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Pennsylvania Statewide Conference for Payroll Professionals

2000
The SEPA Chapter has the honor of rotating with their sister chapters, in hosting an annual one-day Statewide Conference for Payroll Professionals. The SEPA Chapter hosted the 2000 Conference .
As statewide attendees entered the Hilton Hotel, friendly visitors from other galaxies and worlds greeted them. Princess Leia graciously directed participants to the registration area.
On September 22, 2000, at the close of another successful National Payroll Week, the Southeastern Pennsylvania Chapter hosted the annual Pennsylvania Statewide Conference. The theme of the conference was "Payroll At The Speed of Light."
The "Lift Off" began as the President of the Southeastern Pennsylvania chapter , Connie J. Connor, CPP welcomed attendees and reviewed the flight plan for the day's journey. The program was then turned over to APA's Senior Director of Publications and Government Relations, Michael O'Toole, Esq., who delivered a "Message from Mission Control." Michael enlightened the group with all the great happenings going on at APA National. Aliens escorted attendees to the vendor exhibit hall for a visit to "The Milky Way" for a morning break. Upon entering the vendor exhibit hall, which was filled to capacity with 21 vendors, attendees received a Milky Way candy bar and an alien stress ball. Attendees were given ample time to network with fellow payroll professionals and visit with vendors.
As attendees entered the room, made up to look like the deep realms of outer space, they were met with only the dark glow of planets, stars, moons, and tiny space ships suspended from the ceiling. The entire back wall was decorated to look like the far regions of the universe. Registrars, dressed in Star Trek costumes, assisted attendees to their final frontier. In addition to their conference materials, participants received a spaceship name badge and a mini flashlight to assist them throughout their space journey of learning.
Everyone then proceeded onto their respective "Space Stations," where attendees had a choice of two sessions. The first session "Are Your Aliens Legal," hosted by Lance Payne from the Immigration and Naturalization Services.Lance explained the importance of the form I-9 and various types of Visas and answered many attendees' questions regarding the many different types of Visas. The second workshop, "Do You Have To Be A Rocket Scientist," was hosted by George Ference from the Department of Labor. George reviewed the importance of defining an employee's status, paying employees in accordance with the law and understanding other important FLSA issues.
After refueling at lunch, attendees continued on their "Intergalactic Voyage" with a choice of two sessions. The first session, "Star Wars-The Battle with Tax Protestors" was hosted by Michael O'Toole. Michael educated the attendees on how to deal with tax protesters. The second session, "The Next Generation-Payday in the Future," was hosted by Greg Zentz, from Payformance. Greg shared with attendees the possibilities of how employees will receive their pay in the future.

During the afternoon break, "The Big Dipper," aliens escorted attendees into the vendor exhibit hall, for another opportunity to network with fellow payroll professionals and vendors. Upon entering the vendor hall, attendees received an insulated lunch bag and some delicious ice cream. Vendors chose their door prize recipients at the afternoon break.

The closing session, "Are All Species Equal," hosted by Ed Bardzik and Cliff Hatton of Respect, Inc., was a fun way to end the day while learning about diversity. Ed and Cliff discussed diversity and played a few games with the entire group, showing us how different generations can work together.
In closing the conference, based on nominations submitted from all three Pennsylvania chapter's, the first Pennsylvania Payroll Professional of the Year was chosen. This year's recipient was the president of the SEPA chapter, Connie J. Connor, CPP. Door prizes were distributed to all attendees before their return travel home to planet Earth..
A huge thank you goes out to Stephen Drayton, Chairperson of the confernece. Steve and his committee did a wonderful job in making the conference such a success.
1999

The Susquehanna Valley Chapter (SVC), a new chapter to the APA, hosted the 1999 Pennsylvania Statewide Conference for Payroll Professionals - "Sowing The Seeds For The New Millennium." This dynamic one day event was held on Friday September 24, 1999 at the Clarion Hotel in Carlisle, PA. This was the first time their chapter had the honor of hosting this annual Conference. Bill Hemler, CPP and his committee did a wonderful job! We look forward to attending their conference in 2002!


Bill Hemler, CPP, Statewide Chariperson promotes the conference at the SEPA August Chapter meeting.

On the eve of the conference, the SVC invited attendees to join them as they offered some delicious food, drinks and most of all hospitality! The following morning, more than140 payroll professionals filled the ballroom of the hotel. Each attendee was given a convenient tote bag to carry their materials in for the day along with some flower seeds and bulbs.

Ron Blough, President of the chapter officially opened the conference as he introduced the educational speakers for the day. A surprise visit from Johnny Appleseed, banging and clanging his gardening tools, keep the audiences attention.

In addition to the general sessions there were several workshops for attendees to choose from. Many local government representatives were available to answer the many questions concerning Pennsylvania local taxes. Several local vendors supported the conference and demonstrated their products.

Many SEPAC members were in attendance. Among them were two of its members who were awarded a free registration to the conference through the chapter's educational fund. In addition, the chapter provided transportation to and from Carlisle for several members.

APA members representing all three PA local chapters and APA National sit back and relax after the Statewide Conference. Pam Basehore was certainly the hostess with the mostest as she opened her home to APA members. (from left to right - Pam Basehore (hostess), Ken Krum (SEPA), Keith McKnight (WPA), Fred Basehore (SVC), Marilyn Jacobson (SEPA) Connie Connor (SEPA) and Dave Crudup (APA National).

1998

The 1998 PA Statewide Conference was hosted by the The Western PA Chapter on Friday September 18, 1998 in Cranberry, PA. The near 100 attendees had a full day of learning and networking. The highlight of the day was a fun game everyone played to help define diversity. There were several vendors exhibiting their products as well.

The evening prior to the Conference, the chapter sponsored an evening of food, drinks and fun for all those who arrirve in the Pittsburgh area a day early. Sue and her committee did a great job.....Thank you for another successful PA Statewide Conference.

1997

The SEPAC hosted the 1997 Conference on September 19th. The theme was "Under the Big Top" and focused on such tasks as juggling, training, balancing, and taming that go hand and hand with payroll.

On the eve of the conference attendees enjoyed socializing with other payroll professionals in the hotel's hospitality suite. Representatives from APA National and chapters across Pennsylvania and New Jersey representing more than fifteen companies were also in attendance. In general, the conference was well received.

The attendees were honored to have Michael O'Toole, Esq. (right) from APA National begin the day as the opening speaker. Michael informed the attendees of the happenings at APA National.

The general session followed; Mr. Jack Stuff (left) from the PA Department of Child Support Enforcement. With the enforcement of child support payments being such a hot topic among payroll professionals, Mr. Stuff was well received for the information he shared.
As everyone filed out of the meeting room for a morning break, the aroma of fresh popped popcorn filled the corridors. The official SEPAC circus clowns dispensed cones filled with popcorn as they greeted attendees. Attendees then made their way to the exhibit hall where they had an opportunity to chat with vendors, check-out new products, or network with colleagues.
The day continued with the first "breakout session." Attendees could choose one of two acts (sessions) that best suited their needs.

Act 1 was "The Balancing Act," a session on cash and non-cash benefits performed by Fred Basehore, CPP of Oracle (left) (as only Fred could do it). Fred is a member of the APA National Speakers Bureau.

Act 2 was "The Trainer," a session on training the trainer performed by Ms. Kayla Shirley (right) of Automatic Data Processing, who sponsored Kayla as a speaker.
 Lunch was then served in the pool area of the hotel. As the attendees enjoyed the wonderful buffet, the SEPAC circus clowns, lions, gorillas, a lion tamer and ring master showered them with goodies. Payday candy bars, animal crackers (in the little circus box) and $100,000 Grand candy bars were distributed to all.

The afternoon began with the second "breakout session." Attendees again could choose one of two acts which best met their needs. Act 1, "The Juggling Act", was a session on Wage and Hour performed by Mr. George Ference (right) of the U.S. Department of Labor. As always, it was a pleasure to listen and learn, with great interest as Mr. Ference brought everyone up to date on FLSA issues.
Act 2, "The Taming Act", was a session on unemployment insurance performed by Mr. Ron Hutson (left) of Gates McDonald, who sponsored Ron as a speaker. Mr. Hutson educated the group with a jeopardy challenge game on unemployment.

Our afternoon break provided the attendees more time to mingle with the vendors in the exhibit hall while they enjoyed a taste of the famous "Philly soft pretzel." Several vendors held a raffle for gifts.

The closing session took everyone by surprise. Who better than the ultimate ambassador of good will, Ben Franklin, could serve as our motivational speaker to end the day. Ben had a few payroll tips for all. The best was his great quip for why George Washington was on the one dollar bill and he, Ben Franklin was on the one hundred-dollar bill. Obviously, it was because he, Ben Franklin was the "payroll manager."

A thank you goes out to Brian Koons, CPP, the chairperson/ringmaster, and his committee for coordinating a successful `97 Statewide Conference.

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