Cindy Carlson made us aware of the District 5960 Grants Management Seminar to be held on April 4th, 8:30AM-11:30AM, at Family Means, Stillwater, MN. This seminar is the perfect way to learn more about the Rotary Foundation and the district’s Matching Grants Program.  Also, the Board is looking for ideas for a local matching grant project for the coming Rotary year.  Contact any Board member with your ideas.
 
Cindy also noted that the Gold Plate Dinner is fast approaching and we need all hands on deck to make the Gala a success again this year.  One important way that you can contribute is by asking the business establishments you frequent to consider a donation for the event.  Download the Sponsor Brochure to help explain the need for donations.
 
Gold Plate Dinner Ticket Guru, Jed Hamoud, said he still has lots of tickets for us to sell.  Download the Invitation Brochure to distribute to friends, family and co-workers who might be interested in attending the Gala.  Once you have sold a ticket, PLEASE get the fully completed ticket stub back to Jed.
 
Nils Friberg distributed an interview with Bill Gates from The Rotarian magazine.  In the interview, Gates discusses his reasons for supporting Rotary’s Polio Plus initiatives and his optimism for completing the goal of polio eradication.  Nils reminded us that we have set a total goal of $1,500 for individual member contributions to the Rotary Foundation’s Polio Plus effort.  Contact Nils or John Ordway to make your contribution (checks payable to the Rotary Foundation).  Be sure to let John Ordway know if you make an online contribution so your contribution is recorded in the clubs contribution total.
 
Ed James reminded us that the 4th Grade Foresters Tree Giveaway is on Arbor Day, April 24th, starting at 11 AM.  See Ed if you can help distribute the trees.
 
Happy Bucks Highlights:
   - President Dennis is expecting a new granddaughter, Emma, by tomorrow.
   - Cindy Carlson treated Nanase to a Wild Hockey Game.  The Wild unfortunately lost, but Nanase had a great time.
 
Ed James celebrated his birthday this week.  We sang Happy Birthday to him but he somehow managed to avoid wearing the birthday hat.
 
Jed Hamoud introduced our speaker, Alan Gregerson, from the Communications and Liaison Division of the IRS.  For the last 22 years, Alan has made presentations to groups, businesses and tax preparers about tax policies and especially about changes in tax policy.  Alan said that the very first U.S. income tax return was filed in 1913.  It was a three page form with one page of instructions!  As we all know, the length and complexity of our tax returns have increased dramatically since that time.  Although we may be tempted to blame the IRS for this complexity, it should be noted that tax law is made by Congress, and the IRS does its best to administer and interpret the law.  The 2019 Taxpayer First Act was Congress’ attempt to improve the taxpaying experience.  It included digital modernization, reorganization of the IRS, cyber-security protections, 45 day warnings before enforcement action and a new W-4 certificate.  Alan noted that one of the challenges to improving the taxpaying experience is that the personnel levels at the IRS have been reduced to 1980 levels, making long telephone waiting times the reality.  He suggested that one way to avoid the wait is to set up a face-to-face appointment time online.  Start by locating your nearest local IRS office here.   Alan can be contacted at Alan.J.Gregerson@irs.gov
Dennis and Alan are pictured below.