March 3, 2003 - 1:00pm PT
(Teleconference)

Members in attendance

• Lawrence Lexow
• Chris Lowe
• Gregory Maciulla
• Robert Meldman
• Diane Mignano
• Francis Paolone
• Sherry Whah
• Lillian Woo
• Anne Gruber

TAP Staff

• Judi Nicholas - TAP Manager - Seattle, WA
• Nancy Ferree - TAP Manager - Plantation, FL
• Sallie Chavez - Analyst - Plantation, FL

Guest

• Erick Patterson, Director, Individual Advocacy - Washington, DC
• Sharon Lassar - TAP Member - Area 3

Absent

• Larry Bernard
• Jerry Gensiejewski
• James Griffin
• James Grimaldi
• Calvin Johnson
• Paul Smathers

Committee Chair Chris Lowe welcomed everyone and wanted to see if quorum was met.

Roll call
Roll was taken. When the roll was taken quorum was not met. However, later an additional committee member joined and the quorum was met.

Review of Minutes
The minutes of the February 3, 2003 meeting were reviewed and, by consensus, were accepted as written.

Introduction of Erick Patterson
Erick Patterson was introduced to the committee. Committee Chair read a short bio and asked Erick to speak to the committee. Erick said he would be taking over the duties as "program owner". He said he would take a "hands on" approach to this issue.

Status of St. Louis Meeting - June 6 & 7, 2003
DFO Anne Gruber advised that the host hotel would be the Embassy Suite at Laciede Landing. She asked that everyone call the hotel and make their own hotel reservation as the hotel will not allow her to "block" rooms for this event. She will send an email with all the information needed to arrange for the hotel lodging.

Committee Member Larry Lexow stated that he is arranging for the meeting room. He is having a meeting with the South Illinois University in Edwardsville, IL to use their facility for the meeting. The school will have some political science students attend the meeting. If the meeting can't be arranged at the University both days the second day will either be at the hotel or at Larry's office.

National Licensing of Practitioners
Committee Members Sherry Whah stated that Nina Olson is reviewing the information that was forwarded for submission to the USA Today for the poll. Erick Patterson said he talked to the media specialist and he had forwarded it to Nina for her review. The media specialist stated that it was very long and suggested it should be shorter. The committee re-stated the fact that they intended it to be long so that "whoever" could edit it. Erick said he would follow-up on it.

Committee Member Bob Meldman suggested that Sherry write a short 250-word paper to submit to Nina Olson. She may have too much on her plate to be able to consider it. Send this statement to the paper and let them come up with a question for the poll. It was agreed that this needs to get into the paper within the next 5 weeks (during tax season) or it will lose its power.

Possible wording (as submitted by Anne):
At the present time there is no license requirement for tax practitioners. Anyone can throw up a sign saying they do tax returns. The customers give them their Information, often they give them money up front, and when they go back for their tax return, the business is gone; the people are gone with the records and everything. Taxpayers are at the mercy of their preparer. Do you believe that Congress should enact legislation to register and certify Federal Tax Return Preparers?

Committee Member Lillian Woo stated she does polls and she said they are usually "short and snappy". However, she does not think that a poll will make a difference concerning the legislative change.

Sherry will rewrite and send it off to Erick. He will make sure it goes to the media specialist and to Nina.

It was clarified what was being licensed. These are only the UNENROLLED TAX PREPARERS.

Committee Member Buck Paolone asked if a copy of the final version of this paper would be shared with all committee members. It was agreed that it would be shared.

Committee Chair Chris Lowe advised that the Joint Committee would like the Ad Hoc Committee to promote the Taxpayer Advocacy Panel. Committee Member Paolone said he would research this. Chris would like to get some National Media coverage before the end of filing season in USA Today and on TV such as "Today". Committee Member Sherry Whah stated her daughter works for a PBS station and she is working on a strategy for TAP, which she will share next week.

Report from National Office
Erick Patterson stated he has covered most of what he wanted to say during other parts of the meeting. He welcomes questions and gave the committee his telephone number.

Sharon Lassar stated she is speaking to the FICPA in a few days and would like to assist in the Licensing project. Erick invited her to contact him for more information. Sharon will report back to the Ad Hoc Committee with what the FICPA has to say about it.

Committee Member Bob Meldman said he is having a luncheon for Nina Olson when she comes to Milwaukee next week. Committee Chair Chris Lowe said that all the committee members would like to do that for Nina and would like to know her travel plans. Erick Patterson will check and see how the committee can be aware of her travel plans. Chris stated he would write a letter asking for it from her. Erick stated that might be a better idea than having him ask her for it.

Committee Member Diane Magnano said she has noticed negative advertising lately on TV. She would like to combat this type of ads. Committee discussed and agrees that it should take care of itself with improved customer service.

Meeting was adjourned.