Announcements

Open House at the District Parsonage - This Sunday
Sunday, October 28
3-5 p.m.
7905 Henry Kinney Row
Please bring your family for food and fellowship!

District Professionals - Wednesday, October 31
Hyde Park UMC
4001 Speedway
9:30 a.m. - Gathering and fellowship
10:00 - Worship with Holy Communion
11:00 - Program by Dr. David White, APTS, "Congregational Practices of Discernment"
Senior & Associate Pastors unable to attend this meeting should email regrets to Dr. Kim Cape kimcape@umcad.org

**Evaluation/Conversation Forms Due October 31**

Prayer Concern
Our condolences to District Lay Leader, Dr. Charles Akins, on the death of his sister. Please keep Dr. Akins and his family in your prayers.

Austin District Singles News
See flyer for information on upcoming events.

Elections for the UMCAD Singles Council Leadership Committee will be held Sunday, November 18 2:00 p.m. at First United Methodist Church, Austin, in room 107 of the Family Life Center on the northwest corner of 13th and Lavaca. Nominations will be accepted up until voting takes place. We welcome dedicated and spirited Single Adults of all ages who are interested in serving the UMCAD Singles Council in any way. Please email singles@umcad.org or visit our website www.umcad.org/singles.

Opportunities/Help Wanted
First UMC, Pflugerville, seeks a part-time chancel choir director to provide leadership in a traditional worship service. In addition to directing the choir, responsibilities include leading congregational singing, and working with others to coordinate the entire music ministry. A church music background is preferred with a bachelor's degree in music or 5 years experience in choral conducting/musical direction. Contact Rev. Monte Marshall at (512) 251-2575 or monte_marshall@sbcglobal.net.

MHM Funding Alert
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
From the Methodist Healthcare Ministries Technical Assistance Team

Grant Opportunities
Del Monte - Do Something for You! Grants
Deadline: Rolling
Del Monte is accepting applications for its Do Something Good For You! grant program. The purpose of the program is to support young people in improving their communities through projects such as healthy eating awareness campaigns or non-competitive walking, running, or hiking clubs at school. Award amounts are $2,500. Eligible applicants are young people age 25 or younger as of 11/09/07.
For more information: http://www.dosomething.org/node/36048

Healthy Start Initiative - Eliminating Racial/Ethnic Disparities
Deadline: December 6, 2007
Grants will be awarded to address significant disparities in perinatal health indicators. This includes disparities in Hispanics, American Indians, African Americans, Alaskan Natives, Asian Pacific Islanders, Immigrant Populations or differences occurring by education, income, disability, or living in rural, isolated areas by enhancing a community's service system. Communities must provide a scope of project services that will cover pregnancy and interconceptional phases for women and infants residing in the proposed project area. Services are to be given to both mother and infant for two years following delivery to promote longer interconceptional periods and prevent relapses of unhealthy risk behaviors. Faith-based and community organizations are eligible to apply. 5 grants will be made, totaling $3,425,000 (average of $685,000 each).
Full announcement: https://grants.hrsa.gov/webExternal/SFO.asp?ID=22E5A20E-E0E4-4A4B-9B03-361612F885EF
Contact for additional info: E-mail CallCenter@HRSA.GOV, or call 1-877-464-4472, 301-998-7373

Nonprofit Tips and News

IRS Makes Changes to Proposed Nonprofit Tax Form
The Internal Revenue Service is making significant revisions to its proposed redesign of the Form 990, the primary tax form nonprofit organizations file each year. The agency is removing several questions that were included on the proposed form:

• Removing two lines from the core form that would have required charities to tally the total compensation of their officers, directors, trustees, and other key employees, and compute that total as a percentage of their total expenses
• Removing a line that would have required organizations to calculate their fundraising expenses as a percentage of total contributions
• Removing a line that would compare operating expenses to an organization's net assets, as well as lines that list gaming and fundraising revenues;
• Removing a column on the first page of the proposed form that would have required charities to break out categories of expenses and revenue as a percentage of their total expenses and revenue.

The proposed tax form, which remains on schedule for an early 2009 release, is intended to provide the public with more information about the financial operations of nonprofits and to make it easier for the IRS to find organizations and people who violate the laws that govern tax-exempt groups. The revisions come as the IRS reviews comments from more than 650 people and organizations about the proposed form.
Source: Texas Department of State Health Services Web site, October 16, 2007

Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas, Inc.
Grants & Research Division
4507 Medical Drive, San Antonio, TX 78229
Anne Connor: (210) 949-1823; aconnor@mhm.org
Mary Louise Lopez: (210) 253-3253; mary.lopez@mhm.org
Toll-Free: 800-959-6673