BULLETIN

B-22/00
May 26, 2000

To State Tax Administrators:

SUMMARY The 2000 FTA Motor Fuel Tax Section Annual Meeting will be held at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Rochester, New York, September 24-27, 2000. This bulletin provides conference and hotel registration information and the preliminary agenda. Hotel reservations should be made by calling the hotel at (716) 546-3450. The cut-off date for hotel reservations and conference registration is August 16, 2000. The Uniformity Committee will meet on Saturday, September 23, with subcommittees meeting on Friday, September 22.

FTA Motor Fuel Tax Section Chair Steven Miller, from the Idaho State Tax Commission; Arthur J. Roth, Commissioner of the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance; and the FTA Board of Trustees extend a cordial invitation to attend the 2000 Annual Meeting of the FTA Motor Fuel Tax Section. The meeting will be held at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Rochester, New York, September 24-27, 2000. The FTA Uniformity Committee will meet on Saturday, September 23, with subcommittees meeting on Friday, September 22.

The conference will begin with registration and an opening reception on Sunday, September 24. Monday and Tuesday will be devoted to general sessions in the morning, with breakout sessions scheduled in the afternoon. Wednesday morning will include a general session with various topics of interest to motor fuel tax administrators. Regional meetings will be held Monday afternoon, and the Annual Business Meeting will be held Tuesday afternoon. A banquet is scheduled for Tuesday evening, September 26.

Conference Program
The conference program consists of a mix of general session and concurrent breakout sessions presenting different topics of interest to state motor fuel tax administrators. They include IRS ExFIRS/ExSTARS/ExTOLE projects, disclosure issues, IRS kerosene regulations, latest evasion schemes, enforcement efforts, new business processes and industry perspectives. Updates of the FTA Uniformity Project and FHwA program will also be given. A preliminary program is attached.

Local Arrangements
The New York State Department of Taxation and Finance is arranging an enjoyable social program for this year’s meeting. The conference will begin with Sunday’s opening reception which will be full of "surprizes." The conference banquet and cocktail party will be held Tuesday night. Entertainment will be provided by The Traveling Cabaret. Here is what the Gannett Rochester Newspapers had to say about the Cabaret...

"...such a delight to see a sold-out house...refreshing to see such talent (young and old) with songs...past and present, dance routines and comedy. You’re left with such a nice feeling...an evening of complete entertainment..."

Optional activity planned: Monday evening bus trip to Niagara Falls. The bus departs the Crowne Plaza at 5:30pm. A box meal will be provided en route to Niagara Falls. You will have 3 hours at the Falls. Cost is $25.00 per person. (See the enclosed brochure for additional details.)

Conference Registration
Registration fees for the Annual Meeting are shown below. For the first time, registration fees are identical for both industry and government representatives.

Government Representative	$270
Industry Representative	$270
Guest	$100

A registration form is in the enclosed brochure. Upon completion, please mail it with your check to:

Please make your check payable to FTA Motor Fuel Section Conference. It is preferable that the fee accompany the registration. If this is not possible, payment may be made at a later date or on-site.

NOTE: Registration closes August 16, 2000. An additional $50 fee will be assessed on-site registrants or those who register after the August 16 deadline except if New York State Department of Taxation & Finance is informed in advance that you plan to attend.

Questions concerning registration should be directed to Lynn Mullin (518) 485-5946 or Alicia Gagnon (518) 485-5450 of the NYS Department of Taxation & Finance.

Guest Program
The Guest registration includes admission and transportation to all venues, two lunches, the Sunday opening reception, and the Tuesday night banquet. (See enclosed brochure for details.)

Hotel Registration
**Overflow Space is available at the Four Points Sheraton--a short walk from the conference hotel. The hotel rate is $79 a night. Make your reservation directly with the hotel by phone (716) 546-6400.

Conference headquarters is the Crowne Plaza-Rochester located at 70 State Street, Rochester, New York 14614. The hotel rate is $59.00 single/double plus 12% (current) tax. Make your reservations directly with the hotel by phone (716) 546-3450 or 1-800-227-6963; fax (716) 546-8714; or by completing the reservation form enclosed in the brochure. Make certain to inform the hotel that you are attending the FTA Motor Fuel Tax Annual Meeting to receive the conference rate. A credit card guarantee or a check for one night’s lodging must accompany the registration. The hotel will NOT accept reservations without a guarantee. Hotel room cancellations require 72 hours notice. Please note that the cut-off date for hotel reservations is August 16, 2000.

Transportation
The Crowne Plaza Hotel provides a free shuttle to and from the airport. The following airlines serve Rochester airport: Air Ontario, American, Continental, Delta, Northwest, Trans States Airlines, United and US Airways. Car rentals are available through Avis, Budget, Dollar, Hertz, National and Thrifty.

Climate
In late September, Rochester daytime temperatures tend to be in the high 60's and overnight lows in the high 40's.

The 2000 Motor Fuel Tax Section Annual Meeting promises to be an educational and enjoyable one. Questions about the program can be directed to Cindy Anders-Robb at (307) 632-4144 or e-mail cindy.anders-robb@taxadmin.org

Sincerely,

Harley T. Duncan
Executive Director

Enclosure: as stated

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2000 FTA
Motor Fuel Section 
Annual Meeting

1:00pm - 6:00pm      Sunday Afternoon

Registration

6:00pm - 9:00pm      Sunday Evening

Reception

 

8:30 am - 11:30am      Monday Morning	General Session Welcome (NY Delegate) FTA Executive Report FHwA Update IRS Update Uniformity Updates
11:30 am - 1:00 pm	Lunch (on your own)
1:00pm - 5:00pm     Monday Afternoon	Simultaneous Breakout Sessions ExSTARS Project ExTOLE Project Regional Meetings

5:30pm - 11:30 pm      Monday Evening

Niagara Falls Bus Trip

8:30 am - 11:30 am      Tuesday Morning	General Session Canadian Fuel Distribution System "Smart Site" Fuel Delivery System New Business Processes       Internet purchasing of Fuel "Deliver Us From Evil:     Governmental Responses to Reports of Fuel Tax Evasion" Invitation to 2001 Annual Meeting      (Delegate from South Dakota) National Chairs Report
11:30 am - 1:00 pm	Lunch (on your own)
1:00pm - 5:00pm      Tuesday Afternoon	Simultaneous Breakout Sessions Industry Prospective Enforcement Efforts Annual Business Meeting

6:00pm      Tuesday Evening

Dinner Banquet

 

8:30 am - noon      Wednesday Morning

General Session Disclosure Issues IRS Kerosene Regulation Latest Evasion Schemes

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