For the second year, CAAP and other community partners will be holding a conference focusing on the federal Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) program. The EITC conference will take place at the Harrisburg Hilton & Towers in downtown Harrisburg on October 23 and 24, 2007.

Registration Information:

EITC Conference fee:
CAAP Members
$75.00 EITC conference only
$35.00 if also registered for CAAP Annual Conference (requires seperate registration and fee)

Download EITC Registration form for CAAP members

CAAP Non-members
$75.00 EITC conference only

Download EITC Registration form for CAAP non-members


Hotel Information:
Expanding EITC Impact will be held at the Harrisburg Hilton & Towers in downtown Harrisburg.

Harrisburg Hilton & Towers
One North Second Street
Harrisburg, PA 17101-1601
717-233-6000

Reduced Room Rate: $124 plus tax per night

CAAP Members can arrange hotel accomodations through CAAP utilizing the EITC conference registration form for CAAP members.

CAAP non-members must make hotel arrangement directly with the Harrisburg Hilton. To obtain discount room rate, mention CAAP conference.


EITC Conference Schedule:
Schedule is continually updated. Check back often.

Tuesday, October 23

8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.     EITC Conference Registration for Early Bird Arrivals

8:30 a.m.                           Continental Breakfast

9:00 a.m.                          Welcome and Opening Remarks
                                           Tony Ross, UWP and John Wilson, CAAP

9:30 a.m.                         EITC Program and the role of VISTAS: Starting a New Program
                                          Mary Strasser, Corporation for National Community Service

                                          For EITC Veterans: Roundtable Discussion
                                          Hilary Hunt, PA Office of Financial Education

10:15 a.m.                      Building a VITA Site
                                          Joe Solari, IRS Central Region


11:15 a.m.                      Working Together We Can Achieve More
                                                Federal VITA Funding
                                                How to Get Your Legislators Motivated
                                                State EITC
                                                Anti-RAL Legislation
                                                Kristie Weiland, Just Harvest

11:45 a.m.                      Lunch

1:00 p.m.                       The Power of Partnership
                                          Hilary Hunt, PA Office of Financial Education

1:30 p.m.                       VITA and the United Way
                                         Gary Drapek, Lackawanna County United Way

2:00 p.m.                       Investing in America’s Families/ Economic Opportunity for All
                                        Carol Goertzel-Pathways PA         

2:45 p.m.                       Concurrent Sessions

                                                   Session A
                                                    More EITC Basics
                                                         Tax Wise vs. Tax Wise Online
                                                         How to Start a VITA Site
                                                         Training & Certification
                                                         Joe Solari, IRS Central Region

                                                   Session B
                                                    Next Level EITC Issues
                                                         Handling Amended Tax Returns
                                                         Training for Quality Review
                                                         Disability Enabled VITA Sites
                                                         Regis Bodnar, IRS Western Region
                                                                                
3:45 p.m.                       Hot Topics Panel
                                                       Regis Bodnar, IRS Western Region
                                                       Joe Solari, IRS Central Region
                                                       Carol Goertzel-Pathways PA         

Wednesday, October 24

 8:00 a.m.                       Full Breakfast Buffet

 8:45 a.m.                        Appealing to Financial Institutions: What they Look for & How to Interest Them
                                          Christopher Rockey, PNC Bank

 9:30 a.m.                       Update on House Bill 377: Proposed EITC Legislation
                                         Honorable Dwight Evans, PA House of Representatives

10:15 a.m.                    Concurrent Sessions

                                                   Session A
                                                    Best Practices/Financial Literacy Panel 
                                                    Kristie Weiland, Just Harvest
                                                    Diane Reese-Walters, ICCAP
                                                   Jean Hunt, Campaign For Working Families

                                                   Session B
                                                   Vista Feedback Panel 
                                                    Tom Taylor, Westmoreland Human Opportunities
                                               
11:15 a.m.                     Asset Building at VITA Site
                                        Barbara Miller, Community Action South West
                                        Diane Reese-Walters, ICCAP
                                        Jean Hunt, Campaign For Working Families

11:45 a.m.                   Lunch provided

1:00 p.m.                       Credit Union Better Choice Program
                                         Diane Powell, PA Credit Union Association

1:30 p.m.                     Federal Response to Housing Mortgage Concerns
                                         Dede Myers, Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia
                                         Kerry Smith, Community Legal Services

 2:00 p.m.                   I Can! E-File Initiative
                                     Ann Bailey, Southwest PA Legal Services

 2:30 p.m.                   How to Run a Comprehensive Volunteer Campaign: Recruiting the Pro's
                                      Heidi Neuhaus, United Way Central Region
                                      Bill England, United Way Southeast Region
                                            
3:00 p.m.                   Closing Remarks