April/May 2008 | East Bay Chapter Bulletin

TOOLS

---

 

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.

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: Online

 

CHAPTER EVENTS

Accountants Film Festival: A Post Busy Season Celebration

Hollywood often finds room for CPAs in its films, and this social and movie experience will offer a chance to relax and choose the movies, all of which feature accountants who get played on the big screen.
   We will start at Ristorante Amoroma with food and drinks, then walk to the Rheem Theatre to watch movies.
   Don't miss this one-of-a-kind movie experience and the opportunity to connect with fellow professionals. Be sure to invite your co-workers, friends and significant others.
Date: Thursday, April 24
Time: 5:30–10 p.m.
Location: Ristorante Amoroma; 360 Park St.; Moraga and Rheem Theatre; 350 Park St.; Moraga
Cost: $34/members and nonmembers; $17/YEPs
RSVP: Online

Installation Dinner

Join us for a murder mystery and the opportunity to celebrate the installation of our new chapter leadership—and thank the outgoing officers. The murder mystery theme is “Murder by Election.” You won’t want to miss the Town Hall debates between presidential hopefuls Phil O'Sofick and Ari Gant, who will be joined by such characters as Bella Cose, Newt Trawl and Ellie Gant.
   Who will win the election … and the girl? Don’t miss this night of laughter and, of course, suspense.
Date: Tuesday, May 20
Time: 5:30–8:30 p.m.
Location: Scott’s Seafood Grill & Bar: 1333 N California Blvd.; Walnut Creek
Cost: By May 13: $55/members and guest; $65/nonmembers (after May 13: add $10); CAP card event
RSVP: Online
[back to top]

 

COMMITTEE MEETINGS

Business and Industry: The Role of CFO

A panel of three CFOs will reveal a day in the life of a CFO, covering everything from reporting requirements and how and why they came to their current positions to what keeps them up at night.
   Young and emerging professionals who would like to learn what it takes to be a CFO can attend at half off the regular price.
Date: Wednesday, May 7
Time: 7:30–9:30 a.m.
Cost: By April 30: $20/members; $25/nonmembers; $10/YEPs (after April 30: add $5)
CPE: 2 hours
RSVP: Online

Personal Financial Planning: The New Mortgage Maze

Come hear the latest on the changing environment in the residential mortgage market. The speakers will cover the rising conforming limits; current rates; FHA; FICO scores; full doc vs. stated loans; no down; and low down. What are your clients facing as they refinance or buy today?
Date: Thursday, May 15
Time: Noon–2 p.m.
Location: Massimo Ristorante; 1604 Locust St.; Walnut Creek
Cost: By May 8: $25/members; $35/nonmembers (after May 8: add $5)
RSVP: Online

South Bay Discussion Group Series

Pre-register to attend all seven meetings for $150 and get one hour of CPE for each meeting attended.
   You can register for the series by downloading the form and faxing it to (650) 802-2665. The deadline to register for the series is Tuesday, May 21—so don't delay!
   All meetings are noon–1:30 p.m. and include lunch.
   To sign up for individual meetings at $35 each, visit the East Bay Chapter website.

Dates/Topics:
Wednesday, May 21: Tax Issues and Divorce
Wednesday, June 25: Cost Segregation Studies
Wednesday, July 23: Should You Trust a Trust as an IRA Beneficiary
Wednesday, Sept. 24: Prevent Sexual Harassment Claims
Wednesday, Oct. 29: 1031 Special Issues
Wednesday, Nov. 19: Choice of Legal Entities in California
Wednesday, Jan. 21: China and International Issues
[back to top]

 

OTHER EVENTS OF INTEREST

2008 Asia Business Forum

China has become one of the fastest-growing markets in the past decade, and an increasing number of U.S.-based companies have established significant manufacturing and sales operations within the country.
   Our 2008 Asia Business forum will explore economic, accounting, tax, legal and cultural issues that are important to U.S. companies considering or establishing a presence in China.
   This event is co-hosted by CalCPA’s Peninsula Silicon Valley and Silicon Valley San Jose chapters in association with Ascend and the South Bay Chapter of the Haas Alumni Network, and is sponsored by Deloitte LLP, Morrison & Foerster and United Commercial Bank.

Topic: China: Strategic Implications, Challenges of Doing Business in the World’s Hottest Market
Keynote Speaker: Paul Tiffany, Ph.D. and senior lecturer, Haas School of Business, UC Berkeley
Date: Saturday, May 17
Time: 10 a.m.–2:30 p.m.
Location: Sun Microsystems Auditorium; Santa Clara
CPE: 4.5 hours
Cost: $50/CalCPA, Ascend and Haas alumni members; $75/nonmembers
RSVP: Online

Ascend Leadership Conference

The San Francisco Bay Area Ascend/NAASA Chapter is hosting the Second Annual “Inspiring Across Generations” SF-Bay Area Conference & Anniversary Dinner.
Date: Saturday, June 7
Location: Four Seasons Hotel; San Francisco
RSVP: Online
[back to top]

 

SAVE THE DATE

North Bay Discussion Group

Date: Thursday, May 15
Location: Downtown Joe’s; Napa
RSVP: Online
[back to top]

 

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

Another Year Behind Us

By Rob Anderson, CPA

By the time you read this, another busy season will be behind us. This was number 30 for me (having started at a very tender age). And, while the year of CalCPA events during my leadership is almost over, I want to point out a few upcoming events.
   Thursday, April 24 will be our first (and possibly annual) Accountant’s Film Festival at the Rheem Theatre in Moraga starting at 5:30 p.m. Our own Hank Levy has a collection of films featuring (OK, sometimes only making passing reference to) our noble profession. We will first enjoy a time of eating and drinking and decompressing from the 2008 busy season at Ristorante Amoroma before walking to the theater to enjoy a movie of Hank’s and our choosing.
   Please make plans today to attend CPA Day at the Capitol Tuesday, May 13. 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.
   Don’t miss the chapter's Installation Dinner Tuesday, May 20 at Scott’s in Walnut Creek. This year’s event will be a murder mystery dinner. Be sure to invite your spouse or significant other, as it will be a fun event for all.
   In closing, it seems that it was just a few weeks ago when my good friend Rob Healy coaxed me into accepting a position on the CalCPA Executive Committee. Now as I write my final column as chapter president, I do not know how to express my gratitude for the experience I’ve had and the relationships I’ve made in a way that does not replicate the similar sentiments of previous outgoing chapter presidents, but let me give it a go …
   The board of directors, executive committee and committee chairs have been a terrific and positive group to work with all year. I have enjoyed watching the chapter events grow due to the hard work and dedication of each of you. You all have made this a wonderful experience and one that I will benefit from in years to come.
   I have been particularly blessed to have followed a terrific president in Bob Johnston and am very lucky to be leaving this position in the capable and enthusiastic hands of Michele Day. Luckily for me, sandwiched between these two presidents, my year of leadership will, no doubt, be remembered fondly.
   Last, I want to thank Soco Davenport, our chapter program associate, which is a title that fails to convey her vast organizational ability, commitment, hard work and understanding of what it takes to makes the chapter events successful. Soco makes sure everything happens on time and that essential tasks are completed. In short, she makes it possible for the president (me) to take the credit. She has kept me on task and even edits this column. (In fact, Soco, how will they know you didn’t just throw this in? She didn’t, you can call me.) Thanks, Soco, for everything!
   And thank you for allowing me to serve as chapter president.
   Warmest regards to you all.
—Rob Anderson, CPA
[Back to top]

CHAPTER NEWS

New Members

On behalf of the East Bay Chapter’s officers, directors and members, we extend our warmest of welcomes to our new members: Gregory Brown, Michael Gendron, Subramaniam Ramanan... [see all new members]

Member Anniversaries

Congratulations to the following members who are celebrating their anniversaries in April and May.

Passport to Savings

The Chapter Activities Passport (CAP) card is your passport to savings. Prepay for eight premier chapter CPE and networking events—and save more than 45 percent from the regular cost.
   Events covered by the CAP card include the annual installation of officers and directors (May); Past Presidents Night (July); ABC: Attorneys, Bankers & CPAs Night (September); Fall Low-Cost Eight-hour Education Event (October); the 13th Annual Advanced Estate Planning Symposium (4 hours of CPE; November); Tax Night (December); Honorees Night (January); and Post-Busy Season event (April 2009).
   For past participants of the program, please note that the BARE eight-hour event has been replaced by the Post-Busy Season event.
   Sign up for the CAP card today.
[Back to top]

CalCPA NEWS

Don't Miss This Year's California Summit on Financial Literacy

CalCPA and the California Jump$tart Coalition are hosting the second California Summit on Financial Literacy at the Sacramento Convention Center Wednesday, April 23. And given the current credit crisis facing the state and the nation, the timing could not be better.
   Participants will connect with a variety of programs, organizations and dedicated individuals working to improve the level of personal financial education of all Californians.
   As the most trusted adviser, CPAs have a responsibility to address this important issue, and the Summit will offer ideas for everyone concerned.
   More program information can found at the California Summit on Financial Literacy homepage, along with registration information and a video from the highly successful 2006 Summit.

Rising CPAs, Networking

CalCPA’s 2008 Young and Emerging Professionals Conference will provide an overview of what’s on the horizon for young CPAs, tips on becoming the “most trusted adviser” and feature keynote speaker Christopher Gardner, who will discuss his strategy for defining, finding and attaining success and focus.
   Other topics will include networking, creating a business image and learning the ins and outs of communications. And new this year will be a look at the do’s and don’ts of CPA fashion.
   The conference will take place May 7 in Los Angeles and May 9 in San Francisco.
   Register online.
[Back to top]  

RESOURCES:

East Bay Chapter Leadership