Greetings Fellow Akron Chapter Members,

I cannot tell you how excited I am about the up coming year. We have an outstanding roster of speakers assembled for our dinner meetings. We will begin the year with Bob Madison and James Bickett. I am sure that you will find them to be entertaining and engaging. I hope to see as many of you as possible at our kickoff meeting. This is going to be a wonderful start to what should be a fun year.

There have been a few changes implemented since our last meeting. Unfortunately, as much as we try not to do so, the price of dinner has been increased to $25 That was the bad news. I would like to point out some of the more positive changes that have been completed so far. The first is the newsletter format, what do you think? Another would be that we have set-up a secure online payment system through PayPal for prepayment of dinner meetings and other chapter-sponsored events. Another important change has been made to the chapter website. The new address is akron.imanet.org. Although well on its’ way, the site is far from completed. We have a number of ideas and goals for the new and improved site.

One other change of note has been to “Bosses Night”. Instead of this applying to only one night a year, you are welcome to bring your boss or co- worker to any dinner meeting during the year. We are more than happy to extend to you the 50% discount offered on their meal. Please take advantage of this offer at some point during the year to show your boss or co-worker the benefits the chapter has to offer.

As you can see, it has been a challenging and busy summer for your board. As always, we are focused on you, our members. I do believe there will be a questionnaire available at the dinner meeting. We are looking for your input on activities to schedule that are more social and or family oriented. I ask that you please take the time to fill out the questionnaire. For those of you who will not be able to attend, feel free to forward on your suggestions.

Sincerely, Dean C. Hull II
President
Akron Chapter IMA

Tangier Restaurant
September 20, 2006
5:25 PM (SHARP)

Robert H. Madison, President,
Madison & Associates
"Performance Management"

Bob Madison is President of Madison & Associates, a consulting firm concentrating in enhancing organizational effectiveness and integrating human performance systems with business strategy. Madison & Associates serves clients in manufacturing, service and the not-for-profit sectors. Assignments have included management performance coaching, team development, career transition counseling, working with startup companies, designing and implementing a major organizational cultural change project.

Prior to establishing his own consulting organization, Bob was Vice President HR for ISK Biosciences Corporation, a major international agricultural and specialty chemicals company headquartered in Mentor, OH. He established the HR department in this company and in two predecessor companies. ISK Biosciences, under Mr. Madison’s direction, was acknowledged for leading-edge human resource innovations including “Ingredients for Excellence”, a model for employee commitment. He also developed a unique investment and profit sharing plan, and a compensation program tailored to profit contribution. Earlier, Bob held a number of key HR management positions with SDS Biotech Corporation, Diamond Shamrock Corporation, and PPG Industries.

Bob received his BS degree in Industrial Psychology from Purdue University and attended the University of Michigan Human Resources Executive Management Program. He received advanced training in Organizational Development at UCLA. Bob is active in several professional organizations, including the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), Human Resource Planning Society, and as a volunteer counselor and Trustee for Hudson Job Search. He is a member of the Personnel Advisory and Appeals Board for the City of Hudson, OH. He was recognized by the Cleveland chapter of SHRM as Outstanding Human Resource Professional of the Year.

Bob teaches regularly at Lakeland Community College, Kirtland, OH and is very active with the Boy Scouts of America. Bob and his wife Sara reside in Hudson, OH.

Tonight, Bob will present some “heretical” thoughts about Performance Management. He feels most “performance review” processes do little or no good, in fact are often counterproductive to their intended purpose. He will offer some alternative models that should be more effective for organizations and individual employees.

JAMES L. BICKETT
Supervisory Assistant U.S. Attorney
The U.S. Attorney Office, Northern District
“The False Claims Act – Whistleblower Provisions”

James L. Bickett, Esq., has been Supervisory Assistant U.S. Attorney in the U.S. Attorney Office, Northern District, from 1992 to present. He was Assistant U.S. Attorney, Civil Division, from 1990 to present. His areas of specialization include financial litigation, civil fraud, and environmental enforcement. He received a BS (1972) and MS in Tax (1985) from the University of Akron and a JD (1974) from the University of Michigan.

Mr. Bickett was in private law practice from 1984- 1990 and 1979-1981. He was Chief Counsel, Civil Division, in the Summit County Prosecutor’s Office from 1981-1984. He was also Assistant Law Director, City of Akron, Prosecutor, Police Legal Advisor, and Civil Trial Council from 1975-1979. He received the Inspector General’s Integrity Award, Department of Health and Human Services, in 1993 and 1997. In 1996, he won the Inspector General’s Award and Special Achievement Award. In 2002, he received the EOUSA Director’s Award.

Tonight, we will learn how the False Claims Act creates liability for businesses dealing with the government. The Whistleblower Provisions of the Act permit disgruntled employees or others to file actions on behalf of the government against their former employer. The whistleblower gets to keep between 15 and 25% of the monies recovered. Additionally, the whistleblower gets attorney’s fees awarded as well. This Act can apply, for example, to misrepresentations on loan applications for loans guaranteed by the United States.

The price for the 2006/2007 Tech Session Dinner Meetings will be $25.00 per meeting.

The Pre-Tech Sessions will remain at $10.00 per session. You can also pre-pay $50.00 for all the sessions and save $20.00

Pre-Tech Sessions will begin and end promptly at 5:25 p.m. and 6:15 p.m. respectively.

INSTITUTE OF MANAGEMENT ACCOUNTANTS AKRON CHAPTER