Message From the President

By Patricia G. Wright, Brooklyn Chapter President

To the members, associates and students of the NYSSCPA Brooklyn Chapter, greetings, and again welcome to a Brooklyn Chapter update. This has started out to be a busy summer for the chapter, and it is my hope that you will not miss out on the great opportunities we have to offer.

On June 24, the chapter hosted our annual organizational meeting, where we had representatives from the NYSSCPA Bill Pape, director of membership relations, and Andy Eassa, Society chapter vice president, together with about 40 members and college students who were either young CPAs or aspiring CPAs.

From June 28 to July 2, the Brooklyn Chapter hosted 27 high school students from Brooklyn, Queens and the Bronx area for our third annual COAP week, which was held in partnership with Long Island University, at their campuses in downtown Brooklyn.

What a week this was, with our first residential program and the joy and enthusiasm of the students, counselors and presenters. The students’ responses by the end of the week were fantastic, after participating in networking, communicating effectively, writing effectively, learning how to read financial statements, listening and asking questions of practicing professionals with regards to the case study on an American corporation.

The students were kept very busy, visiting Roberts & Holland, a prominent New York law firm; Ernst & Young, one of the world’s premier accounting firms; the SEC; and the IRS. They heard from representatives of NABA, ALPHA and Inroads. All provided them with invaluable insight into the profession and a glimpse of their future. At the end of the program, even though they were exhausted, every student was asking for a follow-up session in the fall of 2004. Working with the staff of LIU, Accounting Chair Fred Stiner, Student Liaison Lynette Williams and our NYSS-CPA Leader, Joyce Lewis, allowed us all to develop a strong bond and experience the unity that made this week an excellent one.

Our Board will work this month on the calendar for the fiscal year, so I encourage you to visit our website for upcoming CPE seminars, networking and communication workshops and many more things. We are excited about what lies ahead for the Brooklyn Chapter, but we need your support.

There is a great interest in the Young CPAs participation and the high school visitation in the fall. I appreciate those of you have responded so far to my appeal, and I look forward in working with you.

Stay connected and get involved so that we can keep our profession active, current and strong.

Patricia G. Wright can be reached at 212-759-6556 or p_wright@starrllc.com.