June 2008 | San Diego Chapter Bulletin

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CHAPTER EVENTS

San Diego PFP Committee

Topic: Trust and Estate Planning Update
Dates: Tuesday, May 27
Times: Noon–1 p.m. (registration at 11:45 a.m.)
Location: Handlery Hotel & Resort; 950 Hotel Circle N.; San Diego
RSVP: Online

Chapter Installation and Mixer

Join your friends from CalCPA’s San Diego Chapter at Hacienda de Vega for the 2008–09 San Diego Chapter installation party. Hacienda de Vega is an award-winning restaurant that features an incredible outdoor dining patio surrounded by a lavish landscape with tropical flowers and is complete with its own ponds and waterfalls. Help us welcome the chapter’s new leaders, thank our volunteers and congratulate the scholarship recipients, all the while enjoying the musical stylings of Bob Magnuson and his band. We hope you can join us. Location: Hacienda de Vega; 2508 S. Escondido Blvd.; Escondido
Dates: Wednesday, May 28
Times: 6–8 p.m.
Cost: $30/members; $40/nonmembers/guests
RSVP: Online

San Diego Business and Industry Committee

Topic: Reports in Zero Time Using Excel
Dates: Tuesday, June 3
Times: Noon–2 p.m. (registration at 11:45 a.m.)
Cost: $30/members; $40/nonmembers
RSVP: Online

2008 Annual Income Tax Seminar

Dates: Friday, June 20
Times: 8:30 a.m.–5:05 p.m.
CPE: 9 hours of CPE for CPAs; 7.75 hours of MCLE and tax specialization credit for attorneys (including 1 hour of ethics); 9 hours of CEC for enrolled agents
Info: : www.calbar.ca.gov/taxation
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SAVE THE DATE

Financial Literacy Committee

Help kick off the San Diego Chapter’s newest initiative: bringing financial literacy to those San Diegans who need it most. CalCPA provides training and instructional materials so that volunteer members can speak to groups of all ages, from elementary school children to senior citizens.
Dates: Thursday, June 19
Times: 8–9 a.m.
Location: TBD

San Diego Chapter Networking Event

Celebrate the approach of summer and mix and mingle with other CalCPA members after work on June 19.
Dates: Thursday, June 19
Times: 5–7 p.m.
Location: TBD
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PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

Welcome to the 2008–09 Year

By Marleen Thudium, CPA/PFS

As incoming president, I’d like to acknowledge the board members, directors, state council members and interest chairs for their diligent service this past year. The many events that take place during the year, including monthly interest group meetings, Tax Institute, Accounting Day, International Conference, networking events and discussion groups, would not take place without the consistent, hard work of all of these folks, plus our program associate, program director and staff at CalCPA. Special thanks goes to 2007–08 President Narelle MacKenzie for her dedicated service throughout the year.
   Thank you also to the new leadership team for volunteering to serve. Not only will we continue to produce the quality events that you have grown accustomed to, but we also will introduce new programs. If you have programs you would like to see us put in place, please let us know. Our success as an organization depends on active participation of our members. As a board, we always are interested in your input.
   To effortlessly keep up with all of the San Diego Chapter’s activities, you can have them sent directly to your Google homepage via an RSS feed. For instructions on how to list chapter activities on your homepage, click here or you also can always find a current event list at www.calcpa.org/sd.
   The past six weeks have been full of outstanding events at both the state and local level.
   The first of these events was the California Summit on Financial Literacy. More than 500 people attended the summit, representing nonprofits, community-based organizations, personal finance education, CPAs, educators, school boards, PTA members, media, legislators, government agencies, business and financial service organizations and foundations throughout the state. Three teachers, Vicky Banks, Ellen Towers and James Michaelian, from Hoover High School in San Diego were recognized for their contributions to financial literacy. In addition, the California Jump$tart Coalition recognized CalCPA member Stanley Breitbard, CPA, PFS, from CalCPA’s Los Angeles Chapter, for his contributions to the financial literacy movement in California and nationwide. The keynote speaker, Jean Chatzky, has been on the Oprah Winfrey Show and a featured money coach on Oprah’s Debt Diet series. If you wish that you had attended, please stay tuned for upcoming events regarding financial literacy and information on how you can make a difference.
   Another great event was CPA Day at the Capitol. This was my first time attending this wonderful gathering. I had always heard about walking through the hallways at the state Capitol and meeting other CPAs. The full impact of walking through the hallways did not hit me until after my first meeting with a legislator. Each year, CalCPA members visit with legislators to discuss current issues affecting our profession. This year, we discussed the mobility issue and the proposed sales tax on professional services. Issues such as these are important to each and every one of us, and by attending CPA Day, you can help protect our profession. Plan to attend next year’s CPA Day at the Capitol. Hope to see you then.
   On the local level, our own Jim Colville spearheaded the effort to make Accounting Day larger and more successful than ever. This year Jim and his committee attracted more than 500 people, many from business and industry and governmental agencies.
   Until next month,
—Marleen Thudium, CPA/PFS
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CHAPTER NEWS

New Members

On behalf of the San Diego Chapter’s officers, directors and members, we extend our warmest of welcomes to our new members: Maurice Anderson, Laurie Ball, James Burke Jr... [see all new members]

Thank You

We would like to acknowledge the generosity of all of our member volunteers who provided pro bono tax and financial advice to the victims of the San Diego wildfires:
   Phillip Chang, Mel DaCosta, Suzan Dennis, Mark Hvasta, Mary Mathis, Donald McLean, Teresa Meserve, Karol Quiring, Jeanne Shannon, Melody Thornton, Cynthia Wiseman, Leonard Wright and Tanya Scott.
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CalCPA NEWS

And the Winner Is ...

Congratulations to Jerry Butterfield of the San Joaquin Chapter, who won the free VP membership courtesy of the Education Foundation. And thank you to everyone who has renewed.
   If you haven’t already renewed—your dues were due May 1—now is the perfect time.
   It only takes a minute, www.calcpa.org/renew

2008 National MAP Survey: New and Improved

Find out how your firm stacks up against others by taking part in the PCPS/TSCPA National MAP Survey, which covers key practice management issues, from billing rates and salaries to services as a percentage of fees.
   Survey results will allow you to compare your firm’s management policies and financial results to other firms, gain strategic guidance to build a more profitable and rewarding practice; and help make core business decisions.
   Changes to this year’s survey include 40 percent fewer questions, targeted and “user-friendly” results, a free summary results report for all participants, and results made available months earlier than in previous years.
   The summary report will contain an extract of the survey’s key performance metrics, such as number of hours charged/compensated, major income statement statistics and more. The comprehensive report, available for purchase and free to PCPS members, will include all of the performance metrics crossed against many relevant comparison groups, as well as additional ratios and statistical analyses.
   The survey is open through July 11.
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