers, the company has established a reputation for engineering and manufacturing excellence of food processing machinery. Be it a single purpose sausage stuffer or a complex deli or confectionery line, Karl Schnell has the objective to produce economical, quality and results oriented equipment.

With a branch office in New London, WI and representatives all over the world, Karl Schnell has positioned itself for the leadership in sales and service to the meat, sausage, pet food, cheese, deli and confectionary industries.
Contact: Bob Dichard, Director of Sales, New London, WI., 920.982.9974

Take a minute to welcome our new member to the Association

HEALTH PLANS

Most companies have some type of health plan for their employees, but with increasing cost employers are looking to consumer-driven health plans. Some plans allow employees to use accounts to pay for medical expenses that are not covered by insurance, while employers use others to provide employees with a fixed dollar amount with which they can purchase healthcare services or a health insurance policy on the open market. The plans typically include the following;

• Medical Saving Accounts (MSA) The MSA program expired December 31, 2005. While MSA accounts established prior to this date may continue to be used and receive contributions, no new accounts may be established after December 2005. The MSA allows year-to-year rollover and is to be combined with a high-deductible health insurance policy. The savings account is controlled by the individual and is intended to pay for routine healthcare services.

• Health Savings Accounts (HSA) The HAS is much like the MSA but is less restrictive. An individual that is (a) covered by a high deductible health plan, (b) does not have other health insurance coverage (with some exceptions) and (c) is not claimed as a dependent on another person’s tax return may establish an HAS. HAS may be established by an individual, including the self-employed or employer sponsored. Both the employer and the employee can contribute to the HAS in the same year, subject to annual limits. Individuals can rollover the HAS and since it is a tax-exempt trust owned by the individual, the employee takes the account with them upon termination or retirement.

• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) FSA’s provide a means for employees to considerably reduce their income tax liability through salary reduction. Employees can contribute a portion of their own salary to an account designated to pay for healthcare expenses. These pre-tax contributions are exempt from income and payroll taxes. Tax code requires that only employers set up these accounts for their employees, leaving self-employed individuals and other employees unable to set up their own accounts. Employees are required to elect a specific amount of salary deduction at the beginning for the year and must use the money by the end of that year or lose it. Because medical expenses are hard to predict many over fund the account and then spend unnecessarily at the end of the year to avoid forfeiting the money in their account.

• Health Reimbursement Arrangements (HRA) Unlike FSA’s, HRA balances may rollover from year to year, thus providing a personal stake for the consumer in their healthcare spending decisions. HRA’s are group health plans, so are subject to laws such as HIPAA and COBRA. If an employee leaves an employer, he may continue to access unused funds within the HRA by electing COBRA. The employer may also be required to continue contributions during the COBRA coverage period. The requirement to continue contributions and comply with HIPAA is a deterrent for employers to implement an HRA.

Introducing consumerism into your health plan requires an evaluation of the benefits and disadvantages of HSAs, FSAs and HRAs. No one solution is right for every employer. Charts comparing the tax-advantage accounts are available through the SEMA office or by calling a J. Rolfe Davis Insurance representative.

J. Rolfe Davis Insurance provided information for this article

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

Companies that invest in employee learning have higher productivity, revenue growth,
and profit growth than companies that do not.