President's Message
July 2, 2009
By Jamshed Behram Gandi, CPA
 Auditing and tax services have been the bedrock of our profession. However, the interest level in both these areas has been recently waning at the committee level. Chapter board members have been grappling with this issue for quite some time, and in my opinion, it is imperative to have vibrant committees addressing current topics and needs.
The committee format has always been a combination of acquiring continued education and social networking. Over the past 20 or so years the modes of acquiring continued education have evolved dramatically with the advent of the internet and personal computers. The social aspects of networking, and affinity afforded by peers of course, can never have substitutes.
To address this challenge, your board decided to attack this problem by inviting members to a series of breakfast meetings to address how we get these two committees back on track. Due consideration has been given to the shift in generational aspects of what the goals of these committees should be going forward. We plan to continue with the dialogue and come up with a road map to more participation. In my previous President’s Message, I alluded to the importance of addressing issues relating to the globalization of the accounting profession. Having an infrastructure to cope with these changes, therefore, is vital, and committees have always been the lifeblood of our chapter in providing value to our members. I remember, as I’m sure many of you do, the time when the chapter had waiting lists to join committees. I welcome feedback, thoughts and suggestions as to achieving our goals. Participation at all levels is paramount.
On a different note, we recently celebrated the 100th year of CalCPA, an occasion truly to be proud of. At a chapter lunch in honor of that event we recognized our 40-year members. We have come a long way, and it is the dedication of our members that makes all of this a worthwhile and rewarding enterprise.
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Chapter News
The Harding Park Golf Course is being prepared for the President’s Cup competition in October, so our Seventh Annual Tournament will take place under ideal conditions Tuesday, Sept. 22. Because of the competition, however, we are limited to 72 fortunate players, so if you would like to be one of them, don’t wait—register now!
Golfers of all levels are welcome, as play is in a scramble format so everyone can enjoy the day without stress. BBQ dinner and awards are included, and this year there will be a Hole in One competition to add to the fun.
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In September there will be eight vacant seats on the San Francisco Assessment Appeals Board, which deals with taxpayer appeals of property tax assessments in the city of San Francisco. CPAs with a minimum of five years’ professional experience are eligible to serve, as are licensed real estate brokers, attorneys and property appraisers.
For more information about the duties involved and the application process, please e-mail AAB@sfgov.org or call Dawn P. Duran, administrator, at (415) 554-6778.
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The Silicon Valley Forum is presenting two workshops dealing with the challenges faced by CFOs and their staffs in today’s uncertain economic climate.
At the Wednesday, July 22 meeting, Dirk Hopgood, CFO of Accretive Solutions, will look at cost-cutting strategies and how to streamline operations. Register today. At the Wednesday, Sept. 23 meeting, Jennifer Vessels, CEO of Next Step, will examine the other side of the coin: How to improve sales results and market sustainability. Register online.
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Join us Tuesday, July 14 as guest speaker James V. Quillinan, Esq., a partner with Hopkins & Carley Law Corporation, explores recent developments in state and federal legislation and case law related to estate planning, administration and litigation.
The chapter’s Estate & Personal Financial Planning Committee and the Financial Planning Association of San Francisco are sponsoring this meeting. CalCPA members are invited to attend at the FPA member price.
Register online.
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Hundreds of CalCPA members from the San Francisco, Peninsula Silicon Valley, San Jose Silicon Valley and East Bay chapters participated in Tax-Aid this past year and provided free tax preparation services to more than 4,000 low-income families in the Bay Area.
“These hardworking families received over $4,090,000 in tax refunds,” says Kenneth Lee, CPA, president of Tax-Aid and a Peninsula Silicon Valley Chapter board member. “Obviously they very much need this money to make ends meet during this economic downturn.”
Tax-Aid is a nonprofit organization offering services at 25 locations in six Bay Area counties. The organization also helps families open bank accounts, learn budgeting and financial management skills and access other benefits to help them succeed.
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On behalf of the San Francisco Chapter’s officers, directors and members, we extend our warmest of welcomes to our new members.
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CalCPA News
Please take three minutes to update your personal profile on our website and indicate your preferred fields of interest. This will allow us to target your meeting announcements so you receive only those of most interest to you. (No more tax updates for auditors—unless you request it).
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Looking for information on what CalCPA events you’ve registered for or a listing of all CPE taken from CalCPA or the Education Foundation? Look no further than the Manage My Account function of CalCPA’s website.
Once you log in to the website with your username and password, the Manage My Account function lets you update your personal and professional profile and provides access to Education Foundation products and course discounts.
Forget your username and password? No worries. Simply visit the Login Recovery webpage, enter your e-mail address and your username and password will be e-mailed to you.
Access Manage My Account today.
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You can post your résumé—for FREE—on CalCPA.org. Get in front of local employers looking to hire CPA professionals—post your résumé today.
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