Congratulations!

The Step Up To Leadership class of 2011 is graduating today, Monday, June 2. Congratulations to all who completed this great training opportunity.

Contact Wayne Dietrich, dietrichw@missouri.edu, University of Missouri Extension, SW Region Community Development Specialist or Zana Schafer, stone1@oacac-caa.org, Stone County OACAC, to see if you quality for next year's classes.

Quick Books Class Coming

Don't miss this chance on the QuickBooks class!

Best Wishes to Lesli Bruce~

Lesli Bruce, our Administrative Assistant, for the last three years (almost) has taken a different job and is no longer at the TCRC.

Many of you know that Lesli had started a part time job at KRZK in Branson. They originally told her she would be part time (30 hours a week) for 3 months. Today (March 17) they told her they wanted her to go to full time tomorrow. So, this was her last day- I know everyone joins me in wishing her the very best and thanking her for a job well done!

We will really miss her at the TCRC.

Free Tax Help Offered at VITA Sites

Many workers could be eligible for a special tax credit this year. They may claim the Earned income Tax Credit (EITC) if they earned less than $48,362.Eligible workers can get up to $5,600 but they must file federal income tax returns and claim the EITC credit. According to Annette FitzGerald, family financial educator with MU Extension, “Many taxpayers will qualify for the first time this year due to economic changes in their incomes.”

To qualify for free tax preparation, taxpayers must work and earn less than $48,362. Appointments are required for tax preparation at VITA sites. Taxes are filed electronically and returns are back within two weeks. All taxpayers are required to bring social security cards for each dependent, W-2 from all employers, interest income, unemployment compensation income, deposit slip and relevant child care or tuition expenses.

Area residents can get help with free tax preparation with basic income tax returns at Volunteer Income Tax Assistant (VITA) sites in Christian, Stone and Taney Counties beginning Jan. 31 – April 15, 2011. The VITA sites are sponsored by the University of Missouri Extension and community partners.

Call 888-504-0443 to make appointments for free tax preparation at Taney County VITA Sites.
• Taney County MU Extension Center, 122 Felkins Avenue, Forsyth, 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Wednesday.
• Taney County OACAC,610 South 6th St, Branson, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., on Mondays and Tuesdays.
• College of the Ozarks, FAC (Home Ec. Building), Point Lookout, 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Call 417-272-8508 to make appointment for free tax preparation at the Stone County VITA sites.
• Stone County OACAC Center, 100944 E. Hwy 76, Lower level, Branson West, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Thursdays.
• TCRC- Reeds Spring High School, 20277 WHY 413, Reeds Spring, Mo., 9 a.m. to 3p.m., Wednesdays.
• Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Call 417-581-3558 to make appointment for free tax preparation at the Christian County VITA site.
• Christian County MU Extension Center, 105 North Second St. Ozark, MO, 9 a.m to noon.

Get Help With Your Taxes- FREE!

January 19, 2011, 10:00 am - 12:00 pm: Taxpayer Education Session- PRE-REGISTRATION REQUIRED, call 417-272-8707

Annette Fitzgerald, University of Missouri extension family financial education specialist in Taney county, will answer questions such as:

• How to choose a Tax Return Preparer and Avoind Preparer Fraud
• Tax Credits for home buyers
• E-file, free file and other electronic options for 2010
• Free tax help available from the IRS
• Reporting bank and financial accounts
• More...

VITA- Volunteer Income Tax Assistance- available Wednesdays, February 2 - April 13 at Tri-Lakes TCRC, contact Annette Fitzgerald, fitzgeralda@missouri.edu or call 417-546-4431 for more information and times.

Learn QUICKBOOKS® for your small business

“Introduction to QuickBooks®”, a hands-on two day workshop covering this highly popular computerized bookkeeping system will be held from 9:30 p.m. to 12:30 p.m., Monday and Wednesday, January 10 and 12, at Tri-Lakes TCRC, 20277 State Hwy 413, Reeds Spring- located in the south wing of Reeds Spring High School.

A registration fee of $99 will be charged to cover the cost of materials. To receive additional information and register contact Tri-Lakes TCRC at (417) 272-8707, begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 20277 State Hwy 413, Reeds Spring, MO 65737/Email: rstcrc@missouri.edu.

“QuickBooks® boosts the accuracy of your small business accounting. In addition to keeping more accurate business records, the QuickBooks® reports help owners and managers make better business decisions.” said Chrystal Irons, business development specialist, Taney County SBTDC, University of Missouri Extension.

Attendees will learn how to navigate in the program and how to set up a new company. Irons will guide participants through setting up bank accounts, tracking credit card transactions, and understanding asset and liability accounts. In addition the class will cover accounts receivable and accounts payable, basic bookkeeping functions including: Sales/Invoicing; Customer Receipts; Paying Bills; Generating Standard Reports; and Bank Reconciliation.

Finally, attendees will work through payroll in QuickBooks®; learn to write checks using QuickBooks® how to track payroll liabilities. We’ll also cover the reports, charts, and graphs QuickBooks® creates for you, and review how you can customize reports for your specific business and managers, and how to customize invoices and statements to include your logo and messages to customers.

Funded in part through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration. All opinions, conclusions or recommendations expressed are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the view of the SVA. Programs are extended to the public on a non-discriminatory basis. Reasonable accommodations for person with disabilities will be made if requested at least two weeks in advance.

Tri-Lakes TCRC is a partnership between University of Missouri Extension, Skaggs Regional Medical Center and the Reeds Spring R-IV School District. Tri-Lakes TCRC is part of the TeleCenter Network. The Telecenter Network links resources from communities, the University of Missouri and other research-based sources to improve the quality of life and economic well-being of Missourians.

University of Missouri Extension programs focus on the high-priority needs of Missourians. Each county extension center, with oversight by locally elected and appointed citizens, is your local link to practical education on almost anything.

Welcome to J.D. Hundt, our new Audio Visual Assistant

J.D. started on Oct 19 and we are thrilled to have him here.

J.D.’s experience includes being in charge of the Audio/Video department of the number one Embassy Suites in the world for 2008. He ran the day to day operations of setting up and tearing down equipment for events, maintaining said equipment and ordering/renting specialty equipment they did not carry in house. He handled scheduling for himself and his associates for working with clients.

J.D. is trained in the use of digital and analog mixing boards and has mixed concerts and meetings for Campus Crusade for Christ and the Legacy 7 band.

J.D. is also knowledgeable on computers and will teach a three session class on computer hardware and software and Internet basics in December.