Business Glance 12-9-12

‘Good Morning Yuma!'

The December “Good Morning Yuma!” will be held from 6:30 to 8 a.m. Thursday at the Pivot Point Conference Center, 310 N. Madison Ave. Cost at the door is $15 per person.

This month's event is sponsored by Colorado River Technologies and MGM Design.

For more information, call the Yuma County Chamber of Commerce at 782-2567.

Chamber seeks awards nominations

The Yuma County Chamber of Commerce is seeking nominations for the annual awards presented during its annual awards and installation banquet Jan. 11 at the Pivot Point Conference Center. The awards include:

• Small Business Person — Recognizes the independent entrepreneurial spirit that plays such a vital role in building the community and its economy.

• Athena International Award — Presented to someone who has attained and personifies the highest level of professional excellence in her profession, has devoted time and energy to her community in a meaningfully way and most especially has generously assisted women in attaining their full potential.

For more information, nomination forms, call the chamber at 782-2567 or visit www.yumachamber.org. Nominations must be received by noon Dec. 21.

Microsoft Excel 2010

Microsoft Excel 2010, intermediate level, will be held from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Dec. 12 at the Arizona Western College Entrepreneurial Center, 1351 S. Redondo Center Drive.

The course has been developed to expand Microsoft® Excel 2010 skills. Attendees will learn how to boost productivity, including shortcuts.

Cost is $99. To register, visit www.azwestern.edu/continuinged or call 317-6150.

Volunteers needed for tax assistance programs

The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) and Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) programs are in need of community volunteers and sites to provide free income tax help across Arizona for the upcoming income tax season.

Both groups provide free tax help to individuals and families with low- to moderate-income, seniors, the disabled and those with English as a second language.

Volunteers are provided training in tax law on current year federal and state tax returns and on the use of tax software for electronically filing tax returns. They help determine if a taxpayer is eligible for deductions, allowable expenses and credits.

In order to prepare tax returns, a volunteer must pass a competency test. Those who don't pass the tax test can still volunteer to welcome taxpayers while providing initial forms and answering general questions.

Last year, 80 volunteers at six sites in the Yuma area prepared 1,083 tax returns for residents in Yuma, the Foothills, Somerton and San Luis, Ariz.

For more information about being a community tax volunteer or hosting a free tax help site, email TaxVolunteer@irs.gov or call United Way of Yuma at 783-0515.