Chapters: The Society at Your Doorstep

The New York State Society of CPAs has 17 chapters across the state so that no matter where you live and work, the benefits of membership are practically at your door. I want to take a moment and make note of this valuable resource that I believe is often undervalued. The chapter infrastructure is supported by your dues. I want to invite all of you to attend the free ethics program being held at each chapter in conjunction with annual officers’ Town Hall Meetings.

The NYSSPCA Town Hall Meeting represents an opportunity for you to hear from me as your elected president, as well as the incoming president, Thomas Riley, and the executive director, Louis Grumet. The Town Hall Meeting is a good venue for dialogue about the important issues facing our profession and how the Society is handling these challenges. Your input will be encouraged and welcomed.

If you don’t know which chapter you belong to, you should know that when you become a member you are automatically assigned the chapter where you work. If you wish to change this designation, you can do so online or by calling the Society. This designation is important to the extent that direct marketing for chapter events is generally only sent to a member’s designated chapter. Of course, at all times you are free to attend events at any chapter, and all events for all chapters are easily scanned in The Trusted Professional or by going online.

The chapters provide CPE programming, professional networking opportunities and social functions, host charitable affairs and perform crucial outreach to high schools and colleges. All of this event planning is done courtesy of 17 dedicated chapter boards of directors and chapter committee chairs. In the last fiscal year, 4,892 members attended chapter-sponsored CPE events, and hundreds more attended the other events planned by the chapters. You do not pay anything extra to participate in chapter functions aside from fees charged to recoup expenses.

It’s easy to find out what your chapter is programming. In every issue of The Trusted Professional, information is printed about chapter events. Online, each chapter has a page on the Society Web site, www.nysscpa.org. It is often the place where the most updated material is placed. In addition, chapter events are frequently e-mailed directly to members, unless you have opted out of receiving such e-mail.

All of these events obviously don’t run by themselves. While professional staff provides assistance, the bulk of the organizing and planning is done by volunteers. Valuable experience and contacts can be gained by participating in chapter planning efforts no matter where you are on the continuum of membership, from college student to experienced practitioner.

I encourage you to contact the chapter president in your chapter today, and to help facilitate that request, I will close this column with a listing of each chapter along with their president and contact information. Give them a call, or send them an e-mail. Meanwhile, I look forward to perhaps having a chance to talk with you at the Town Hall Meeting of your chapter.

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