pmacduff Posted October 28, 2004 Posted October 28, 2004 Ok Tom - Sorry to be off topic - I wanted to be sure you saw this so I'm using your forum! How was the ASPA conference?
AndyH Posted October 28, 2004 Posted October 28, 2004 Tom, any a(4) testing issues of note come up? how about that 5:00 last day of year entry date trick (I call it the swinging entry gate)?
Tom Poje Posted October 28, 2004 Posted October 28, 2004 Tom's brain is shot. The scarecrow's is almost fried as well, but I guess you would have had to attend my talk to understand that. well, the talk was more of a presentation. Andy: your swinging entry wasn't addressed, but that idea still smells bad to me. actually, the IRS mentioned that they will soon release something on 'short term' employees, though I don't think in the same vein as you are using the term. If it smells bad..... Lady MacDuff (I always wanted to say that, sounds so Shakespearen): Overall I think it went real well, but as for me...estimate around 1500 attendees. Can't say I got anything enlightening at the conference. certainly nothing I would call major at the IRS Q & A. but then I have been going to the Conference since 1997. back then I could sit in on any talk and learn a lot. now its getting harder to pick up info, especially since I've sort of specialized myseld into coverage and cross testing things like that. (I did get to meet Archimage.) This year's session was further complicated for me by the fact I was giving a talk at 9:00 on Tuesday, and then repeating at 3:45. I don't find it easy to get up in front of people and share info because it really makes a difference to me to make it worth that while. So much of Monday I was probably more in a zombie type mode. Based on comments the talk went really well, and was supposedly one of the better ones. It was given by a scarecrow using that marvelous brain the Wizard gave him. well, yes, I really was wearing a costume. I have a strong feeling there will be a picture I wont be able to live down in one of the ASPA publications soon. And they got two 'pension' songs - the scarecrows song from the Wizard of Oz "If you only use Lorraine" [my boss], and then an Elvis song. So, I was able to share some knowledge and make it fun at the same time. Plus it looks like I will end up on the IRS Q and A committee, so fun time stuff.
Archimage Posted October 28, 2004 Posted October 28, 2004 Tom, you are full of crap! (inside joke) The IRS did mention that they are planning on adding a retirement plan practitioner to the 2848. They made it sound like it would be soon but you never really know.
AndyH Posted October 28, 2004 Posted October 28, 2004 I wasn't there but a colleague who was said your session was terrific. .......and something about some funny guy dressed as a scarecrow is making round the office (there are 70 or so people in my office).
pmacduff Posted October 28, 2004 Author Posted October 28, 2004 Thanks for the conference info Tom. I just received my "ASPPA" pin in the mail today introducing the new logo! The Shakespearen reference is funny because in the 9th grade my teacher, Mr. MacKay, always made me read the part of McDuff. He really got such a charge out of that! I found it even more humorous because his name & my were MAC but McDuff in the play is actually MC. I never really bothered about it, but my Grandfather was VERY particular about correcting those who would try to spell or pronouce our last name Mc ("mick") instead of Mac "mack" !!! Archimage - it sounds like Tom was full of straw....
Tom Poje Posted October 29, 2004 Posted October 29, 2004 Archimage - you crack me up. My straw did cow from the cow pasture, so your comment is as accurate as can be. I am full of... Andy: speaking of "some funny guy dressed as a scarecrow is making round the office" the lady from my office who attended made a similar comment. The scarecrow was bouncing around the room so much that the cameraman had a hard time keeping up.
GBurns Posted October 29, 2004 Posted October 29, 2004 It is early in the morning for me but I cannot imaging someone finding a way to have fun while presenting coverage and cross testing. You must have a hell of a sense of humor. George D. Burns Cost Reduction Strategies Burns and Associates, Inc www.costreductionstrategies.com(under construction) www.employeebenefitsstrategies.com(under construction)
Tom Poje Posted October 29, 2004 Posted October 29, 2004 humor, of course, is only relative. If you think the scarecrow from the Wizard of Oz who got blown up out of Florida by the hurricane to speak only because of the marvelous brain given him by the Wizard is funny, so be it. If you believe him when he says that it really isnt the brain, but rather brain pills that does the trick, and he starts flinging out SMARTIES into the crowd, ok. (sorry, I forgot to do that in the first session) by luck I had used a clip art of the St. Louis Arch for the slide dealing with the Gateway Minimum. It only naturally led to a few digs about the Yankees and other baseball comments. how could I have known months ago that things would turn out the way they did? heck, I had fun, it is always my hope that others not only enjoyed the presentation but learned something as well. From the comments I received it was worth all the extra time I put into it.
AndyH Posted October 29, 2004 Posted October 29, 2004 did you get to imputing permitted disparity and rate banding? I bet those would have had the crowd in hysterics
Archimage Posted October 29, 2004 Posted October 29, 2004 Unless you consider snoring as being hysterical. Just kidding.
pmacduff Posted October 29, 2004 Author Posted October 29, 2004 hey you guys...take it easy on Tom! There aren't many topics in our line of work that wouldn't put a few hearty souls to sleep, right??
GBurns Posted October 29, 2004 Posted October 29, 2004 I guess Tom would have covered imputed disparity as part of the Yankees segment. And from his description his histrionics probably did make them hysterical. George D. Burns Cost Reduction Strategies Burns and Associates, Inc www.costreductionstrategies.com(under construction) www.employeebenefitsstrategies.com(under construction)
AndyH Posted October 29, 2004 Posted October 29, 2004 My comments were meant as an inside joke. An early draft of his outline would have required 4 days to cover, and that is without the songs! And, Tom, do you recall that I said the St. Louis arch was a great illustration of the gateway? How ironic that was now.
Tom Poje Posted October 29, 2004 Posted October 29, 2004 the so called 'rude' comments from archimage are a joke. we met at the conference and had a good laugh about some of the things that get said on benefits link. Andy: Quite ironically, I made it up to the slide that said "If time permits..." - in both sessions, with 5 minutes to go. How is that for timing. I had even said before hand I didn't expect to get through everything. I also thought that there was probably enough info on imputed disparity that an individual could at least look at it and understand. (by the way, Andy was kind enough to look over the material and make a few comments/suggestions.) so in the remaining minutes they got a quick look at grouping accrual rates and an Elvis Pension song. The voice was begining to go at that point, you have to love it when someone comes up to you and says they always buy 'your tapes'.
pmacduff Posted October 29, 2004 Author Posted October 29, 2004 ok Tom - what's next...that CD release with the "scarecrow" on the cover? How about that fold out insert with the words to your latest pension songs? I bet you could take it platinum.... I, for one, did know this was all in good fun!! By the way - I heard a rumor that the first game for the Red Sox next season is against the Yankees..............oh boy!!!!!!!!!!!
stephen Posted October 29, 2004 Posted October 29, 2004 pamcduff - It's no rumor. The first game in Fenway next season features the Red Sox vs. the Yankees. Thus the Red Sox will be unveiling their 2004 World Series Champion banner in front of the Yankees! IT"S GREAT! GO SOX GO! (edited as I concur with Bob K's comments regarding the 2005 MLB schedule)
Guest Bob K Posted October 29, 2004 Posted October 29, 2004 Tom: I attended the ASPPA conference and was at your first session. Outstanding. Great material with a unique approach. And the songs were fun. As for the Sox and raising the flag. There opening series will be in Yankee Stadium and their first HOME series will start a week later on April 12th against the Yankees (again). This is a preliminary schedule that has not been finalized by the Major League Baseball yet. Of course, as a depressed Yankee fan I am not looking forward to the flag raising. Bob K
Blinky the 3-eyed Fish Posted October 29, 2004 Posted October 29, 2004 Tom, you are full of crap! (inside joke) the so called 'rude' comments from archimage are a joke. we met at the conference and had a good laugh about some of the things that get said on benefits link. I would have love to have heard that conversation since I am the one full of crap. I was thinking of changing my avatar to a big pile of it. "What's in the big salad?" "Big lettuce, big carrots, tomatoes like volleyballs."
WDIK Posted October 29, 2004 Posted October 29, 2004 since I am the one full of crap I had always assumed that it was merely a transposition error and that you were full of carp. ...but then again, What Do I Know?
Blinky the 3-eyed Fish Posted October 29, 2004 Posted October 29, 2004 Nice. Although in the fish world that is even more of an insult. Those dirty bottomfeeders! :angry: "What's in the big salad?" "Big lettuce, big carrots, tomatoes like volleyballs."
Guest dsyrett Posted October 30, 2004 Posted October 30, 2004 Tom, I was at your second session and it was very good.
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