The Santa Barbara Bookkeepers Assoc. met for its general meeting at 11:30 a.m. Tues June 18, 2002 at Mulligan Café.  There were 26 in attendance.  Nicole Tratner and Armandina Castellanos were visiting guests considering membership.  Brenda Richter won the free lunch.  Table topics were the agenda for this meeting.  They were generally discussed as when you are seeking a new client; do you interview them as they are interviewing you?  Do you feel that bookkeeping is a stressful occupation?  Have you ever considered going into partnership with another bookkeeper?  Do you have anyone assist you in operating your business?  Do you have any type of business liability insurance coverage?  There were approximately five questions following each of these topics.  Personally, I really enjoy this method of information exchange and always welcome it when it comes around in out monthly agendas.  Thanks again to our co-presidents!

ELECTIONS ARE COMING UP

 A new slate of officers will be elected at our September meeting.

Listed on our website (www.sbbaonline.org) you will find descriptions of the duties of each officer.  If, after reading the descriptions, you’re ready to make the commitment to serve in one of these capacities for the next term, please give your name to our Nominating Committee (Caron Garliepp or Mary Cathcart) as soon as possible. 

Nominees will be announced at the August meeting. 

Opportunities also exist for service on committees including  

• Speaker's Committee

• Newsletter Committee

• Welcoming Committee

• December Holiday Party Committee

If you have questions about the duties of officers and/or committee members, feel free to call or email any of the current officers.

 Survey of Bookkeeping Practices

 Enclosed with this Newsletter you will find a survey form, prepared by our own Brenda Richter, CPA.  Please complete and return to Brenda at her office either by FAX (805) 569-3099, or by mail to 217 Calle Manzanita, Santa Barbara, 93105 as soon as possible. 

Remember that all information you supply is confidential and anonymous.  This survey will give each of us insight into how our practice compares with that of our peers.

You May Qualify For Government Help

Do you know what federal benefits you should be receiving? The federal government has a new interactive site, GovBenefits.gov (http://www.govbenefits.gov) that can quickly tell you.

This is really the height of simplicity. You fill out a form that explores your background, and the site lists programs that could affect you. It includes links to those programs.

One caveat: Some programs are missing. …. (As of 7/3/02, 85 programs were listed-Ed.)  Eventually, all federal, state and local programs will be included. This is potentially very helpful. The federal, state and
local governments have lots of programs. You may qualify for something that you did not know existed.
From the Kim Kommando Newsletter- May 4, 2002

Editor's note: This will be the last newsletter that I have the pleasure of editing.  I have served on the Newsletter Committee since 1996, and I feel that it's time to give someone else the opportunity to perform this interesting and creative task.

Sandy Stites

A French cook believed people would enjoy rabbit. He decided to raise rabbits. But he could not find a good place. Finally, a priest said he could have a small area behind the cathedral. There he raised his rabbits, and when he went about Paris selling them, he was asked where he got such fresh rabbits.
The cook replied, "I raise them myself. In fact, I have a hutch back of Notre Dame."

Self-employed?  Protect Yourself from Loss of Income

If you are self-employed, you can protect yourself against a loss of income due to injury or illness with Disability Insurance Electric Coverage (DIEC).  (EDD) offer(s)  this program as a safety net to self-employed individuals doing business in California. 

The DIEC program offers you:

• Income protection whether or not an injury or illness is work-related.

• A benefit waiting period of only seven days.

• Premium charges that do not discriminated because of age, occupation, or previous health history.

• Up to 39 weeks of benefit payments

• Benefits for pregnancy related disabilities.

To qualify for these benefits you must apply for DIEC, be approved for coverage, and pay quarterly premiums prior to becoming disabled. 

Generally a minimum of seven months must elapse before a new member is eligible to receive benefits. 

For more information please call (EDD) at 1-888-745-3886 or visit (their) Web site:

Frequently asked questions: www.edd.ca.gov/difaq9.htm

To download an application for DIEC:  www.edd.ca.gov/de1378di.pdf

EDD California Employer Second Quarter 2002

Educational Opportunities

 Three of our members will be presenting classes at Santa Barbara City College this fall:

Brenda Richter, CPA, will be teaching

2)     Introduction to Accounting Software & Systems (Accounting 150) Tues/Thurs 5:00pm – 7:50pm
        Review/Learn computer application software & accounting procedures.
        (Peach Tree, Excel & systems)

More info is available at www.sbcc.net

Sandra O’Meara, CPA, will be teaching

Accounting With QuickBooks (Accounting 160) Review and application of accounting principles using QuickBooks.

Call Sandy for further information at 965-9907.

Carolyn Terry will also be teaching Introduction to Accounting Software & Systems  (Accounting 150) Tuesdays and Thursdays from 8 a.m. to 9:50 a.m. Carolyn says this is a refresher course - really fun and hands on.

COME AND LEARN

In keeping with Board policy and the stated purpose of the organization to provide an exchange of information and further the education of our members, the Newsletter Committee will maintain a calendar listing of educational opportunities available to members and the public.   This listing will contain information that you send in.  Please send your contributions to the editor prior to the fifth of the month to have them included in that month’s newsletter! 

July 2002 -You can apply for SB City College fall 2002 classes 

For information: Computer Applications Dept. SBCC 965-0581, Ext. 2260 
or http://www.sbcc.net/academic/ instruct.htm

Financial and Managerial Accounting classes available online visit http://online.sbcc.net or call 965-0581 X7222 for information.  

August 2002

8/17- Deadline for application SBCC 

8/19- Classes begin - SBCC 

8/25- Schedule of Classes- SBCC Continuing Education – published SB News- Press

9/9- SBCC Continuing Education classes begin

Editor of this month’s Newsletter was Sandy Stites.  Many thanks to Mary Cathcart for proofreading this issue! Next month’s Editor will be Monica Dittrich.