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Returning Counselor�Training Overview�Ed Klein D05 DC� January 5 & 7, 2026

This presentation provides a review of critical policies and procedures that all volunteers should be familiar with. See the Policy and Procedures Manual for more details. Instructors should adjust their presentations depending on the volunteers level of certification
For example:

Client Facilitators (CF) may only need to be aware of some of these policies while having more emphasis on others

QSRs 8 and 9 have little meaning for a CF while QSRs 3 and 10 are a major focus of the CF’s responsibilities

Local Coordinators (LC) should not only be aware of all of these policies, but should also have emphasis on how they would ensure the QSRs and other policies are implemented and enforced at their sites

LCs should receive far greater detail and discussion about the Incident Reporting information than other volunteers

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District 5 Management Team (DMT)

TX3 State Coordinator - Howard Phillips
D05 District Coordinator (DC) - Ed Klein
Communication Coordinator - Richard Schaffhausen
Administration Coordinator – Vicky Fransham (Brian Kashiwagi is retiring)
Technology Coordinators - Susan Tholstrup & Eddie Trlica
Training Coordinator - Ronnie Desbrow (also for TX3 State)

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District 5 Management Team (Cont’d)

D05 Local Coordinators (LCs)

Joann Bowes-Taylor - Friendswood
Emilee Carson - Texas City
Jerry Enochs - Alvin
Rob Fransham - Pearland and West Pearland
Nina Johnston - Pasadena
Lynne Langdale - Galveston
Vicki Lilly-Tallman - Mission Millby (Broadway)
Debra Price - Webster
Spencer Tholstrup - Parker Williams (Scarsdale)

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5 Year Service Awards

Leslie Chiu
Noreen Horton
Robert Lilly
Vicki Lilly-Tallman
Ralph Nusbaum
Mary Ann Rios
Clay Rogers
Gail Sawyer

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10 Year Service Awards

Verna Bolden
Michael Breaud
Vince Buchtman
Cynthia Darby
Lynne Langdale
Wally Swartz
Niels Udengaard
Toni Williamson
Richard Wisneski

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15 Year Service Awards

Tony Fama
Larry Roberts

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20 Year Service Awards

Eddie Trlica

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25 Year Service Awards

Brian Kashiwagi

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Above & Beyond Awards

Joann Bowes-Taylor
Maryann McGregor

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Volunteers Returning from LOA & Transfers

Arnold Gandy
Linda Isbell (moved from Illinois)
Janet Starling
Jeff Sugano (Snowbird from Colorado)
Ann Sweeney
Lan Swei (also volunteers at Baker Ripley)
Raymond Tran

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Volunteers Remaining on LOA

Mel Doolan
Sandi Oliver-Duncan
Clay Rogers
Joe Toler

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Volunteers not Returning

Fouzia Imran (moved)
Brian Kashiwagi (retired)
Linda Salinas (personal)
Toni Williamson (moved)

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Volunteers not Returning (from LOA & On-Hold)

Karen Devillier (health)
Nicole Ear (unknown)
Dallas Ives (retired)
Steve Jones (retired)
Indu Kapur(extensive travel)

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What changed from Last Year?

21 new CFs and TCs in TY24

5 CFs
16 TCs
5 completed self-study training
3 failed certification

Opening new site in West Pearland
3 successful audits by IRS and State Coordinator

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D5 Performance Metrics

5,122 tax returns completed (7% increase from last year)

9% below record level in 2019
All D5 sites outperformed previous season

Volunteer level unchanged

New volunteers offset attrition

Largest sites in Texas by return volume

Largest: Webster
Galveston and Pasadena in the Texas top 10

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District 5 Recruitment

88 individuals signed up to be volunteers
39 have declined for various reasons
32 prospects want to be New Counselors (NCs)
1 prospect for a site IT
12 prospects want to be CFs
3 CFs want to be trained as TCs

Mary Jane Rios, Gentrix Obiero, and Muriel Vrooman

New Volunteer Intro to Taxaide occurred on 12/3 (18 attended)

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Site Hours

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LOCAL TAX SITES	OPEN FEBRUARY 2 - APRIL 15, 2026
Alvin Library	105 South Gordon St	Tue & Thu 10:00 - 2:00
Friendswood Library	416 S. Friendswood Dr	Mon 10:00 - 2:00
Galveston Rosenberg Library	2310 Sealy St	Mon 9:30 - 4:00, Fri 9:30 - 4:00
Mission Milby Community (Spanish Spoken)	2220 Broadway St	Tue 9:30 - 4:30
Parker Williams Library	10851 Scarsdale Blvd	Mon & Fri 10:00 - 2:00
Pasadena Central Library	1201 Jeff Ginn Mem Dr	Thu 9:00 - 5:00, Fri 9:00 - 4:00
Pearland Library	3522 Liberty Dr	Wed & Fri 10:00am - 2:00pm
West Pearland Library	11801 Shadow Creek	Tue 2:00 - 6:00
Texas City	6615 Park Avenue	Thu 9:00 - 2:00
Webster Recreation Center	311 Pennsylvania Ave	Mon 9:00 - 5:00, Tue 10:00 - 2:00 Wed 11:00 - 7:00, Sat 9:00 - 1:00

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Congratulations to Parker Williams Team!

25^th Anniversary event planned at Parker Williams Library

January 21^st at 1 pm
Plaque for the library
Great media event
Refreshments served
Thanks to Spencer Tholstrup for orchestrating this significant milestone event!

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Take-aways from TX3 meeting

Stay within scope per the Volunteer Agreement

Can impact site viability and volunteer retention
If in doubt, consult your SCO
Ensure all LCs and SCOs are familiar with audit guidelines
Do not place passwords on Chromebooks or behind your name badge

Put them in your phone, either in Notes or a photo

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Take-aways from TX3 meeting (cont’d)

We will not do state tax returns as we have in past years

Only LA and OK gambling and upon TC state certification
Use STAP (State Tax Assistance Program) for all other state returns

Ronnie will cover this topic in our January training classes
Scanners required to store client documents

Only direct deposit on tax refunds…no paper checks sent from IRS

There are exceptions

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Take-aways from TX3 meeting (cont’d)

Intake booklets

Ensure all questions are answered and make notes as-needed
If a TC does not make the appropriate checks, hand it back for completion

New capability for Client data stored on their phones

Can print client tax documents (W-2, 1099-R, 1098-T, partial brokerage statements, etc)
Will improve QR time after TC has printed documents
2-layer router system required

Needs a 2nd router at your site

Every site should have a primary and back-up router in addition to the 2-layer system

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Training & Certification

Attend one of two sessions on RC training and new tax law
Attend New Counselor training classes to refresh your skills (optional)
Learning Management System (LMS) on the Portal (click Training)

All: Technology and Security & Policy and Procedures

Use Test-out option

You can test out (10 questions) or take the training courses
One chance to pass the test with 80% or higher

If not, you must take the training

LCs and SCOs: Include LC Training and (Reimbursements for Leaders for first year leaders)

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Training & Certification (Cont’d)

Complete the 5 proficiency problems from the NTTC Workbook

Garibaldi, Hanson, Janisch, Miller, and Newell

Newell is for Social Security Lump Sum - RC’s only)

Take the Advanced Test in Pub 6744 using Link N Learn

Test will not contain new tax law, but answer the questions based on new tax law

Email your Volunteer Agreement form 13615 as a pdf by 1/23/26 to Ed Klein (edklein100@gmail.com)

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Volunteer Certification

All volunteers complete training and pass tests appropriate for their role(s)

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Volunteer Agreement – page 1

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Volunteer Agreement – page 2

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Documents

NTTC Workbooks - mailed to all active TCs
Pub 17 (General tax rules) - electronic only
Pub 4491 (Training Guide) - electronic only
Pub 4011 (Foreign Students) - DC ordered 10/20 from IRS focal
Pub 4012 (Resource Guide) - electronic only for Tax-Aide version

Do not use the IRS version…it has not been updated

Pub 6744 (Test Booklet) DC ordered 10/20 from IRS focal; given to LCs
Pub 5838 (Intake/Interview, QR info, Standards of Conduct - Ethics) -- electronic only

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Final Thoughts

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Questions?

Comments?

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District 4 Milestone Awards

25 YRS Bill Nethery and Paul Green
20 YRS Mary Fleming
15 YRS Judy Gunn
10 YRS George Gann
5 YRS Claire Marchant

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D04 TY2024 Accomplishments

Returns --- 614 TY2024 581 TY2023

6% increase over TY2023

Reopened Stratford Library Highlands