July 2021 
President's Report
Summertime 2021
How about that fantastic meeting on July 9? Tina Kirsch had some superb speakers for us! I hope everyone got their tax credit questions answered.
Thank you to CTR's Bridget Escobar for a great presentation on The Employee Retention Tax Credit. I know from the little exposure I had to this subject a few months ago a sliver of what's involved with this. Bridget provided a nice understanding of this tax credit. Good luck to those of you involved in this endeavor.
Thank you to GetHired, Inc's Matthew McClay who did a wonderful job explaining the Work Opportunity Tax Credit (W.O.T.C.). I helped set this tax credit up in our system and I learned a few things I didn't know, thanks to Matthew.
Our own, hard-working Tina Kirsch, with Schneider Downs, gave us a presentation on the COBRA Premium Assistance. Tina provided lots of good information for us to take back and share if we're not involved with COBRA.
This was the first meeting I've attended at Gaetano's and they truly offer a terrific venue and great food! I hope to see more familiar faces filling the seats in September.
If you were unable to attend the July meeting and want to watch the video you may check out our video portfolio. The video link is available under our Resources page.
Our next meeting is September 8, right in the middle of National Payroll Week! Please share with us how your payroll department will be celebrating that week.
2021 Memberships may still be renewed. It's never to late to renew your membership for 2021. Renew today and enjoy all the benefits of your local Chapter. Annual dues are $60 per person.
Have you taken a look at the agenda for our 3rd Annual Pittsburgh Payroll Bash? Fred has been working tirelessly to secure another round of top-notch speakers for us. Take a look at the agenda here: https://apawesternpa.org/meetinginfo.php?id=56&ts=1625885306
We have secured our speakers but have one speaker who will speak on the subject we request, please let us know what you want to learn more about! (More tax credits, taxable fringe, unemployment fraud, etc.)
I've shared with many of you Ohio's SALT (State & Local Tax) virtual conference informaton. It will be held this Thursday, July 22. You can register here:https://ohiosaltconference.com/ They have an entire session dedicated to tax related to remote workers and the cost is only $89!
Please enjoy the rest of the summer. Be safe, be happy and we'll see you after Labor Day!
CHAPTER OFFICERS
Please consider joining the Board by becoming our new Education Director. This individual is responsible for procuring our speakers and upholding the core Chapter mission of supplying RCH education to our members. We have worked very hard to make this a yearly committment of 18 RCHs, this is very valuable for our members and speaks volumes to the quality of our Chapter.
Our Chapter is also seeking a Secretary. This individual would serve as the communication voice of our Chapter. Creation and the distribution of the newsletter and keeping the minutes of Board meeting are the main duties of this important position. Again, please consider becoming part of our Board.
As you may see, many benefit by a few stepping up and dedicating a little. Please consider stepping up and serving your Chapter alongside us today. Please contact me if you may be interested in serving on our Board.
SPEAKERS NEEDED
We are still looking for speakers for our September meeting, please contact us with any subjects you would like us to cover or speaker suggestions. Any payroll-related topic suggestions or a subject matter expert who is willing to present are welcome. Please let us know if there's something you would like to learn more about and we'll do our best to make it happen. Please contact Tina or me.
The easily accepted topics are listed on this website, http://www.americanpayroll.org/pdfs/chapters/100poptops.pdf. Please review the list and contact me to schedule your speaking opportunity.
Our membership group should be able to supply and support a diverse group of educational opportunities for our Chapter.
Please contact Tina Kirsch, the Chapter's Education Director, for further information.
SATELLITE BROADCASTING
We are looking to re-establish and expand this service in 2021. We are the only local payroll Chapter on the western side of the Appalachian Mountains. That means we are the only resource for over 75% of Pennsylvania and 99% of West Virginia as well as good portions of Kentucky and Virginia. Since our Chapter offers a consistent program of at least 18 RCHs annually, our Chapter is prime to expand our outreach to these underserved areas. Other locations could develop as hosts become available. This process will be managed based on a demographic area/zone to ensure our limited bandwidth and resources are managed wisely. Some desired locations include:
- Somerset (Bedford & Somerset counties)
- Uniontown (Fayette & Greene counties)
- Morgantown, WV (Marion, Monogalia, Preston & Taylor counties)
- Charleston, WV (serving a very large area)
- Huntington, WV (serving a large area)
- Youngstown, OH
- Saint Clairsville, OH
Our goal is to create learning opportunities for more payroll professionals while making it more convenient on everyone's travel concerns. To ensure we stay compliant with any APA concerns, we will treat each satellite location just as the Pittsburgh site. Attendees would need to meet in a central location, sign in and attend the meeting, upon completion of the meeting receive their RCHs for their time and attendance. All of this at a reduced cost versus the rate at the Pittsburgh location since we will not be providing lunch at the satellite locations.
Community Service
Remember our soldiers & the local food banks.
The food banks need filled EVERY week to sustain their outreach programs. Your donations helps in their efforts.
APA Training Opportunities
SAVE THE DATES FOR 2021 EDUCATION EVENTS
The American Payroll Association & local chapters offers many wonderful opportunites to learn, grow and network.
| Mar 10, 2021 | Western PA Chapter - meeting | Coraopolis, PA |
| May 5, 2021 | Western PA Chapter - meeting | Coraopolis, PA |
| July 9, 2021 | Western PA Chapter - meeting | Coraopolis, PA |
| Sept 8, 2021 | Western PA Chapter - meeting | Coraopolis, PA |
| Nov 12, 2021 | Western PA Chapter - 3rd Annual: Pittsburgh Payroll Bash | Coraopolis, PA |
| July 7-Sept 8 (every Wed) | CPP/FPC study group | TBD |
| TBD | Payroll Issues for Multi-State Employers | TBD |
| TBD | Intermediate Payroll Concepts | TBD |
| TBD | Payroll Tax Forum | TBD |
| TBD | Strategic Leadership Certificate | TBD |
| TBD | Garnishment Forum | TBD |
| TBD | Payroll Practice Essentials | TBD |
| TBD | Global Payroll Mgmt Certification | TBD |
| TBD | Local Income Tax Compliance | TBD |
| TBD | Preparing for Year End & 2021 | TBD |
| TBD | PA Statewide Conference | Hosted by Southeastern PA Chapter |
| Mar 15-17, 2021 | Capital Summit | ONLINE only |
| May 18-20, 2021 | APA Congress | Nashville, TN |
| TBD | Payroll Leaders Conference | TBD |
| Oct 24-27, 2021 | Educational Institutions Payroll Conference | Denver, CO |
Some national events have various locations available to attend. Please review the seminar in question on the APA website for location venues available.
Click here for more information: http://www.americanpayroll.org/course-conf/