California hearing for AB 178 has been postponed. Although it sounds a very Good News, who knows what it will bring us in the near future. This bill is expected to be taken from the shelf within a few months time again with the efforts to raise funds for 2010 budget.

No time to stop or take a sigh relief. Instead, we have to work hard to keep it together and even stronger than ever before. I always would like to see the good side of any angle. The tax issue is binding Performance Marketing Industry so tight now we Now we can clearly see who we are. It is like finding your own personality at your adolescence age after running several crisis which builds up you as who you are.

In reality we are growing a strong economic power that many states would like to interrupt or even block our progressive steps and see Performance Marketing units as “Cash Cows”.

We have to prove them wrong. We have to show them how organized we are and how technologically and creatively we are challenging the tax attacks.
We have to show them how Performance Marketing becomes matured up after those attacks. We are not blind or deaf anymore. We are getting to know each other personally, contacting via facebook, twitter, linkedin and other social media means. Many of us are blogging and twittering regularly to keep this spirit fresh.
I am so proud of being a member of Performance Marketing and act along side with all of the affiliates, merchants, affiliate networks and vendors.

So let’s become united.

Let’s become members of PMA (Performance marketing Alliance) to have a much louder voice and act organically to fight against any obstacles and to raise the standards of our industry.

Let’s use the Affiliate Tax Issue to our advantage to unite.

Only we can make this industry credible and respectable one. Wouldn’t it be nice to tell our adventurous story to our grandsons and granddaughters and say we did it? Don’t forget that we are the ones who are shaping this industry and next generations will carry out to other levels. So exciting!

What are you waiting for? Please join PMA before June 1, 2009 and become a Founding Charter Member!
I will be so happy to see you there:)

PMA (Performance Marketing Alliance) is taking action against California Assembly Bill 178 which is an act to tax Californian Affiliates just the same as in New York.

If this bill passes, it will have subsequent effects on other states which will put a serious harm in our industry at its infancy. (Minnesota and Hawaii are already on the pipeline)

PMA is in constant contact with the California Chamber of Commerce and the California Taxpayers Association lobbying groups to help fight this bill. Beth Kirsch, a well known industry leader who was formerly a federal lobbyist also is leading PMA’s efforts.

PMA is actively working against this bill and plan to target congressional representatives to show them the detrimental effects on our industry. For this reason PMA is preparing sample letters, fact sheets, congressional contacts by zip code, and a “Visit Sacramento” day, to put faces in front of decision makers.

PMA needs your voice to show the congressional representatives who you are and how you are working so hard to build this business as industry.

Californian Affiliates, join your forces together with the voice of our industry and contact PMA (rebecca@performancemarketingalliance.com) to see what you can do or just spread the word around your Californian friends by forwarding this link http://www.performancemarketingalliance.com

Please also visit http://caaffiliates.blogspot.com/ to see the latest news and some more details about what you can do to fight against this bill:

• Sign the group letter – we want over 200 businesses to sign this letter. Click here to see the letter and sign up (It’s important we gather as many names, company names, as possible. We have made it easy. You just need to leave your name in the comments.)

• Write a letter to your State Assembly Member – this really does make a difference.
• Sample letter to write your State Assembly Member here - make sure to personalize it
• Find your State Assembly Member here by zip code
• Assembly member’s address here - click on the Assembly Member’s name, then find their contact info on their web page. Please sent your fax to their local office (not Sacramento). It’s best to fax and email.

• Join our lobby day in Sacramento on March 31. We need to put a human face to this story and the best way to do that is to meet with your Assembly members face-to-face. Brook Schaaf and Karen Garcia are organizing this. You can get in touch with them through their websites.

• Editorial board visits – you can twitter Lisa Picarelle here who is organizing it.

This is an effort by grassroots affiliates and the Performance Marketing Alliance.

For more information contact Beth Kirsch via twitter here

You can also visit 5 Star Affiliate Programs Blog for Linda Buquet’s posts about Minnesota, Tennessee, Connecticut and Hawaii pending Sales Tax legislation.

Don’t stand in silence or wait for somebody else on behalf of you, instead act now because time is running up out of your favour. March 31st is the last day to have an impact.