Governance

Ms. Newman-Limata asked Mr. Schmelkin to review the strategic planning process begun at the December 2001 board meeting. He explained that the goal of the February 2 meeting was to review the knowledge bases developed for each of the strategic areas identified by the Strategic Planning Task Force and craft resolutions that together will constitute the Society’s strategic plan.

a. Education

Following some initial discussion, Ms. Golden made the following resolution which was seconded by Mr. Love:

RESOLVED, that the Society in conjunction with its education foundation shall continue to provide high-quality, continuing education to Society members.

RESOLVED, FURTHER, that, while the foundation should budget to break even, the Society shall reserve sufficient funds to subsidize the Foundation’s educational program up to the extent of $300,000.

RESOLVED, FURTHER, that the Foundation’s programming should

(1) continue to include traditional CPE delivery vehicles such as conferences and seminars,
(2) contain a more narrowly focused program of industry seminars,
(3) develop a plan to deliver a 40-hour, core educational curriculum in all chapters with all offerings guaranteed to run if there are a minimum number of registrants as of a consistent fixed period before the event with the minimum registration and cancellation period to be determined by the FAE Trustees and publicized in promotional materials for each event,
(4) support those Society chapters that choose to initiate continuing education programs, provided that (a) the FAE trustees identify criteria for the quantity and quality of such chapter CPE offerings so as not to lessen the likelihood of success of the previously mentioned core curriculum and (b) the chapter programs meet such criteria,
(5) conduct a study of how to deliver technology-related courses, if at all,
(6) conduct a study of alternative delivery models, such as video conferencing and web casts, including the option of partnering with outside vendors,
(7) consider partnering with outside organizations in the delivery of educational events,
(8) conduct a study of the demand for courses to be made available for in-firm delivery and in the meantime develop a list of seminar materials currently available for in-firm delivery and communicate the list to interested firms, and
(9) eliminate FAE’s practice of granting refunds to registered no-shows and beginning with the 2002-2003 CPE year, introduce the practice of charging a price differential between advance registrations and registrations at the door.

Following additional discussion, the resolution was unanimously approved.

b. Committees

Following some initial discussion, Mr. Nelson made the following resolution which was seconded by Mr. Asche:

RESOLVED, that the Society shall

(1) communicate the benefits of committee service to members, firms, and organizations,
(2) improve support for committees to help them function more effectively,
(3) develop and publicize a process for establishment, continuance, and termination of committees,
(4) establish communication mechanisms between statewide and chapter committees and determine appropriate areas of responsibility for chapter and statewide committees, including providing meaningful chapter-level services to CPA candidates and students, and
(5) better facilitate alternative means for committees to conduct committee business such as video conferencing and web casts and communicate such alternatives to committee chairs.

Following additional discussion, the resolution was unanimously approved. Messrs. Aquilino, Federmann and Novak did not participate in the vote.

c. Chapters

Following some initial discussion, Mr. Love made the following resolution which was seconded by Mr. Asche:

RESOLVED, that the Society shall

(1) provide chapters with clear and updated guidelines and best practices,
(2) assist the chapters in marketing the message and mission of the Society,
(3) develop an effective chapter-based outreach program to students and CPA candidates,
(4) develop a chapter-based CPE program that complements the Society’s education program, and
(5) have committee structures at the chapter and statewide levels that complement each other.

Following additional discussion, the resolution was unanimously approved. Messrs. Aquilino, Federmann and Novak did not participate in the vote.

d. Advocacy

Following some initial discussion, Mr. Asche made the following resolution which was seconded by Mr. Sokolski:

RESOLVED, that to promote and enhance the CPA profession, the Society shall

(1) implement a governmental relations program that advances the needs of its members while advancing the public interest,
(2) be a resource on policy issues within the purview and knowledge of the CPA profession,
(3) build relationships with other state and national professional organizations, and
(4) strive to attract new members to the CPA profession.

Following additional discussion, the resolution was unanimously approved. Messrs. Aquilino, Federmann, Love, and Novak and Ms. Doran did not participate in the vote.