TEI's first webconference draws more than 1,200 participants: week-long S&L, advanced federal courses also held.

• Position: Recent Activities

More than 1,200 individuals participated in TEI's first webconference on disclosure rules relating to reportable transactions under the tax shelter regulations. The 90-minute conference, entitled Don't tat the IRS Play "Gotcha" with Your Tax Return: What You Need to Know about Tax Return Disclosures before September 15th, included online polling of participants focusing on what companies are doing to comply with the new regulations. Moderated by TEI member John Brennan of the Santa Clara Valley Chapter, the July 8 program featured Jim Gouwar and Ron Buch of McKee Nelson LLP.

According to Mike Boyle of the Seattle Chapter, chair of TEI's Continuing Education Committee, the distance-learning program underscored the value of belonging to the Institute. "One benefit of our web and telephone seminars is that a single member can register and then have all his or her departmental colleagues join the program. Thus, 400 registrants yielded more than 1,200 listeners." Mr. Boyle explained that the timeliness of the program was a draw: "Because calendar-year taxpayers are facing their first tax return filing since the new disclosure rules became effective, the topic was a particularly timely one for our members."

Mr. Boyle said the Institute will continue to seek out opportunities to use technology to improve its members'...