Hours away from Deer Season 2017!

I am from a small town in Northeast Wisconsin. Growing up, my cousins to the south (Milwaukee) were amazed by the fact that we got the whole week off for Deer Season! It made them crazy!   (I thought it was completely normal and that everyone had Deer Season off until I was in high school.)

I am not, nor have I ever been, a hunter – but I can appreciate the comradery, the thrill of the hunt, the excitement, the traditions (No Shave November, etc.).     Traditions are good. They are the strings that keep families and friends connected.

At WI Pay, we have traditions too. In November, we start readying for year end, gathering new unemployment tax rates and deductions for our clients’ employees. We are making a list and checking it twice to make sure all our bases are covered, I’s are dotted, and T’s are crossed. It can be a crazy time for us, but in keeping with our tradition of preparing ahead, it becomes a great opportunity to feel a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction.

It’s always good to begin new traditions too. This year as you take to the woods, perhaps you would consider taking part in the Wisconsin Deer Donation 2017. Here is the link to a document with all the information you need for donating deer in Wisconsin and helping those in need:

http://dnr.wi.gov/topic/hunt/documents/donation.pdf

Happy hunting, have fun, be safe, enjoy your traditions and create some new ones!

            Thank you for serving!

Veterans Day originated as “Armistice Day” on November 11, 1919, the first anniversary of the end of World War I and became a national holiday in 1938. In 1954 President Eisenhower officially changed the name from Armistice Day to Veterans Day. In 1968 Congress moved the celebration to the fourth Monday in October; but in 1975 President Ford returned Veterans Day back to November 11, due to the important historical significance of the date.

Unlike Memorial Day, which honors those who lost their lives as a result of serving, Veterans Day pays tribute to all American veterans – living or dead – who served their country during war or peacetime.

Jesus, you said, “There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” Today we pray for those men and women who have, in their military service, sacrificed their time, strength, ambition, health and even their lives on this earth to benefit “friends” known and unknown.   We honor our Veterans in your name and we thank them for their sacrifices. We ask that you bless them, provide peace to them and their families and remain with them all the days of their lives. Amen.

Happy Labor Day! What is the real meaning behind this end-of-summer holiday you ask.   According to the United States Department of Labor, it is a creation of the Labor Movement of 1882 in New York City and is dedicated to the social and economic achievements of the American Workers.

The first Labor Day was actually celebrated on Tuesday, September 5, 1882. In 1884, the first Monday in September was selected as the holiday to urge other cities in America to follow the example of New York and celebrate the working men’s holiday. It is reported that there was a lot of beer associated with this event!

President Grover Cleveland signed an Act in 1894 establishing a Federal Legal Holiday for Labor Day. (Most states had already done so by this time.)

Between Memorial Day and Labor day, the National Hot Dog and Sausage Council reports that Americans will eat 7 billion hotdogs!

Labor Day marks the official end of summer, which marks the end of hot dog season and no more wearing white until Spring. What??? No more white??? Yes, it is an old tradition that dates back to the late Victorian era whereby it is a fashion disaster to wear white after the summer official ended. White indicated that you were still in vacation mode at your summer cottage.   The tradition is really not followed any more – maybe because we don’t vacation all summer at our summer cottages any more. I’ll keep that in mind when I need a vacation in January – look for the lady in white!!