When:

6:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. Networking & Dinner
7:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. Meeting / Presentation

Where:

Aquariva Italian Kitchen
0470 SW Hamilton Ct.
Portland, OR 97239
www.aquarivaportland.com

What:

5 Things You Need to Know about Your Taxes in 2010

At the January meeting of the Oregon Computer Consultants Association, Rick Leipzig, Certified Public Accountant and Certified Financial Planner will share:

1. How to keep an eye on your bookkeeper (and when to know if you need one).

2. How recent changes in the tax code could affect you in 2010.

3. Tangible tips for being better organized.

4. The rules for deducting travel, entertainment and meals.  IRS Pub 463 .  (Pages 5 & 9 - 11 provide the quick summary of what is deductible and the rules.

5. How to protect yourself (and your clients) from blurring the line between independent contractor and employee tax status.   IRS Form SS-8   (Independent Contractor questionnaire)

This meeting will feature a time for questions and answers along with a full set of informational handouts available.

Other resource: 

Summary of the "Independent Contractor Problem."

Speaker Bio:

Rick Leipzig has over 32 years of experience working with small business in the Portland area. He is experienced in the federal and Oregon taxation of: individuals, corporations, partnerships, trusts/estates as well as payroll tax reporting, retirement planning, City of Portland, Multnomah County and Tri-Met.

When:

Tuesday, January 26, 2010
6:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. Networking & Dinner
7:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. Meeting / Presentation

Where:

Aquariva Italian Kitchen
0470 SW Hamilton Ct.
Portland, OR 97239
www.aquarivaportland.com

We recommend you take advantage of Aquariva's valet parking.

 5 Things You Didn't Know Were Possible With Virtualization"

At the November meeting of the Oregon Computer Consultants Association, Jeremy Sherwood of Opus Interactive, Inc . will share specific examples of how current virtualization technology can provide solutions for computer consultants and their clients.

For example, if you have a client with multiple servers operating on older hardware who wants to upgrade without spending a great deal of money, Jeremy will show you how virtualization technology may be the answer.

Virtualization technology has made huge advances in the past four years and may be the tool you're looking for to help your clients maximize their return on investment and increase performance.

About the presenter:

Jeremy Sherwood has extensive experience in sales and technical support. He sees his role as one of an expert problem solver.

"We don't put customers into a cookie cutter" he says, "We strive to give them the individualized interactive solutions they need so their business can grow."

If you're a computer consulting looking to grow your business and your clients' business in 2010, you won't want to miss this presentation!

Presentation: Selling your services doesn't have to be a stressful event!

Frustrated by this year's sales numbers? Stressed out wondering which of your many skills and talents the prospect needs and will pay good money for?

Aquariva Italian Kitchen
0470 SW Hamilton Ct.
Portland OR 97239

Map

Come learn THE EASY WAY TO IMPROVE YOUR SALES AND KEEP YOUR SANITY while running a computer consulting business at the monthly meeting of the Oregon Computer Consultants Association, on October 27th.

Arleen McClean of Work Smarter, will be sharing sales and marketing secrets that will help you systemize your sales in order to generate "More Yes - Less Stress".

At the meeting you'll learn:

1. The easy way to get prospect's interested in working with you. (Are you curious?
2. What to say at networking events or on the phone with prospects
3. How to create a system that sends a steady stream of business to your door.

Come learn how you can make 2010 your best year ever! A free report, "Creating Curiosity" will be provided to each person in attendance. (No-host dinner and networking from 6:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. Meeting from 7:00 p.m.- 8:30 p.m.)

Bio:
At a time when her industry was growing only 1%, Arleen McClean experienced a 27% increase in sales by using the concepts she'll share at the meeting.

This success soon translated into the development and trademarking of the "More Yes - Less Stress" product line. The line includes an inexpensive program that leads consultants step by step through what to say to effectively sell and market their services.

McClean's company, Work Smarter, also provides one to one coaching along with writing and design services for those looking to update their brochures, sales tools or websites.

Arleen McClean is a graduate of the University of Montana and holds a B.A. in Interpersonal Communication.

How can Microsoft's new operating system, Windows 7, help you be more productive? Come see what new and exciting features are available at the Window 7 Workshop on Saturday, October 17th from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the Monarch Hotel in Clackamas. The workshop is presented by the Oregon Computer Consultants Association.

OCCA members can attend for free. Non OCCA members pay only $30. Plus, the first fifty people attending the workshop will get a free DVD of Windows 7 Release Candidate, the fully functional but time limited installable version of Windows 7.

Our presenters, Dave Kezziah of WatchFire Technologies and Jeff Cone of Cone Consulting Group Ltd, have been testing Windows for months and will be sharing what you (and your clients) need to know about this new operating system. Both a fresh installation and an upgrade installation will be demonstrated, along with time for question and answers.

Register and reserve your space at this important workshop today by emailing JeffConeOCCAgmail [dot] com (Jeff Cone). Refreshments will be served.

Plan to be at the Monarch Hotel (12566 SE 93rd Ave. Clackamas OR 97015) on Saturday, October 17th from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. for the Windows 7 Workshop sponsored by the Oregon Computer Consultants Association.

Topic:  Favorite Software Tools

September's meeting will be a panel discussion, presenting some useful and time-saving programs by four speakers.  Also, the whole group is encouraged to come to the meeting ready to share a little something about their favorite software tool.  Maybe it's a text editor.  Maybe it's a program launcher.  Whatever it is, come and contribute to what will be a very interesting and lively discussion.

Panel Speakers:  

                Jeff Cone            -   "The best file manager"
                Jesse Black        -   "My backup software of choice"
                Steve Shank       -   "Utilities I use every day"
                George Shubin   -   "Programs every computer should have"
                

Jeff Cone is president of the Cone Consulting Group.  He is both a forensic accountant and develops databases and programs in Visual Studio and Microsoft Access.

Jesse Black is Chief Technologist of Yellow Crayon Computer Services, a Portland-area provider of IT services to individuals and small businesses. Jesse emphasizes that backups can be easy, inexpensive, and a lot less painful than losing your critical data.

Steve Shank owns Oregon Computer Services.  He's been keeping clients' computers safe and profitable for over 25 years.

George Shubin is owner of dX Software Systems, a custom software development service.  George has been working with computers for almost 40 years, and has designed and written hundreds of applications, solving many interesting and unique problems.  

1. Peer 2 Peer File sharing. Your clients may not have a Peer 2 Peer client on their business computer. However, most have home computers with spouses, significant others and of course children. The legal dangers that lurk in this darkened alley can cost you your house, business and even your freedom. We will talk about how to minimize your exposure
2. So your looking at one of your client's computer and you find what you believe to be disgusting and disturbing images. What do you do?
3. Do's and Don'ts of drive recovery. Let's talk about the best way to make it work for both you and your client.
4. Q&A

Location: Aquariva Italian Kitchen

Bio
Roy Miller is the President and founder of Miller Computer Group, Inc., a company specializing in the development of software for attorneys, private investigators and law enforcement.

Roy's initial interest in this began during his career as a Special Agent for the Air Force Office of Special Investigations. As a Special Agent in Charge, Roy directed investigations of white-collar crime involving Department of Defense contractors.

At that time software to aid in the collection and organization of data gathered in these large, multi-agency investigations did not exist. Roy's curiosity and initiative led him to the development of software, which has facilitated successful prosecution of individuals who were defrauding the U.S. government of millions of taxpayer dollars. His interest carried on after
the Air Force when he entered private industry.

Roy has an undergraduate degree in Criminal Justice and post-graduate degrees in Management and Computer and Information Resources Management. He has experience and training in many areas of programming and software
development. He also has training and experience in the area of computer forensics.

As a result of the latter he has been retained in numerous civil and criminal cases and has testified as an expert in many of those cases. In many of these cases his expertise has revealed information that was instrumental in the determining the outcome.

Roy's primary passion has been his work with private investigators. His software program Case Works is one of the premier case management and billing programs for investigators. however, popular demand has led Roy to adapt Case Works for other professions, including trial attorneys, law enforcement, public defenders, claims adjusters and health care providers.

As a Licensed Private Investigator, Roy strives to improve the software that enables his clients to actually make more money.

His passion is evidenced by the continued success his clients achieve by adopting many of his business philosophies -- which permeate his software.

Because of his knowledge of computer hardware and software, his varied experience and his easygoing manner, Roy has been a frequent presenter at conferences for private investigators, attorneys, software developers and information management personnel.

His topics have included Increasing Cash Flow, Better Business Practices, Negotiating for Better Deals, Lead
Generation to Wealth, Time Management, Data Base Management, Computer Forensics, Common Use of the Computer as well specialty presentations on a number of computer programs and operating systems.

Roy Miller
Managing Partner
503-655-1405
503-655-1408 (Fax)
http://www.case-works.com

We will be having a presentation on the upcoming release of Windows 7, Microsoft’s newest operating system, to be released to the public on October 22.

The meeting will include a live Release Candidate demonstration which will highlight some of Windows 7’s new features, as well as comparing and contrasting Windows 7 with Vista.

We will also have plenty of time for questions and answers. The speaker will be bringing a box of Windows 7 RC disks to give out.

Jason Mauer is a Developer Evangelist with Microsoft, covering the Pacific Northwest. He presents frequently at developer events and user groups about topics related to software development.

Most of his years at Microsoft have been as a development consultant with Microsoft Services, specializing in application development with .NET, SharePoint, and XML technologies. Find him online at www.jasonmauer.com.

"One of my duties as a Developer Evangelist at Microsoft is to document things. Someone once said the main difference between a journalist and a spy is a journalist reports on government for the people, and a spy reports on people for the government. "

"I wear both hats as a DE. I talk about MS stuff with people on the outside, and I take their feedback and report it back to the Mother Brain. (Yes there is a Mother Brain at MS; it is totally in a standing jar thing just like Metroid. But I digress.)"

No promises, but rumor has it there will be CD's of the Windows latest RC

Cash Flow Planning for Retirement
Paige Garrison, CFP, CLU Northwestern Mutual

Now that all of our 401(k) plans are 201(k) plans, most of us baby boomers are thinking we might not retire as soon as we had thought. As self-employed professionals, come to our practical seminar to discuss these issues:

• How much should we allocate to the stock market and how much should be guaranteed?
• Which accounts should we consider withdrawing from first considering taxes and deferrals?
• How do we plan to cover our essential expenses? Health insurance, mortgage and utilities?
• Who will be sending us monthly checks? How will we be able to pay the income taxes?
• What is a safe withdrawal rate to try and preserve principal?
• What questions should we be asking our financial institutions and insurance companies for due diligence?
• Have you really looked under the hood and thought about the reality of what’s to come?

With over twenty years experience as a financial advisor, Paige Garrison's success is due to helping diverse types of clients work toward financial security.

Working with small business owners and professionals, Paige focused on listening to their needs and creating financial strategies to assist them in achieving their personal and business goals.

Financial security means different things to everyone, but planning toward making sure income and assets are protected with life, disability and long-term care insurance form a foundation for the unexpected.

Asset accumulation toward retirement, education and other financial goals require a thorough understanding of risk tolerance and the timeline for her client’s needs. Paige believes in working with the client’s attorney and accountant to provide a coordinated approach to their tax and estate planning.

Agenda

Introductions from NASBA, the Association of Channel Resellers (Frank R, 5 minutes)

• WiMAX - the technology, what it is, where it's going, systems (Intel, 25 minutes)
• Clear - the service, coverage, pricing, etc. (Clear, 25 minutes)
• Wrap-up/Q&A (All, 5 minutes)

Overall discussion/presentation focus: WiMAX the technology, the good, the bad, the coverage, the speed, comparison info performance-wise etc. with Qwest, Verizon Fios, Comcast ext. and how it compares vs. other telecom/internet services, etc.

First Presenter: Equus

Equus Computer Systems is the largest system builder in the country selling direct to the channel. Equus is one of the largest Intel and Microsoft OEM’s in North America and was Voted Number 1 Channel Vendor by North American Resellers. Equus has been delivering high quality, flexible solutions for server, storage, desktop and notebook applications for over 20 years to our VAR, ISV and OEM partners. Equus has developed their business model with the channel in mind, including reimbursement warranties and accessible state of the art web services passed to the reseller.

The presentation and demonstration will include a brief product overview on the new Intel ITX and Atom platforms and how they apply to the SMB market. Also covered will be the Webstore which is designed for resellers featuring configurators and e-commerce capabilities for the reseller website. Sample products will be provided as well as Q & A.

Todd Meany is a Regional Business Development Manager with Equus Computers Inc. He has been with Equus Computers since 2005 and has been in the technical sales and marketing field in the Portland area since 1996.

Second Presenter: CRU Dataport

CRU Dataport- Founded in 1986,CRU-DataPort is a pioneer in data security and data mobility devices. The company’s flagship DataPort, along with Data Express and RhinoJR (formerly manufactured by StorCase), brands of removable and external hard drive enclosures are the de facto standard for physical data security and safe data transporting in government, education and business markets. CRU-DataPort products, which now include the WiebeTech brand of data storage and forensics products, are also widely used in media rich data environments including audio/video production, digital cinema, video security capture, and disk-2-disk backup and archiving applications.

Dan Bovee, VP of Sales, will give a brief product overview discussing the key features of removable storage. In addition to exploring the market verticals these products provide solutions to, there will be a Q&A session and product samples to look over.