October 2007 | Inland Empire Chapter Bulletin

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CHAPTER EVENTS

October Monthly Chapter Meeting

Topic: PFP, Financial Literacy and MAP
This six-hour event consists of three, two-hour CPE sessions.
   The first session includes a working lunch and will focus on personal financial planning. Guest speaker Chuck Copeland will discuss investment alternatives and the principals of investing.
   The second session will feature guest speaker Tracy T. Wirtes, CPA, who will focus on CalCPA’s “Dollars & Sense” program. The financial literacy program covers topics such as credit cards, loans and college costs. More specific programs include topics for military personnel, parents and small-business owners.
   In the third session, guest speaker Mark Fowler will present “Attracting, Developing and Retaining Talent by Being the Firm You Have Always Wanted To Be.” The challenge of quality talent is not going to resolve itself on its own and requires the concerted effort of our profession to advance the attractiveness and effectiveness of our work and how that work is accomplished. Among the issues Mark will touch upon are the challenges facing the profession and what can be done about them, essential elements to making your firm attractive and what to do to successfully recruit, screen and hire the right talent.
 
Date: Friday, Oct. 19
Time: 11 a.m.–5 p.m.
Location: Riverside Convention Center; 3443 Orange St.; Riverside
Cost: $60/members; $75/nonmembers (includes all three sessions and lunch)
CPE: 6 hours
RSVP: Online

November Monthly Chapter Meeting

Topic: Business and Industry
The afternoon session will begin with a presentation by Sasha Alexander Globa, director of business development at California Statewide Certified Development Corporation. This workshop will provide an introduction and key insights into the SBA 104 loan program, including:

• SBA 504 loan program objectives and history
• Key eligibility requirements
• Transactions that are candidates for SBA 504 financing
• Underwriting and funding processes
• Role of the Certified Development Company/SBA, participating private lender and the CPA
• Information and documentation needed
• Common misconceptions and FAQs

The event’s evening portion will be presented by Eric Augusta, an expert in Excel productivity, modeling and training. Explore whether to use Excel as a primary budgeting tool and receive tips on summing, selections, logical functions, sheet naming, filtering, grouping, subtotaling, various shortcuts and more.
 
Date: Tuesday, Nov. 13
Time: 3–3:30/registration; 3:30–7:30 p.m./program and dinner
Location: Magic Lamp Inn; Rancho Cucamonga
Cost: $45/members; $60/nonmembers (includes dinner)
CPE: 3 hours
RSVP: Online

Upcoming MAP Committee Meeting: Exit Strategies

Exiting a closely held business requires thoughtful planning and, given enough time, can yield many positive results for the owner. In this presentation, learn about the role CPAs serve in helping their clients through the process. A portion of the presentation will be dedicated to exiting a CPA practice.
 
Speaker: Ted Collins, CPA, Exit Transition Strategies LLC
Date: Tuesday, Nov. 27
Time: 11:30 a.m.–1 p.m.
Location: Village Grill; Claremont
Cost: $12/members; $15/guests (includes lunch)
CPE: 1 hour
RSVP: Online

Student Scholarship Event

Meet CalCPA Chair Teresa Mason. Free recruiting and marketing. Reserve your table now!
 
Date: Friday, Nov. 2
Time: 2–6 p.m.
Location: Ontario Convention Center; 2000 E. Convention Center Way; Ontario
Cost: $6 (Please note that there is a $6 parking fee. Your paid parking stub can be exchanged for entrance into the event.)
Info: Chapter program associate Monica Thompson or (951) 242-7558.
RSVP: Online

Golf Tournament

By Dick Savich, Golf Committee Chair
Mark your calendars for the next Inland Empire Chapter golf tournament. We have the opportunity to play a premier course during prime season at the same price as last year, which includes lunch, dinner, carts, practice range, special contests, prizes, drinks, refreshments and more.
   Be prepared to take advantage of this great deal and get your foursome together now. Look for more details in future bulletins.
   If you want more information about sponsorships or exclusive participation, contact Monica Thompson or (951) 242-7558. See you there!

Finding and Evaluating Frauds

Most CPAs know how to recognize fraud, but how many have actually seen it in action? This course is designed to teach how frauds operate in the real world, by using actual examples in an interactive case study approach. Members will learn about some of the most famous frauds in history as well as about current scams and schemes.
 
Date: Jan. 18
Time: 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m. (registration at 8 a.m.)
Location: Canyon Crest Country Club
CPE: 8 hour (A&A or Fraud)
Cost: $145 member/$180 non-member
RSVP: Online.

 

SAVE THE DATES

Board of Directors Meetings

Date: Monday, Oct. 1
Time: 7:30–9:30 a.m.
Location: Coco’s; Ontario Mills
 
Date: Monday, Nov. 5
Time: 7:30–9:30 a.m.
Location: Mission Inn; Riverside

December Chapter Meeting

Topic: Property Taxes and Preparer Responsibilities
Speakers: Jim Bone and Kip Dellinger
Date: Tuesday, Dec. 4
Time: 2:30–4:30 p.m. (includes lunch)
Location: Mission Inn, Riverside
RSVP: Online

LA Run/Walk 2007: Power by Numbers

On your mark ... get set ... run! We are pleased to announce the Third Annual Power by Numbers Run/Walk. Last year’s run/walk was a smashing success as more than 900 runners/walkers basked in the sun and raised more than $40,000!
   This year we want to attract more runners/walkers to this 5K/10K event and raise even more money for local nonprofits, so we need your help!
   Our goal this year is for 1,000 runners/walkers to raise $45,000 for scholarships to local college/university students. The Venice Boys & Girls Club will also benefit and CalCPA will collaborate with “Reading is Fundamental” of Southern California, as well as host a non-perishable food donation for the Westside Food Bank.
 
Enjoy Well-Earned Prizes:
Medals will be awarded to the top three:

• 5K and 10K teams
• Individuals within each division
• Fund-raisers

All registered runners/walkers will receive breakfast, T-shirt and a goodie bag.
 
Date: Sunday, Nov. 18
Time: 8 a.m./registration; 8:30 a.m./event begins
Locataion: San Vicente & Darlington; Brentwood
Register: Online
 
Download a run brochure and poster.
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PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

Our Precious Resources

By Renee H. Miller, CPA

A few days ago we had a chapter board meeting. In reflecting on the discussions and the e-mail activity that followed, it reminds me how important volunteers are in moving CalCPA toward its goals.
   If you take a look at your CalCPA 2007–08 Leadership Directory, you will find an impressive list of CPAs who are serving as Inland Empire Chapter officers, board members and committee chairs. Each person listed plays a vital role in running the chapter. They work hard to be responsive to the membership and put together programs on topics relevant to today’s CPAs. For those of you who were able to make the September chapter meeting, I hope you found it worth your while by earning some CPE and connecting with other accounting and business professionals.
   We have more great programs coming up, which you will see described in this Bulletin. We are presenting a six-hour program Friday, Oct. 19 comprised of three, two-hour segments at a very reasonable price. We hope you can make it to any or all of these sessions. Without a doubt, this is a very good opportunity to learn some more about three distinct areas of interest to many CPAs, including the areas of investing, financial literacy and attracting, developing and retaining talent. These opportunities don’t come along too often, so you may want to consider signing up while there are still seats available.
   Speaking of good opportunities, I happened to be browsing the internet and found that the California Board of Accountancy is offering some free webcasts through April. I have not yet signed up, but plan to do so. I have participated in webcasts offered by my former firm, Price Waterhouse, and found them quite useful. In case you are not aware, CalCPA also now offers webinars as part of its mission to expand services to its members.
   Do you like to do public speaking? Teaching? Helping others by sharing your experiences? We are always looking for interesting topics and people who would like to speak at CalCPA events or our chapter meetings. If you are interested, please feel free to contact me, chapter program associate Monica Thompson or any of the Inland Empire board members. We are always happy to hear from our members and to get to know you better.
   Going back to the Board meeting that I mentioned in opening this message, I am very impressed by the level of energy and commitment some of our colleagues bring to CalCPA. Our board members are busy with full-time jobs, ranging from public accounting and business/industry positions to careers in academia, yet they carve out time to make things happen at CalCPA. Some members have been actively involved for many years, trying to help wherever they are needed.
   The excellent leadership of prior Inland Empire boards gives us a strong foundation for undertaking new initiatives. Immediate past president Scott Hofferber is giving all of us a voice at the state level as CalCPA’s vice chair and chair of the CalCPA Membership Committee. In case you are not aware, Inland Empire is one of CalCPA’s 14 chapters. We are more than 1,000 members strong in the vast geographic area called the Inland Empire, and about 85 percent of our chapter members are licensed CPAs, with most of the remaining 15 percent on track to becoming licensed. With everyone’s help, we are in a very good position to grow the membership and attain our goal of 1,200 in the next several years.
   Another Inland Empire Chapter past president is Bruce Gray, who now chairs our chapter’s Taxation Committee. And that’s not all—Bruce also was on the Planning Committee for the “2007 Solo/Sole Practitioners Conference,” which will be held in November in San Francisco and Burbank.
   Our very own Johanna Sweaney Salt is co-chair of the Solo/Sole Practitioners Conference. Some of you may recall seeing Johanna on the cover of CPA Magazine earlier this year. She is an on the Inland Empire board member, is chair of the CalCPA Management of an Accounting Practice Committee and has just been accepted to participate in the CalCPA Leadership Institute training program, which helps members prepare for future leadership positions within both CalCPA and the profession. Congratulations, Johanna! She is following in the footsteps of some other board members who have completed their leadership training, including Bruce Gray, Scott Hofferber, Clifford Baugh, first vice president of our chapter, and Lynette Atchley, board director and a past chair of the Personal Financial Planning Committee.
   I look forward to seeing you at future CalCPA events. Please don’t keep CalCPA a secret —tell your associates why you belong to CalCPA and why they should consider doing so as well. It’s the people, like you, who will make a difference in CalCPA and our profession.
   Respectfully,
—Renee H. Miller, CPA
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CHAPTER NEWS

Nominations Committee Formed

The Nominations Committee is charged with selecting the 2008–09 slate of candidates for officer positions and board members and is in the process of submitting its nominations. Committee members are Scott Hofferber (chair), Renee Miller and Clifford Baugh.

If you have a suggested nomination, contact chapter program associate, Monica Thompson or call (951) 242-7558.

New Members

On behalf of the Inland Empire Chapter’s officers, directors and members, we extend our warmest of welcomes to our new members: Wade Ellis, Audrey Jones, Carrie Miller... [see all new members]

Bulletin Deadlines

Keep these dates in mind if there’s something you’d like to publish in the Bulletin. Information can be sent to chapter program associate Monica Thompson.

November issue: Oct. 10
December issue: Nov. 9
January issue: Dec. 5

Who’s Worthy?

Do you know a chapter member who goes above and beyond when it comes to community involvement and helping the less fortunate? If so, make sure to submit that person’s name and a brief description of why you believe they should be honored by our annual “Distinguished Service or Public Service Award,” which will be presented at our Dec. 4 board meeting.

Past PSA recipients include Don Driftmier, Walt Reardon, Mike Adcock, Deborah Crowley, Pat Spafford, Jessie Powell, Helene Blumner and Bruce Gray. Don Driftmier also received last year’s DSA.

Nominations may be e-mailed to chapter program associate Monica Thompson mailed to: P.O. Box 974; Moreno Valley, CA 92556 or faxed to (951) 924-8298.

Volunteer Spotlight: Kathy Johnson

Inland Empire Chapter member Kathy Johnson works for the San Bernardino Sun and is a very active volunteer. In addition to being a board member of Cal State Athletics, Kathy is active with the Redlands Rotary as chair of the Scholarships and Awards Committee, as well as chair of the Social and Fellowship Committee. Kathy also is chair of our chapter’s Business and Industry Committee. Thanks Kathy for all of your hard work and dedication!

If you know of a chapter member who is an active volunteer, please tell us about them!
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CalCPA NEWS

Celebrating Women CPAs

Join us for a day of leadership development, professional growth and recognition as we celebrate California’s women CPAs and their tremendous contributions to the profession.
   Attend Celebrating Women CPAs and leave with:

• A clear vision of the ascent of women within the CPA profession;
• Social and professional connections to last a lifetime;
• Action steps to effect social change;
• Keys to excelling as a mentor; and
• Strategies and tactics for managing and resolving conflict.

   Confirmed notable speakers include California Assemblymember and CPA Fiona Ma and Judy Olian, dean of UCLA’s Anderson School of Management.
   Don’t miss this phenomenal event, Friday, Oct. 19, at the Intercontinental Hotel in Century City.
   Register online today or call (800) 922-5272.

Leaders Wanted: Become a CalCPA Officer or AICPA Council Member

You are the driving force behind one of the world’s largest economies. Isn’t it time you put your leadership skills to use for the betterment of the CPA profession?
   The CalCPA Nominations Committee is accepting nominations until Dec. 1 for 2008–09 CalCPA officers and council members at large. Officer positions include chair, first vice chair, treasurer and two vice chairs. Three council members at-large also will be elected.
   Members can apply for more than one office and will be considered only for the positions to which they apply. Download a nomination form, review job descriptions and ideal leadership characteristics.
   For more information, contact John Angelo or Nominations Committee Chair D. Paul Regan.

Another Way to Serve–AICPA Council

If you’re an AICPA member and interested in representing your peers on 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 you’re interested, send a letter of intent and your professional and volunteer history to: Nominations Committee; c/o D. Paul Regan, chair; 330 N. Brand Blvd., Suite 710; Glendale, CA 91203.
   All letters must be received by 5 p.m. Dec. 1. The AICPA makes the final selections.
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RESOURCES:

Inland Empire Chapter Leadership