July 2016 Newsletter 
President's Report
Hello Pay Pro Surfer -
Hope you are having a great summer. While many of you are enjoying vacation and taking in the sun, the VSPC is planning to catch some waves this October at our “Surfing through Payroll” event in Portsmouth, Virginia.
If you haven’t registered yet, please be sure to do so before September 18. Register before August 21 you can take advantage of the Early Bird discount! So what are you waiting for? Classes are filling up quickly and you don’t want to miss the opportunity to attend.
Do you know someone that you feel should be honored for their accomplishments in payroll? Nominate them for Payroll Professional of the Year. The nomination process is open until September 9, 2016.
I hope to see you in October -- surfs up!
Elizabeth Burroughs, CPP
President
VSPC
Speaker's Corner
Meet your Surf Instructors!
We are pleased to introduce you to one of our new speakers this year, Howard Perlman from Bloomberg BNA!
Howard is a Certified Payroll Professional who analyzes all aspects of U.S. payroll administration as a senior editor/writer with Bloomberg BNA. Howard proudly serves as the government liaison officer of the Washington Metropolitan Area Chapter of the American Payroll Association. He earned a B.A. in Journalism and a B.A. in Political Science from American University in 2010 and is one of the primary coordinators of the Boy Scouts of America in Washington, D.C.
You will have several opportunities to meet Howard during the conference. On Thursday you can find him at the Bloomberg BNA booth in the expo hall, where he can help answer your payroll questions and give you more information about Bloomberg’s service offerings. We will be keeping him busy on Friday, when he teaches not one, but two sessions! The first will be a “Legislative Update” at 11am, and the second will be “Managing Unemployment Insurance from Coast to Coast” at 2:15pm.
Although Howard is new to speaking at the conference, he has wowed audiences with his impressive off the cuff knowledge on many topics. His sessions will be ones to make sure you don’t miss!
George Mavrantzas is the Vice President of Special Projects for Global Cash Card. He has over 18 years in the prepaid industry with the last 12 years specifically in paycards. He has worked in all facets of prepaid and paycard operations including but not limited to: Business Development, Project Management, Customer Service, Implementation, Relationship & Account Management, and Social Media Expansion.
As Vice President of Special Projects, George is responsible for delivering executive presentations, supporting & managing strategic channel partnerships, and contributing to executive decisions. In addition, George is a prolific speaker at a variety of industry events including at American Payroll Association Local Chapters and Statewide Conferences.
We are thrilled George will join us this year in Portsmouth for the opening general session on Thursday morning! His presentation will focus on “Employee Benefits & Adoption Rates for a Successful Paycard Program.”
Charlotte Hodges, CPP, is the Payroll Manager for Willis Towers Watson, a leading global advisory, broking and solutions company that helps clients around the world turn risk into a path for growth. She is a member of the American Payroll Association's Hotline Referral Service and serves on the Strategic Payroll Leadership Task Force Best Practices Subcommittee. Charlotte currently serves as President of the Washington Metropolitan Area Chapter of the APA (WMAC-APA).
Charlotte will be our busiest surf instructor this year with three hard-hitting sessions. On Thursday, she will co-present a session on “Bummer Payments: Handling Difficult Situations in Payroll” at 1:10pm, where they will review difficult situations payroll professionals face, including overpayments and paying deceased employees. On Friday Charlotte will teach a 2-part session on Multi-State Payroll. Part 1 will follow the opening general session at 9:20 am and this session will focus on non-tax challenges, such as paying employees, wage & hour issues, garnishments and abandoned wages. Part 2 will take place during the next session at 11 am, and this session will focus on tax-specific challenges.
All three sessions Charlotte will be teaching are frequent topic suggestions, and we hope you mark your schedules for these in-depth presentations!
Charity
Blankets for the Homeless in Hampton Roads, Virginia is the charity for our 2016 conference.
The founder, Mariah Smith, was born abandoned on Christmas Eve. Mariah started this organization in October 2011 when she was 17year old. She has already distributed over 110,000 blankets and lunches to people living on the streets. In addition to blankets, she provides coats, hats, gloves, clothes, shoes, backpacks, tents, toiletries and anything else they need. She is determined fo find a way to what they need to them.
Mariah has numerous speaking engagements at schools, businesses, organizations, and every Sunday she speaks at a different church encouraging THOUSANDS to join her on her mission to help as many people as she can. Five nights a week Mariah distributes 50 blankets and lunches along with all the other desperately needed items to people living on the streets not fortunate enough to get into shelters.
In addition to blankets and the items listed above, they can also use gift cards to help purchase items they need.
For more information on our charity, visit our CHARITY page on the website. Below is a short video on Blankets for the Homeless.
Payroll Professional of the Year
Each year the Virginia Payroll Professional of the Year Award is presented at the Annual Virginia Statewide Payroll Conference in recognition of outstanding service to the payroll community. It is one of the highest honors the Virginia Statewide Payroll Committee bestows upon members and is one of the most prestigious awards in the payroll profession.
Our 2015 PPY winner was Abbey Moran, CPP. Abbey is an active member of the WMAC. At the WMAC she serves as President-Elect. Nationally, Abbey is involved in National Speakers Bureau, Chapter Recognition Committee, Government Relations Task Force, Hotline, Certification Item Development Task Force, Strategic Payroll Leadership Task Force, and CHAMPS. For the VSPC, she serves on the Speaker Committee and the PPY committee.
For more information and to nominate someone, visit the PPY page on the website.
Hotel Reservations
The 2016 conference hotel is the Renaissance Portsmouth-Norfolk Waterfront Hotel. Regular rooms are $119.00, and the government rate is $89.00 (or prevailing government rate) per night plus tax. For more information visit the HOTEL tab on the website.
Exhibitors, Sponsors and Government Sponsors
Exhibitors/Sponsors play a very important role in our conference. Not only do they provide financial support to the conference, but they educate our members on recent trends and solutions in an ever-changing environment.
Welcome the following sponsors to the 2016 Virginia Statewide Payroll Conference
Global Cash Card is the proven specialist in customized paycard solutions that are SIMPLE to implement and EASY to use. We are a no cost and fully in-house solution. Our state-of-the-art proprietary technology, 24x7x365free-live customer service, and full implementation & field support services provide you the best payroll card solution in the industry.
| Payroll Services Solutions | Free Software Support |
| - PenSoft Payroll Hosted Solution | - Online Program Support: www.pensoft.com/support/support.aspx |
| - Employee Self Service | - Support via e-mail: [email protected] |
| - Submit payroll information online | - Phone: 757.873.1199 |
| - Implement direct deposit | - Fax: 757.873.1733 |
| - 94x E-Filing Service | |
| - Workers Compensation | |
Access, benefits, and features that employees just can’t get from a paper check
The rapid! PayCard provides your company with the most comprehensive paycard benefit and ePayroll program designed for employers choosing to convert to electronic delivery of payroll at zero cost.
www.rapidpaycard.com
888-828-2270
[email protected]
Real-time, accurate and compliant payroll processing
Dayforce Payroll replaces batch-driven payroll with a real-time cloud application. Increase efficiency, reduce cycle time and achieve better results.
We can help you design your workforce for maximum effectiveness and efficiency. Our cloud-based human capital management technology transforms payroll, benefits, workforce management, human resources, and talent management to deliver business results.
Learn more by visiting www.ceridian.com or speak with a representative by calling 1-800-729-7655.
SOLUTIONS YOU CAN RELY ON
ESSENTIAL. INNOVATIVE. EVERY DAY.
We offer a unique combination of expert content, time-saving tools, and proprietary business data for professionals.
Bloomberg BNA's HR & Payroll Resource Center™ provides you with the complete HR solution! Access all of our HR, Payroll, Compensation & Benefits, and International HR products in one place. Find answers to your toughest questions with a single search, save your favorites, customize your email alerts, and more!
Learn more by visiting www.bna.com
Your solution to benefits enrollment and administration. A solution that is Our software makes it easy for brokers, employers, affinity groups and carriers to connect vital information about their benefits and administrative programs to individuals and employees.
Payroll and HR administrators can accommodate any core or voluntary benefit plus administrative programs like ACA data management, HSA, COBRA, 401k, etc. Enjoy a combination of online, offline, self-enrollment or a call center connection to maximize your group enrollment participation.
The right technology for the right job!
EDM Office Automation is a full-service business technology partner for businesses of all sizes. We Optimize work environments and our certified document solution architects integrate existing devices and software into one holistic, perfectly running "get it done" system. We show you how to save money by buying the proper technology and by taking out the dysfunction that slows your office environment. Visit us at www.edmautomation.com or call 757-498-2450.
First impressions are important. New trends, new technology, even a new look!
JEWELRY TRENDS 2016 are presented in the PREMIER DESIGNS JEWELRY CATALOG & the SPRING & SUMMER 2016 jewelry fashion trends catalogs. No other fashion jewelry is as versatile as Premier Designs, the #1 retailer of High Fashion Jewelry. Contact Gale Nicholson to learn more [email protected].
Why Volunteer
I have been involved with the Virginia Statewide Payroll Conference (VSPC) since 2010 when we were last in Portsmouth, Virginia. That was the year I volunteered so I could learn how to do the Exhibitor Hall for this conference from the previous committee chairperson. Then in 2011 when we were in Fredericksburg, I was completely responsible for the Exhibitor Hall. The 2015 VSPC was my last year as the Vendor Committee chairperson. For 2016, I represent the VSPC as your Vice-President. The reason I am mentioning this is to see that all volunteers for the VSPC start somewhere. It can be any committee – from working on the conference theme, obtaining speakers, finding vendors to exhibit, registering attendees, or taking pictures throughout the event. All these volunteers and more are needed to have a successful conference.
When you attend the conference in October, you are in the midst of experiencing all the work our volunteers have done over the year. That’s right….over the last year. Behind the scenes, we work on ideas for themes. Once a theme is picked by our attendees, we work on ideas on how to make it work for the conference venues and Dinner/Social. Our volunteers work on reaching out to speakers to provide new subjects and exposure to payroll information they may not obtain through their local chapter meetings or APA classes. We strive to give you the latest updates through newsletters throughout the year. Our vendors also use the newsletters to communicate about their involvement in the conference, their products/services, or any other information to help our payroll professionals.
So why am I talking about volunteering? It is simple. It is great fun. There are times when it is a lot of hard work but the results make it so worth it. You meet new people from chapters throughout Virginia. You get to learn from others and take value from that. I love it. My hope is that you will be inspired to reach out to your local chapter, statewide or even National APA and get involved. Our organizations succeed due to our volunteers. The ideas that are put to action are due to the volunteers. Time is involved throughout the year to make a chapter meeting, all day class, and Statewide come together. But it is worth it. You can be part of it to any degree you have time. You don’t have to chair a committee to get involved. Committees need volunteers to help. Could be as simple as sending out an email to welcome a new member. Or selling raffling tickets during an event to raise money. Or sitting with someone new at a chapter meeting so they feel welcomed. Volunteering is simple and it is rewarding.
If you have any questions on volunteering, please do not hesitate to reach out to me, Board Members for Statewide, or your local chapter. We would love to hear from you.
Chapter News
See what is going on with your local chapter!
Virginia Chapters
Colonial Capital Chapter
The Colonial Capital Chapter will be hosted a special event on August 9th at the Gloucester Main Street Library
Speakers: Cynthia Holdren and Denise Berry, FPC will deliver an engaging presentation on Child Support & Controlling Unemployment Costs
This special event is open to all payroll and human resource professionals. The cost is $25.00 for non-members and begins with a meet and greet over a continental breakfast.
Registration form is located http://www.ccc-apa.com/home.html
Gloucester County - Library 6920 Main Street, Gloucester VA 23061
For more information visit www.ccc-apa.com.
Hampton Roads Chapter
The Hampton Roads Chapter is looking forward to being your Host chapter for this year’s VSPC. Our chapter will celebrated our 15th anniversary at our meeting on April 14th. All our members received a votive candle labeled “Celebrating 15 Years of the being the guiding light to your payroll success!” We had some great information presented from Child Support at our April meeting. We are planning some fun activities for NPW. For more information visit www.hrapa.com.
Richmond Chapter
For more information visit www.apa-richmond.com.
Shenandoah Valley Chapter
For more information visit http://www.shenvalleyapa.com/.
Southwest Virginia Chapter
For more information visit http://swvaapa.org/.
West Virginia
Charles Town West Virginia Chapter
For more information visit http://www.ctwvapa.org/.
Washington D.C.
Washington Metropolitan Chapter
Washington Metropolitan Area Chapter of the APA –The WMAC-APA is dedicated to providing educational opportunities to our members and colleagues through various venues including chapter meetings, all day Saturday classes on various payroll related topics, and by conducting CPP study classes. We are also committed to supporting our community by coordinating volunteer opportunities and supporting various charities through monetary giving and donations of needed items.
On Saturday, July 30th the WMAC will be conducting a One Day Class at the Fairfax County Government Center. This class “Payroll Calculations: Onboarding Through Offboarding” is being facilitated by Linda Dailey, CPP, Lura Woodley, CPP and Charlotte Hodges, CPP. This session is awarding 6 RCHs. For more information click here.
Visit our website at www.wmac-apa.org for more information about our Chapter and upcoming events.
Legislative Updates
IRS announcements for 2017 limits are coming in. The first limits announced are for Health Saving Accounts (HSA).
2017 Contribution Limits:
Individual Only: $3,400 ($3,350 for 2016)
Family: $6,750 (same for 2016)
Catch-Up (55 or older): Additional $1,000 (same for 2016)
2017 Maximum Annual Out-Of-Pocket Limits:
High Deductible Health Plans (HCHPs) –
Individual Only: $6,550 (same for 2016)
Family: $13,000 (same for 2016)
Did You Know.....
Tax Freedom Day is the day when the nation as a whole has earned enough money to pay its total tax bill for the year. Tax Freedom Day takes all federal, state, and local taxes and divides them by the nation’s income. In 2015, Americans paid $3.28 trillion in federal taxes and $1.57 trillion in state and local taxes, for a total tax bill of $4.85 trillion, or 31 percent of national income. In 2015 Tax Freedom Day fell on April 24, or 114 days into the year.
Over the entrance to the IRS building in Washington D.C. is a quote by Oliver Wendell Holmes: “Taxes are what we pay for a civilized society.
When the federal minimum wage first became law in 1938, it was 25 cents. This roughly translates to $4.10 today.
No U.S. President is featured on the $100 bill. Benjamin Franklin, one of the Founding Fathers of the USA and one of the most famous Americans to impact the world, is featured on the $100 bill. This is the largest denomination which is currently issued in the U.S. Benjamin Franklin’s image was first used in 1914 and the note was redesigned in 1996. Benjamin Franklin is known as an elder statesman and is the oldest revolutionary. He was responsible for the Declaration of Independence which he signed in 1776.