News From GMS - February 2017Current and back issues are provided in Adobe Acrobat format. (Requires the free Adobe Acrobat reader.)
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GMS Summit 2017
32nd Annual Financial Management Conference
May 21 - 24, 2017 - San Diego, California
32nd Annual Financial Management Conference
May 21 - 24, 2017 - San Diego, California
Don’t forget to mark your calendars and plan to attend the 32nd Annual GMS Financial Management Conference to be held in San Diego, California on May 21-24, 2017. This will be the first year of our new format of three full days of sessions held on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. Sunday, the 21st, will offer registration during the day. Enjoy renewing old friendships or meeting new friends while listening to live music by the talented Ke’Ahi at our Welcome Reception on the Beach Lawn on Sunday evening. Dress for this reception is “Island Style” so come wearing your favorite Hawaiian attire. You can also enjoy a complimentary cruise of Mission Bay aboard the Bahia Belle this evening.
Our 2017 Summit is being held at the Catamaran Resort Hotel and Spa. The Catamaran Resort is a tropical hideaway in the San Diego Pacific Beach community on the sparkling shores of Mission Bay. This Polynesian themed resort offers casual elegance and unique charm. It is centrally located, just 9 miles from the San Diego Airport and within a short walking distance to a variety of shops and options for dining and nightlife.
For complete conference information, please visit the GMS Summit 2017 site at www.gmsactg.com/gms-summit-2017. This site includes everything you need including the agenda, accommodations, special offers and a place to register online. Also, watch future issues of News from GMS for a brief description of each session.
Who Attends the GMS Conference?
If previous years are an indication, we can expect close to 300 participants from GMS client organizations located throughout the country. Attendees include fiscal staff, auditors, revolving loan management staff, Executive Directors, human resource staff and program managers. Many GMS clients view this as annual in-service training for their fiscal personnel. In addition to the scheduled sessions, the conference offers a great opportunity to discuss issues and solutions with other GMS clients who might be experiencing the same situations as your agency.
From strictly a GMS viewpoint, we wish all GMS clients could attend, since the conference is our best way to provide you with the most up to date information on using GMS software, audit standards, human resource issues and other information important to all GMS clients. Every member of the GMS staff will be at the conference providing a tremendous opportunity for face-to-face consultation and assistance.
Session Highlights
In addition to sessions led by GMS staff featuring training on the GMS Accounting and Financial Management and the Revolving Loan Servicing System, we will offer several new sessions by both new and former presenters. Opening session speaker and Showtime Comedy Allstar Steve Rizzo will entertain you with “Getting Your Shift Together” and “Why Not ENJOY the Process”. Conference favorite Dr. Karen Wolfe returns after several years absence to present “Wellness at Work – Practical Tips to Find Your Fit at Work”. BMI Productivity Solutions President Boyd Mortensen will give you ideas for streamlining your processes with new tools that are tightly integrated with both the GMS Accounting and the GMS Revolving Loan Software. Jason Brooks, CPA, returns to present “Design and Implementation of Internal Controls along with “An Introduction to Indirect Costs”. “Reinforcing Your RLSS Knowledge” will allow you to practice what you’ve learned during the RLSS sessions at the conference so you’ll go back to your organization feeling confident in using your newly acquired or refreshed skills. A fun and new session that will be a “must attend” for all registrants is the “GMS Town Hall” where all Summit Speakers will be present for you to ask any remaining questions you may have.
All training will take place on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday during the many varied sessions offered. As in the past, the computer clinic will provide an excellent opportunity for hands-on training and working with all aspects of the GMS software.
Up to four concurrent sessions are scheduled in each time slot providing a choice of topics useful to your organization.
Accounting Sessions
- Accounts Payable Processing
- Payroll Processing, the Basics and Advanced & Troubleshooting
- Month End Processing, the Basics and Advanced & Troubleshooting
- Basics of Year End Part Closing
- Report Writer Basics Part 1 and 2
- Bank Rec and Other Tools Functions
- Accounting Setups & Master Files
- Overview of Accounts Payable Supplements
- Overview of Payroll Supplements
- Overview of Selected General Ledger Supplements
- Overview of Year End and Audit Supplements
- Accounts Receivable & Cash Receipts Processing
- Importing, Exporting and Paperless Filing
- GMS Cost Allocation Options
- Q&A with Accounting Staff
- Balance Sheet Reconciliation
- Time & Attendance by Idris Johnson NEW Speaker!
- Design and Implementation of Internal Controls by Jason Brooks, CPA
- An Introduction to Indirect Costs by Jason Brooks, CPA
Sessions for RLSS System Users
- RLSS Setups, Master Files and Schedules
- RLSS Reports and Master Query
- RLSS Features and Supplements
- Handling Special Situations within GMS-RLSS
- Reinforcing Your RLSS Knowledge NEW!
Sessions for Both Accounting and RLSS System Users
- GMS Town Hall NEW!
- Wellness at Work-Practical Tips to Find Your Fit at Work by Dr. Karen Wolfe NEW!
- Why Not ENJOY the Process by Steve Rizzo NEW!
- Online Tools for Accounting and Loan Servicing Software Users by Boyd Mortensen NEW!
Computer Clinic
In addition to specific sessions, the Computer Clinic is open throughout the conference giving you an opportunity to test drive any GMS product. GMS staff members are available in the Computer Clinic at all times to provide individualized assistance and support. In the Computer Clinic you can experiment and practice as much as you want!
One-on-One Appointments
Get the most value for your conference attendance and schedule a one-on-one appointment with one of our Service & Support Specialists to discuss face-to-face your specific issues. A limited number of appointment slots are available and must be prescheduled by contacting Robin Berseth. Her phone # & email are listed at the end of this article.
We hope that we will see you at GMS Summit 2017 in San Diego, CA. For further information on conference activities, please feel free to contact Robin Berseth, our Event Director at 800.933.3501, extension 403 or by email robin@gmsactg.com.
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RLSS Software Revision Released
On January 13, 2017, we released a software revision for the GMS-RLSS software. You should have received an email with instructions to download and install this revision, making your version of software 1.0.0.13. (Those using Supplement #804 RLSS 1098s also received additional emails at later dates.) Following are some of the changes included with this revision. You may view the complete list of changes by clicking on Help, Latest Revision after updating your software.
Loan Activity
Supplement #808 RLSS 1098s
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2/1/2017 3:00 PM ET - NOTE: There was an error in the registration fees in the newsletter email that went out on 2/1/2017. The correct pricing is listed above as $495 and $595. We apologize for any inconvenience.
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Jim McKenzie, Executive Director at Metroplan in Little Rock, Arkansas, recently retired. The new Executive Director is Tab Townsell. Enjoy your retirement, Jim. We look forward to getting to know you, Tab!
Evans Brinson, Finance Director at Northeast Georgia Regional Development Center in Athens, Georgia retired on January 31. Evans, enjoy your retirement also! Cost Allocation Series Article Five
Supplement #383 Shift Indirect Costs
Some grants and/or contracts may require you to report all of your indirect costs for their program under one specific element such as Administration. If this is true for your agency, Supplement #383 Shift Indirect Costs can accomplish this. Note: This supplement does not affect or change the normal allocation of your indirect costs that should be set up in accordance with your Indirect Cost Plan. The purpose of this supplement is to help you meet your external reporting requirements.
Once the normal allocation of your indirect costs are done, Shift Indirect Costs will transfer the indirect costs from specific elements to one receiving element so all indirect costs will be reported in a single element. For example, if you have a project with 3 “program activities” elements and one “administrative” element, you can set up this supplement to transfer all of the indirect costs that are allocated to the three program activities elements to the single administrative element. Again, this transfer is for reporting purposes only and no actual allocations are affected. This transfer is documented by printing a Year to Date Cost Allocation Summary after shifting indirect costs. Orders for this supplement may be placed on the GMS website at https://www.gmsactg.com/order-supplements.html. The supplement price is: Purchase Annual License/ Price Maintenance 1-2 Users $160.00 $24.00 3-4 Users $200.00 $30.00 5+ Users $250.00 $37.50 |
Fun & Free Things to Do in San Diego
Having fun in San Diego doesn't require a lot of money; in fact, many things to see and do are absolutely free. With 70 miles of beautiful beaches, near-perfect weather year-round, and a variety of magnificent settings countywide, San Diego offers a fun and inexpensive getaway, for kids and adults, any time of year. Following are some ideas for what is available to do in your free time while attending the Summit:
1. Head to San Diego's many beaches which are consistently ranked top in the nation. The beaches are all free to the public, to swim, body surf or hang-ten. Build a sandcastle, relax with a good book, or just bask in the sun – you won’t be disappointed.
2. Visit La Jolla Cove and see the magnificent sunset on the ocean. La Jolla Cove is one of the most spectacular natural settings in the world and delivers a spectacular sunset display at the end of each day.
3. Visit downtown San Diego's Seaport Village for hours of free entertainment, leisurely strolling and window shopping. Enjoy a laid-back day of hanging out in the grass and watching the many passing yachts and ships on picturesque San Diego Bay, or take in the sights from one of the many bay-view eateries.
4. Stroll through the 16½-block historic Gaslamp Quarter in downtown San Diego and view the renovated turn-of-the-century Victorian architecture, home to boutiques, art galleries, specialty shops and more.
5. Fly a kite along the grassy field in the Tecolote Shores of Mission Bay Park, a 4,600-acre aquatic park. Here, away from trees and overhead wires, friends and family gather to launch colorful kites into the bay breezes.
6. Enjoy free organ concerts at 2:00 pm on Sundays at the Spreckels Organ Pavilion in Balboa Park. The Organ Pavilion features one of world's largest outdoor pipe organs, a San Diego landmark since 1914, where organists play traditional favorites, waltzes and show tunes on enormous 32-foot pipes.
7. Visit Old Town and witness the living legacy of San Diego history. Guests are also invited to wander free through Old Town's historic buildings, including the blacksmith shop, Seeley Stables, Stewart House, Estudillo House and the oldest schoolhouse in San Diego.
8. Bike or jog along Mission Bay Park's many trails. Joggers and walkers share more than 20 miles of scenic running paths that wind through sunlight and shade near the shoreline and feature workout courses at planned stations along the route. Or, rollerblade, skateboard or bicycle along the Mission Beach Boardwalk, a scenic 3-mile boardwalk along picturesque Mission and Pacific Beaches
9. Visit the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista for a free tour of the 150-acre facility, including training fields and tracks, athlete dorms and the Otay Lake Reservoir. Tours are offered from the Copley Visitor Center at 11:00 am on Saturday. Self-guided tours are available daily between 9:00 am - 4:00 pm.
10. Take a scenic, one-hour drive to Mt. Laguna. Once there, hop out for an invigorating hike and enjoy the fresh mountain air whispering through the pines.
For additional ideas, visit https://www.sandiego.org/articles/25-fun-free-things-to-do-in-san-diego.aspx
1. Head to San Diego's many beaches which are consistently ranked top in the nation. The beaches are all free to the public, to swim, body surf or hang-ten. Build a sandcastle, relax with a good book, or just bask in the sun – you won’t be disappointed.
2. Visit La Jolla Cove and see the magnificent sunset on the ocean. La Jolla Cove is one of the most spectacular natural settings in the world and delivers a spectacular sunset display at the end of each day.
3. Visit downtown San Diego's Seaport Village for hours of free entertainment, leisurely strolling and window shopping. Enjoy a laid-back day of hanging out in the grass and watching the many passing yachts and ships on picturesque San Diego Bay, or take in the sights from one of the many bay-view eateries.
4. Stroll through the 16½-block historic Gaslamp Quarter in downtown San Diego and view the renovated turn-of-the-century Victorian architecture, home to boutiques, art galleries, specialty shops and more.
5. Fly a kite along the grassy field in the Tecolote Shores of Mission Bay Park, a 4,600-acre aquatic park. Here, away from trees and overhead wires, friends and family gather to launch colorful kites into the bay breezes.
6. Enjoy free organ concerts at 2:00 pm on Sundays at the Spreckels Organ Pavilion in Balboa Park. The Organ Pavilion features one of world's largest outdoor pipe organs, a San Diego landmark since 1914, where organists play traditional favorites, waltzes and show tunes on enormous 32-foot pipes.
7. Visit Old Town and witness the living legacy of San Diego history. Guests are also invited to wander free through Old Town's historic buildings, including the blacksmith shop, Seeley Stables, Stewart House, Estudillo House and the oldest schoolhouse in San Diego.
8. Bike or jog along Mission Bay Park's many trails. Joggers and walkers share more than 20 miles of scenic running paths that wind through sunlight and shade near the shoreline and feature workout courses at planned stations along the route. Or, rollerblade, skateboard or bicycle along the Mission Beach Boardwalk, a scenic 3-mile boardwalk along picturesque Mission and Pacific Beaches
9. Visit the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista for a free tour of the 150-acre facility, including training fields and tracks, athlete dorms and the Otay Lake Reservoir. Tours are offered from the Copley Visitor Center at 11:00 am on Saturday. Self-guided tours are available daily between 9:00 am - 4:00 pm.
10. Take a scenic, one-hour drive to Mt. Laguna. Once there, hop out for an invigorating hike and enjoy the fresh mountain air whispering through the pines.
For additional ideas, visit https://www.sandiego.org/articles/25-fun-free-things-to-do-in-san-diego.aspx
"People often say that motivation doesn't last. Well, neither does bathing -- that's why we recommend it daily."
~Zig Ziglar
~Zig Ziglar
