President's Message
June 11, 2009
By Brian Rush, CPA
 It is a privilege to serve as your chapter president for this special year, the 100th anniversary of the founding of CalCPA! The events planned at the state and chapter levels will help us reflect on the strength and integrity of our profession, as well as the opportunities and challenges we have before us. Our chapter leadership joins me in congratulating every member for the contributions they make every day in furthering the profession’s goals and objectives.
I have selected two particular goals for this year and I encourage you to consider participating in either or both.
First, I believe financial literacy is an important area in which CPAs can provide leadership and expertise. To support this, I plan to establish a speakers bureau comprised of willing and interested CPAs who can discuss money-related issues with educational, community and other citizen groups. There are many prepared presentations on a variety of topics that require only the knowledge you already possess to provide an audience with solid information and a basis for learning more. We will match the speakers with opportunities as they arise. No one will be expected to give more of their time than they can afford. As this effort gains momentum and stability, we will provide additional information and ask for your specific help. I look forward to a warm response to this program. If you have an interest in this area, please respond to this message via the “Leave a Comment” link at the end of this message.
Second, we have a need to strengthen the pipeline for chapter leadership. Having served the chapter for more than eight years, I can say I have gotten more out of my service than I have given. I would like to start a program whereby we introduce associate board members to chapter meetings and events so they have an opportunity to see how things work and provide input for improvements. The chapter would provide a mentor for each associate, probably two members in the first year. The associate would be asked to attend three or four meetings and events over the year based on their interests and availability. In succeeding years, if they have sufficient interest in serving on the board, they would be natural candidates. If they find that there is no interest, they will not have invested too much time. If you think this might be of interest to you or to someone you know, please drop me a line and we will arrange a meeting. This is a very effective way to give something back to the profession and have some fun.
I want to express my thanks to the officers and directors who have contributed so much to the chapter this past year. Monica Rebella, outgoing president, did a sensational job keeping us focused on our mutual goals. She will continue serving as immediate past president. Jeff Lenning will move from treasurer to first vice president and run the Fall Seminar Series. Jeff made a significant contribution last year and will continue to do so this year. Donita Joseph, who is leaving the board, served it well as secretary. Thanks to her for all her hard work in recording our discussions. Thanks too to all the directors, many of whom will be returning. Special note is given to Sherry Radmore, chair of our membership interest group, and Gary Wilson and Jennifer McCasland who jointly put on the most successful Economic Forecast Breakfast event we have had in many years.
We could not have accomplished anything without the help and support of our program associate Nancy Wilson and our program director Gary Hammond. They deserve special thanks and appreciation for all they do in support of our chapter.
This year is special and I invite all of our members, and those who might be considering membership, to become included in our network. We have a lot of interesting activities planned and look forward to sharing the fun we have with new colleagues. Don’t hesitate to contact any of your board members for more information or to get involved.
— Brian Rush, CPA
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Chapter News
Chapter members are invited to take advantage of these great ticket prices. Contact our Scholarship Committee Chair Larry Lamb via e-mail or phone (949/752-5400) to purchase the tickets and for more info. Only 50 tickets available per game, so act now! First come, first served.
Friday, July 10: 7 p.m. vs. Yankees ($22/ticket)
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Walter Otto, a chapter member since 1979, passed away Sept. 11.
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By Larry Lamb, chair, OC/LB Scholarship Committee
Congratulations to all the CPAs in our chapter who contributed in so many ways to raise funds for scholarships for the best and brightest accounting students in Orange County and Long Beach. Our committee and chapter officers will meet with the spring scholarship recipients—who will share $24,000—July 14 at the Center Club in Costa Mesa.
Scholarships of $2,500 were awarded to: Brittany Cuozzo (Chapman), Nicole Ponciano (Chapman), Nicole Lampe (Concordia), Christina Diep (CSUF), Laura Dilitkanich (SUF) and Jason Ferrer (Vanguard).
Scholarships of $1,500 were awarded to: Jose Ayala (Cerritos), Fatima Lampa (Cerritos), Quyen Huynh (Orange Coast), Qian Jing (Saddleback), Ashley Gervin (Santiago Canyon) and Francisco Cortes (Santa Ana).
There were some schools that did not qualify any recipients, such as Cypress, Fullerton CC, Golden West, Long Beach City, and Irvine CC. If you have attended any of these schools and would like to join our committee, please contact me.
A special thanks to our committee members Cheryl Collins, Scott Holt, Robin Patino, John Virchick, Terryll Walls and Kathy Lawson.
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On behalf of the Orange County/Long Beach Chapter’s officers, directors and members, we extend our warmest of welcomes to our new members.
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CalCPA News
From May 1-July 31 businesses with unpaid taxes or under-reported gross receipts, or those who have not registered with the Office of Finance, can benefit from the city of Los Angeles Tax Penalty Amnesty Program.
The program allows businesses to pay delinquent city taxes and avoid up to 40 percent in penalties. The following city taxes qualify for amnesty: business tax, telephone, electricity and gas users taxes, commercial tenant’s occupancy tax, transient occupancy tax, and parking occupancy tax. Following this amnesty period, the Office of Finance will pursue a range of enforcement actions, such as possible legal action and publication of tax debt.
More information is available online.
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You can post your résumé—for FREE—on CalCPA’s online classified page. Get in front of local employers looking to hire CPA professionals—post your résumé today.
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