January 2008 | Silicon Valley San Jose Chapter Bulletin

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CHAPTER EVENTS

Estates & Trusts Committee

Topic: Estate Planning for Closely Held Business Owners
Date: Thursday, Jan. 17
Speaker: Keith Schiller, estate planning attorney
Time: Noon–1:30
Location: Abbott, Stringham & Lynch; 1550 Leigh Ave.; San Jose
Cost: $15/members and nonmembers (includes lunch)
CPE: 1 hour
RSVP: Online

Topic: GST Planning and Recent Updates
Date: Thursday, Feb. 21
Speakers: Steve Anderson and Sinclair Hwang, estate attorneys, Carr McClellan Ingersoll Thompson & Horn
Time: Noon–1:30
Location: Abbott, Stringham & Lynch; 1550 Leigh Ave.; San Jose
Cost: $15/members and nonmembers (includes lunch)
CPE: 1 hour
RSVP: Online

Monterey Technology Luncheon: QuickBooks 2008 Update

Come hear a 2008 QuickBooks update featuring discussion about the Accountants Copy, Remote Access Vendor Account Prefill and Lacerte Smart mapping. This session is designed specifically for CPAs and their staff. Please do not invite clients.
Speaker: Ilene Eisen, CPA. CITP
Date: Thursday, Jan. 17
Time: Noon–1:30 p.m.
Location: Tarpy's Roadhouse; 2999 Monterey-Salinas Hwy.; Monterey
CPE: 1 hour
Cost: $25 (make check payable to CalCPA)
RSVP: Online or contact chapter program associate Stephanie Stewart
Info: Ilene Eisen

2008 Honorees Night

This is a special night when we honor those students and members of the accounting profession for their accomplishments and contributions.
   Last year we awarded more than $40,000 in scholarships to students from the nine community colleges in and around the Silicon Valley, along with awards to Santa Clara and San Jose State universities, California State University, Monterey and University of California Santa Cruz. Over the last nine years, we have awarded $200,000 to the best accounting students in our chapter.
   We will again present the Lifetime Achievement Award to an outstanding member of our community whose contributions have significantly changed our profession.
   So before we get buried in “the season,” come and enjoy a night of old and new friends.
Date: Wednesday, Jan. 23
Time: 5:30–8:30 p.m.
Location: Double Tree Hotel; 2050 Gateway Place; San Jose
RSVP: Online

Emerging Professionals Committee: Power Up Networking Event

Join your fellow emerging professionals for a fun and energizing evening at Dave and Buster’s. This is a great opportunity to “power up” on your networking skills, meet new people and have a great time!
Date: Thursday, Feb. 7
Time: 6:30–9 p.m.
Location: Dave and Buster’s, The Great Mall, Milpitas. 408-957-9215
Cost: $30/ members and their guests; $15/ student & candidate members ($5 additional at the door)
RSVP: Online

Tax Interest Committee Meeting

Topic: International Expansion: Tax Opportunities and Pitfalls
Speakers: Erik Christenson and Doug W. Wright, U.S. Tax Advantage, LLC.
Date: Wednesday, Jan. 16
Time: Noon–1:30pm
Location: Bella Mia Restaurant; 58 S. First St.; San Jose
Cost: $30/members; $15/student and candidate members; $35/ nonmembers ($5 additional at the door)
RSVP: Online

Bay Area Regional Education (BARE)

Topic: Federal Taxation of Partnerships & LLCs: Operations & Allocations
Topics: California and federal tax compliance issues involving partnerships, LLCs and LLPs; partner/LLC member loss limits; partnership allocations under IRC Sec. 704(b); forward and reverse allocations involving built-in gain or loss property under IRC Sec.704(c); and allocations of liabilities.
Speaker: Gary McBride, JD, LLM, CPA, professor, Cal State East Bay
Date: Friday, Jan. 18
Time: 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
Location: SFSU Downtown Center
RSVP: Online

Topic: Tax, Bankruptcy and Financial Problems: What to Do When Bad Things Happen to Good Clients
Speaker: Arthur Werner, JD
Date: Saturday, Jan. 19
Time: 7:30 a.m./registration; 8 a.m.–4:30 p.m./program
Location: Waterfront Plaza Hotel; Oakland
CPE: 8 hours
Cost: $140/members; $190/nonmembers
RSVP: Online

CalCPA co-hosts Financial Women's Association Industry Leadership Series Event

Speaker: John B. Taylor, economics professor, Stanford University and Senior Fellow, Hoover Institution.

As a member of the President’s Council of Economic Advisors from 2001-05, Taylor served as Under Secretary of the Treasury and head of the international division, playing a central role in the financial front of the war on terror. Prof. Taylor will share personal stories about the united efforts of extraordinary individuals from the world’s finance, banking, intelligence and diplomatic communities, all helping to protect the world against terrorist attacks.
Date: Tuesday, Jan. 8
Time: 6–8 p.m.
Location: The Garden Court Hotel; 520 Cowper St.; Palo Alto
Cost: $45/FWA and CalCPA members; $65/nonmembers
For further details and registration, go to www.fwasf.org
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PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

Have CPA, Will Travel

By Roger Laux, CPA

I know you all wait, with baited breath, for the California CPA magazine to arrive each month to pour through the pages in between your review of Popular Mechanics and Martha Stewarts Living. I’m just being a wise guy (what’s new). If you haven’t yet done your monthly reading, I want to call your attention to an article by Bruce Allen, CalCPA’s director of government relations, in the December issue.
   Allen’s article concerns conformity for CPAs and mobility for CPAs between the states. You might think (like I did) that mobility to practice outside of California would be an issue confined mostly to the top three tiers or so of CPA firms. I was amazed to learn that interstate mobility has become a reality for smaller firms and even sole practitioners.
   The expanded horizons of California CPAs can be linked in part to the migration patterns of their clients. Many individuals and businesses have chosen to relocate outside of California to stretch the spending power of their retirement income, find a better environment for their business or just to get a change of scenery. As any of you who have experienced a major relocation know, it is vitally important to find a good mechanic, a good dentist, a good barber (at least for some of you) and a good CPA. Hence, a lot of clients that started out here are now happily residing in other states like Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico and even Minnesota.
   The AICPA and National Association of State Boards of Accountancy have revised the Uniform Accountancy Act to allow CPAs to provide services across state lines with fewer restrictions. One of the issues still hindering California CPAs in providing client services outside of California is the statutes of the California CPA licensing laws. California is one of only five states that have not adopted the 150-hour education requirement (basically a bachelor’s degree plus 30 hours) for CPA licensing.
   Neither of my parents attended high school, which was not completely unique to their generation in the farming communities of the midwest. But now, a college degree is practically a minimum requirement for any professional. So, a five-year college requirement for CPA certification does not seem out of line.
   California is also one of only 11 states that does not have a peer review requirement. The CBA is pushing for the adoption of these educational and peer review requirements for California CPAs by the year 2012. All CPAs prior to 2012 would be grandfathered in.
   To me, it seems like California, often known as being on the cutting edge of most movements, is behind the curve on this one. Uniformity between states gives CPAs freedom of movement that may easily affect any one of us. I urge you to become familiar with and support these proposals and the legislation that should be introduced next year to make them a reality.
   I hope your kickoff of the new year is a great one.
—Roger Laux
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CHAPTER NEWS

New Members

On behalf of the Silicon Valley San Jose Chapter’s officers, directors and members, we extend our warmest of welcomes to our new members:

Licensed CPAs
Helen Kahng, Helen Kahng CPA
Associate Members
Lyne Noella, Stonefield Josephson Inc   
Candidate Members
Katherine Abdolhosseini, 
Phyllis Chen, Santa Clara Valley Water Dist.
Joe Gonzalez, 
Hye Jin Jun, Abbott Stringham & Lynch
June Mao, 
Annie Nguyen, Orchard Supply Hardware
MiYong Pak, Atmel Corp.
Sarah Smith, Bianchi, Kasavan & Pope LLP
Jennifer Windmueller, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
Lu Yang, Nergear Inc.
Student Members
Natalie Deering, , Notre Dame de Namur University

Member Anniversaries

One–Five Years
Anne Andrews, Ilbret Bakuniance, Breana Bartholomew, Edwin Carrasquillo, Liang-Chih Cheng, Laurie Chesney, Jennifer Costanza, Eric David, Kristina DeLuna, Gaea Dennis, Rachel DeVaney, Randeep Dhanota, Nanette Domingo, Daniel Dryden, Anastasia Elgina, Mehnaz Fatehdin, Chi Hang Fong, Zhanna Freeman, Erika Ishii, Andrew Jimenez, Ryan Jones, Sarah Joyce, Fawn Le, Aviv Levy, Chuyung Lin, Lindsay Malanog, Ian McCurdy, Dacia Mendoza, Lyly Nguyen, Bickie Nguyen, Matei Odobescu, Huyen Pham, Thong Pham, Caroline Phan, Michelle Plesha, Jonathan Pong, Linda Reph, David Root, Gregory Rowley, Timothy Sandie, Vai Cheng Siu, Randolph Sloan, James Sokol, Hui-Ling Tan, Robbie Teruel, Catherine VanRhee, Manoj Vasukuttan, Chun-Yu Wen, James Wendling, Aidee Wilke, Wei Xu, Li Yang, Masako Yasuda, Christopher Young, Ronald Yuen, Ni Zhao

Six–10 Years
Sau-Yee Chan, Jon Davies, Glen Dong, Deanne Ebner, John Ebner, Timothy Imbrie, Claudia Lazzarato, Vicki Morse, Andrea Ochoa, Brian Reed, Wendy Roberts, Michael Sands, Sachie Tsuzuki, Kirk Walukiewicz, Carter Wicks, Senait Zemede

11–15 Years
Carolyn Arabatzis, Anthony Basilio, Young Choi, Christopher Codiga, Janice Compton, K James Crandell, Wesley Fachner, Kristine Harunaga, Alan Hemstad, Ronald Ianni, Rita Kuo, Jonathan Laddy, Mark Lianides, Marsha Lubow, Kerry Mallory, Susan Maxam, Ann McCabe, Scott Moore, Jeanette Olivo, Shubhada Pradhan, Luis Ramirez, William Robertson, Debra Scherer, William Trammell Jr., Rom Villaflor, Sunny Wong

16–20 Years
James Amaral, Ronald Angeli, James Babcock, Susan Baker, Carrie Birkhofer, Steven Boitano, Michael Briley, Patti Decena, Wayne Dippel, Gregory Finley, Carolyn Fisher, Elizabeth Flynn, Sharon Hane, Sherrie Isaac, David Jacobs, Kathleen McInnis, Daniel Morris, Robert Pawlick, David Price, P.K. Shah, John Tam, H. Robert Tracy, Ivor Wallis, Ronald White

21–30 Years
Jerome Bellotti, Thomas Bondi, Tim Brewer, Keith Byars, Mimi Chen, Kenneth Cherrstrom, Stephen DeMartini, Jeffrey Foremanv James Fredrickson, Suzanne Frueh, Gary Gemoll, Bret Hammon, Crystal Hofer, Jan Immer, Elsa Jessen, Marsha Jones, Daniel Kennedy, Sharon Kreider, Lynn Kuhn, Steven Lipp, Howard Loomis Jr., Christine Luft, Richard Maier, George Mattos, Martin McClintock, Ann McCoid, William Meredith, Barbara Morley, Wesley Okumura, Daniel Pereira, Diane Perry, Albert Pimentel Jr., Daniel Reynolds, Leslie Roe, Roberta Schmalz, Mark Sheffield, William Snyder, Nicholas Streit, Peter Trundle, Ronald Werner, David Wheeler Jr.

31–40 Years
Keith Anderson, Dennis Brach, E. Keith Brown, James Casey, Carver Clinton, Albert Cook Jr., James Kelly Jr., Kenneth Lee Jr., Howard Lilly Jr., Dennis Maxwell, Joseph Pfahnl, Gerald Potts, Harry Ratner, Ronald Uchishiba

More than 40 Years
Lawrence Bartlett, Donald Dodson, Neil Fanoe, John Fielder, Thomas Green, William Gruber, Darrell Johanson, George McCollister, Stephen Pista, Delano Schroeder, Dennis Winfrey

Interns Available

By Michael Gray, SVSJ Chapter past president

San Jose State University offers a master’s degree in accounting accelerated program that includes a break during tax season so students can work full time and get experience in accounting positions. I have been using interns since 1978, and this is a great way to get temporary help during tax season, screen potential future employees and help emerging professionals build enthusiasm for our profession.
   If you’re interested in offering an internship to these students, contact Tom Moschetti at (408) 924-3492 or e-mail him.
   Chapter program associate Stephanie Stewart has a collection of résumés from Santa Clara University students who are seeking internships. For details, call Stephanie at (408) 983-1122.
   Job listings for San Jose State University students can be posted online. The SJSU career center telephone number is (408) 924-6034. Job listings for Santa Clara University students can be posted online or call the university’s career center at (408) 554-4420.
   And lastly, CalCPA student members can post résumés online for free for 30 days. Visit CalCPA’s classifieds and click on “situations wanted.” Employers can see the resumes posted by students at no charge at www.calcpa.org.

Meet the Board: David R. Koehler

There was a time, years ago, when you may have had David R. Koehler bus your table at the old Le Baron Hotel in San Jose. That was Koehler’s first job. His best job was being a disc jockey before he studied accounting at Santa Clara University, but only after he “flailed” around in engineering for a year and then switched to a business major. “I latched on to accounting since it was the most challenging” he says.
   Koehler graduated, became a CPA and landed in public accounting working for McCahan Helfrick Thiercof & Butera for five years. Koehler then started his own firm, Koehler & Associates, CPAs, in 1994.
   A successful CPA, in Koehler’s opinion, means, “having communication skills backed up by technical expertise and experience.” And his job continues to be an inspiration to him as he is motivated by “helping people map out their personal and financial goals and take action.”
   Koehler is also inspired by the creation of new ventures and, in his words, “on the home front, watching my two children develop and learn new things.”
   Home is also where Koehler’s hero—his wife, Toby—lives. “She juggles the kids, household, me and her duties at our growing accounting office,” says Koehler.
   When it’s all said and done, Koehler hopes to be remembered as “straight forward, honest and dedicated to his clients. As someone who built long-term personal and professional relationships with clients by keeping their best interests in mind through the many years during our time together,” he says. “I want to be remembered as being a good, responsible provider for my family as well as being part of the community that I live in.”

2008–09 Slate of Leaders

The chapter’s board has approved the Nomination Committee’s slate of officers and directors for 2008–09:

Officers:

President: David F. Veyna
Vice President: Donna S. Bumgarner
Secretary: Ben C. Towne
Treasurer: David J. Neighbors
Past President: Roger A. Laux

If approved, David F. Veyna, Donna S. Bumgarner and Roger A. Laux would also represent our chapter by serving on CalCPA Council.

Chapter Directors:

(first year of a two-year term)
Elizabeth L. Flores
Philip R. Hulme
Rhonda A. Richards
Carol Wagner

(second year of a two-year term):
Jeffrey K. Ford (filling the second year of a vacated two-year term)
John S. Haydon
David R. Koehler
James A. Martin

Eligible chapter members will receive a separate announcement by e–mail later this month asking for the approval of the proposed slate. As we look toward next year, we would like to take this opportunity to thank our current board members who continue to serve this year.

Tax-Aid Expands to San Jose

Tax-Aid, a local nonprofit coalition of CPAs and attorneys that was created to help low-income families prepare their tax returns, is expanding into Santa Clara County with its first site in San Jose.
   The site will be sponsored by Deloitte Tax LLP and is expected to be held at the downtown Salvation Army. Tax-Aid president Kenneth Lee, CPA, says volunteers are still needed at all of the Tax-Aid sites.
   Volunteering is easy. Tax-Aid provides the equipment and training. Volunteers are expected to donate at least two Saturdays during tax season.
   Chapter members interested in participating in Tax-Aid can go online to register or call Minnie Sage at (415) 963-5133. Members who are unable to volunteer, but wish to help, can send a tax-deductible contribution to Tax-Aid; 55 Second St., Suite 1400; San Francisco, CA 94105 or donate online.
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CalCPA NEWS

Find a CPA and Member Directory: Update Your Profile and Make Yourself Known

Have you moved recently? Changed contact information? Then be sure to update your records online. And while you’re there, take advantage of the opportunity to increase your visibility and show your expertise to the world by listing or updating your information in Find a CPA—CalCPA’s exclusive database of California financial experts.
   Find a CPA receives thousands of views each month, making it one of CalCPA.org’s most visited web pages. You may also elect to be listed in our Member Directory, which is password protected and available as a resource to members only.
   Don’t be left out. Update your profile today.
 

CalCPA Member Discounts on CCH Tax Guidebooks

CalCPA members can order CCH’s U.S. Master Tax Guide 2008 and the Guidebook to California Taxes 2008 at significantly discounted rates:

2008 U.S. Master Tax Guide (Expected ship date, late-January 2008): $41/members; $61/nonmembers.

2008 Guidebook to California Taxes (Expected ship date, late-January 2008): $39/members; $59/nonmembers.

   Order today.
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RESOURCES:

Silicon Valley San Jose Chapter Leadership