October 2007 | Los Angeles Chapter Bulletin

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CHAPTER EVENTS

Young & Emerging Professional Committee Meeting

Topic: Accounting & Tax Professionals in the Entertainment Industry
Speakers: Jeffrey Tolin, national director of entertainment tax services, Ernest & Young LLP, and Irwin Jacobson, CPA, vice president of finance, Studio Services, Sony Pictures Entertainment
Date: Wednesday, Oct. 24
Time: 4 p.m./registration; 4:30–6:30 p.m./reception and presentation
Location: Loyola Law School; Robinson Courtroom–Girardi Building; 919 Albany St.; Los Angeles
Cost: Free/members and students
Info: Contact program associate Sandy Benitez or (818) 546-3505.

2007 Annual Tax Controversy Institute

The chapter’s Taxation Committee is helping to put on this event sponsored by the UCLA Extension Annual Tax Controversy Institute.
 
Date: Wednesday, Oct. 31
Location: The Beverly Hills Hotel; Beverly Hills
RSVP: Online

Attorney-Banker-CPA Networking Breakfast

By Eddie Glickman, chair, Los Angeles Chapter Financing Clients Committee
The Financing Clients Committee cordially invites you to join us for the chapter's biggest networking event of the year, the Sixth Annual Attorney-Banker-CPA Networking Breakfast. We’ve created an exciting venue in which to meet attorneys, bankers and other CPAs who want to do business with you. This event will be a terrific way for you to start and renew quality relationships that can help you build your practice and assist your clients in getting the money they need.
   Last year we had more than 350 attendees and raised over $10,000 for the Charles Gumbiner Memorial Scholarship Fund. The chapter gave scholarships to accounting students attending universities such as USC, UCLA, Loyola Marymount, Cal State University and Woodbury University.
   Remember to bring 100 business cards to this great networking event.
 
Our generous sponsors for 2007:
ADP Small Business Services
Alliance Bank
CIT Group, Inc.
Eddie Glickman, Real Estate Financing
Gumbiner Savett, Inc. CPAs and Business Advisors
Jeffer Mangels Butler & Marmaro LLP
Kibel Green Inc.
LW and Associates, A Strategy Company
Rutter, Hobbs & Davidoff, Incorporated
Singer Lewak Greenbaum & Goldstein, LLP
Stonefield Josephson, Inc.
Weinberg & Company, P.A.
 
Date: Tuesday, Nov. 13
Time: 7–9:30 a.m.
Location: Olympic Collection; 11301 W. Olympic Blvd.; West Los Angeles
RSVP: Online
Info: Contact program associate Sandy Benitez or (818) 546-3505.

13th Annual Tax Night

This is the 13th consecutive year that the chapter’s Taxation Committee has jointly sponsored Tax Night with the Los Angeles County Bar Association Taxation Section. IRS leaders from Los Angeles attend this event, which makes it a perfect opportunity to meet and greet the people who affect the way we do business. Keynote speaker will be Sandra Brown, chief of the Tax Division, Office of the United States Attorney, Central District of California.
 
Date: Tuesday, Nov. 6
Time: 2:45–3:30 p.m./registration; 3:30–7:07 p.m. sessions/keynote speaker; 7:10–8:30 p.m. reception
Location: Marriott Hotel Downtown
Cost: By Oct. 30: $75/CalCPA and LACBA members; $95/nonmembers (after Oct. 30: add $20)
RSVP: Online
We would like to thank ADP Small Business Services for its generous sponsorship that helped make this event a success.

Estate Planning Committee

All too often, clients come to us following poor service and bad advice from prior advisers. These clients bring with them a variety of problems that need to be resolved, including unfunded trusts, incorrectly applied elections and unused exemptions, among others.
   During this joint meeting with the chapter’s Taxation Committee, you will learn practical solutions to minimizing or rectifying the negative impact of these past mistakes.
 
Topic: Cleaning Up the Mess: Practical Solutions to Problems Arising From Prior Adviser Mistakes
Speaker: David Sherak, Esq., partner, Vogt & Resnick
Date: Wednesday, Oct. 17 (Please note date change)
Time: 11:30 a.m.–2 p.m.
Location: Olympic Collection; 11301 Olympic Blvd.; West Los Angeles
Cost: By Oct. 12: $30/members; $40/nonmembers (after Oct. 12: add $10)
RSVP: Online
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SAVE THE DATES

Third-Annual Power By Numbers Run/Walk

Date: Sunday, Nov. 18
Location: Brentwood

Eight-Hour CPE Program: Audit Standards

Date: Monday, Dec. 3
Location: Luxe Hotel; Los Angeles

Tax Day LA

Date: Thursday, Dec. 6
Location: Universal Hilton

Taxation Committee Annual IRS Liaison Meeting

Date: Thursday, Dec. 13
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PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

Are You a Jedi?

By Violeta Cristobal, CPA

In the magical world of Star Wars, becoming a Jedi requires more than a fancy light saber. According to Wikipedia, Jedis are masters of an ancient and noble organization, known for their talent and observance of "The Force." For every great Jedi master, there is an eager student. As members of CalCPA, we have within our reach the same opportunity for Jedi mastery. We simply honor a different force—our professional business. Our commitment must be directed to our client as much as it is toward our fellow CPA.
   As some baby boomers are gearing up for retirement, others, like myself, are hoping to be 105 years old and still helping clients grow their businesses. Either way, we must plan our exit strategies. In doing so, we have no greater responsibility to our Force than to teach what we know to our young successors. To serve that noble intention, the Los Angeles Chapter is proud to introduce the Mentoring and Internship Program.
   The program gathers our wise and masterful professionals and empowers them to share their experience and impart their ethics of providing the highest level of quality service to help develop future leaders. Our mission: “To support, encourage, help and inspire students and emerging professionals who show a strong interest in being mentored.” We will encourage membership in the community, as well as better retain qualified professionals in our firms and in CalCPA.
   Joining forces to lift, nurture and sustain our business is our professional call to greatness. Jimmy Williamson, former AICPA chair and “Jedi,” touted this belief when he said, “When working together, CPAs can achieve great things.” Mentorship is paramount in any profession. Young and emerging professionals are eager to know what lies ahead for them. Think of the wisdom and experience you have to offer these individuals. Imagine what would have become of Luke Skywalker and the Force without the wise and skilled Obi-Wan Kenobi as his guide. Where would he have turned for guidance, excellence and direction? I urge you to take part in our mentorship program.
   Guide young professionals in the direction of leadership and skill. Share your story of success, your accomplishments and the obstacles you overcame. Did you have a mentor? If so, how did that experience guide you? If not, how could a mentor have helped your career? This is a call for Jedi action. Let’s work together to build our business, support our profession and strengthen our client relationships for generations to come. Contact Mike Allmon, the program’s chair and master Jedi chair, or chapter program associate Sandy Benitez to take part in our mentoring mission.
   It has been said that when great masters learn, they teach. Beyond that truth, the greatest masters never stop learning, training and growing. To that end, November offers stellar opportunities for information, networking and fun:

• Continue learning and join us for Tax Night Tuesday, Nov. 6 at the Marriott Hotel in downtown Los Angeles. Receive firsthand information from great speakers in the industry.
• Take part in our Sixth Annual Attorney-Banker CPA Networking Breakfast Tuesday, Nov. 13. Meet the many lenders, bankers and lawyers who will better help you serve your clients. By simply attending this event last year, I was able to assist many of my clients with their lending needs. It’s a great opportunity. Thanks to Eddie Glickman and the Financing Committee, the proceeds from the event go toward our scholarship fund.
• There is still time to train for our third-annual Power by Numbers, a 5K/10K run/walk, scheduled for Sunday, Nov. 18 at 8 a.m. at San Vincente and Darlington in Brentwood. Food, entertainment and fun festivities will include the fabulous Laker Girls cheering us on! Bring your team, friends and family to run or walk alongside your fellow CPAs. Our entertainment isn’t too shabby either, with our famous, rocking CPA Scott Hofferber (CalCPA vice chair and former president of the Inland Empire Chapter) and his band leading us through the event with their musical stylings.

   Last year a whopping 900 participants for this event! With the date so close to Thanksgiving Day, we will be donating food to the Westside Food Bank. Please bring your energy, spirit and one or more canned food items for the donation. Your contribution makes a difference. Simply by participating in the day of health and fun, you will contribute value and assist the community. The money raised at the event will benefit the Venice Boys & Girls Club, “Reading is Fundamental” of Southern California, as well as scholarship funds for students, our future leaders. Contact Delia Rincon if you wish to offer additional sponsorship. Let’s all run together for health and wellness. See you there!
   You don’t need to be in a galaxy far, far away to be a force for good in the world. By joining our CalCPA “force” and working together, we will become empowered to make lasting changes in our profession, in our families and in the world. One small move can produce big results. Remember our “Mission 10,000” and admit it, we all have a Jedi inside of us.
   I would love to hear from you. Please e-mail me if you have any suggestions or comments, or if you know a student, candidate or CPA who would like to join our Force.
   Yours truly,
—Yoda
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CHAPTER NEWS

New Members

On behalf of the Los Angeles Chapter’s officers, directors and members, we extend our warmest of welcomes to our new members: Michael Hicks, Zach DeGough, Katherine Hall... [see all new members]

Volunteers Needed: Love Ride 24

Registration is open for the Nov. 11, 40-mile motorcycle fund-raiser that sponsors more than 25 charities, including The Los Angeles Times’ literacy initiative, “Reading By 9,” the Muscular Dystrophy Association and others.
   Sign up online.

Chapter Leadership Applications

Got some great ideas? Interested in contributing to the profession? Here’s your opportunity to make a difference. We are accepting applications for chapter leadership positions.
   If you or someone you know is qualified to serve as an officer, director or CalCPA Council representative, submit the contact information to chapter program associate Sandy Benitez, or fax the application to (818) 246-4017. All responses will be reviewed by the chapter’s Nominations Committee.
   Nominees will be selected on criteria, including prior committee or discussion group involvement, previous leadership positions held in chapter or state activities, professional or community involvement, leadership abilities and interest to serve.

Board of Directors Meeting

Join us as we plan and discuss issues relating to our chapter and CalCPA.
Date: Thursday, Nov. 15
Time: 8–10 a.m.
Location: UCLA Faculty Center in Westwood (Westholme/Hilgard)
Info: Program associates Sandy Benitez at (818) 546–3505 or Delia Rincon at (818) 546-3509.

Please mark your calendars for future board meetings, held Thursdays:
2008: Jan. 10 and May 8
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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.

Register Online

Register and pay for CalCPA events 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Visit CalCPA.org’s Master Calendar to search for CPE and other events by chapter or key word. Explore the possibilities.
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RESOURCES:

Los Angeles Chapter Leadership