Area 7 Committee Meeting Minutes

March 2, 2004
Teleconference 9 am to 10:00 am

Attendees:

• Curtis Feese
• Cheyanna Jaffke, Area 7 Chair
• Howard Perkins
• David Robinson
• Charles Taylor
• Laurie Keleman, Designated Federal Official
• Judi Nicholas, TAP Manager
• Mary O'Brien, Program Analyst

Members Not Present:

• James Griffin
• Chris Lowe

Welcome and Announcements
Cheyanna welcomed everyone to the meeting and asked for a roll call. Mary called roll, four members present; therefore, the quorum requirements were met.

Joint Committee Report Out
Cheyanna asked if everyone received a copy of the joint committee report and had the chance to review it.

Cheyanna discussed that everyone who wanted to stay an extra year was approved. Three members from Area 7 are staying the third year.

The TAP budget was discussed and there is enough money for seven of the committees to hold an additional face-to-face meeting. Cheyanna discussed that Area 7 did not need another face-to-face at this point and other committees had a greater need. Area 7 will hold one face-to-face.

Offer-in-Compromise
Cheyanna gave a history of the Offer-in-Compromise issue. The panel discussed the possibility of rewording the Offer Instruction to make a recommendation for the IRS to reconsider or accept the IRS response as written. The panel discussed sending Cheyanna an email on their thoughts as to what language should be included or to leave it alone. Cheyanna will continue to shepherd the issue.

Action Item: All panel members will email their opinion on the OIC recommendation to Cheyanna and cc Mary.

Pending Issues
Adult Financial Literacy/Education- Charles gave a report out on the adult literacy issue. The issue has been completed and is ready to send out to the panel members for review and comment. He also gave an update on a few of the things locally happening at the February United Way event. The press conference was a success to promote VITA and to mention adult financial literacy. He discussed that using VITA, as a vehicle might be a good way to inject adult financial literacy into some of the learning programs. Charles plans on forwarding the Area 7 recommendation to the VITA coalitions in hopes that they will incorporate tax education in planned financial literacy events.

Action Item: Mary will forward the recommendation to the panel members to make comments and suggestions. This issue will be placed on the next teleconference agenda for approval.

Installment Agreements Update
Mary gave the update on what the IRS is doing with the Installment Agreement task force that Area 7 participated in. The task force has received all of the suggestions to the interactive installment agreement for www.irs.gov. They will use these suggestions to improve the product. However, due to funding, this project has been put on hold. When they are able to work on this project again, they will call another task force from TAP to look at the product again before it goes on the IRS Internet website.

Issues of Interest
Cheyanna asked if everyone had received the list of issues from Mary. The panel discussed what issues to work on from the issue matrix sent. It was decided that each panel member would look at the issues and get back to Mary by the next conference call on what issue they would like to shepherd.

Outreach Materials
Laurie is working on a speaker's handbook on how to get ready to speak to an audience. She is working with David on putting this together. They are putting together a packet that includes: Key Messages; News Release Sample; Assembly List for Outreaches (what you should bring based on the event). The TAP Staff is working on a pamphlet that outlines the outreach materials, samples, and how to order the materials.

Action Item: Mary will get the pamphlet to the panel.

Member Report of Outreach
David has prepared correspondence to send to the Association of Government Accountants explaining the mission of TAP and where the groups could possibly partner. He has also worked with the IRS VITA coordinator for possible outreach opportunities.

David discussed a tax guide pamphlet prepared by the National Association of Credit Union. He thought this might be a good idea to ask them to put something in the guide about TAP as a way of marketing.

Cheyanna continues to leave flyers in post offices and libraries.

Other Committee Business
Cheyanna asked if there was any other business to be discussed. No other business.

Public Comments
No comments from the public.

Closing and Assessment
The next meeting will be a teleconference on April 6, 2004 at 9am. Cheyanna adjourned the meeting.