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PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE  
 

Hello everyone. Spring is almost here!

 Our March meeting will be a joint one with the IMA (Institute of Management Accountants) on Thursday, March 20^th. The IMA will be hosting at the Red Lion Hotel, at 11211 Main Street in Bellevue. The speaker for the evening will be Linda Miller Baldwin, a Tax Information Specialist from the WA Department of Revenue will be the speaker.  There are BIG changes in how companies in Washington must collect sales tax effective July 1, 2008, and Linda will discuss the new “Streamlined Sales Tax Agreement”. Companies must now collect sales tax at the rate for the location where the customer receives the merchandise, which is a big change from current procedures.  Linda will present the issues involved with destination-based sales tax sourcing and how it impacts WA consumers and businesses.  Bring any sales tax or B&O questions you might have, Linda is a long-time employee, and knows her stuff!

In April, we will have our dinner meeting at the Bellevue Coast Hotel on Tuesday, April 22^nd.

Caroline Thienes

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THIS MONTH'S MEETING

Date:  Thursday,  March 20, 2008    IMA/Bellevue Joint Dinner Meeting

Time: 
5:30 - 6:30pm social hour
6:30pm           dinner
7:00 - 8:00pm program

Cost:   $25 members and guests, Students $12,
Cash or check only, please.

Place:  Red Lion Bellevue Inn
           11211 Main St,  Bellevue, WA  98004,
          
Driving Directions, From the North
I-405: Take the NE 8th Street Exit headed West
On the West side of I-405 turn left (South) at the first light onto 112th Ave SE
Follow 112th Ave SE south to Main Street
Red Lion is on the SE corner of Main & 112th Ave SE

Driving Directions, From the South
I-405: Take exit 12 towards SE 8th Street Exit
Keep left on ramp to 116th Ave NE, turn left onto 116th Ave NE
Turn left on Main Street, cross I-405
Red Lion is on the SE corner of Main & 112th Ave SE
 
 

The three dinner options are:

1) Default: Dijon Prawn Pasta - Black tiger prawns, peppers and garlic in Dijon cream sauce over pasta

2) Option: Stuffed Breast of Chicken - Saltimbocca with sage and ham sauce

3) Vegetarian: Pasta Radiatore with sautéed vegetables, sun-dried tomatoes, basil pesto and feta cheese

Salad will be: Red Lion House Salad (mixed leafy greens with light bleu cheese vinaigrette, diced apple, candied spiced walnuts and shredded carrots)

Desert will be: Mango Berry Cheesecake

Reservations:  Tina Farmer tfarme@hotmail.com    206-714-4867
Deadline:  5:00pm, Friday, March 14, 2008
Cancellations are due by 12:00pm, Monday, March 17, 2008
 Standing reservations do not apply

Reminder: We are charged for all dinners we reserve and must bill for non-cancellations. 

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MARCH SPEAKER

Linda Miller Baldwin

Tax Information Specialist, WA Department of Revenue
 
Topic:

"WA State Sales Tax 2008 Changes: Destination Sourcing"
Linda Miller Baldwin has been an employee of the state of Washington since 1989 and has worked in the Taxpayer Services Division for the last 17 years.  Her past positions include Tax Information Specialist and supervisor in the Telephone Information Center.  Currently, Ms. Baldwin works in the Taxpayer Information and Education Section where she responds to letters of determination, writes guides and publications, and conducts speaking engagements and workshops, among other activities.  Prior to state service, Ms. Baldwin worked as an accountant and employment manager.  She is a graduate of Washington State University and is currently enrolled in The Evergreen State College MPA Program.

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FEBRUARY SPEAKER HIGHLIGHTS

Ellen Webber, Certified Financial Planner
Janet H. Weisman, Advisor
Harvest Capital Advisors, Inc

"How Much Will We Need to Live on in Retirement?"
What can boomers do to determine if their savings and assets will sufficiently fund their retirement years?  Definitive answers are often elusive. After all, life is filled with many variables, and no one really knows for sure what the future holds. However, even with these constraints, boomers can gain much insight by estimating and analyzing the following: Potential income sources (e.g., income-producing real estate, inheritances, etc.)

Ellen presented her topic in a realistic manner with a sense of humor.
Ellen J. Webber, CPF is the Director of Financial Planning, Chief Compliance Officer for Harvest Capital Advisors, Inc. in Bellevue.  Ellen�s specialties are comprehensive financial planning for individuals and families, and divorce-related planning. Ellen is the co-author of Financial Planning from We to Me.
Janet Weisman works with Portfolio Managers and Planners translating client needs into action plans and has over 25 years in client services.  She is currently completing the requirements for her Certified Financial Planner designation.

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ANNOUNCEMENTS

SAVE THE DATE !!!

Bellevue Chapter is hosting the

ASWA 2008 NW Regional Conference

May 30 -31, 2008 at the
Courtyard Marriott Hotel - Downtown Bellevue

16 Hours of CPE (including 4 hours of Ethics)

Click here for the conference program and to make hotel reservations!

Click here for the registration form to get your early bird member discount!

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SOCIAL SECURITY INFORMATION SPECIALLY PACKAGED FOR WOMEN

By Monique Ford
Social Security Public Affairs Specialist in 701 5th Avenue, M/S 201 Suite 2900, Seattle, WA 98104

All Americans need to understand at least the basics of the Social Security program.  For women, there are reasons it can be especially important.  Here's why:

So Social Security has two ways for women to conveniently get information about Social Security that directly addresses their needs.

Women will find our special webpage on women's issues helpful.  The webpage is entitled "For Women" and can be found at www.socialsecurity.gov/women.

On the left side of the page is a listing of "roles" that a woman may play in life, such as working woman, beneficiary, bride, new mother, divorced spouse, caregiver and widow.  When you click on any one of these roles, you are taken to Social Security information that would be of interest to you.  For example, "new mother" leads you to links on getting a Social Security number for your newborn, benefits for children, and more. 

On the right side of the webpage is a listing of Social Security programs - retirement, survivors and disability - as well as links to the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Medicare programs.  And in the center of the "For Women" webpage are links to such topics as "Don't Outlive Your Retirement Savings."

This link is one that many working women will find particularly helpful because it takes them to Social Security's financial planning website at www.socialsecurity.gov/planners.  They can use the calculators there to test different retirement ages or different scenarios for future earnings amounts.  It also provides some detailed financial information about how marriage, widowhood, divorce, self-employment, government jobs and other life or career events can affect Social Security.  And it includes a link to a non-Social Security worksheet that will help visitors decide how much they need to save and invest for a comfortable retirement.

For all this, and other useful Social Security information important to women, visit the "For Women" page at www.socialsecurity.gov/women.

In addition, Social Security offers a booklet entitled "Social Security:  What Every Woman Should Know."  This 24-page publication is a handy reference tool for any woman who needs a basic understanding of how the Social Security retirement, survivors and disability programs work.  It also includes information for women on what to keep in mind about the Social Security program if they become widowed or divorced.  And it addresses other Social Security issues that a woman may encounter, such as how to change her name, get Social Security numbers for her child(ren), and ensure Social Security coverage if she is self-employed or a household worker.

Free copies of the "What Every Woman Should Know" booklet can be printed by visiting our website at www.socialsecurity.gov/pubs/10127.html or can be ordered by calling our toll-free number at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778).

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MARK YOUR CALENDAR

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2008 SPEAKER SCHEDULE

January 15
Annual Federal Tax Update
Shawn Gagnon, CPA-F. James Weinand and Associates Certified Public Accountants, PS

February 19
How Much Will We Need to Live on in Retirement
Ellen Webber, CFP & Janet Weisman-Advisor of Harvest Capital Advisors, Inc

March 20
IMA/ASWA Bellevue Joint Dinner Meeting-Red Lion Bellevue Inn
WA State Sales Tax 2008 Changes: Destination Sourcing
Linda Miller Baldwin-Tax Information Specialist for WA Department of Revenue

April 22
The New Real Estate Market-Chuck Reiling-RE/MAX and Rick Robertson-Choice Lending, Inc

May 20
Student Night and Accounting Scholarship Winners

May 30-31
2008 NW Regional Conference at the Courtyard Marriott Hotel-Hosted by Bellevue Chapter-
16 CPE credits

June 17
Beating Fatigue & Better sleep at night and more energy during the day!- Dr. Jeannette Birnbach,Designed Clinical Nutrition Center

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Submissions for April 2008 Newsletter
Bellevue+ Addition must be received by
Sunday, March 30 , 2008
 
Eleanor Siverts-Akerman
eleanorsa@comcast.net

Any comments on the website email
eleanorsa@comcast.net

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RECENT HISTORY
ASWA Bellevue Bulletins

February 2008 Bulletin
January 2008 Bulletin
December 2007 Bulletin
November 2007 Bulletin
October 2007 Bulletin
September 2007 Bulletin
August 2007 Bulletin
July 2007 Bulletin
June 2007Bulletin
May 2007 Bulletin
April 2007 Bulletin
March 2007 Bulletin
February 2007 Bulletin
January 2007 Bulletin

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The American Society of Women Accountants Bellevue Chapter gratefully appreciates Robert Half International's sponsorship for this newsletter.