October 2006
Chaper News Event Highlights Welcome New Members Chapter Events View all East Bay Chapter Events
In Memoriam: Reed Cowan
Member Anniversaries
Thank You ABC Night Sponsors
11th Annual Advanced Estate Planning Symposium
BARE Event: Tax Planning
Tax Issues in Divorce Mini-Conference
Fall Low-cost CPE
Annual Forum for Nonprofit Finance Professionals
California CPA Education Foundation CPE in the East Bay Chapter
Committee and Discussion Group Meetings Other Events of Interest CalCPA News Resources
President’s Message Chapter News Law firms: Littler Mendelson; Archer Norris; Morgan Miller Blair; and Donahue Gallagher Woods LLP Event Highlights BARE Event: Tax Planning Tax Issues in Divorce Mini-Conference [PDF] Welcome New Members Associate Members Licensed Members Candidate Members Chapter Events Date: Saturday, Oct. 28 Date: Thursday, Oct. 19 Committee and Discussion Group Meetings South Bay Discussion Group [PDF] Date: Wednesday, Dec 13 Date: Wednesday, Jan. 10 QuickBooks Users Group Personal Financial Planning Note: The next PFP meeting will be Jan. 17 Young/Emerging Professionals [PDF] Next meeting: North Bay Discussion Group Other Events of Interest Topic: Accounting & Auditing Update for Industry [PDF] Both events include a continental breakfast and buffet lunch. Proceeds benefit the Bay Area chapters’ scholarship funds. 17th Annual Conference on Financial Reporting Note: CalCPA members will receive a $50 discount. When registering, write “CALCPA” where it says “Special Guest Code.” CalCPA News New Member Benefit: CPA Review Course Discounts Nominate a CalCPA Member for Public Service Award The nominations deadline is Dec. 31. Nominate a CalCPA Member for Distinguished Service Award To nominate a member for the Distinguished Service Award, download an application at www.calcpa.org/members/committees/DSA/ and fax, e-mail or mail the form to: Harold S. Schultz; Distinguished Service Award; Attention: Patti Sustin, California Society of CPAs; 330 N. Brand Blvd., Suite 710; Glendale, CA 91203; Fax: (818) 246-4017; or patti.sustin@calcpa.org. Info You Need—To Go Resources
Business and Industry
South Bay Discussion Group
QuickBooks Users Group
Personal Financial Planning
Young/Emerging Professionals
North Bay Discussion Group
B.A.R.E CPE
17th Annual Conference on Financial Reporting
Become a CalCPA Officer or AICPA Council Member
New Member Benefit: CPA Review Course Discounts
Nominate a CalCPA Member for Public Service Award
Nominate a CalCPA Member for Distinguished Service Award
Info You Need—To Go
Plenty of Ways to Get Involved
By Bob Johnston, CPA
Michelle Matlin, chair of the chapter’s Financial Literacy Committee and a partner in the firm of Fuhriman van Gemeren Matlin, led a training session Aug. 31 for potential instructors that drew close to 20 people. For those who get involved in this terrific program, there is a wonderful sense of satisfaction as a result of helping people with such important life lessons.
The Young Emerging Professional Committee, chaired by Tom O’Sullivan, had a round table discussion Sept. 7 on auditing careers. Committee members Joe Chung, of Macias, Gini & O’Connell, and David Devine, of Hood and Strong, were the facilitators. The panelists included Joelyn Carr-Fingerle, secretary of the East Bay Chapter; Cynthia Pon, an assurance partner with Macias, Gini & O’Connell; and Cheryl Eisenhour, a senior auditor with Hood and Strong. The panelists addressed questions such as why did you go into auditing?; what was your first auditing assignment?; and what about the hours and other demands of auditing. The answers and discussions were very informative.
I came away from this event in awe of the flexibility available to those in auditing and perhaps accounting in general. Joelyn and Cynthia explained how they’ve balanced successful careers and family demands, while Cheryl shared some of the challenges and difficulties of entering the field and stressed the importance of working with others and continually developing people skills.
The next YEP event is a tax roundtable Oct. 18 at the Pyramid Alehouse in Walnut Creek. Don’t miss it.
A new event for the East Bay Chapter is ABC Night, which replaced Banker/Attorney Night and is fashioned after the Silicon Valley San Jose Chapter event with the same name. As of this writing, we have more than 200 registrants and 19 sponsors. Congratulations to the committee, which includes chair Scott Haislet, Rob Anderson, Rob Healy, CalCPA staff liaison Vince Chin and chapter coordinator Soco Davenport. Congratulations to this committee and to all those involved in putting together a very successful event.
Speaking of events, your opportunities for CPE and socializing are abundant, including area discussion groups in the South Bay, North Bay and in Contra Costa, which all offer great programs in convenient locations. Don’t hesitate to suggest additional program ideas to the chair or to become involved.
Also, the PFP, QuickBooks, Business and Industry, as well as the Low-cost Education, Estate Planning and Litigation committees, all have upcoming programs to serve you. More details can be found in the Bulletin.
Don’t forget: CalCPA is your professional organization. Please feel welcome to become involved and make CalCPA even better.
—Bob Johnston, CPA
[Back to Top]
In Memoriam: Reed Cowan
Reed Cowan, former East Bay Chapter president, died Sept. 7. He was 74.
Cowan joined Timpson Boyle and Huff in 1958. He received his CPA license in 1960 and was admitted into partnership in 1963. In 1985 he became the managing partner of Boyle, Cowan & Co. After the 1992 merger of Boyle, Cowan & Co and Garcia, Erwin, Nishi & Kawasaki, he was appointed managing partner of Timpson Garcia.
Cowan was chair of CalCPA’s California Peer Review Committee and a member of the AICPA and the American Accounting Association.
Cowan’s community involvement included being past president of the Golden Gate University Alumni Association; director and past officer of the Lions Club of Oakland; senator of Junior Chamber International; and a past president of the California Senate.
He is survived by his wife, Lorieta, and son, William.
Donations can be sent to the Jeffrey and Thomas Cowan Memorial Summit Lake Foundation; 1655 Meadowvale Way; Parks, NV 89431.
[Back to Top]
Thank You ABC Night Sponsors
ABC Night was a resounding success! Thanks to all of our sponsors who made this possible:
Banks: The Mechanics Bank; Scott Valley Bank; Diablo Valley Bank; City National Bank; and Bridge Bank
Accounting firms: Johnston, Gremaux & Rossi, LLP; Armanino McKenna LLP; Blanding Boyer & Rockwell LLP; Burr, Pilger & Mayer LLP; and RINA Accountancy Corp
Other financial institutions: Morgan Stanley; Smith Barney; Wachovia Securities; and The Senna/McKissack Group at Merrill Lynch
Other: East Bay Business Times
[Back to Top]
11th Annual Advanced Estate Planning Symposium [PDF]
Speakers: Alan L. Olsen, John W. Prokey, Brenda Bufford, Ken A. Beck, Alan Hatcher and David A. Diamond
Date: Tuesday, Nov. 7
Location: Round Hill Country Club; Alamo
CPE: 6 hours
Register: Online
[Back to Top]
Topic: Top 10 Individual Tax Planning Issues for Your Client’s Well-Being
Speaker: Noelle Allen
Date: Saturday, Jan. 20, 2007
Cost: $125 members/$175 nonmembers
CPE: 8 hours
[Back to Top]
Register:Online
[Back to Top]
Kim-Su Kastl, Secure Taxes Incorporated
Steven Lund, Con Global Industries Inc
Caesar Perales, Caesar C Perales CPA
Jack Sum
Ronald Fowler, Fowler Financial Service
Ed Gotterup
Jenna Hung
Judith Johnstone, W H Mayer Accountancy Corp
Jamie Lancaon, Deloitte & Touche
Emmie Reed
Husne Siddiqui-Khan, Longs Drug Stores Corporation
Xing Wang, Burr Pilger & Mayer LLP
Stephen Yee
[Back to Top]
This event will feature presentations on negotiation theory and practice; an A&A update; and an in-depth tax review of AMT and sales of residences.
Timothy Dayonot, an instructor from U.C. Berkeley’s law school, will provide an overview of interest-based negotiation skills to help CPAs gain their desired results in situations involving their clients for higher fees, with the IRS for settlements, with their bosses, employees—and even spouses.
Carl Arntzen, a San Francisco-based sole practitioner and member of CalCPA’s AP&AS Committee, will present an A&A update and discuss recently released auditing standards that will have a significant impact on the way audits are performed and documented. He will also share lessons learned from performing hundreds of peer reviews, with suggestions for improvements in firms’ systems of quality control.
Karen Brosi, EA, CFP, will then discuss AMT issues and myths surrounding sales of residences, which will include an overview of final regulations and the new IRS procedures related to the interaction of Secs. 121 and 1031. Brosi has a Palo Alto-based tax planning business, specializing in individual tax and family wealth planning.
If you are interested in being a part of the Low-cost Education Committee, contact Jamie Menasco at (510) 741-6058.
Time: 8 a.m.–5 p.m.
Location: San Ramon Marriott
Cost: By Oct. 18: $125/members (both sessions and lunch) or $70 for either the morning or afternoon session; $160/nonmembers (both sessions and lunch) or $90 for either the morning or afternoon session. (Add $25 for registration after Oct 18).
Note: All proceeds benefit the East Bay Scholarship Fund
CPE: 8 hours (2 hours A&A)
RSVP: Online
[Back to Top]
Presented by CompassPoint Nonprofit Services and the NonProfit Special Interest Group of CalCPA’s San Francisco Chapter, this event will feature a networking session; provide essential updates in nonprofit audit and law; discuss The Integrity Act; and include a CFO Roundtable: How the CFO Influences Strategy.
Time: 8:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
Location: San Francisco LGBT Community Center; 1800 Market St.; San Francisco
CPE: 4 hours
RSVP: www.compasspoint.org or (415) 541-9000
[Back to Top]
Business and Industry
Topic: FAS123R and Valuation Issues
Speaker: Carl Saba, BPM
Date: Wednesday, Oct. 4
Time: 7:30–9:30 a.m.
Location: Scott’s Seafood; Walnut Creek
CPE: 2 hours
Cost: By Oct 2: $20/members; $25/nonmembers (add $5 thereafter)
[Back to Top]
Date: Wednesday, Oct. 11
Topic: R&D Tax Credits: Opportunities for You and Your Client
Speaker: Alliant Group
Topic: Business Valuations
Speaker: Jeff Faust, Greenstein, Rogoff, Olsen & Co, LLP
Topic: IRA Issues
Speaker: Joe McKissack, Senna/McKissack Group
Cost: $100/series or $35/individual session
Location: Massimo; Fremont
[Back to Top]
Topic: Cash vs. Accrual
Speaker: Bonnie Nagayama
Date: Wednesday, Oct. 18
Time: 9:30–11:30 a.m.
Location: Sunrise Bistro; 1559 Botelho Drive; Walnut Creek
Cost: By Oct 13: $15/members; $20/nonmembers (add $5 thereafter)
CPE: 2 hours
[Back to Top]
Topic: Divorce Issues in Planning
Speaker: TBA
Date: Wednesday, Oct. 18
Location: Massimo’s; Walnut Creek
Time: 12–2 p.m.
Cost: By Oct 13: $25/members; $30/nonmembers (add $5 thereafter)
CPE: 1 hour
[Back to Top]
Topic: Tax Career Roundtable
A panel of experts will answer questions about the demands and future of a career in tax.
Date: Wednesday, Oct 18
Time: 6:30–8 p.m.
Location: Pyramid Alehouse; Walnut Creek
Cost: By Oct. 15: $10/members (add $5 thereafter)
RSVP: Online or call (925) 926-0189.
Topic: Business & Industry Career Roundtable
Date: Thursday, Nov. 16
[Back to Top]
Date: Thursday, Oct. 19
Time: 7:30–9 a.m.
Location: Downtown Joe’s; 902 Main St.; Napa
Cost: $10 (make checks payable to Harvest Financial, LLC)
CPE: 1 hour
RSVP: By Oct. 17: Amy, (707) 257-7281
[Back to Top]
B.A.R.E CPE
Topic: Fraud: Assessing Risk and Addressing Red Flags [PDF]
Speaker: Eugene Horwitz, CPA
Date: Oct.19
Location: Holiday Inn; San Jose
CPE: 8 hours (A&A, fraud or government)
Info: Online
Speaker: Wayne Borkowski, CPA, CMA, CFM, MBA
Date: Dec.1
Location: Crowne Plaza; Foster City
CPE: 8 hours (A&A)
Info: Online
[Back to Top]
Date: Friday, Oct. 27
Time: 8:30 a.m. –5 p.m.
CPE: 8 hours
RSVP: http://groups.haas.berkeley.edu/accounting/cfrm/conferences/17annual/
Info: Dayna Haugh, (510) 642-6334 or cfrm@haas.berkeley.edu
[Back to Top]
Become a CalCPA Officer or AICPA Council Member
If you’re interested in helping shape the next group of CalCPA leaders, nominate a member for the job. Or, if you’re interested in playing a leadership role, self-nomination is the most effective way to make your interest known.
The CalCPA Nominations Committee is accepting nominations until Dec. 1 for 2007–08 for CalCPA officers and council members at large.
Officer positions include chair, first vice chair, treasurer and two vice chairs. Three council members at-large will also be elected.
Members can apply for more than one office and will only be considered for the positions to which they apply.
To download a nomination form, visit www.calcpa.org/nominations. Or for more information, contact John Angelo at john.angelo@calcpa.org or Nominations Committee Chair Steven H. Wimmers at steve.wimmers@idockusa.com.
Also, if you’re an AICPA member and interested in representing your peers on the AICPA Council, let us know.
The Nominations Committee will recommend candidates to AICPA Council, which establishes AICPA policies and procedures and enacts resolutions that are binding on the board of directors, officers, committees and staff.
If interested, send a letter of intent and your professional and volunteer history to: Nominations Committee; c/o Steven H. Wimmers, chair; 330 N. Brand Blvd., Suite 710; Glendale, CA 91203.
All letters must be received by 5 p.m. Dec. 1. The AICPA has the final selection authority.
[Back to Top]
CalCPA’s affinity program has added another great member benefit to its growing roster—discounts on CPA Exam review courses.
CalCPA candidate and student members should take advantage of these exclusive savings, which can add up to hundreds of dollars.
And any member who knows a candidate, tell them about the benefits of CalCPA membership—and that their first year of membership is free.
The discounts include:
[Back to Top]
Do you know an outstanding CalCPA member who goes above and beyond the call of duty in community service? Start naming names.
Each year CalCPA’s Public Service Award recognizes a member for notable works done outside of the office for voluntary community improvement or the assistance of the less fortunate.
Before CalCPA can recognize these exemplary leaders, you must nominate them.
To be eligible for the Public Service Award a nominee must be a member in good standing and meet one of the following qualifications:
To nominate a member for the Public Service Award, download an application at www.calcpa.org/members/committees/PSA/ and fax, e-mail or mail the form to: Nancy Wheeler-Chandler; Public Service Award Committee; Attention: Patti Sustin, California Society of CPAs; 330 N. Brand Blvd., Suite 710; Glendale, CA 91203; (818) 546-3510; Fax (818) 246-4017; or patti.sustin@calcpa.org.
[Back to Top]
CalCPA’s annual Distinguished Service Award recognizes a member for long and distinguished service in CalCPA, or for a singular act resulting in an extraordinary contribution to the profession.
If you know a member who exhibits extraordinary dedication and service to the profession, recognize their achievements by nominating them for the award.
The nominations deadline is Dec. 31.
To be eligible for the Distinguished Service Award a nominee must be a member in good standing and meet one of the following qualifications:
[Back to Top]
Schedules can get hectic and we know you may not be able to attend or call in to all events that interest you. That’s why CalCPA is creating members-only podcasts of select events that you can download to your computer’s Windows Media Player or to your MP3 player or a CD for later listening.
Check out the offerings at www.calcpa.org/news/podcast.htm.
[Back to Top]
East Bay Chapter Leadership
Contact Chapter Coordinator Soco Davenport
[Back to Top]
