February 1999 Issue

Members to Vote on Bylaws

Board Approves New Membership Categories, Ethics Revisions

By James A. Woehlke, CPA

NYSSCPA members will soon receive a mail ballot on over 40 bylaws changes, as a result of a board of directors vote on February 4 that approved the changes. The proposals, the first revisions since 1992, address new membership categories, ethics rules, and various administrative issues.

"If approved, these changes will make the Society more open and responsive to members," NYSSCPA President George Foundotos (Suffolk) said. "The proposals will help us move into the twenty-first century better reflecting the needs and aspirations of the CPA community."

New Membership Categories

Perhaps the most significant proposed bylaw change would expand the associate membership category to include five groups: international associates, students, CPA candidates, CPA firm employees, and academic associates. Although nearly all member benefits would apply, these new associate members would not be permitted to vote on member matters or serve as officers or directors, which maintains the restrictions of the current associate member category. The present definition, however, limits associate members to individuals who have passed the CPA examination but have not yet completed their experience requirement.

International associates are chartered accountants and CPAs licensed outside the United States who are members of recognized institutes of accountancy. New York, as a world financial center, has attracted numerous chartered accountants and the NYSSCPA board expects these new members will offer the Society insights on the issues and impacts of economic internationalization.

Until now, students wanting to enter the CPA profession had limited opportunities to bond to their chosen career. If the membership approves this change, students will have access to additional self-help and networking opportunities, chapter organizations, and the Society's committee structure, among other benefits. Other professions, law, for example, already afford students the opportunity to learn from firsthand, real-world, practical experiences and the bar association encourages law students to join.

Although a student dues level has not been finalized, the Society's Membership Committee, which proposed the new associate categories in conjunction with the Committee on Committee Operations, anticipates that reasonable dues would attract many students.

After graduating, students qualify for associate membership in the CPA candidate category. This category will include both the current bylaws' associate members who have passed the CPA exam and the college graduates who are studying for and taking the CPA exam. The proposal states a person could remain a CPA candidate associate for up to five years.

Individuals employed in a professional capacity by a CPA firm but who are not CPAs or on a CPA track would also qualify as associate members under the proposed changes. The growth areas in most public accounting firms today are tax and consulting, and many firms employ more and more professional non-CPAs in these areas who make vital contributions to the firms and the profession. With this bylaw change, these professionals could participate in Society activities and contribute more to the profession. A related proposal recommends that professional employees in companies affiliated with CPA firms be treated as CPA firm employees so they qualify as associate members.

Finally, auditing, accounting, and tax professors who are not CPAs could join as academic associate members. This proposed new category is another step in the CPA profession's efforts to build stronger bridges to the accounting academic community.

In addition to the expanded associate member classification, the proposed bylaws would give the board of directors more flexibility in setting dues by eliminating an administrative structure that has become obsolete as the membership has become more diverse.

Ethics Revisions

Bylaws changes proposed by the NYSSCPA
Professional Ethics Committee and approved by the board of directors seek to revamp the article on professional matters and disciplinary proceedings to: