April 2012 • Vol. 17, No. 4


Alumni Group Continues to Grow as Leaders


17


Local Students Win State Stock Market Game


Students from Cathedral School in Bismarck, North Dakota have taken irst and second place honors in North Dakota for the Fall 2011 Stock Mar- ket Game (SMG) for Middle School. The irst place winner was Brittany Materi with a winning portfolio of $114,523.46 and the second place winners were Henry Fleischacker & Victor Fleck with a winning portfolio of $108,175.08. Their teacher is Duane Eichele. The goal of the competition is for a team of students to achieve the largest investment gain in their portfolio.


Mastermind Study Group participants pictured from left to right are, Bren- da Stone, Janeen Bonine, Jason Kirchmeier, Char Feist and David Leingang, not pictured are Kevin Stewart and Robin Thorstenson.


The Leadership Bismarck-Mandan Alumni Association recently sponsored a Mastermind Study Group facilitated by Dave Leingang. The Mastermind Study Group met


over the course of ten weeks at the Bis- marck-Mandan Chamber of Commerce to explore the book The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership by John Maxwell. The Mastermind Study Group was


a collection of motivated and serious businessmen and women who were committed to making eff ective and lasting changes to their lives. Participants included Brenda Stone, Janeen Bonine, Jason Kirchmeier, Char Feist, Kevin Stewart and Robin Thor- stenson.


IRS Releases the Dirty Dozen Tax Scams for 2012


The Internal Revenue Service has issued its annual “Dirty Dozen” ranking of tax scams, reminding taxpayers to use caution during tax season to pro- tect themselves against a wide range of schemes ranging from identity theft to return preparer fraud.


The Dirty Dozen listing, compiled by


the IRS each year, lists a variety of com- mon scams taxpayers can encounter at any point during the year. But many of these schemes peak during iling season as people prepare their tax returns. “Taxpayers should be careful and


avoid falling into a trap with the Dirty Dozen,” said IRS Commissioner Doug Shulman. “Scam artists will tempt people in-person, on-line and by e- mail with misleading promises about


lost refunds and free money. Don’t be fooled by these scams.” Illegal scams can lead to signiicant penalties and interest and possible criminal prosecution. The IRS Criminal Investigation Division works closely with the Department of Justice to shutdown scams and prosecutes the criminals behind them. The following is the Dirty Dozen tax


scams for 2012: Identity Theft, Phish- ing, Return Preparer Fraud, Hiding Income Off shore, False/Inlated In- come and Expenses, False Form 1099 Refund Claims, Frivolous Arguments, Falsely Claiming Zero Wages, Abuse of Charitable Organizations and Deduc- tions, Disguised Corporate Ownership and Misuse of Trusts.


SMG is a free resource, coordinated and sponsored for North Dakota teach- ers and students in grades 4-12, by the North Dakota Securities Department’s Investor Education division. The Stock Market Game was created by the Foundation for Investor Education, an


afiliate of the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association, and is off ered in all 50 states as well as for- eign countries. North Dakota holds the distinction as the state with the largest number of students per capita playing the game.


“SMG is an opportunity for students


to not only learn about the market and how it aff ects our economy, but also to think about preparing for their inancial futures,” stated Sheri Haugen- Hoff art, Coordinator of the North Dakota game


For more information on The Stock


Market Game, contact the North Dakota Securities Department at 328- 2910 or visit the SMG website at www. stockmarketgame.org.


Candidate Numbers Lacking


The Mandan Tomorrow - Leadership, Pride and Image Committee, respon- sible for implementing portions of a community strategic plan, is alerting local citizens to the need for more can- didates for Mandan leadership posi- tions, in particular mayor, city commis- sion, park board and school board. The LPI committee is charged, among other things, with fostering citizen interest to serve in local government ofices. The deadline to ile for local elected ofice is April 13 at 4 p.m. “It appears as of now, some races for Mandan’s elected boards and commissions could be uncontested,” says LPI committee chair Laurie Leingang. “Democracy is about competition and freedom of choice. Contested elections encourage community participation in the civic right of voting. A slate of candidates also stimulates debate and conversa- tion, which also helps to bring in new ideas and perspectives,” Leingang adds. In the election for city leadership,


Find all our events at www. bismarckmandan.com/ events


seated commissioner Dot Frank is the only declared candidate for mayor. For city commission, with two posi- tions up for election, incumbent Tom Jackson has announced he is seeking re-election and Trevor Vannet has also announced plans to run. For the two positions on the park


board, incumbent Wanda Knoll has indicated she will seek re-election. Dave Bechtel and Kelly Klemisch are circulating petitions. No others have publicly announced plans to run. The school board election has all


three members up for election indicat- ing plans to seek another term. They are Jill LaMont-Hanson, Tim Tausend and Beth Allen. Wendy Egli has iled the required candidacy form. The Morton County Commission has


three seats up for election this year. Its primary is held during June with the top six candidates advancing to the November general election ballot. In- cumbent Bruce Strinden is seeking re- election. Others who have announced their candidacy are Sue Balcom, Clint Feland, Scott Johnson, Joel Olson, Cody Schulz, Jerry Serhienko and Arnold Zins. Forms for city and park board candi-


dacy are available in the inance ofice at City Hall at 205 Second Avenue NW or online at www.cityofmandan.com. Forms for school board candidacy are available at the Brave Center, 901 Divi- sion Street. The county commission forms are available at the county audi- tor’s ofice at the County Courthouse, 201 Second Avenue NW. Forms are also posted on the Secretary of State’s website at www.nd.gov/sos/electvote. The LPI committee conducted a candidate prep course earlier this year to provide information about serv- ing in local, elected positions and to encourage candidacy. The session, still available for on-line viewing at www. freetv.org, provides irst-hand insight about the responsibilities associated with service on local elected boards and covers the requirements to ile for election.


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