Public Service in Black and White
Chapter Members Field Newspaper Readers’ Tax Season Questions

By Cara Patterson, Public Relations Associate

A group of pioneering participants in Buffalo got a new tax panel off the ground this year, joining long-running tax panels in Syracuse, Westchester and Manhattan. The chapter cooperated with the local daily, the Buffalo News.

Buffalo panelists said they found the March 18 panel rewarding and even amusing at times.

“The phones did not stop,” said panelist Joseph Falbo. “The callers, at least the ones that I spoke with, were very appreciative.”

“I had almost forgotten those stray tax-season phone calls from people who always prepare their own returns but have a quick question that they hope you could answer,” wrote Chapter President Daniel Tirone in a letter thanking panelists. “Like the call I got last night from the over-the-road (long-haul) trucker who hasn’t filed a return since 1989 and just wants to know which year should he file first.”

“I was very proud of my profession last evening and pleased to associate myself with such a fine group of people,” Tirone added.

In Syracuse, Post-Standard business editor Marie Morelli expressed appreciation for the Syracuse members’ efforts.

“It’s a great public service,” she said. “It’s always a pleasure to work with … members. They handle the calls with the utmost professionalism and grace.”

Dean Crawford called the Syracuse March 18 panel an “absolutely delightful experience.”

“I truly enjoyed it,” he said. “Sign me up for next year.”

According to Journal News reports, the Westchester phone lines were open for six hours and rang almost constantly on Feb. 9.

“It went well,” said NYSSCPA Westchester Chapter President Stephen Franciosa. “I believe it was substantially more calls than we’ve had at any time in the past. For the most part, all the CPAs manning the phones were busy the entire time they were there. As a chapter, we felt we were certainly very helpful to the community. Everyone who partook in the tax hotline enjoyed it.”

Westchester tax panelists also included Rodney Ertischek, Spencer Barback, Steve D’Angelo, Les S. Thompson, Barbara Bel, Kris Krauskopf, Joseph R. Bodan, William Minoff, Rhona Merkur, Barbara Greene and John Sheeley.

Syracuse tax panelists also included Alice Hoatland, Zachary Brigati, Doug Hinds, Tracey Doane, Rachelle Luckette, Aimee Losurdo, Carolyn Lawless, Brian Wells, Theodore Sarenski, Kathy Kaminski and Adam Panek.

Buffalo panelists also included Tim Hoelscher; Judith Mittiga, Edward L. Arcara, Jessica R. Brown, Ann Burstein Cohen, associate professor of accounting at State University of New York at Buffalo, School of Management, Jennifer Hatcher and Rosemarie C. Steeb.

Cara Patterson, Public Relations Associate, can be reached at cpatterson@nysscpa.org.