April 2008 | Central Coast Chapter Bulletin

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CalCPA NEWS

CPA Mobility

CalCPA supports AB 2473, which addresses CPA mobility issues in California. Contact your legislators today and educate them on the importance of this bill to you and the businesses and individuals with whom you work.

 

CHAPTER EVENT

Central Coast
Installation Dinner

Date: Friday, June 20
Time: 6:30–11 p.m.
Location: San Luis Obispo Country Club, San Luis Obispo
Cost: $40/member; $70/member and guest
Register: Online

 

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

It’s Almost Over ... Again!

By S. Dana Senes, CPA

I realize that by the time most of you read this message, the busy tax season will almost be a vague memory, and we are left to complete those returns we managed to successfully extend and move on to a more acceptable pace in our efforts to find that work-life balance “they” keep talking about. Who else is celebrating with me? Actually I have a five-day cruise planned with one of my best girlfriends to get away and relax. No phone and no worries!
   I want to thank our organization’s wonderful support staff and non-tax professional members for putting up with all the craziness of those of us who chose the route of tax as our focus as CPAs. Although tax season appears to be a stressful season for some, there are others who absolutely love it! I have also witnessed that audit season seems to be just as hectic, not to mention the monthly deadlines for our business and industry members, who appear to go through tax season at the end of most months.
   For those of you who haven’t heard, chapter secretary Tania Arnold and her husband Matt welcomed Anna Sylvie Arnold Jan. 29. See, even babies are born during this crazy time of year. Congratulations to the happy family!
   Warm thoughts go out to those of you who suffered personal losses this year and had to say goodbye to loved ones while still serving your clients this season. I attended the memorial service for Vance Chaney, member Kathy Fritzley’s son, who was taken far too early in his young life. I have never attended a more touching service and wanted to thank those in our membership for helping during this time. We have some of the most generous, sincere and caring professionals who become our friends in this chapter. As I have said before, it has been my pleasure to serve in any leadership position for this organization.
   So on to business. Did you know that April is Financial Literacy Month and several of our members will be attending the 2008 California Summit on Financial Literacy Wednesday, April 23? I look forward to learning more about ideas aimed at helping Californians better manage their money as part of the continuing effort to increase financial literacy among all Californians. Chapter committee chair and board member Phil Hasel will attend the event and plans to include a summary in our next Bulletin. All are welcome to attend, so register today! Thank you, Phil, for representing our chapter.
   CalCPA also is hosting the next generation of CPA leadership at the 2008 Young & Emerging Professionals Conference to be held May 7 and May 9. Please look for details in the Bulletin and explore the event’s website. It is important that firm and company owners support those professional who exhibit leadership abilities and interests by encouraging them to attend either the Los Angeles or San Francisco conference.
   Please also mark you calendars for Tuesday, May 13, for CPA Day at the Capitol. Our profession needs your input this year more than ever, and the chapter needs your voice. We continue to be underrepresented here on the Central Coast, and we must change that. Please see below for more information on this event.
   Hurray ... it’s April.
—S. Dana Senes, CPA
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CHAPTER NEWS

New Members

On behalf of the Central Coast Chapter’s officers, directors and members, we extend our warmest of welcomes to our new members: Mark McCormick, Cynthia Chavez, Jason Augustine... [see all new members]

A First-timer’s View: CalCPA Taxation Committee

By Deb Wacker, CPA
I’m coming up for air with just a brief note about the January 2008 CalCPA Committee on Taxation meeting held in Los Angeles. This is my first year as our chapter’s representative on this state committee. As most first-years go (or first anythings, for that matter), I’ve spent most my time listening and deciphering what this committee does. It does a lot.
   We meet twice a year and hear reports from the committee’s IRS, FTB and EDD liaisons. We also meet annually with both the IRS and the FTB. The FTB meeting was held in October in Sacramento and included a tour of the facilities and we heard from many FTB departments. The IRS meeting was held in November in Oakland, and, again, various departments made presentations. The largest part of both meetings involved answering questions that our committee had previously submitted.
   Every committee member must pose questions for both the IRS and the FTB. The questions are presented to the committee at the May meeting (to be held jointly with the Estate Planning Committee in Las Vegas in May). A task force then goes through the questions and selects those that will be presented at the subsequent fall meetings.
   So, I’m throwing this out to the chapter: Do you have a question that you would like to ask? The question can be on any level: technical, legal, compliance or other. Please let me know by e-mailing me. I hope to hear from you post-April 15 and pre-May 8. Until then, it’s nose to the grindstone.
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CalCPA NEWS

CPA Day at the Capitol

Help legislators understand key issues facing California CPAs including the importance of CPA mobility and achieving substantial equivalency in our state. California is a part of a national effort to remove unnecessary barriers to providing services across state lines, which is unjustly costly to the clients of CPAs and may in fact interfere with consumer choice.
   The connections you make will prove to be crucial in educating legislators and their staff before they vote on issues important to you as a California CPA.
   You will establish meaningful relationships that ultimately will create a more favorable business environment for CPAs throughout California.
   We are hoping to have several chapter members attend and have reserved hotel rooms that will be available at a supplemented cost depending on how many members participate. If you are registered, or are thinking about attending, contact chapter program associate Sherri Parkinson. 
   If you won’t be able to travel to Sacramento, but are interested in speaking to local legislative staff members in San Luis Obispo County May 13, contact Sherri Parkinson. Materials can be made available to you before you meet with staff member so you can review talking points and make our case heard. Appointments can be made in advance.

Date: Tuesday, May 13
Time: 9:30 a.m./registration; 10–11 a.m./issues briefing; 11 a.m.–3 p.m./appointments with legislators; 3:30–4 p.m./debrief
Location: Sheraton Grand Sacramento; Sacramento
RSVP:
CPA Day at the Capitol: Online
Speaking to local legislative staff: Sherri Parkinson
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RESOURCES:

Central Coast Chapter Leadership