Passing the Reins

By Christine Paul, Northeast Chapter President-Elect

It is usually in this issue that we announce the “changing of the guard” and have a send-off message from the outgoing President.

Unfortunately, our chapter’s change came early in the year with the passing of our President, Tim O’Connor. I looked back at Tim’s earlier President’s Messages, which outlined some of his goals for his term: 1) communicate, advocate, and educate for our members, and 2) build an organizational structure which provides diversity and continuity in the chapter’s leadership. In reflecting on the Northeast Chapter’s past year, I think we did a great job of accomplishing Tim’s goals.

The Northeast Chapter instituted new committees and rejuvenated some of its more “relaxed” committees, and therefore was able to provide additional programming for our members. This included the Members in Industry Committee, which hosted a “Top Ten in Technology,” and the Not-for-Profit Committee, which sponsored a Fraud seminar, in conjunction with ESSAE, in which Lou Grumet was the presenter. In addition, our CPE committee sponsored an Empire Zone seminar in the fall.

Our chapter’s busiest committee has become the Cooperation with Educators. This committee became active a few years ago with Tim O’Connor and Ron Guzior’s outreach to CPAs in the academic world. It is through this connection that we have been able to reach out to not only college students but also high school students and their teachers and advisors. The committee has also formed a wonderful alliance with the NYS Education Department. Through this alliance we have had the opportunity to make suggestions to and rework the high school accounting curriculum and learn from the counselors and teachers how to pique the students’ interest in our profession.

Through the efforts of our Nominating Committee, we were able to elect a new Executive Board and Board of Directors for the upcoming year. These individuals continue to possess both the professional and geographic diversity that serves our membership so well.

Before I announce our new slate of officers, I would like thank all of the officers, Board of Directors and committee members from the 2004–2005 year who have devoted countless hours to providing the services and programming that our members have requested. It has been a pleasure to work with and learn from all of you.

As always, if you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me. Enjoy the summer!

Christine Paul can be reached at 518-456-4094 or cpaul@luriecpas.com.