The PAC. The subject of this month's message is our new political action committee, New York State Society CPAPAC. Why a PAC? We have done so well all these years without one. Why now?

The environment has changed and the players have changed. Players--humph--I'm already talking like a pol. But it is true. There is change. Up to now, we were good little boys and girls: prim, proper, and quiet. We looked out for the public interest, whatever that is, and we behaved. We became the trusted professionals: dull and boring like, well, like accountants.

Well, the world took note and came to the realization that accountants are dynamic, well versed, broadly experienced, and flush. We are the gatekeepers and trusted professionals to very flush people--our clients. The world wants a piece of this so they came after it.

Some of our competitors are big and some are not; some are good and some are not so good; some have very deep pockets and some do not. However, they are all politically active. They are players. We cannot sit quietly by and let them steal our market. We have to play too.

That means we must raise money to obtain access. Many are uncomfortable with paying to be heard. It seems undemocratic. But this is the way business is done. Money talks. You have to "tip" somone to be heard. It is the way you draw attention to yourself and your cause. There is a cacophony out there, with each group espousing the righteousness of their cause. Who will political officials listen to? They cannot hear them all. They will, as normal people will, hear those that are helping them. So money helps provide access and is the vehicle to become noticed and heard.

If you are heard, you might be accommodated in whole or in part. If you are not heard, forget it, you are nowhere. This is our American political system. It has served us well, albeit for the occasional lapse in conduct. In this changing world, we must play or be left behind.

The PAC's formation is the first step. Its bylaws call for a committee with members from each of the Society's chapters (currently 11), three members from areas not represented by a chapter (currently the wicked city--NYC), and Society presidents--past, present, and future. Contributions will be made only to New York state contests, leaving national contests to the efficient AICPA PAC. Contributions under $1,000 can be authorized by an executive committee while those over $1,000 must be authorized by the full board.

We instituted a dues check-off system and have asked each of you to invest a paltry $25 per year in your license. Your license is worth a mere $25 each year, isn't it? For those members in a PC, government, or education, your dues notice did not reflect the voluntary $25 contribution because of some technicality in the law. You folks can use the form inserted in last month's issue of The Trusted Professional to make your investment. (The word on the street is that the CPA license will surely go up in value, so you should really get involved in this IPO--the PAC.)

For those of you who moan and groan that the CPA license is not worth much, the State Education Department will gladly receive it back from you. I do not hear the rush to return, do you? So let us not be cheapos. Let us be players. If you play, you might win. If you sit on the sidelines, you will lose.

Finally, a president's last message usually gets very mushy with words like honor and privilege. I was not going to follow that path. But upon reflection (another favorite final message word), I realized I was honored and privileged to have been your president this year. In addition to the PAC, the year saw a new executive director, newspaper, bylaw revisions, and a proposal for the first major change to the state's accountancy law in 52 years. Most important though, it saw a new activism by the Society's board and senior committees--Executive, Finance, Audit, and Committee on Committee Operations. Who would have thought that a local practitioner from the semi-boonies of Long Island would have such an effect?

I tried to leave this place better than when I found it. I came from where most of you are and I never forgot it. I hope you will feel that the 79th president did better than the previous 78, and that the 80th and beyond will do better than the 79th. That is how it is supposed to be-- a building process.