2014 Fall Conference
September 21 - 24, 2014
Radisson Duluth Harborview
505 West Superior Street
Duluth, Minnesota 55802

♦ Commissioner of Revenue's Annual Meeting with Assessors
♦ MAAO Annual Meeting and Election of Officers
♦ Topical Educational Seminars
♦ Social Events

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Unbeatable Views at One of the Top Hotels in Duluth, MN
Perfectly located in the heart of downtown Duluth with breathtaking views of Lake Superior, the Radisson Duluth Harborview is an urban oasis for travelers of all types.  During your stay, make use of a variety of on-site amenities, including complimentary Wi-Fi, a heated indoor pool, a fitness center and the impressive revolving restaurant, JJ Astor.  This hotel's central location in Duluth, MN makes it easy to attend events at the nearby Duluth Entertainment Convention Center or visit top attractions like the famous Canal Park, the Aerial Lift Bridge and the Lakewalk. 

The Radisson Duluth Harborview is offering sleeping rooms at the following rates:

Run of the House Single/Double: $79.00
Subject to appropriate state, local and occupancy tax

AGENDA

Sunday, September 21st

2:00 pm - 5:00 pm

Conference Registration - Great Hall Foyer

3:00 pm

Executive Board - Viking Room

6:00 pm

Opening Reception - Grandma's Sports Garden, Canal Park

Monday, September 22nd

8:00 am - Noon

Registration - Great Hall Foyer

9:00 am - Noon

Commissioner of Revenue Meeting - Great Hall

Noon - 1:00 pm

Lunch - The Depot Great Hall

1:00 pm - 3:30 pm

MAAO Annual Meeting - Great Hall

5:30 pm - 7:30 pm

Reception and tour - Lake Superior Railroad Museum

7:30

Dinner on your own

Tuesday, September 23rd

7:30 am

Past President's Breakfast - Missabe Room

9:00 am - Noon

MAAO Annual Meeting - Great Hall

Noon - 1:00 pm

Lunch - The Depot Grand Hall

1:00 pm - 5:00 pm

Educational Seminars - Radisson breakout rooms

6:00 pm - 7:00 pm

Reception - JJ Astor revolving restaurant

7:00 pm - 8:00 pm

Annual Banquet - Great Hall

8:30 pm

Awards and Presentations - Great Hall

Wednesday, September 24th

8:00 - Noon

Educational Seminars - Radisson Breakout Rooms

Educational Seminars
Choose One 4-hour Seminar (Tuesday or Wednesday), two 4-hour Seminars (Tuesday and  Wednesday) or 3 hour Ethics

FS1 Ethics for MN Assessors 3 Hrs Tues - MN Dept. of Revenue: This three-hour course has been updated and emphasizes professional conduct and standardized assessment practices within an ethical context.  Numerous case studies, scenarios, and discussion points have been added to allow for the participants to think through the dilemmas presented and relate them to their own professional and personal lives. Ethics is no longer offered in the Professional Assessment Certification and Education (PACE) course. Therefore, all licensed AMA’s and SAMA’s will need to take a stand alone course for the July 1, 2012-June 30, 2016 licensing period. ***THE STATE BOARD OF ASSESSORS GRANTS THREE (3) CEH FOR THIS SEMINAR!  Class Size Limit of 50

FS2 Assessing the Person 4 Hrs Tues - MN Department of Revenue Staff:  Assessors are charged with assessing property based on its use, but some parts of the property tax system are based not on the property, but on the person living inside it!  This seminar will cover a variety of topics related to personal data used by assessors’ offices, programs that require individual information, and data privacy concerns.  We will cover the basics of programs such as 1b blind/disabled homestead and the disabled veterans’ market value exclusion, and then discuss data privacy implications of those programs.  We will discuss issues related to Social Security Numbers and Individual Taxpayer Identification Numbers.  We will also go over case studies related to homesteads for foreign citizens, what to do when a property owner in a personal program such as disabled veterans’ exclusion moves to a new home, and Social Security verification.  Class Size Limit of 75

FS4 MN RESIDENTIAL FORM REPORT 4 Hrs Tuesday - Instructors: Form Report Instructors and Graders:  This seminar will assist individuals in writing a residential demonstration form report. The student will be provided the most complete and up to date checklist for the candidates to refer to as they write their report. The student reference manual will provide step-by-step instructions for writing the report and will include many examples to help them successfully complete their report.  Class Size Limit of 50 - Cancelled due to low enrollment

FS5 BUSINESS WRITING FOR ASSESSORS 4 Hrs Wed - Instructor: John Gellatly, Retired City of Duluth Assessor: We’ll begin with an analysis of concepts that assessors must attempt to explain to taxpayers and the value of written messages to that attempt. This is followed by instructions in building the foundation of lucid writing to successfully establish the writer’s meaning in the mind of the reader: choice of words, sentence structure, organization of the message, and presentation.  Examples related to the assessment field and other occupations are offered as well as sample outlines and letters dealing with assessment administration issues.

FS7 MN RESIDENTIAL FORM REPORT – HANDS ON 4 Hrs Wed - Instructors: Form Report Instructors and Graders:  This workshop will be a hands-on experience where candidates can bring their form reports, all of their data, and have four uninterrupted hours to work on their report. Form Report Instructors and Graders will be on hand to help with any questions or stumbling blocks you may encounter. Please be prepared to work on your report. Bring more data than you think you need so you will have ample information and comparable sales to make suggested adjustments and changes. DON’T FORGET YOUR LAPTOP AND CALCULATOR.  Class Size Limit of 30 - Cancelled due to low enrollment