Fwd: Economic Impact Payments Are Underway

From: Senator Robert P. Casey, Jr.

Dear Mark,  You likely have heard that a second round of Economic Impact Payments (EIPs) has been approved. I understand that many constituents have a number of questions. The IRS started to distribute the second EIPs on December 29. Direct deposit payments should be deposited within the next two weeks. Distribution of paper checks began on Wednesday, December 30, and should continue through the end of January. If you received an initial EIP, no additional action is required to receive this second payment. The income criteria for the second round of payments is the same as the first. If you are a U.S. citizen or permanent resident making under $75,000 a year (single) or $150,000 a year (married filing jointly) and are not claimed as a dependent on someone else's tax returns, you likely will qualify for the full $600 payment ($1,200 married couples). Families with qualifying children will also receive $600 for each dependent under age 17. Eligible individuals do not need to take any action to receive the EIP. In addition to checks and direct deposits, Treasury will also be sending a limited number of payments out by debit card. The Economic Impact Payment debit card will be sent in a white envelope that prominently displays the U.S. Department of the Treasury seal. It has the Visa name on the front of the card and the issuing bank, MetaBank®, N.A. If you did not receive one or both EIPs, but believe you are eligible, you will be able to claim the equivalent "Recovery Rebate Credit" when you file your 2020 federal income tax return. You can learn more about the second round of EIPs on the IRS website. My staff is also happy to help answer questions or provide assistance, and can be reached through my website or at 866-461-9159. While I am glad that some measure of relief is finally reaching Pennsylvanians, it is nowhere near enough. Please know that I will continue to fight in the new Congress to ensure that those who are struggling receive the additional economic support they need and deserve. Sincerely, Bob Casey

Rauterkus family Christmas Letter - December 2020

Letter in Google Drive.

Letter in one page PDF.

Fwd: Reminder: Important news about SUUSI 2021

A message from the Board and Core Staff.

Dear beloved SUUSI community, The Board and Core Staff would like to express our profound gratitude for all who are part of our SUUSI community, whether you have attended once or fifty times. You are the heart and soul of SUUSI.  The Board and Core Staff are charged with making decisions that are in the best interests of public health, the safety of our community members, SUUSI's financial stability, and the strength of our bonds with each other. Given the lengthy timeline needed to put together all the elements of SUUSI, we have found ourselves with the dilemma of needing to make decisions now based on incomplete information about next July. It is impossible to know at this time whether it will be safe to hold an in-person gathering in July of 2021. We cannot predict how widespread Covid-19 will be next summer, how broad the availability and acceptance of a vaccine will be, or how many people would be willing to attend a SUUSI that might require strict social distancing. Our host location, Western Carolina University, doubts whether they will be able to host on-campus gatherings next summer, and they will not have a definite answer in time to allow us to plan. Under these circumstances, we have come to the difficult decision that we cannot plan for an in-person SUUSI 2021. The SUUSI Board has voted that SUUSI 2021 will be an entirely virtual event. Many will be disappointed to hear this news. Many will be relieved to know that we are prioritizing safety. Many will feel a complicated mix of these emotions and others. This was a painful decision for SUUSI leadership to make. All of us value the traditionally immersive in-person SUUSI experience. We will miss playing together at Community Time or in a song circle, dancing together, sharing a table in the dining hall, and joining hands in worship. Yet we are confident that "Love Brings Us Together," as our 2021 theme reminds us. We know that, whatever the format, love will bring us together in the summer of 2021. The Core Staff are already making plans to improve and build on the virtual format we developed for SUUSI 2020, and we hope that, once this news has had some time to settle, you will be ready to join us in making our shared virtual experience the best that it can be. Find the latest information about SUUSI at suusi.org

SUUSI | Western Carolina University, July 18-24, 2021, Cullowhee, NC 28723

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