Online Capabilities Enhance Member Service

By Angela McGregor

When the NYSSCPA board of directors recently made important decisions impacting membership, www.nysscpa.org alerted members within days. For example, the board proposed bylaws revisions that would expand membership categories, and recommended new ethics rules on commissions and other matters. The website's home page featured six news articles regarding the board's decisions, reinforcing the site's distinction as the primary source for breaking news concerning the Society and a useful resource to keep members up-to-date about the accounting profession in general.

The website continues to attract new users, and more than 8,000 members visit it each month. In addition, the site's capabilities have improved member services. For example, during the 1998­99 CPE year, which ends April 30, online registrations for FAE courses increased approximately 729 percent compared to the same period the prior year. In addition, the NYSSCPA now receives approximately 14 percent of its membership applications submitted via the website.

Because of the instantaneous nature of an online publication, NYSSCPA website staff members can add content as soon as they receive it. New articles--on topics ranging from tax and other technical subjects to Society news and professional issues--are available on the home page almost daily.

The website recently added continuously updated financial and world headlines from I-syndicate, another feature that offers members late-breaking news. Accessed through a link at the bottom of the home page, this service includes Wall Street reports, Y2K-related stories, stock quotes, and updated weather information.

Society-printed news sources--The Trusted Professional and The CPA Journal--are now quickly accessible online. Look for the current issue of The Trusted Professional on the website by the third week of the month and The CPA Journal by midmonth. The site also archives past issues of both publications.