Usually "tax time" is not considered an enjoyable event. There is one special group of people that look forward to this annual occurrence. These people are volunteers! They are the IRS / AARP Tax Aides - LuElla Machin, Velma Lane, Ed Lammers, Aves Sehnoha, Bill Schmitz, Chuck Schoen, and Marv Wilcox.

Because this is specialized work, they are required each year to attend training sessions in January to prepare for the information they will be filling on the appropriate lines. The training takes approximately forty hours during January. With sharp pencils in hand, at the Senior Citizen Center, they listen, review financial documents and share knowledge with those needing help in entering their financial information. The Tax Aides "open their doors" in February and continue until the deadline day of April 15th.

Season after season Lammers, Lane, Machin and Wilcox have offered their tax expertise to others. Sejnoha has assisted in the program for three years, Schmitz for two years and Schoen completed his first year. Combined hours donated for this service was approximately 132 hours! The greatest sense of accomplishment is when they have been able to help their clients regain some of their taxes through refunds - some as far back as three years!

These volunteers offer a valuable service to others. During the rest of the year, they are involved with other volunteer work - at their churches, at the Senior Citizen Center, at other organizations that enhance the quality of life for all of us. Thank you for sharing your talents with this community.