As a Friend of the Flying Yankee, we know you care about the restoration of this historic train and want to help as much as possible.  The Seat Raffle is an opportunity for you to support the restoration efforts while affording yourself an opportunity to win two seats, which will be yours to use four time a year and will be yours forever.  Tickets are only $25 each and, since we're selling only 750 tickets, the odds are very good.    Also, we have some other wonderful prizes to go along with the seats.  Of course, you are encouraged to purchase five tickets for $100 as that's your best value (you get one FREE) and it also increases your odds of winning.  And, with the holidays just around the corner, wouldn't some Seat Raffle Tickets make a great stocking stuffer?  Second prize is a priceless, complete set of glass, hand etched Flying Yankee Dinnerware.  Third Prize is framed, signed, numbered (only 2,000 in existence) Steven Cryan print of The Flying Yankee crossing the Frankenstein Trestle in Crawford Notch.  Fourth Prize is a a set of four glass, hand etched Flying Yankee mugs.  Fifth Prize is a glass, hand etched Flying Yankee Hurricane Lantern.  Perhaps you've wanted to be a Flying Yankee seat owner, but felt you couldn't afford to purchase a seat?  Here's your chance to possibly join the ranks of Flying Yankee seat owners while helping to support the restoration project.  Tickets are only $25 each or five for $100.  They can be obtained online by  clicking here  or by calling 603-745-3974 or by sending a check or money order to The Flying Yankee Restoration Group, Inc., PO Box 145, N. Woodstock, NH 03262.  Only 750 tickets will be sold.  The winners will be announced at the April 3, 2009 Flying Yankee Celebration.  You need not be present to win.  We also have limited edition, autographed Steve Cryan prints of The Flying Yankee crossing the Frankenstein Trestle in Crawford Notch and Flying Yankee mouse pads.  Go to www.flyingyankee.com for more on these gift ideas.

The Holiday Gift that Keeps on Giving

As you probably know, the restoration of The Flying Yankee is being accomplished almost exclusively through donations.  In order to move the project forward, your continued help and support are both needed and appreciated.  No contribution is too small and, certainly no donation is too large.  We still need to raise more than $3 million to complete our mission.  What better gift this holiday season than to purchase a pair of seats for the Flying Yankee lovers in your family?   Maybe your parents or grandparents, or even your children, would love to know that they own a seat or two on this historic train and that they will be theirs forever.  And, they will also have the pleasure of knowing that this gift has tremendous meaning, that it will help restore The Flying Yankee and help it with its mission of Economic Development and Education.   Only a dozen seats remain in the $4,500 section while a good selection of seats still remain in the $7,500, $12,500 and $25,000 sections.  We can't do it without you.  Please check our our Naming Rights program.  Purchase a seat or two and keep them forever and hand them down to your children and grandchildren.  You can be a part of the legacy we hope to leave behind or can provide a gift to someone you love that will last a lot longer than most any other gift you can buy at the store..  To find out more about our Naming Rights Program, please click here.  We also have several other ways you can contribute to the effort on our home page.   If you can't purchase a seat at this time, perhaps you can purchase raffle tickets and/or make plans to attend our Fourth Annual Celebration on April 3, 2009.   With the end of the year just around the corner, now is the time to make your tax plans and it is a perfect time to make a tax deductible donation to the Flying Yankee.  A special thank you to everyone who has already purchased a seat, made a donation, purchased a raffle ticket, or attended our Annual Celebration.

Mark your Calendar for these Great Events

Fourth Annual Celebration

We have a couple of wonderful events coming up that you should make plans to attend, so get out your calendar and mark these down.  The first is a tried, but true event, the Fourth Annual Flying Yankee Celebration (formerly known as the Gala), which will be held this year on a Friday night, April 3, at the Executive Court in Manchester, NH.  This is a wonderful event and we hope you'll be able to attend and help us celebrate the 74th anniversary of The Flying Yankee.  This is a great time to get out for an evening with your significant other while knowing you are also helping to advance the cause of the restoration of this glorious and historic piece of Americana.  We are still working on details and should have tickets available at the first of the year.  The event will consist of a cocktail hour, a fabulous dinner and dessert.  We will have our huge and always popular silent auction and the evening will end with our live auction.  In between, we plan to offer live music and dancing.  A special rate at the adjacent Best Western, a beautiful and nearly brand new hotel, will also be available for attendees.  We are very pleased to annouce that Southwest Airlines is back as the Presenting Sponsor and FairPoint Communications is returning as our Platinum Sponsor and we are grateful for their support.  Tickets for the Fourth Annual Celebration will be available very soon.  We hope to see you at our Celebration this year.

White Mountain Railfest Weekend

The other event being worked on as we speak is the First Annual White Mountain Railfest Weekend, presented by The Flying Yankee and sponsored by Railfan and Railroad Magazine and brought to you in association with The Hobo Railroad, Clark's Trading Post and the White Mountain Central Railroad, the Cafe Lafayette Dinner Train, Comfort Inn & Suites and the Lincoln-Woodstock Chamber of Commerce.  This event is scheduled for June 12-14, 2009.  You will have the opportunity to enjoy special photo shoots, ride the Hobo Railroad all the way to the historic Ashland Station, ride the White Mountain Central Railroad steam eninge, visit Clark's Trading Post and see countless restored steam engines and many other pieces of rail history.  The Comfort Inn and Suites, the official lodging property of The Flying Yankee, will have special room rates available for that weekend and the Chamber will have many other lodging options available.  This promises to be a huge and very popular event and we'll be sure to provide  more details and they become available.  Again, tickets should be available around the first of the year.  Here's the itinerary for the weekend:

· Friday, June 12. Early Evening Power Point Presentations by author Preston Cook.

· Dusk on Friday evening. Staged photo shoot by Railfan and Railroads Editor Steve Barry, a renowned photographer who has done many of these programs throughout the country.

· Saturday, June 13. Early morning tours of the Flying Yankee’s ongoing restoration.

· Tours of the Meredith and Lincoln  Railroad Shops. Photograph and examine all pieces of Hobo and Winnipesaukee RR.

· Hobo Railroad Fan trip with photo run-bys.  This extended trip will travel all the way to Ashland , passing by some of the most scenic spots in New Hampshire, with staged run-bys,  including the Plymouth and Ashland Depots, open fields and bridges.

· Café Lafayette Dinner Train (Optional). One of the finest dinner trains in the world has been reserved specifically for Railfest participants. Choose between the “Granite Eagle” Upper Level Dome ($95) or Premium Seating ($82)  These are all-inclusive prices, except bar service and a night-time group photo shoot will be included. Café Lafayette Dinner Train is graciously donating a portion of each ticket to the Flying Yankee Restoration.

· Sunday, June 14^th. Clark’s Trading Post and The White Mountain Central Railroad.  Ride the famous White Mountain Central Railroad Steam Engine with beautiful photo stops at the covered bridge and along the Pemigewassett River.  All the White Mountain Central Railroad equipment will be rolled out for you to climb aboard, examine and photograph.  Plus, tour their historical rail and other museums.  And, as an added bonus, stay and see the entire park, including Clark’s Trading Post’s world famous trained bear show. 

Come see us at the Amherst Railway Society Show in Springfield

The Flying Yankee will once again be participating in the Annual Amherst Railway Society Railroad Hobby Showy at the Eastern States Exposition Ground (better known as the Big E) in Springfield, January 24 and 25, 2009.  We expect to once again be located right next to the Hobo Railroad exhibit in the Better Living Center, the largest of the four buildings that are filled to the brim during this show.  This is the largest train show in the northeast and I hope I'll get to see a good number of you in Springfield in January.

Donations that Make Dollars and Sense

Stock Transfers

The Flying Yankee Restoration Group is set-up to accept stock transfers for anyone wishing to contribute to the restoration in that manner.  Just call the office at 603-745-3974 and we will provide you with all the information you need.   Giving long-term appreciated stock offers you a two-fold saving.  First, you avoid paying any capital gains tax on the increase in the value of your stock.  In addition, you receive a tax deduction for the full fair market value of the stock on the date of the gift.  For income tax purposes, the value of such gifts may be deducted up to 30% of adjust gross income, with an additional five-year carry forward.  Example:  If you purchased stock many years ago for $1,000 and it is now worth $10,000, an outright gift of that stock would result in a charitable deduction of $10,000.  In addition, you permanently avoid paying capital gains tax on the $9,000 of appreciation. 

Bequests

While you are considering your 2008 income tax savings, this may also be a good time to consider long-term tax savings.  The federal estate tax can still take approximately 50% of your estate at the time of death.  That is a higher tax bite than the income tax!  It definitely pays to do some advance planning with your attorney and other professional advisors.  We hope you will consider a charitable bequest in your will - to benefit us while you save estate tax dollars at the same time.  We can also help you by putting you in touch with attorneys and tax specialists if you are considering such a bequest.

IRA Donations

Owners of IRAs who are at least 70 1/2 can donate up to $100,000 a year from their retirement accounts and the firts count toward the owner's required minimum distribution (RMD).  You get no deduction, but you do get a tax break because the money is not included in your taxable income as it would be if you withdrew funds for yourself.  Again, see your IRA administrator or tax attorney.

Other Donations

You can also give gifts of real estate.  This can be especially tax-advantageous.  The property may have appreciated in value over the years so that its sale would restuls in a sizeable capital gains tax.  If given to us instead, you would avoid this tax and, at the same time, realize a charitable deduction for the full fair market value of the real estate.  You can also give a life insurance policty that is no longer needed.  You can take the charitable deduction equal to the cash value at the time of the gift and, if annual premiums are still to be made and you cotinue to pay them, those premiums will become tax deductible each year. 

It is time to start thinking about your end-of-the-year tax strategy and, if you would like to make a donation to The Flying Yankee Restoration a part of your planning, please give us a call at 603-745-3974.

                                A Proud Supporter of The Flying Yankee