Newsletter, January 2006

President's Message

Dear SBBA Members,

Happy New Year and Happy Tax Season! I can’t believe its year-end processing time again. I hope everybody gets through it without too much difficulty. Be sure to make time for yourselves, eat well, exercise, and get plenty of sleep. You can be much more productive when your mind and body are nourished. If things get difficult and you need questions answered or help with a particular issue, put it out to the list server. That is what’s so great about the Santa Barbara Bookkeeper’s Association – There’s always somebody out there to help.

I want to thank Suzie Hayes for helping with the Annual Holiday Party in December. The event, food, and company were all great! The Board will be planning some educational and fun events this year, so please let us know if you have any ideas for a Summer Event.

I hope to see everybody at this month’s meeting!

The regular monthly meeting of the Santa Barbara Bookkeepers’ Association was held Tuesday, November 15, 2005 at Mulligan’s Café.

President Karen Mora opened the meeting. No new members were in attendance and there were no job announcements.

After lunch Karen presented the group with highlights of an article that dealt with year end bonuses and/or gifts. Next she suggested a special event since it was a social meeting. We went from person to person and took a turn if we chose to share something about ourselves with the whole group, i.e. something special going on in our business or personal lives. Speaking was optional.

The drawing for a free lunch in January was won by Sue Starlin.

SECRETARY'S MINUTES - December '05

The December meeting of the Santa Barbara Bookkeepers’ Association was a Holiday Party held Tuesday, December 6, 2005 at Stella Mare’s Event Center.

President Karen Mora thanked everyone for coming and the conversation flowed. The Holiday meeting was well attended, with tasty food and a fun gift exchange for those who chose to participate.

Gift and food donations were collected and delivered to the Unity Shoppe.

Suzie Hayes did a wonderful job of organizing the luncheon!

I hope everyone had a great Holiday season and is enjoying a healthy new year.

Rosemary Chidester, SBBA Secretary

THE FOLLOWING ARE UPCOMING CLASSES AT Santa Barbara CITY COLLEGE, FOUR OF WHICH WILL BE TAUGHT BY OUR OWN SBBA MEMBERS (Brenda Richter, Sandy O’Meara, Carolyn Terry, Karen Ziegler)

* ACCT 110 - INTRODUCTION TO ACCOUNTING (4.0 UNITS)
Basic theory of accounts. Principles of sole proprietorship, including concepts of how to keep financial records for small businesses. Daytime, Evening & Saturday classes available. (Taught by Carolyn Terry and Brenda Richter)

* ACCT 130 - PAYROLL ACCOUNTING (4.0 UNITS)
Study and application of payroll accounting concepts, procedures, related internal controls and legislation. Thursday’s 5:30p.m.-9:30p.m. (Taught by Karen Ziegler)

* ACCT 160 - ACCOUNTING WITH QUICKBOOKS (3.0 UNITS)
We will be using QuickBooks 2005 in class and the textbook is excellent. We cover cash transactions, A/R, A/P and period end adjusting journal entries in QB in addition to a review of accounting principles and the underlying accounting in each transaction (debits and credits). Tuesdays – 5 to 8:05 PM. (Taught by Sandra O’Meara)

* ACCT 230 - FINANCIAL ACCOUNTING (5.0 UNITS)
Analysis and ethical application of financial accounting concepts, principles and procedures for corporations, partnerships and proprietorships engaged in manufacturing, merchandising, or service operations. Computerized applications are emphasized.

Daytime and evening classes available – These classes are almost full already!

* ACCT 240 - MANAGERIAL ACCOUNTING (4.0 UNITS)
Study and application of managerial accounting concepts and procedures.

Daytime and evening classes available – These classes are almost full already!

* ACCT 270 - /CIS 270 ACCOUNTING INFORMATION SYSTEMS (4.0 UNITS)
Introduction to the design and use of computer-based information systems in accounting. Topics include computer-based accounting systems, systems development, data management and modeling, accounting cycles. Tuesday’s 5:30p.m. – 7:35p.m.

VERIFY WORKERS' SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBERS ONLINE

Employers can now use the Internet to verify that the payroll record of employee names and Social Security numbers matches Social Security records. The new service, called "Social Security Number Verification Service" (SSNVS) is available through Social Security's Business Services Online (BSO) website at http://www.socialsecurity.gov/bso/bsowelcome.htm. The online service is available to all employers and third-party submitters for wage reporting (Form W-2) purposes.

Using SSNVS is faster and easier than submitting your request on magnetic media or paper listings, or even using Social Security's telephone verification option. Plus, making sure your wage reports contain employee names and Social Security numbers that match Social Security's records will help ensure the successful processing of your annual wage reports and save you administrative processing costs. It also allows Social Security to properly credit your employees' earnings records, which determine their future Social Security benefit entitlement.

While the service is available to all employers and third-party submitters, it can only be used to verify current or former employees and only for wage reporting (Form W-2) purposes.

For more information, visit http://www.socialsecurity.gov/employer/ssnv.htm or call the Employer Reporting Service Center, at 900-772-6270, Monday-Friday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m ET.

Submitted by Pam Allman

2006 MILEAGE RATES

Beginning Jan. 1, 2006, the standard mileage rates for the use of a car (including vans, pickups or panel trucks) will be:

44.5 cents per mile for business miles driven;
18 cents per mile driven for medical or moving purposes; and
14 cents per mile driven in service of charitable organizations, other than activities related to Hurricane Katrina relief.

The new rate for business miles compares to a rate of 40.5 cents per mile for the first eight months of 2005. In September, the IRS made a special one-time adjustment for the last four months of 2005, raising the rate for business miles to 48.5 cents per mile in response to a sharp increase in gas prices, which topped $3 a gallon.

This month's Newsletter was edited by Kathy Rem. I’m wishing you all a very happy new year!

Thank you to Patricia Mayer, who has joined the Newsletter Committee and is committed to preparing the SBBA newsletter for the following months: April, August, and December. Your contribution is appreciated!
this little note is snuck into the newsletter by your website administrator, Caron Garliepp ;-)