MEMBERSHIP UPDATE
ANNOUNCEMENTS
MGEC Day on the Hill - March 4, 2010
Financial Seminars - February 9, 16, 18, 25
February 18, 2010
MGEC Day at the Capitol – Legislators need to hear from YOU. Our day will begin with training at the Kelly Best Western Hotel with registration at 8:30 a.m. on March 4, 2010. Key legislators will join us and the Minnesota Transportation Alliance group at lunch to discuss the impact of the 2010 Session on transportation job creation. Invited legislators include the Chairs of the Capital Investment Committees and Transportation Committees. RSVP your participation to mgec@mgec.org Please respond ASAP but certainly by February 23, 2010. We need to make arrangement for lunch and prepare materials as well as set appointments. Flyer
MGEC Financial Education Programs – Register Today at www.capitalstreet.biz
Hi All - I attended this class last night (The Complete Financial Management Workshop by Capital Street) (along with Mike) and found the information to be very good. We’ve sat through several financial classes before so I don’t say this lightly. The two men did a good job of speaking to current economic issues and how they might/will impact our planning. They are presenting both the financial planning class and retirement planning class. It is fine to come next week for the second half (I asked). I recommend emailing (see below) that you plan to attend as they provide pizza for all attendees! Please feel free to come talk to me if you have any questions. These guys are good and know their stuff. - Cathy
Governor’s Safety Award - What are you doing to actively ensure a safe workplace? This year's application process has been modified to include a safety program scorecard. The scorecard is an excellent tool for you to discuss your organization's safety programming efforts with senior leadership. I encourage you to apply.
Please note the application is an online process and is due by Wednesday, February 24th. The application also requires the applicant to certify that the head of management has reviewed and agrees with the application.
http://www.minnesotasafetycouncil.org/awards/
Benny Card is good for a period of five (5) years. DON’T THROW THEM AWAY. A new cards are only sent to individuals who have not previously participated in the state's Medical Dental Expense Account (MDEA) or the state HRA. There were no additional dollars contributed to the state's HRA for calendar year 2010. You will receive an additional $125 employer contribution to your HRA January 1, 2011. However, if you received the contribution last year on January 1, 2009, and have not spent the entire balance, you may continue to spend your HRA dollar balance during calendar year 2010. The HRA does not have a "use-it-or-lose-it" feature like the MDEA or DCEA have.
Deadline to Submit claims against your 2009 Pre Tax Accounts (Medical Dental Expense Account, Dependent Daycare Expense Account, Parking, and Bus Pass or Vanpool) and 2009 HRA. The deadline for submitting 2009 pre-tax reimbursement requests is March 1, 2010. Be sure to have your completed requests for reimbursement along with appropriate documentation to Eide Bailly by March 1, 2010-or be prepared to lose your money. Completed requests for reimbursements for expenses incurred in 2009 from your 2009 HRA must be submitted by March 1, 2010. Please note that any unused portion of your HRA carries forward to 2010.
We hope that these few New Year's tips will be of assistance as we move into the new plan year. If you have further questions, please contact Minnesota Management & Budget at 651-355-0100. You can also find all carrier contact information on the MMB website at www.mmb.state.mn.us<http://www.mmb.state.mn.us>
December 15, 2009
MGEC Executive Board Elections - Congratulations to the following individuals elected/appointed to new positions:
John Siekmeier, Sr. Eng., MnDOT (succeeds to President)
Vice President - Linda Heath, Pr. Eng., MnDOT
Treasurer - Jessica Forsberg, Grad. 2 Eng., MPCA
Director - Patrick Ferrin, Pr. Eng., Administration
Director - Jerry Kotzenmacher, Sr. Eng. Spec., MnDOT, CO
Director - Marilyn Jordahl-Larson, Pr. Eng. MnDOT, Fort Snelling
Director - Andrew Eller, Sr. Eng., MnDOT
Director – Rachel Guan, Sr. Eng. MnDOT
Director – Mohammad Dehdashti, Pr. Eng., MnDOT
Linda Heath, Vice President
Jerry Kotzenmacher, Director
Len Leitner, Secretary
Seniority Rosters – Several agencies have completed their seniority rosters. MGEC posts the rosters provided electronically at its website with recent rosters from: MnDOT, Public Safety, Administration, Commerce, Health. Check the roster annually to make sure information pertaining to you is accurate.
Member Child Scholarship
- MGEC received a
donation of $500 to be given to a member’s child as a
scholarship. The generous donation came from Joshua A.
Vinkemeier, The Wealth Maximizer, LLC; Wealth Management &
Insurance Advisor.
Interested parties should mail / email / fax a letter to MGEC at 475 Etna Street, Suite 11, St. Paul, MN 55106 / mgec@mgec.org / 651-774-9576. The letter should 1) describe their goals and field of study, 2) name and relationship to the MGEC member (i.e., child, grandchild, etc.), 3) student's contact information, and 4) a copy of the most recent transcript. Letters should be completed and returned to MGEC by noon January 12, 2010. The scholarship recipient should meet the following criteria:
Be a child/grandchild of a full MGEC member
Be enrolled full-time in a college or university
Have chosen a field of study related to Engineering or Land Surveying or the work done by Engineers, Engineering Specialists or Land Surveyors
Pre Tax Accounts – Be sure to spend any money you set aside in your Dependent Care or Medical Expense Accounts before 12/31/2009. Any monies paid after that date, even for services incurred in 2009, will not be reimbursed. If you use your Benny Card, be certain to keep those receipts for five years. Many items paid for with the Benny Card are later items for which Eide Bailley requires paper documentation as per IRS regulations.
PE Review Class – Tentative schedule is February 8 through April 2, 2010. Registration/More info
Budget Note - Up to 15 percent of the state’s budget may need to be cut, if lawmakers solve the state’s projected budget deficits without raising new revenues. http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/hinfo/sdaily.asp
MGEC PE Review Instructors Needed – Transportation, Structures & Construction are the areas needing your help. The employer supports this program and allows your preparation and instruction to be done on work time. If interested, you can plan on two days preparation and two afternoons for instructing. You may also consider co-teaching with someone. Students will appreciate your time and other instructors can tell you this is a meaningful experience. Please contact Paul Kettleson at 651-366-4521 for more information or questions.
MGEC Brochures:
Engineering Innovative Solutions for Minnesota
Summary Findings of the MGEC Compensation Survey
ASCE Infrastructure Report Card
Report Fraud:
USDOT 800-424-9071
Disclosure
of Information by Employees
(MN Statute 181.932)
U.S. GAO report
Federal-Aid Highways
January 2008
DOWNLOAD REPORT
Resumix
Job Applicant Database
IRS Mileage Rate
2009 - $.55/mile
1/1/2010 - $.50/mile
