Gateway Association Payroll Professionals (GAPP)

Chapter President’s Message

06/26/09

Website:  http://www.gatewaypayroll.org

Dear GAPP Member:

My term as your President is quickly drawing to a close.  I’ve been extremely honored to hold the position this past year and hope that my service to you, the members of GAPP, has helped you to become a better Payroll Professional.  I want to extend my thanks to our Board for their dedication and support, and to all members for your continued support through your membership dues and your attendance at our meetings. 

During the past year, we passed an amendment to our Bylaws to allow members the opportunity to pay a reduced cost from $75 to $50 in annual membership dues. We established a google gmail account to allow us to send all communication to our membership from a single suite and we enhanced our website to continue to provide helpful information and resource tools.   

In 2008, we continued to enhance our payroll knowledge.  In July 2008, we learned about What’s New in the World of Earnings Tax from Larry Unger.   Our National Payroll Week meeting in August 2008 included a celebration of our profession and a fact-filled presentation on Fundamentals of Wage Garnishments, Payroll Compliance and Year End Payroll Planning by Debera Salam, Director Ernst & Young.  

We supported the Midwest Regional Payroll Conference in September 2008 in Branson, MO.  In October 2008, Sharon Byrd from Social Security Administration shared with us What’s New in the World of Social Security.  In November 2008, we learned about Workforce Technologies (Employee Self Service) from Coray Grove.  We hosted the Belltones for our Holiday Luncheon in December 2008. 

In February 2009, we reviewed the impact of Identity Theft as presented by Daniel Andrews.  In March 2009, Matthew White from Talx presented Unemployment Tax Management: Economic and Update Planning.  In April 2009, Lisa Yankowitz shared with us HR Law Updates.  In May 2009, we learned about the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 as presented by Katie Beard from the Internal Revenue Service.  On June 11, 2009, the CPP Study Group began the first session with 30 participants.  On June 18, 2009,   Changes in International ACH Transfers was presented by Bernice Hodge.

Upcoming events:

• The Midwest Regional Payroll Conference will be held at the Chateau on the Lake in Branson, MO from August 26 through August 28, 2009.  Due to the conference, we will not have a monthly GAPP meeting in August.
• On September 17, 2009 we will celebrate National Payroll Week and our speaker will be Debera Salam, Director Ernst and Young.

 I hope each of you have received a benefit from GAPP during the past year.  Although I will no longer be your President, I will remain a volunteer and hope each of you will consider supporting our volunteer organization in the coming years.  The organization will continue to be strong and a support group to all Payroll Professionals in the St. Louis region as long as we continue to help and support each other through GAPP.

Best regards,

Pat McQuiller