September 2007 | San Francisco Chapter Bulletin

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CHAPTER EVENTS

Golf at Harding Park: Let’s Make It a Full Field!

Last year our golfers took over the entire course for the afternoon, with more than 140 players—and we’re aiming to do the same thing this year. You don’t need to have a foursome to sign up, as we’ll be glad to pair you up with other players. This is a scramble format, so everyone tees off and then the next shot is played from the best ball placement, so it’s a team effort, lots of fun and no stress!
   Sign up today!

Champagne, Hors d’oeuvres and Networking

Promote your firm and make valuable new contacts with attorneys and financial professionals at our annual ABC Mixer—and enjoy some intensive networking, great food and a glass of bubbly! Also, you may come away from the evening with an iPod Nano in our business card drawing. Don’t miss this annual social.
 
Date: Thursday, Oct. 18
Time: 5:00pm - 7:00pm (Registration at 4:45pm)
Location: The Bubble Lounge
Cost: $50 CalCPA Members, $50 Non-Members
RSVP: Online
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COMMITTEE/INTEREST GROUP SPECIAL EVENTS

Biotech and Life Sciences

Come hear Dr. Moira Gunn, National Public Radio host and author of Welcome to BioTech Nation! My Unexpected Odyssey into the Land of Small Molecules, Lean Genes, and Big Ideas. Going behind the science and business of biotech, the book features interviews with an interesting and colorful cast of characters from the industry and compelling stories on genetically modified food and stem cell research. Gunn will also share her outlook on the industry.
 
Topic: BioTech Nation: Current and Future Trends in the Industry
Speaker: Dr. Moira Gunn, host, National Public Radio’s Tech Nation and BioTech Nation
Date: Tuesday, Oct. 2
Time: 8:30–10 a.m.
Location: Burr Pilger & Mayer LLP; 600 California St., #1300; San Francisco (program can also be viewed via videoconference from BPM at 100 Pringle Ave., #340; Walnut Creek)
RSVP: Online

Estate & Personal Financial Planning

This free program is co-hosted by the San Francisco Foundation and will feature guest speaker Lawrence P. Beck, an estate planning attorney, who will discuss the use of DIGITs—Defective Revocable Grantor Income Trusts—to reduce estate tax liability; freeze taxable estate growth; transfer assets to successive generations at minimal tax cost; and protect assets.
 
Date: Thursday, Oct. 25
Time: Noon–2 p.m.
Location: San Francisco Foundation; 225 Bush St., Suite 500; San Francisco
Cost: Free
CPE: 2 hours
RSVP: Online

IMA/CalCPA Bay Area Excel Users Group

Laura Ross and Joe Williams, two members of the San Francisco Chapter Board of Directors, joined members of the Institute of Management Accountants on a steering committee to plan Excel Masters, career enhancing training in Excel, a six part hands-on program.
   Bring a laptop if you have one so you can learn by actually doing. This is designed for all level users.
 
Date: Saturday, Sept.15 (first meeting)
Cost: $35/session
RSVP: Online
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COMMITTEE MEETINGS

Pension Audit

Topic: ERISA Update: Impact of PPA
Speaker: Ronald J. Triche, director, Trucker Huss, APC
Date: Wednesday, Sept. 19
Time: Noon–2 p.m.
Location: Burr, Pilger & Mayer, LLP; 600 California St., #1300; San Francisco
Cost: $15
CPE: 2 hours
RSVP: Online

International Tax Committee

Topic: Tax Issues for Non-Immigrants, Permanent Residents & US Citizens
Speaker: Charina Garcia, certified immigration attorney
Date: Thursday, Sept. 20
Time: 8:30–9:30 a.m.
Location: 601 Montgomery St., Suite 405 (community conference room); San Francisco
Cost: Free
CPE: 1 hour
RSVP: Online

Marin Discussion Group

Topic: Make Every Minute Count
Speaker: Dan Markovitz, TimeBack Management
Date: Wednesday, Sept. 26
Time: Noon–1:30 p.m.
Location: Embassy Suites; 101 McInnis Parkway; San Rafael
Cost: $25/members; $35/nonmembers
CPE: 1 hour
RSVP: Online

Young Professionals

Topic: Stay in Touch and Grow Your Network (Program and Mixer with the Bar Association)
Speaker: Patti Wilson, CareerCompany.com
Date: Wednesday, Sept. 26
Time: 5:30–7:30 p.m.
Location: Farella Braun & Martel; 235 Montgomery St., 17th floor; San Francisco
Cost: $25/CalCPA members; $30/nonmembers
CPE: 1 hour
RSVP: Online
Attendance limited to 25 CalCPA members

Estate & Personal Finance Planning

Date: Thursday, Sept.27
Time: 12 noon – 2 p.m.
CPE: 2 hours
Topic: Business Owner Retirement Plan Options (From 1-10 Employees)
Speakers: Joe Kendrick, 1st VP Wealth Management, Smith Barney; Jenny Yun, Chartered Retirement Plan Specialist, Smith Barney
Cost: $20/members with reservation; $25/members w/o reservation; $30/nonmembers; box lunches included
Place: Bertorelli, Gandi, Won & Behti, 150 Spear St #1700, San Francisco
Click here to register

Santa Rosa Discussion Group

Date: Second and Fourth Tuesdays of the month
Time: 7:30 a.m.
Location: Le Brasserie Restaurant (Vineyard Creek Hotel); Santa Rosa
Cost: Appx. $20 (payable at the door)
Info: Contact Charles Mayfield
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PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

Building a Network for Career Growth

By Kathy Yu-Liu, CPA

CalCPA members share countless success stories about meeting people at chapter networking functions, making connections or being referred to valuable business and job opportunities. Networking is essential for starting a new business, acquiring new clients and looking for a new job, as well as toward enhancing ongoing performance in our current job functions.
   Networking should not take up a lot of time if done right. It’s simply making new contacts and spreading the word about ourselves or our companies. In fact, the best time to network is when we don’t need to. Through constant meeting and talking to more business professionals, we will get the best ideas that can benefit us professionally. The cliché holds true: “It’s not what you know, it’s who you know.” That’s the power of networking.
   Realizing the value of networking and to facilitate this with our members, the chapter organizes a variety of networking events. Among these, the ABC Mixer is one of the most popular. We value the relationships we build and maintain with attorneys, bankers, investment managers and advisers. As such, our chapter holds an ABC Mixer aimed at those professionals. This event draws more than 100 attendees each year and is a valuable way for CPAs to continue their business relationships with the financial and legal community.
   This year, we have taken this one step further by inviting attorneys and bankers to help plan the event. We have formed an ABC Mixer Planning Committee, chaired by Jamshed Gandi, chapter second vice president. Michael Hobson, Arthur Fletcher, Charlene Nee and Dave Porter will represent attorneys and bankers. Other CalCPA members include Jennifer Sawyer and myself. We already have eight sponsors signed up for this event, with more to come. Let’s not only look at this event as a way to benefit our own careers, but also as an excellent opportunity to build a network that helps us serve our clients and our employers. This year, we will be offering an open bar and adding a raffle drawing for prizes. Sign up and be ready with lots of business cards for distribution!
   Our chapter also offers many technical committees, interest groups and geographically-based discussion groups tailored to provide high quality networking opportunities. Networking is most effective if we both offer and receive help. Look for opportunities to listen to others and to provide people with useful information. As I mentioned, networking does not need to take up a lot of extra time. For example, it can be as easy as arriving to chapter meetings a bit early to meet your peers or the speaker. You will be surprised by how much you will benefit from a few minutes of information exchange.
   Find time to blend networking into your career life. The more you exercise your networking muscles, the stronger they’ll get.
–Kathy Yu-Liu, CPA
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CHAPTER NEWS

Lead the Way

By Jerry Sample, CPA, Chapter First Vice President

Are you a leader or do you aspire to become one? If so, plan on attending the chapter’s upcoming Leadership Social.
   One of the main member benefits of CalCPA is leadership development. We develop leaders for the good of the public, profession and, frankly, because we need them. Every year the chapter must replace chapter representatives to the CalCPA Council, special interest group chairs and steering committee members, the board of directors and officers, and make sure the chapter is adequately represented on more than 10 CalCPA committees.
   Chapter board members and officers will be on hand during this event to explain everything you ever wanted to know about leadership possibilities at the chapter and CalCPA level.
   No matter where you are in your career, there is a spot for you.

Date: Thursday, Sept. 20
Time: 5–7 p.m.
Location: London Wine Bar
Cost: Free
RSVP: Online
 

Scholarship Applications Deadline

Last year the chapter presented more than $20,000 in awards to several outstanding accounting students at local colleges—and we hope to do the same in November.
   The deadline for applications is DAY, MONTH DATE. If you know of students who might be eligible, let them know about this opportunity.
   Download the criteria and an application.
 

New Members

On behalf of the San Francisco Chapter’s officers, directors and members, we extend our warmest of welcomes to our new members, Grace Chen, Katherine Eckhart, James Elliott... [see all new members]
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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.
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RESOURCES:

San Francisco Chapter Leadership