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Suffolk Chapter Committees Devoted to Providing CPE to All Members
By John Shillingsford
Suffolk Chapter President Clients and business owners rely not only on their own knowledge and savvy but also on their CPA for ongoing advice and planning to help them through these tough economic times. To further enhance the public perception of the CPA profession, the new accountancy reform law, governing the profession's practice in New York state, took effect on July 26 this year. This new legislation expanded the definition of public accounting and has mandated the registration of all CPAs, as defined by this new law, with the State Education Department. We will be discussing the implications of this new law at our next Annual Town Hall Meeting, scheduled for Nov. 4. The chapter also held various events this past September, including its semi-annual Banker/CPA Networking Joint Chapter Meeting on Sept. 16 at the Crest Hollow Country Club, which was sponsored by both the Suffolk and Nassau Chapters. This event is always a great way to start the fall and brings together bankers and CPAs to catch up with old friends and colleagues and maybe make some new ones as well. The Management of Accounting Practice (MAP) Committee, meanwhile, held its organizational meeting and was very well attended. Lou Fuoco and Eliatt DiLieto conducted a great meeting; various plans and ideas were discussed regarding the rest of the fiscal year. They also developed a mission statement for the committee and both are looking forward to re-energizing it in the months ahead. On Aug. 25, the Employee Benefits Committee also held its organizational meeting, which was attended by the existing chairperson, Carol Westfall, six new members and myself. The meeting was interactive and various ideas were discussed regarding events and topics. The committee will be meeting again to discuss events and planning. Carol Westfall herself will be speaking about employee benefit issues at the All-Day Accounting and Auditing Conference, scheduled for Nov. 7. Other topics that will be discussed include 403(b) plans; tax reporting and compliance of employee benefits; a technical session presented by a representative from the Department of Labor; audit issues relating to defined contribution plans and limit scope audits; and FAS 157 compliance. Our Tax Committee is off and running as well and its members have developed several great topics for events in the future, including ones slated for the East End. The committee, as well as the chapter as a whole, is devoted to continuing to offer technical sessions to the East End's CPAs. We welcome all committees to consider hosting an event out east to support this commitment. To date the events that have been held have been very successful and well attended. I'd like to thank Liz Vuozzo and Joel Ackerman for their dedication. The YCPA Golf Outing was held on Thursday, Sept. 24, at the Hamlet Willow Creek Golf and Country Club. The YCPA Golf Committee did an outstanding job in scheduling the event. The outing was earlier than last year and all who attended enjoyed great golf, food and networking opportunities. The annual managing partner's dinner, meanwhile, is set for Dec. 1, and will be held at Blackstone's Steak House in Melville. This is a great forum that will be attended by officers and representatives from the city and provides an avenue for your issues and concerns to be discussed. The Chapter is a great way for CPA's and CPA candidates to enhance their careers and network with other professionals. I encourage you to review the calendar of events and attend some of the Chapter's upcoming events. I look forward to seeing new faces at our fall chapter events this year and, on behalf of the board, we welcome any thoughts, ideas or suggestions that you may have.
Contact John Shillingsford at jshillingsford@avz.com
Click here for a list of the Suffolk Chapter's past presidents. | 