2014-01 Newsletter
WAA Update February 2014
In This Issue


From the President
Education
Awards Committee
NSA Scholarship Foundation
Chapter News


Education

For a full menu of all available education options, visit the WAA website at www.waa.org.  Many online CPE options offer special discounts for WAA members


Around the State

Chapter Events

We have four active chapters around the state.  These chapter officers have been diligently working to bring relevant education to the chapter members and with creating a quality collaborative peer meeting environment. 
 
Go to www.waa.org/chapters to find out what is happening in your chapter.

Our Leadership

Board of Directors

Chapters

Committees

Chapter Listservs

All WAA members have been subscribed to their chapter listserv based on the chapter listed in their profile.  Download these listserv instructions to learn how to subscribe if you do not currently have a chapter affiliation listed on your profile, to unsubscribe, or to change the email address you want subscribed to the listserv.

Membership Dues

The non-deductible portion of WAA membership dues for Active and Associate members is 26% for this fiscal year. This amount is attributable to lobbying activities.

In Memorandum

If you are aware of a WAA member who has passed on please contact [email protected].

Job Board

Looking for Work or a New Employee? Check Out Our WAA Job Board!

Click here to learn more and see current jobs and resumes.


Editorial Content

The principal aims of this publication are the advancement of the accounting profession and communication among our members. Opinions expressed herein are those of the individual writers and not necessarily those of WAA or the Editor. Please submit articles and comments to [email protected].

The deadline for submissions is the 15th of the month preceding publication.


The mission of the Washington Association of Accountants is to promote and protect the right of every member to practice accounting and taxation; to provide the services and professional education necessary to maintain and improve professional competence.

From the President

by Jerry Gintz

The vision of past leaders played out………INCREDIBLE!

As I was rummaging through some WAA historical records (making archiving decisions) I came across this article. I sat down and read it, as the title contained the name of a long-time and dear friend of mine. I would not normally read an association newsletter from 17 years ago, but I am so glad I had a nudge to read this one.This association was built for the non-licensed accountant. It has since erected a big tent and now includes all of us. Take a minute to click on the link and read about the historical thread that started years prior and the vision that was seen then and has since played out in recent events. I think you too will sense a bit of the “incredible”.

May you have a productive and profitable filing season!



Education Committee

 

by Cynthia Polley

It’s a new year, and January is the perfect time to make some new year’s resolutions!  This year, why not resolve to plan ahead when it comes to fulfilling your CPE requirements? The live seminars are all mapped out and ready to be put on your calendar. In the meantime, check out some of the great online options available for continuing education through WAA. The weeks leading up to tax season are the perfect time to brush up on changes to tax law, 1040s, and healthcare.




2014 Live Seminar Schedule

 WAA Convention Renton June 19-20, 2014
Jennings Education - Technology Renton June 20, 2014
Gear Up Business Entities Auburn October 27-28, 2014
Gear Up 1040 Update Lynnwood November 10-11, 2014
Gear Up EA Ethics Lynnwood November 10, 2014
Gear Up 1040 Update Auburn December 1-2, 2014
Gear Up EA Ethics Auburn December 1, 2014
Gear Up 1040 Update Spokane December 8-9, 2014
Gear Up EA Ethics Spokane December 8, 2014
Gear Up Accounting TBA TBA


 

If you’re looking for a comprehensive course that will allow you to confidently prepare individual tax returns, look no further than The Income Tax School! This six month self-study course is exclusively available to WAA members and their employees, and includes everything from W2s and 1099s to Capital Gains & Losses to IRAs and Retirement plans. 

Online Coming Events

Bob Jennings Education– Webinars

Bob Jennings offers regularly scheduled webinars on a variety of topics.  Can’t make it to the live presentation time? No problem. You can tune it at your convenience to an On-Demand webcast. They are awesome!


Top 20 1040 Changes for 2013

January 29 9:00 am EST
January 30 5:00 pm EST
January 31 1:00 pm EST



Implementing Obamacare: Jan 31st
The Individual Mandate
Self-Study or Webcast
Implementing Obamacare: Feb 3rd
The Individual Mandate
 Self-Study or Webcast
   
Implementing Obamacare: Jan 30th
The Employer Mandate
Self-Study or Webcast
Implementing Obamacare: Feb 4th
The Employer Mandate
Self-Study or Webcast
Understanding Medicare Post-Obamacare: Feb 5th
Webcast

Bisk Education offers many options with instant access, instant grading, and instant certificates as well as unlimited access to online courses.  Informative and convenient, they also offer featured updates in a bi-weekly tax webcast.  They’re currently offering a 6 credit class on Hot Topics in Health Care Accounting and Auditing, available to complete in 3 formats: online, textbook or video.


For a full menu of all available education options, visit the WAA website at www.waa.org.  Many online CPE options offer special discounts for WAA members!


Awards Committee

by Sonia Smith

Our Annual Meeting & Banquet is June 19, 2014.  At this time we honor our members with the following annual awards.  During the next few months please take time to think of members in your chapter or at the state level that would deserve these awards.  We would like your help in the voting process.

Below is a list of the awards that will be presented.  For each award, choose a person and please state the reason why that person should be given the particular award.  Submit your votes at your meeting or send an email to the Awards chair by June 6th at [email protected]. All votes will then be tabulated and awarded at convention.


1)  JOE McREYNOLDS AWARD               

For their commitment, service and dedication to the community, their colleagues and to the accounting profession.

2) GRAND AWARD OF EXCELLANCE

For their endless time and effort to make their Chapter or State Organization more effective. Taking on additional Responsibilities.

3) OUTSTANDING SERVICE BY A MEMBER

For their work as a committee chair/member working to make WAA the leading accounting organization within Washington State

4) MERRILLEE RAPLEY AWARD

For their dedication and tireless long term work in making WAA a stronger player in the professional development of its members. Taking on additional duties as needed.

PLEASE SEND YOUR VOTES BY JUNE 6TH.  THANK YOU.

Help the NSA Scholarship Foundation Support Accounting Students


Each year, hundreds of college students contact NSA seeking help to meet the ever-increasing costs of higher education.  

The NSA Scholarship Foundation works to build career paths into and within the accounting profession. With its scholarship awards, the Foundation assists dedicated students who are committed to a career in accounting by providing financial assistance to support their education.

The NSA Scholarship Foundation awards scholarships to undergraduates who are U.S. or Canadian citizens, enrolled part-time or full-time in an accounting degree program at an accredited two- or four-year college or university.

Since its formation in 1969, the NSA Scholarship Foundation has awarded over $1 million to dedicated students pursuing a career in the accounting profession. Scholarships range from $500 - $2,000 and 30 or more scholarships are awarded each year. Last year the Scholarship Foundation awarded $32,700 to 39 deserving individuals.

The Foundation is a 501(c)3, tax-exempt organization and relies on voluntary, tax-deductible contributions to support student scholarships.  You can help by making a tax-deductible donation to the NSA Scholarship Foundation.  With your help, we can increase the number of awards in 2014 and beyond.

 

Donating is easy.  Go to: http://www.nsacct.org/about/nsa-scholarship-foundationand click on “Donate Now”.  Do you 

shop online?  Make your purchases count.  Click on the link to shop on AmazonSmile and a donation will be made to the NSA Scholarship Foundation for every purchase you make.

Students can apply for 2014-2015 scholarships online between January 1 and March 31, 2014.  Scholarship guidelines, eligibility requirements and FAQs are online at: http://www.nsacct.org/about/nsa-scholarship-foundation/apply-online.

 
Chapter News

 
Puget Sound/Tacoma Chapter



by Shawn Gagnon




At Their Monthly Meeting on Tuesday, February 4, 2014 - They wanted everyone to know:

All are Invited to Bring & Share Examples of Great Practice Management Tools They Use (Client Checklists, Engagement Samples, etc, etc…)


Topic: Practice Management Forum – From Engagement Letter to Checklists… Best Practices to Protect Your Business

Speaker(s):   Kathy Hettick & Panel


Spokane Chapter

by Hazel Flynn-Parkison

Happy New Year and a Healthy and Prosperous one too!  At our November meeting, our speakers were Brandon Larson and Kris Lattimore, Small Business/Agent Representatives from the Washington Health Benefit Exchange. They presented on the WA Health Benefit Exchange and the Affordable Care Act. They provided an excellent presentation.  

In addition, our December meeting was about the Affordable Care Act.  Our BISK presenters and WAA members Wayne Vinson CPA, Bob McKinley CPA and Paul Smart CPA provided an excellent presentation about this topic. There have been over 13 million retrievals of the Affordable Care Act.

Hope you can join us for our annual Roundtable meetings February 11th and March 11th. 

Also, there will not be a meeting in April.


View Monthly Meetings, Mini-Seminars and Register for Education Events on our website WAA.org under
Education > Calendar of Events
.

Washington Association of Accountants l 2150 N 107th St #205 Seattle WA 98133 l 800-733-6286 l [email protected] l www.waa.org