Ad Hoc Issue Committee Minutes

Taxpayer Advocacy Panel
Ad Hoc Teleconference
December 20, 2005

Designated Federal Official (DFO)

• Nancy L. Ferree, TAP Program Manager

Returning Members Present

• Donald Miller
• Sherry Whah, Chair

Members Absent

• Larry Combs
• Dorothy Havey
• Jose Irizarry

Guest(s)

• Harold Gadon

Staff Present

• Inez E. De Jesus, Program Analyst/Note Taker

Welcome
Chair Sherry Whah opened the meeting by welcoming everyone.

All returning members were invited to participate on today’s call and the new members will be introduced and welcomed during the January 2006 annual meeting in D.C.

DFO Ferree has informed all the new Ad Hoc members of their issue assignments.

Roll Call
Current quorum of 4 was not met; 2 members were present. This will therefore be an administrative meeting.

Updates on What’s Going On?
The primary reason for today’s meeting is in preparation for the annual meeting next month since this committee will begin with new members, new TAP staff, and new objectives.

There had been consideration of abolishing the Ad Hoc Committee, but the TAP Director has informed the Florida TAP staff that this committee will continue.

A request was made to send out information to the entire committee on its goals and objectives.

Who Is Interested in Mentoring New Members?
Whah requested that returning members consider taking the leadership roles in acting as mentors for the new members.

Vice-Chair Position
Whah reminded everyone that this is the end of her term and that the Ad Hoc committee will be in need of a new Chair and Vice-Chair.

Self-Introductions
This will be carried over for next month during the face-to-face meeting in D.C.

Define Roles & Responsibilities
DFO Ferree gave a brief overview of the roles of the staff, chair, and vice-chair positions. The staff makes sure it provides the panel with the tools for them to be able to elevate proposals to the IRS. The chair works closely with the analyst and prepares the meeting agendas, and the Vice-chair is groomed to take over if necessary.

Review/Approve Previous Meeting Minutes-August 22, 2005
Since quorum was not met, this item will be tabled.

Introduction of Publication #1 & MLI Issues
Ferree shared that she is in the process of obtaining further details on the new issues the Ad hoc committee will be working with, they are:

1. Publication 1, Your Rights as a Taxpayer, this is an issue of the National Taxpayer Advocate.
   
2. The Systemic Advocacy Program might also want input from TAP.
   
3. Multilingual Initiative (MLI) issues.
   
4. Possibility of working with forms and publications.

Sub-committee Assignments
Whah suggested that an email be sent out to the entire committee with information on Publication 1, and MLI’s Chair’s Report, in order for the panel to begin to decide which subcommittee they would like to be engaged in.

Public Input
None

Action Items:

• Review/approve meeting minutes of August 22, 2005.
  
• The TAP Staff will be sending out information to the entire panel on Publication #1 and the MLI Annual Assessment Report.
  
• The TAP Staff will be sharing the “draft” agenda for Ad hoc’s individual meeting in D.C. on January 11, 2006.

Closing Assessment/Q&A
Chair Whah adjourned the meeting by wishing everyone a nice Holiday Season.

Meeting satisfaction survey will not be processed since there was no quorum.

Next meeting: Annual Meeting in D.C.- January 10-13, 2006 at the Hyatt Regency Washington Hotel on Capitol Hill.

*These meeting minutes have been certified by TAP Program Manager/Designated Federal Official Nancy L. Ferree on February 8, 2006.