Message From the President

By Rich Zerah, Nassau Chapter President

Hopefully, this busy season finds everyone well. It has always amazed me how much pressure CPAs generally feel during this time of year. Whether you are a member in industry or in public accounting, CPAs typically have a sense of urgency and overload as the deadlines approach, and sometimes we create a negative state of mind as a result. Yet, every year, we somehow always get it done. What that says to me is that pressure is a perception we all internally create. And regardless of how we perceive the magnitude of the tasks we need to accomplish, we always succeed in completing them.

The choice of how we mentally and emotionally get through those tasks becomes the only variable. You can approach the tasks feeling overwhelmed and pressurized, or you can choose to face the tasks with focus, calm and the quiet confidence that you’ll get through them.

Either way, the end result, year after year, remains the same: we finish our tasks, and busy season does end. So whatever stage you are in with busy season when you read this message, hopefully you can make the choice of peace of mind over pressure.

Our January 2004 chapter meeting was an enormous success. Despite significant snow and freezing temperatures, approximately 300 people attended the meeting. We began the meeting with a special presentation to our past presidents in commemoration of the chapter’s 50th anniversary. My opening remarks acknowledged the contributions of the past presidents, but also recognized the efforts of all those members, during all those years, who have helped make this chapter a success.

Jim Kinney, one of our past presidents, presented the past presidents with a Certificate of Appreciation. Jeffrey Hoops, our Society President, addressed the members and brought us up to date on current developments in the profession. Finally, we had a two-credit CPE session covering ethical foundations and ethical guidance for New York state CPAs. I would like to thank Bob Schaffer, who helped in the daunting task of administration for the 300 attendees.

Although we recognize the contributions of all our members, one of the chapter’s initiatives is to increase chapter participation

of some of the larger firms in the area. We have had extensive discussions about this subject at the Executive Board level, and I would encourage our members to communicate to me and/or our Executive Board suggestions on how to achieve this increase in participation.

Finally, I would like to remind everyone of our 51st chapter installation dinner dance, which will be held on Friday, May 7, at the Crest Hollow Country Club. Please mark your calendars to attend this event, and help welcome our incoming president, Bob Schaffer. Bob is planning on including as entertainment the Monte Carlo casino night, which was a resounding success at the 49th dinner dance.

As always, I am available for your input, comments and concerns.

Rich Zerah can be reached at 516-735-4717 or rich@zerahco.com.