News From GMS - February 2018Current and back issues are provided in Adobe Acrobat format. (Requires the free Adobe Acrobat reader.)
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GMS Summit 2018
33rd Annual GMS Financial Management Conference
May 20 - 23, 2018 - Kansas City, Missouri
33rd Annual GMS Financial Management Conference
May 20 - 23, 2018 - Kansas City, Missouri
Don’t forget to mark your calendars and plan to attend the 33rd Annual GMS Financial Management Conference to be held in Kansas City, Missouri on May 20-23, 2018. Sunday, the 20th, will offer registration during the day followed by an opportunity to visit with the GMS Staff and other attendees during the Social Hour from 5-6 p.m. Live jazz music by the Max Levy Duo will be featured during the Social Hour as you enjoy the breathtaking views from the beautiful rooftop ballroom.
Our 2018 Summit is being held at the InterContinental Kansas City at the Plaza. The InterContinental Kansas City at the Plaza (proud recipient of the 2017 TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence) is an iconic hotel located on the corner of one of Kansas City's most stylish and historic shopping, dining and entertainment districts, the Country Club Plaza. The Plaza is fifteen blocks of Seville, Spain-inspired architecture and site of quiet courtyards, and stunning sculptures and remarkable annual festivals. Also, Kansas City is known for their World’s Best Bar-B-Q’s.
For complete summit information, please visit the GMS 33rd Annual Summit site at https://www.gmsactg.com/gms-accounting-summit-2018.html. 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, 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 network with other GMS clients.
From strictly a GMS viewpoint, we wish all GMS accounting software 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, we will offer several sessions by outside presenters. Opening session will feature Speaker Hall of Fame member Steve Gilliland who is recognized as a master storyteller and brilliant comedian. He will present “Detour” featuring ways to reduce stress, eliminate fear and increase performance in times of change. Jason Brooks, CPA, returns to present “Design and Implementation of Internal Controls” along with “An Introduction to Indirect Costs”. “HR Law” will be discussed by attorneys Robert Joyce and Drake Maynard. Idris Johnson will introduce Clockwise’ “Time and Attendance.” In closing, a “must attend” fun session 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. Every accounting training session will be taught using our new .net software. 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 three concurrent sessions are scheduled in each time slot providing a choice of topics useful to your organization.
Sessions
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 pre-scheduled by contacting Robin Berseth. Her phone number & email are listed in the next paragraph.
We hope that we will see you at GMS Summit 2018 in Kansas City, MO. For further information on summit activities, please feel free to contact Robin Berseth, our Event Director at 800.933.3501, extension 403, or robin@gmsactg.com.
Our 2018 Summit is being held at the InterContinental Kansas City at the Plaza. The InterContinental Kansas City at the Plaza (proud recipient of the 2017 TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence) is an iconic hotel located on the corner of one of Kansas City's most stylish and historic shopping, dining and entertainment districts, the Country Club Plaza. The Plaza is fifteen blocks of Seville, Spain-inspired architecture and site of quiet courtyards, and stunning sculptures and remarkable annual festivals. Also, Kansas City is known for their World’s Best Bar-B-Q’s.
For complete summit information, please visit the GMS 33rd Annual Summit site at https://www.gmsactg.com/gms-accounting-summit-2018.html. 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, 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 network with other GMS clients.
From strictly a GMS viewpoint, we wish all GMS accounting software 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, we will offer several sessions by outside presenters. Opening session will feature Speaker Hall of Fame member Steve Gilliland who is recognized as a master storyteller and brilliant comedian. He will present “Detour” featuring ways to reduce stress, eliminate fear and increase performance in times of change. Jason Brooks, CPA, returns to present “Design and Implementation of Internal Controls” along with “An Introduction to Indirect Costs”. “HR Law” will be discussed by attorneys Robert Joyce and Drake Maynard. Idris Johnson will introduce Clockwise’ “Time and Attendance.” In closing, a “must attend” fun session 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. Every accounting training session will be taught using our new .net software. 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 three concurrent sessions are scheduled in each time slot providing a choice of topics useful to your organization.
Sessions
- Accounts Payable Processing
- Accounts Receivable and Cash Receipts Processing
- Accounting Setups & Bank Reconciliations
- Balance Sheet Reconciliations
- Design and Implementation of Internal Controls
- GMS Cost Allocation Options
- GMS Town Hall
- HR Sessions 2 NEW Sessions!
- Highlights & Enhancements NEW!
- Importing, Exporting and Paperless Filing
- Introduction to Indirect Costs
- Month End Processing - The Basics
- Month End Processing - Advanced
- Overview of Accounts Payable Supplements
- Overview of Payroll Supplements
- Overview of Selected General Ledger Supplements
- Overview of Year End and Audit Supplements
- Payroll Processing - The Basics
- Payroll Processing - Advanced
- Q&A with Accounting Staff
- Report Writer
- Time & Attendance
- Year End Closing
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 pre-scheduled by contacting Robin Berseth. Her phone number & email are listed in the next paragraph.
We hope that we will see you at GMS Summit 2018 in Kansas City, MO. For further information on summit activities, please feel free to contact Robin Berseth, our Event Director at 800.933.3501, extension 403, or robin@gmsactg.com.
Time is running out to register!
GMS Regional Training Charlotte, North Carolina Thursday, March 15, 2018 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM 
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Last Call for Special “Early Bird” Pricing!
GMS Accounting Summit 2018 Are you planning to attend the GMS Accounting Summit 2018 this May in Kansas City, Missouri? If so, time is running out to take advantage of our special “Early Bird” pricing for training on our accounting software. Registration Fees: “Early Bird” fee is $495; after February 9, 2018, $595 Register HERE today! |
Payroll Tax Changes
On January 29, an accounting software revision was released which includes the new Payroll Tax Tables. It’s very important that you install this revision as soon as possible.
Included in this revision are Federal tax rate changes, state tax rate changes for AL, CA, GA, ID, IL, KS, KY, ME, MD, MN, MS, NM, NY, SC, and WA DC, counties of MD, and School Districts of OH. If your state has tax rate changes but is not listed above, please contact us at service@gmsactg.com.
Included in this revision are Federal tax rate changes, state tax rate changes for AL, CA, GA, ID, IL, KS, KY, ME, MD, MN, MS, NM, NY, SC, and WA DC, counties of MD, and School Districts of OH. If your state has tax rate changes but is not listed above, please contact us at service@gmsactg.com.
Maximizing GMS Performance
There are two procedures that you should be following routinely to assure that the GMS Accounting and GMS Revolving Loan software are performing at their optimum ability. First, make sure that you have downloaded and installed all available updates. This includes the GMS revisions we send to our clients as well as all appropriate updates from Microsoft. These need to be installed in a timely manner and you may want to have a conversation with your IT personnel to assure that the best update procedures, for all sources, are in place. To determine if you are using the latest version of GMS accounting or revolving loan, when logged in to your software, click on Help\About and compare the version number listed in the blue box on the first page of this newsletter titled “Present Versions of Software”.
Second, make sure you perform your daily compact and repair if you are using the Microsoft Access version of the accounting or revolving loan software. As you use a database and add transactions, the database is naturally going to get larger. Also, during the normal operation of GMS software, empty spaces can be created within the database. These empty spaces may cause items to open more slowly and normal operations may generally seem to take longer. The compact and repair step will remove these empty spaces and help your accounting or revolving loan software run efficiently.
If you are using the SQL version of GMS software, your IT person or database administrator should write a maintenance plan for the management of the database(s). The maintenance plan would include the type of database maintenance and backup and the frequency in which they are done.
With the recommendation of your IT staff, GMS has created a Backup Utility. If you don’t already have the utility and would like to have it, please send an email to service@gmsactg.com with your request. You will receive a return email with a link and installation instructions. The Access version of this utility will assist you in your backup process as well as the compact and repair step. The GMS SQL Server Backup Utility will only prepare a backup.
The GMS Help files contain detailed backup instructions and recommendations. In the GMS Accounting Help Manual, these are located in Operating Information\Recommended Database Backup Procedures. For GMS RLSS, they are located in General Operating\Database Maintenance Backups.
Second, make sure you perform your daily compact and repair if you are using the Microsoft Access version of the accounting or revolving loan software. As you use a database and add transactions, the database is naturally going to get larger. Also, during the normal operation of GMS software, empty spaces can be created within the database. These empty spaces may cause items to open more slowly and normal operations may generally seem to take longer. The compact and repair step will remove these empty spaces and help your accounting or revolving loan software run efficiently.
If you are using the SQL version of GMS software, your IT person or database administrator should write a maintenance plan for the management of the database(s). The maintenance plan would include the type of database maintenance and backup and the frequency in which they are done.
With the recommendation of your IT staff, GMS has created a Backup Utility. If you don’t already have the utility and would like to have it, please send an email to service@gmsactg.com with your request. You will receive a return email with a link and installation instructions. The Access version of this utility will assist you in your backup process as well as the compact and repair step. The GMS SQL Server Backup Utility will only prepare a backup.
The GMS Help files contain detailed backup instructions and recommendations. In the GMS Accounting Help Manual, these are located in Operating Information\Recommended Database Backup Procedures. For GMS RLSS, they are located in General Operating\Database Maintenance Backups.
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Upcoming GMS Summits
We are currently preparing for the upcoming Summit in May in Kansas City, MO. This Summit will be for our Accounting clients. The next few newsletters will be devoted to information pertaining to the Kansas City accounting summit.
In September, we will host a two-day Summit for our Revolving Loan Software clients in San Antonio, TX. Watch for more information regarding the RLSS Summit. It is sure to be a great learning experience in a spectacular setting along the Riverwalk. Registration is currently open for both Summits at GMS University. 
HAPPY RETIREMENT!
We would like to congratulate Kathy Gayken, Finance Director at Family Forum, Inc. on her upcoming retirement. Enjoy your retirement Kathy!
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33 Free Things to do in Kansas City, MO
1. Ride the KC Streetcar
2. Boulevard Brewing Company Tour 3. Bruce R. Watkins Cultural Heritage Center 4. Children’s Peace Pavilion 5. The City Market 6. Crown Center 7. Deanna Rose Children’s Farmstead 8. Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City’s Money Museum 9. First Fridays 10. Fountains – more than 200 11. Frontier Army Museum 12. Hallmark Visitors Center 13. Haskell Indian Nations University Cultural Center & Museum 14. Ernie Miller Nature Center 15. Kaleidoscope 16. Kauffman Memorial Garden 17. Kansas City Public Library 18. Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art 19. Lakeside Nature Center 20. Lanesfield School Historic Site 21. Legends Outlets 22. Harley-Davidson Vehicle & Powertrain Operations 23. Legler Barn Museum 24. Liberty Jail 25. Martha Lafite Thompson Nature Sanctuary 26. Mormon Visitors Center 27. National Archives at Kansas City 28. The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art 29. Nerman Museum of Contemporary Art 30. Penguin Park 31. The Roasterie 32. Shoal Creek Living History Museum 33. Sprint Family Fun Days For more information on any of the above, click HERE. |
