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1999 Northstar: A.1 - Officers and Procedures
Chapter Officers

Northstar Chapter Board of Directors 1998-1999
(08/01/1998 – 07/31/1999)

PRESIDENT - Marcia Aamodt, Northwest Airlines, Inc.
e-mail: marcia.aamodt@nwa.com

VICE PRESIDENT - Linda Obertin, CPP, 3M Company
e-mail: lobertin1@mmm.com

SECRETARY - Robin Malik-Swisher, CPP, Deluxe Corporation
e-mail: robin_malik_swisher@deluxedata.com

TREASURER - Rick Seifert, CPP, Deluxe Corporation
e-mail: rick_seifert@deluxedata.com

MEMBERSHIP CHAIR - Gail Koch, CPP, Japs Olson Co.
e-mail: gkoch@japsolson.com

HISTORIAN - Ann Johnson, CPP, G&K Services
e-mail: ann.l.johnson@gkservices.com

PROGRAM CHAIR - Jerry Gunderson, CPP, Sage Corporation
e-mail: Jgunder526@AOL.com

EDUCATION CHAIR - Denice McMahon, CPP, Data Card
e-mail: denice_mcmahon@datacard.com

GOVERNMENT LIASON - Nancy Johnson, CPP, Paragon Cable
e-mail: nancy.johnson@TWCable.com

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1999 Northstar: A.2 - Officers and Procedures
National Communication

The National office is notified of all Board Member changes by our Chapter Secretary. One of the position duties of the Chapter Secretary is to ensure that the National Office has an updated listing of our Board Members. When we need to notify national of other activities, we go through David Crudup, Chapter Liaison. Mr. Crudup’s office assists us in posting Northstar Chapter activities and who to contact such as National Payroll Week Coordinator, CPP Study Group Facilitator, and our Annual Payroll Conference information.

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1999 Northstar: A.3 - Officers and Procedures
Government Liaison Officer Role

The Northstar Chapter does have a Government Liaison Officer. This very important position has the responsibility to keep an open line of communication with both national and local government agencies. They provide monthly updates on what is happening that may affect our membership, and their role is to continue to educate the membership on what changes have been made, what changes may be made, and what the members can do to be heard by their government officials.

In 1998 the Northstar Chapter began seeking members to electronically respond to requests for input on issues affecting the payroll community. Board members and the Government Liaison Officer would forward requests for input to individuals in the chapter to solicit responses. While only a couple of members were able to respond, the input helped to provide a more inclusive response.

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1999 Northstar: B.1 - Chapter Meetings
Schedule of 1998 Chapter Meetings

1999 Northstar: B.2 - Chapter Meetings
Preview of 1999 Chapter Meetings (Subjects / Formats / Community Involvement)

1999 Northstar: B.3 - Chapter Meetings
Member Recognition

The Northstar Chapter recognizes all members through various recognition events, small tokens of appreciation, and by providing high quality programs and leadership. Special "achievers" are recognized with special recognition awards, such as gift certificates and public recognition programs.

An example of this would apply to our new CPP recipients and CPP Study Group leaders. Each year we dedicate a portion of a membership  meeting to recognize our new CPP recipients through a ceremonial event where they come forward to be recognized for their achievement and receive a present from the Northstar Chapter. The leaders are also recognized during this event with public recognition, receive a gift certificate and also a free edition of the Payroll Source for their leadership contributions.

We have also recognized our volunteers with special recognition certificates they can display in their office. Board members are recognized by an annual event such as a dinner and theater activity to which they can bring a guest and by other lunch or dinner meetings. At the end of their term they receive a beautiful plaque to remind them of the appreciation of their contributions. This year the past and present Board members and their families were treated to a weekend at a resort in northern Minnesota. During each event or activity that occurs, we ensure that members know they are appreciated and supported.

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1999 Northstar: B.4 - Chapter Meetings
1998 CPP Study Group

The 1998 CPP Study Group as in years past has given members a focused approach to preparing for the CPP examination. Three individuals continued to volunteer their time for this educational opportunity, in addition a fourth member began training to facilitate in absences and if necessary add an additional group. Donald Wright, CPBC, LPA; Terry Meggitt, CPP; and Leslie McLaughlin, CPP returned as facilitators, and Jerry Gunderson, CPP began sitting in on sessions and substituted for facilitators when necessary. Study groups met across the metropolitan area and this year expanded to Stillwater, MN near the boarder of Wisconsin for individuals farther east.

Study groups met for 17 weeks throughout the summer months for the September and October testing schedule. To better enhance the sessions participants are asked to read the materials to be covered in The Payroll Source and then discussions are held to develop a full understanding of the materials.

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1999 Northstar: C.1 - Chapter Technology and Networking
Electronic / Digital Technology

The Northstar Chapter continues to look to electronic technology to keep members informed. Board members have set up group notification using e-mail, and use this form of communication to assist in making Board decisions, get input on issues, and provide information for the chapter newsletter. This use of technology has reduced the number of items Board members have had to courier to one another to get monthly mailings to the membership.

One of the major goals in Communication set out by the Board members at the Five Year Strategic Planning session was the need for a website for the chapter. Planning began for this by researching the cost and feasibility, seeking out a website developer, and determining information to have on the site. These items were completed and presented to the general membership at the December 1998 meeting. Final touches are currently being completed for an unveiling of the Northstar APA Chapter website. Look for the site to be operational at http://www.apanorthstar.org in the Spring of 1999.

In the ever demanding business world, time for Board members to get together continues to be a valuable commodity. In an effort to get all Board Members together, conference calling will allow one or two board meetings to be held each year without the need for members to travel across town, missing valuable time from the work environment.

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1999 Northstar: C.2 - Chapter Technology and Networking
Recruiting New Members

The Northstar Chapter has been very successful at recruiting new members. We use a variety of methods but the most success comes from networking. Networking at other professional organizations and at nationally sponsored APA events is a very good method used to recruit new members. When ever there is a captive audience, in the appropriate setting, you will see members networking and promoting the Northstar Chapter.

We also recruit members through public awareness of our organization such as community service events. Performing community service has many benefits and we have found that one of outcomes of our services has generated new members. Whether we have been collecting for the food shelf or donating supplies and presents to less fortunate families in the community, we are asked what organization we are from and always seem to end up with a new member or two through community involvement.

We do have professional affiliations with other organizations such as the International Human Resource Information Management group that we use to cosponsor events or use their newsletter for advertising annual conferences. Many of our members have been asked to present at various organizational events or schools. You can be sure that the Northstar Chapter is mentioned at least once or twice.

Using vendors to promote our chapter has also been successful for member recruitment. When we are sending out announcements for our annual conference we have been known to call the chamber of commerce for larger cities in a four state area and send a blind mailing to businesses in those communities who may not know about our chapter or the APA.

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1999 Northstar: C.3 - Chapter Technology and Networking
Networking with other APA Chapters

The Northstar Chapter interacts with surrounding chapters and communities without chapters in a few ways. We are the largest chapter in the area and do encompass a large geographical area.

Our interaction with surrounding communities is to keep them informed our of Annual Conference and place announcements in their communications to their members. During our annual conference, we attract attendees from a five state area and the outstate attendance grows each year.

We have had an opportunity for our President to travel to North Dakota where there is no chapter and speak at a Payroll Vendor Conference. This initiative may spark local interest in a new chapter or may provide future opportunities for the Northstar Chapter to travel across the state and host educational opportunities.

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1999 Northstar: D.1 - National Payroll Week 1998
Celebration of the Payroll Professional

National Payroll Week in 1998 was celebrated at our Annual Conference in September. The Annual Conference provided the perfect backdrop to bestow upon our members the recognition of their efforts, along with the education and partnership of government officials.

Governor Arne Carlson proclaimed the week of September 14-18, 1998 to be "Payroll Week" in Minnesota. This proclamation was proudly displayed for members attending the Annual Conference to see and replicate copies were distributed to everyone in attendance. The continued support from the Governor and Lt. Governor in Minnesota reminds all of our members how important Payroll Professionals are for our state.

The National Payroll Week celebration at the Annual Conference began with everyone joining in the singing of "I am a Payroll Professional" song. This really seemed to get everyone in the celebration spirit. After opening remarks by Marcia Aamodt, Chapter President, members viewed the "National Payroll Week 1997" video.

The session then focused on our honored guests, Dave Haney, Director of Reemployment Tax, Minnesota Department of Economic Securities and JoAnne Furey, Director, Withholding Tax Division, Minnesota Department of Revenue. Mr. Haney spoke on the topic of "The Hope for Electronic Commerce" and Ms. Furey spoke on "Current Developments with the Minnesota Department of Revenue".

Members then had an opportunity to hear some of the Northstar Chapter members speak about what the APA and the Northstar Chapter has done for their careers, and what the APA and Northstar Chapter can offer other members. The speakers were Joann Clove, Benefits Manager, Colwell Industries; Karen Hagert, CPP, Payroll Manager, GE Capital Fleet Services; Ann Johnson, CPP, Payroll Tax Specialist, Northwest Airlines; Mike Kirch, CPP, Operations Manager, Payroll Solutions; and Anna Jasulevicius, Payroll Administrator, Evangelical Free Church of America. Each speaker provided a unique look at their view of the Payroll Profession, from laughter, to the need for continually learning and Payroll and its partners.

Robert Half and Accountemps, who were national NPW sponsors, then had Kathy Winter speak on "The Importance of Professionalism in Today’s Payroll Professional". Kathy’s inspiring speech motivated the members to think about how the Payroll Profession has grown, and how they can be a part of this continued growth.

The celebration concluded with a more casual singing of "I am a Payroll Professional" with members putting some actions with the words to express their excitement of their profession.

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1999 Northstar: D.2 - National Payroll Week 1998
Interaction with the Public

The members of the Northstar Chapter began building a foundation of communication with the public by speaking to work groups, schools, and public brown bag lunches. As the members begin to educate and assist people in understanding their paychecks, the responsibilities of employees, and how employers work with government to assist the general public the opportunities will continue to grow.

Information provided by National helps to start discussions and provide background information for inclusion in company newsletters and bulletin boards. Members employers also have begun to recognize these Payroll Professionals by sponsoring employee contests with prizes of a day off with pay, gift certificates, and small token items.

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1999 Northstar: E.1 - Scenarios
A Payroll Professional attending your chapter meeting for the first time asks, "How does this chapter support the National APA?", what would be your chapter’s response?

A payroll professional attending our chapter meeting would first of all see all our materials that identify us as a chapter of the APA. There is always national association on all of our correspondence and brochures. In our logo we even have the initials NAPA to represent Northstar Chapter, APA. We display national awards or materials that proudly displays our national involvement.

We would also tell them that the APA offers its members a computer-based training program, numerous workshops, seminars, symposiums and conferences in order for Payroll Professionals to develop and maintain a high degree of skill and knowledge. The Chapter would strongly encourage the person to consider joining at the National level to receive a directory of members by name and industry, a "hot line" service that helps you get fast and accurate answers to questions that won’t wait, a bi-monthly publication called PAYTECH, which contains information about the latest developments of interest to payroll professionals and other publications to keep you current on legislative changes.

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1999 Northstar: E.2 - Scenarios
The same Payroll Professional asks the Chapter, "Why should I join this chapter?", how would your chapter answer?

"Membership has its privileges", and joining the Northstar Chapter has many wonderful benefits.

It is hard to say which is most important because all members have their own needs, but networking is definitely one of the top reasons for joining the Northstar Chapter. You will be greeted with a smiling face and welcoming attitude. With an average of 60 - 80 people attending our monthly meetings, there is unlimited opportunity to meet and talk with Payroll Professionals. The networking does not stop after the meeting. Northstar Chapter members support each other through e-mail and telephone conversations when questions arise.

The Northstar Chapter has very high quality learning opportunities for a low cost.

Each month we have a professional speaker address one of the "hot" topics impacting the payroll practitioners daily life. The Northstar Chapter is also the main connection with the national office. You will be informed of National activities and events. Each month you will receive an informative newsletter. This gives you information on upcoming events as well as a job opening you may be looking for.

The Northstar Chapter supports a very active CPP study groups. You can attend a session 4 nights a week covering numerous geographical areas. The success rate of individuals attending these sessions is in the high 90's. One of the leaders even creates his own flash cards for people to use to assist in learning.

The Northstar Chapter gives back to the community. We are not a chapter that thinks only of itself, but rather is aware of the obligation that business professionals must have to support the community. There are various events that can be very enjoyable and give to those in need, while getting to know other members better. The Board takes special pride in the quality of educational programming and service actives that the Northstar Chapter membership supports.

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1999 Northstar: F.1 - Chapter Facts
Chapter Dues

The Northstar Chapter charges $25.00 annually for membership. To accommodate differing needs of our members we have two forms of membership, Individual and Corporate. The Individual Membership allows Payroll Professionals to maintain their connection to the Northstar Chapter even if they have no specific company or organization affiliation. Some of our Individual members enjoy the freedom of having the information they need delivered to them personally.

The second kind of membership is a Corporate Membership. This type of membership allows companies to be informed at all times of issues and resources available to them.

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1999 Northstar: F.2 - Chapter Facts
Dues Paying Membership and Meeting Attendance

Currently the Northstar Chapter has 455 dues paying members. Our monthly average meeting attendance for the year is 80-85 members. A change in facilities had initially reduced these numbers, but as members became familiar with the new facility attendance has steadily grown.

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1999 Northstar: F.3 - Chapter Facts
Officers as National APA Members

Membership in the Northstar Chapter does not require National membership in the APA, but our Chapter Bylaws require that Officers are National APA members. Members interested in Board positions are reminded of this requirement when applying. Initially upon being a Board member this is verified through the National Office, each year Board members are expected to remain in good standing, or voluntarily resign from their position.

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1999 Northstar: G.1 - Chapter Documentation (links to existing documents in the Northstar News Index)
Best Chapter Newsletter

1999 Northstar: G.2 - Chapter Documentation (links to existing documents in the Northstar News Index)
Chapter Meeting Notice

1999 Northstar: G.3 - Chapter Documentation (links to existing documents in the Northstar News Index)
Chapter Minutes