Fa la la….For your learning enjoyment, WFOA has published their 2013 Non-Conference Training calendar. There’s something for everyone, including the addition of two Cash Basis – Accounting and Reporting classes for Special Purpose Districts. Check it out. Register soon. These professional training opportunities fill up fast.

Stewart Ganser developed and supported his Fire Admin Software in WA State for almost 10 years. He has always been as passionate about supporting his Clients as we are supporting ours.

BIAS Software and Ganser Fire Admin Software have been worthy competitors over the years. This is a great opportunity to come together as one to devote all our talents and resources to one common goal; providing every Client, whether City or Town, Fire District, or Special Purpose District, with the most up-to-date, user-friendly, and BARS-compliant financial software available.

The company remains BIAS Software. Stewart Ganser joins the BIAS Board of Directors. He will remain the primary contact for his Fire Admin Software Clients in the immediate future. Over time, Fire Admin Software users will transition to BIAS Software.

A “Magical BARS Tour” will commence in October with Stewart, Wes Hein, and me. We will conduct three regional meetings so BIAS and Ganser Clients can meet us, meet each other, and ask questions. All are invited to join us.

Magical BARS Tour Dates:

Please register to attend a presentation at this link:HERE

There will be 3 presentations:

• Thursday, October 11^th | Thurston County Fire District #6 | 8047 Normandy St. SE, Olympia, WA 98501
• Wednesday, October 17^th | Benton County Fire Training Center | 1811 S. Ely, Kennewick, WA 99337
• Tuesday, October 30^th | Stanwood Fire Department | 8117 267^th Street NW, Stanwood, WA 98292

These are exciting days. It is true all the details are not entirely worked out.  BIAS intends our merger with Ganser to be entirely transparent; no secrets or unpleasant surprises. Everyone at BIAS pledges you the same devotion, service, and support you have grown to expect.

We are blessed we can count on you to welcome these new Fire Districts to our gang. The BIAS 2013 Conference on 02/25/13 to 02/27/13 will be a great event!

The Details:

• Hampton Inn, 2010 S Assembly Rd, Spokane, WA 99224
• October 12, 2012
• Membership | $30
• Registration | $50 Members | $80 Non-Members
• Scholarships Available!
• 9:30 Registration | 10:00 to 4:30 Meeting and Guest Presenters
• Coffee and rolls, lunch, and an afternoon pick-me-up provided.

Rock Star Guest Presenters:

Patti Wilson, Local Government Liaison, Washington State Department of Revenue

“The Current Conversation on Health Care Reform”

• The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) of 2010: Then and Now
• Conversations at the Legislative and Judicial Levels
• What’s on the Horizon for Health Plans in 2013-2014

Carol Wilmes, Employee Benefit Trust Manager, Association of Washington Cities

• Overhead Cost Allocation (New Interpretation in 2012 BARS Manual)
• Indirect Cost Allocation Plans

Doug Extine, Deputy-Treasurer-Investments, Washington State Treasurer’s Office

• Short-term Investment Option in the Current Market

LGIP Update

• Operational Details
• Migration to a Daily Earnings Factor
• Providing a Longer-term Option

For a registration form or scholarship application, contact Leslie Trachsler, EWFOA Treasurer, at (509) 754-4601 or email ltrachsler@ephrata.org.

“The Washington Association of Public Records Officers (WAPRO) is a non-profit corporation founded to provide education on the Public Records Act to public disclosure practitioners and to provide a forum for public records officers and those involved in responding to public records requests to discuss issues associated with the Act.” It was formed in 2009.

Membership in WAPRO provides countless advantages for WA State public records officers. “The goal of the Washington Association of Public Records Officers (WAPRO) is to harness the collective knowledge and talent of these public records officers to increase transparency and Public Records Act compliance through standardized education.” WAPRO Membership Information.

The 2012 WAPRO Fall Conference is Thursday, 10/18/12, in Lakewood, WA. “A great program is being developed to include a general session with the ever popular Legal Updates and fresh trainings in the following areas:

Access Conference information here: WAPRO Training Center: 2012 Fall Conference.

2012 Infrastructure Assistance Coordinating Council Conference

10/02 – 10/04/12        Wenatchee, WA

WA Association of Public Records Officers Fall Conference 2012

10/18/12                     Lakewood, WA

2012 WA Fire Commissioners’ Association Conference

10/25 – 10/27/12        Yakima, WA

2012 WA State Water Resources Association 67th Annual Conference

12-06 – 12-07-12         Spokane, WA

“Global Talent Striving for Gold”

September 11-14, 2012

Three Rivers Convention Center – Kennewick

Come one, come all. Registration is open for the 2012 WFOA Conference. The WFOA Education Committee outdid itself with great class offerings and speakers: 2012 WFOA Sessions by Title or Track. Remember, Scholarships are also available. The application is online at: WFOA Scholarship Application. Scholarships are paid to awardees on a reimbursement basis. Also, Scholarship applications must be received at least four weeks prior to the registration deadline. BIAS Software will be a vendor. Make sure to stop by our booth and say hi to Happy and Mark.

Restructured BARS Chart-of-Accounts Workshops 

&

2013 Budget Training Classes

Details

Eliminate restructured BARS stress by compiling your 2013 Chart-of-Accounts now. Per Workshop protocol, your data is downloaded to a BIAS Software laptop. Workshop instructors David Calechman, CPA and Jordan Johnson will assist you in creating your 2013 Chart-of-Accounts. Much emphasis will be devoted to incorporating and learning the restructured BARS information. The Workshops are limited to 8 attendees each. An Elected Official may attend at no additional charge.

Included in the price of a BARS Chart-of-Accounts Workshop are the Workshop laptop and a free Budget Training Class in September and/or October 2012. One Budget Training Class will be held at Sea Tac. The second one will be in Spokane.

Training Bonus – 2 for the price of 1

• BARS Chart of Accounts Workshop
• Budget Training Class (September and October)

All Restructured BARS Chart-of-Accounts Workshops are conducted at BIAS Headquarters in Spokane from 8:30 am to 4:00 pm., except 08/30/12 at Fircrest City Hall.

• August 8, 2012 -  Spokane – FULL
• August 22, 2012 - Spokane – FULL
• August 29, 2012 – Montesano City Hall
• August 30, 2012 - Fircrest City Hall - FULL

Register with Happy at Karen@biassoftware.com, (888) 534-2427 or Mark at mark@biassoftware.com.

Box Lunch catered by Apple Spice available for $9.95 | Order submitted at beginning of  Spokane Workshops.

August 15, 2012

Enzian Inn – Leavenworth

The SAO will provide training on how to make staffing-related budgeting decisions and cost-effectively manage staff resources for core government services. This is a free analytical, hands-on course open to all local governments: Introduction to Staffing Analysis. The Workshop is designed for budget & fiscal managers and analysts, department heads and analysts responsible for staffing plans. People attending this workshop may also want to register for the AWC Budget Academy.

August 16-17, 2012
Enzian Inn- Leavenworth

Register now for the AWC Municipal Budgeting & Fiscal Management Workshop co-sponsored by WA State Association of Counties and WA Finance Officers Association. This workshop “is designed for elected officials and staff from local governments who have a role in developing or implementing the budget.” “Officials from special purpose districts may also find the workshop useful.”

There is a Small Cities Scholarship Program. It is easy to access by clicking on that option when you register electronically for the workshop. Contact: Karen Tanner, karent@awcnet.org, (360) 753-4137.