Silicon Valley/San Jose Chapter
A blog for and by a community of professionals
Archive for the ‘President’s Message’ Category
September 1st, 2010
By Ben Towne, CPA
Even though most of you didn’t need practice, I thank you for coming out to join us at our recent Emerging Professional’s Summer Golf Mixer. Now that you’re all limbered up, come help make the annual Golf Tournament a success Friday, Sept. 17. Be a part of the CalCPA team that generates almost $40,000 in student scholarships each year—and see firsthand what we can accomplish as a team!
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August 2nd, 2010
By Ben Towne, CPA
By now I hope everyone in the profession has heard about mandatory peer review. Starting as early as July 1, 2011, all practitioners performing attest services will be required to undergo a peer review process once every three years. For many CPAs, this process is old hat. But for some, this is a new compliance horse pill. If you are a newcomer to peer review, or just want to know more about the topic, visit the CalCPA website for resources, including local peer review firms. Peer review is designed to raise the level of quality and professionalism for all firms. In the long run, it should be an important part of the profession policing itself.
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July 1st, 2010
By Ben Towne, CPA
It’s now well into vacation season, so I’ll make this message brief! Thank you to everyone for making June a great month for our chapter! There were many great events, including our successful estate planning symposium, presented jointly with the CalCPA Peninsula Silicon Valley Chapter, and our installation banquet gave us the opportunity to thank our prior year’s officers for their tremendous leadership—and of course to eat wonderful culinary treats and enjoy some excellent wine!
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June 2nd, 2010
By Ben Towne, CPA
There are a couple of events I would like to highlight. Candidate members, please note that Thursday, June 10 is the Emerging Professionals “Get Certified!” event. Be sure to attend for tips and advice on navigating the sometimes-tricky path from exam to final licensure. Also, our CalCPA Council meeting will take place June 24–25 in the happiest place on earth … Anaheim! Please share any of your concerns that we, as chapter officers and council representatives, can bring to CalCPA.
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April 29th, 2010
By Ben Towne, CPA
Welcome, everyone, to a new year! I hope you’re reading this Bulletin from a sunny beach somewhere far from tax returns, general ledgers and demanding clients of all stripes.
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March 26th, 2010
By Donna Bumgarner, CPA
We are quickly reaching the close of our fiscal year, and it seems hard to believe that my term as chapter president is coming to an end. In looking back over the past 12 months, I remember my first president’s message. I said then that my focus during my term would be to inspire more chapter members to attend chapter events, take on leadership roles and participate in community service activities. Several of my subsequent messages offered suggestions of ways to become involved: volunteering on a committee or a board of your favorite nonprofit organization, raising money for a worthwhile cause or participating in the efforts of shelters during the holiday season. I hope some of you were inspired to get involved and thank those of you who did.
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February 25th, 2010
By Donna Bumgarner, CPA
What do we think of as we enter March? On the morning of March 11, the chapter’s Not-for-Profit Committee is offering a 90-minute meeting on special event compliance for nonprofit organizations. Please consider registering online.
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January 29th, 2010
By Donna Bumgarner, CPA
Our chapter’s 2010 Honorees Night Jan. 28 had many highlights, including the awarding of 17 scholarships to students from local universities and community colleges; presenting the Lifetime Achievement Award to past chapter president Patricia Janes; and the evening’s keynote speaker, CalCPA Chair Andrea Cope, enlightened us with her comments about CalCPA from a state perspective. We also honored our past chapter presidents, a great many of whom were in attendance. Kudos go to the efforts of Ben Towne and Roger Laux, who organized the event with their committee.
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January 4th, 2010
By Donna Bumgarner, CPA
I hope you all had a joyous holiday season and are ready to face the new year. I took up my own challenge and donated to Loaves and Fishes Family Kitchen and volunteered during the Christmas season. It was an enlightening experience to join with other volunteers in providing service to the San Jose community.
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November 24th, 2009
By Donna Bumgarner, CPA
This continues to be the time of year when we think most about giving. Once December arrives, out come the wish lists followed by a panicked rush to the malls. This year I encourage you to add the gift of service, which may be the best gift of all. With minimal effort, each of you can make a big difference in someone else’s life. According to Alma Powell, Colin Powell’s wife, “When you give to others, you get something back yourself.” If you find yourself away from family and friends this holiday season, consider volunteering to serve meals to the homeless. A multitude of local community organizations can use our help during the holidays.
I have been a witness to the gift of time and financial resources in our own chapter during the past month. First, I would like to thank those of you who participated in the Oct. 31 Making Strides Against Breast Cancer 5K Walk. Our group of 16 walkers included CalCPA members, friends, colleagues and families. We definitely stood out in our orange “CPAs Care” T-shirts, and the team raised more than $1,600, which will help support the American Cancer Society’s efforts to fund research, increase public awareness and provide free programs and services to people impacted by breast cancer. Thanks again to all who contributed and especially to those who participated in the walk.
More than 420 attorneys, bankers and CPAs visited the Humane Society Silicon Valley Nov. 10 at the ABC Fallfest. The Humane Society staff provided tours of the impressive new facility that includes doggie daycare, a grooming and boarding facility, a pet store and a dog park. Several tour group members abandoned the tour once they entered the cat or dog condo areas. We know for a fact that a few fortunate attendees ultimately left the facility at the event’s conclusion with a new pet in hand. We also heard reports that several attendees made appointments to return in the following days. Giving a new home to a deserving cat or dog and supporting the Humane Society is another great example of how we can give a gift that will not be forgotten. I believe we all enjoyed this wonderful venue, and I want to congratulate Howard Loomis, Renée Hazel and the dedicated ABC Committee for all of their hard work in planning this stellar event. Howard tells me that this was one of the best-attended ABC events in recent history. As you know, the net proceeds from this event go toward funding the scholarships we will award in January and are another example of CPAs giving to others.
Following the successful ABC event at the Humane Society, we ushered in the first ABC Night in the Santa Cruz area Nov. 18. More than 120 professionals attended the gathering at The Swenson House on the Cabrillo College campus in Aptos. The culinary school provided hors d’oeuvres, and a local winery and brewery donated beverages. The event was well-received by the community, and plans are already under way for a similar event to be held next spring. Our thanks go out to the planning committee for its hard work and vision in providing a networking event for those in the Santa Cruz and Monterey Bay areas.
By now you should have all recovered from your Thanksgiving holiday and are planning for the Christmas holidays. Please feel free to contact me by e-mail or phone (408) 287-7911 if you have any questions or comments.
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