May 2008 | Inland Empire 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

 

SAVE THE DATES

Annual Installation

Date: Friday, May 30

Annual Leadership Planning Conference

Date: Friday, June 6

2008 Annual Income Tax Seminar [PDF]

Date: Friday, June 20
[back to top]

 

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

Reflections on a Year Well Spent

By Renee H. Miller, CPA

My term as chapter president ends this month. My sincere gratitude goes to our outstanding leadership team, which worked this past year to continue to build our chapter and serve our members: officers Clifford Baugh, Mark Erickson, Andy Anderson, Evan Strano and Scott Hofferber, and directors Lynette Atchley, Barbara Bowlby, Patrick Cabildo, Ted Collins and Johanna Sweaney Salt ... and State Council Member Richard Teaman.
   Other important members of the leadership team include group chairs Jessie Powell, Dr. Otto Chang, Kathryn Johnson, Richard Savich, Tracy Wirtes, Greg Fankhanel, Michael Richmond, Patrick Spafford, Chuck
Copeland, Dr. Hassan Hefzi, Bruce Gray, Woody Fox, plus Miel Rey, student representative to our Board.
   Also, a very big thanks goes to Monica Thompson, our program associate, and Vince Chin, our program director. We could not accomplish anything without their guidance and support.
   As I look back over this past year, the chapter leadership’s time was well-spent. Here are some highlights:

• Chapter meeting CPE covered a wide range of topics of interest to CPAs in practice and those in business and industry.
• Member/guest socials gave us an opportunity to get to know one another and have fun evenings of food, games and good conversation.
• Scholarships were awarded to some of our top accounting students from Inland Empire colleges and universities.
• Members were acknowledged and awards were presented for distinguished service, public service and 40-year membership.
• Through the dedication of chapter volunteers, we continued to help promote financial literacy and celebrate April as financial literacy month.

   Additionally, CalCPA reached an important milestone over the past year by growing to 31,000 members, making us the largest state society in the nation. At our chapter level, we continue to be 1,100 members strong, including all membership categories.
   We also saw the rollout of an exciting CalCPA initiative, which celebrated and encouraged young and emerging professionals in accounting. Conferences held in Universal City and San Francisco attracted hundreds of attendees, many of whom came from the Inland Empire. At the chapter level, we hosted several roundtable discussions to give young and emerging professionals in our region an opportunity to discuss their views on the accounting profession, career issues and leadership development.
   Also over this past year, CalCPA has addressed several important legislative issues, including peer review, licensing examination entry requirements, mobility and financial literacy. The upcoming CPA Day at the Capitol event May 13 in Sacramento will give  chapter members who are able to participate an opportunity to be heard.
   As past president, I will be a member of the board of directors this coming year. I look forward to working with Mark Erickson, our new chapter president, and his leadership team to make this a very successful year. When we meet in June to plan the coming year, we will be working to move CalCPA forward in its mission to promote the integrity of the CPA profession and contribute to the success of our members.
   In laying down my gavel, I wish each one of you a very good year ahead and do hope you will join in the upcoming chapter activities. For those of you who may have an interest in becoming part of the leadership team, I encourage you to get involved. The work is very rewarding, and you get to meet a lot of good people.
   Best regards,
—Renee H. Miller, CPA
[Back to top]

CHAPTER NEWS

New Members

On behalf of the Inland Empire Chapter’s officers, directors and members, we extend our warmest of welcomes to our new members: Paul Anton, Toni Lewis, Amy McInerny... [see all new members]

Bulletin Deadlines

Keep these due dates in mind if there is something you’d like to publish in the Bulletin. Send information to program associate Monica Thompson.

June issue: Friday, May 9
July issue: Monday, June 9
August issue: Tuesday, July 8
[Back to top]

CHAPTER EVENTS

Tee It Up at Golf Tournament

By Dick Savich, Golf Committee Chair

Get ready for the chapter’s “CPA Shootout,” to be held Monday, May 19, at the Greg Norman Course at PGA West in La Quinta. Our goal is to have more than 100 golfers, so get your foursome together for a scramble format.
   We have the opportunity to play a premier course during prime season at a bargain price—$175 per person, which includes lunch, dinner, carts, practice range, special contests (longest drive and closest to the pin), prizes, drinks, refreshments, mulligans and more. How can you beat that?
   Also, the California State University, San Bernardino men’s golf team will be there to help us with the par 3s and par 5s.
   We have made arrangements for discount rates at the Homewood Suites at Hilton La Quinta if you want to come in the day before or stay overnight after the fun. But you need to make your reservation by May 1.
   Also, what better way to advertise your organization or get a discount for a foursome of golf than by being a sponsor for the raffle, silent auction and goodie bags. If you are interested, e-mail Monica Thompson or call (951) 242-7558.
   Net proceeds go to the chapter’s scholarship fund, which helps Inland Empire accounting students. In the past, we have provided scholarships to students at 17 different colleges and universities in the Inland Empire.
   Download a brochure.
[Back to top]

CalCPA NEWS

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:

Inland Empire Chapter Leadership