August 2007 Peninsula Silicon Valley Chapter Bulletin

In this Issue

President’s Message: Future Thinking

Chapter News
New Officer Joins the Board
Students: Scholarship Deadline is Oct. 1

Chapter Events
Financial Literacy Volunteer Training
Golf at Harding Park: Early-bird Registration Through Aug. 15
New Group Launching: Bay Area Excel Users

Committee Meetings
MAP Committee
Nonprofit Interest Group
Estate & Trust
Silicon Valley Forum Workshop

All Peninsula Silicon Valley Chapter Events

California CPA Education Foundation CPE in Area

CalCPA News
Celebrating Women CPAs

Resources

President’s Message

Future Thinking

By Sharon Selleck, CPA
A couple of months ago, I told you a little bit about our scholarship program for accounting students at local colleges and universities. For those of you who have attended past scholarship award ceremonies, you know this is a passion of mine.
   A little more than five years ago, we were struggling to get our scholarship program off the ground and garner attention from accounting students (can you believe we were having problems giving money away!). I had become a new scholarship committee member and wondered how we could get CalCPA known at local colleges and universities. I was at my cousin’s house for the Fourth of July and knew my cousin was studying business and accounting at Menlo College in Menlo Park. I asked her if she knew a good accounting professor who I could meet and who could be CalCPA’s cheerleader at Menlo College. That is how I first heard and learned about Professor Donna Little.
   Fast-forward five years to 2006, add Professor Bruce Maule from the College of San Mateo, and we have a scholarship program! Their intelligence, commitment, desire, selflessness and continual dedication to their students have brought us many intelligent and amazing students and future members. In the past five years we have awarded approximately 50 scholarships totaling more than $35,000 to local accounting students. And that was not the last we’ve seen of them! Many have attended awards ceremonies or are now our co-workers in the accounting profession.
   Indeed, six of our winners from the past two years are working at local CPA firms—and I’ve been fortunate enough to have three of them here at BPM and work with them! A handful came to us already working in industry, but realizing the importance of the CPA license, they had gone back to school to work toward the goal of one day getting their CPA license.
   And we’ve seen them at chapter events! I saw Brad, Tony and Julie at our 2006 scholarship awards ceremonies at Bay Meadows, talking to our current winners about their new experience in the profession. I saw Nicole, a past winner who works as a GL accountant in the arts and film industry, attend one of our entertainment committee’s events in 2006. And a month after getting her scholarship, Michelle was at our Young Emerging Professionals event finding out more about the computerized CPA Exam and the process to become a CPA.
   This attendance at events and employment in the accounting profession, I believe, is evidence of the early success of our scholarship program. I hope to see our program continue to grow, more students learn the importance and benefits of the accounting profession, and more young, emerging professionals become CalCPA members and future committee or board leaders!
   OK, so those who know me know this is not the end of the article. We need your help to maintain this success. Whether it’s serving on our Scholarship Committee or our Young Emerging Professionals Committee, considering a scholarship recipient for a job at your company or making a financial contribution to our scholarship fund. You can be part of our future success! And if you know a student who might need a scholarship, the application deadline is Oct. 1.
– Sharon Selleck, CPA
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Chapter News

New Officer Joins the Board

Karen R. Goodfriend of KK Wealth Advisors, LLC in Los Altos has stepped in to fill an unexpected vacancy in the position of chapter vice president. Karen has been active in the chapter and was a member of ClaCPA Council and chair of the CalCPA Communications Advisory Committee from 2005–07. Welcome Karen!
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Students: Scholarship Deadline is Oct. 1

The Peninsula Silicon Valley Chapter will be awarding scholarships, varying from $250 to $2,000, this year to students at local colleges. The application deadline will be here before you know it, so visit our website today for details. If you are a student, or if you know an accounting student, check this out and get your application in.
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Chapter Events

Financial Literacy Volunteer Training

CalCPA is hosting a “train the trainer” session on the new National Endowment for Financial Education (NEFE) materials that will be used for CalCPA’s high school financial literacy visits. The new materials will be put into action with the start of the 2007–08 school year. If you are an existing financial literacy volunteer or are interested in becoming one, please attend this free training to learn about the new materials and how to present them most effectively during a classroom visit.

Date: Tuesday, Aug. 14
Time: 8 a.m./registration and breakfast; 8:30 a.m.–noon/training
Location: San Francisco State University Downtown Center; 835 Market St.; San Francisco
CPE: 4 hours
Cost: FREE
RSVP: Crystil Turner or (650) 802-2494.
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Golf at Harding Park: Early-bird Registration Through Aug. 15

The Peninsula Silicon Valley Chapter is a co-host with the San Francisco and East Bay chapters as the tournament returns to San Francisco’s renowned Harding Park. Enjoy a wonderful day out to benefit our scholarship fund at the same time! Early-bird registration is being accepted.
Date: Tuesday, Sept. 25
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New Group Launching: Bay Area Excel Users

Are you looking to expand your Excel skills? Then considering joining a new group of Bay Area Excel users that CalCPA is co-sponsoring with the Bay Area Institute of Management Accountants. Meetings will be held every other month and will be three hours.
Topic: Pivot Tables
Date: Saturday, Sept. 15
Location: Dinah’s Garden Hotel; Palo Alto
Cost: $30
RSVP: Look for more info in the September chapter Bulletin.
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A Night at the Races

Sponsor out Networking Event and be Recognized. Student & Candidate Members, 40-Year Members and Past Presidents!
Date: Friday, Oct. 19
Location: Bay Meadows Race Track
For more information or to become a sponsor, contact Karen Goodfriend at (650) 941-5530
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Committee Meetings

MAP Committee

Date: Tuesday, Aug. 7
Time: Noon
Location: Crowne Plaza Hotel; 4290 El Camino Real; Palo Alto
Cost: Approx. $15
RSVP: Tim McCrone, (650) 948-7180
(Note: attendance limited to those with confirmed reservations)
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Nonprofit Interest Group

Topic: Fraud Considerations in the Audit, SAS 99
Date: Wednesday, Aug. 1
Time: 8:30–10 a.m.
Location: Office of Jack Morton; 385 Sherman St., Suite 2; Palo Alto
CPE: 1.5 hours
RSVP: (650) 323-6666 or laarni@lvr.netbox.com
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Estate & Trust

Topic: Special Needs Trusts
Speaker: Peter S. Stern, Esq.
Date: Wednesday, Aug. 22 (note new day)
Time: Noon–1:30 p.m.
Location: MacArthur Park Restaurant; 27 University Ave.; Palo Alto
Cost: $25/members; $35/nonmembers
CPE: 1 hour
RSVP: Online
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Silicon Valley Forum Workshop

Topic: Sales and Use Tax Audits
Speakers: James Speed and Steve Foti, Thompson Tax & Associates, LLC
Date: Wednesday, Aug. 22
Time: 7:30–9 a.m.
Location: Ramada Silicon Valley; 1217 Wildwood Ave.; Sunnyvale
Cost: $15/members; $20/non-members
CPE: 1.5 hours
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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.

Resources

Peninsula Chapter Leadership
Program Associate: Jane Dunbar
Program Director: Gary Hammond

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