September 1999

Passwords Are Dead!

Chapter and Committee Leaders Agree to End Website's Restricted Use

NYSSCPA chapter and committee leaders agreed at the first annual Leadership Forum to eliminate passwords required to access committee and chapter sections of the Society's website, www.nysscpa.org.

At the forum, chapter and committee leaders discussed how to improve activity on the site and questioned whether passwords inhibited use. While visits to the website as a whole have climbed steadily (for example, 41,889 "hits" last month compared to 26,840 in September 1998), activity on the chapter and committee sections has been somewhat stagnant. Only a couple of chapters have information on their sites, although Buffalo has taken a leadership role.

In addition to discussing that most users will not remember yet another password, no one at the Leadership Forum felt that the information (such as minutes and newsletters) intended for the chapter and committee sites was proprietary enough to outweigh the benefits of easy access. Moreover, many forum participants commented that the general membership would be best served and more informed about the Society's activities by unrestricted access to such information.

"The passwords are an impediment to the chapter sites," Buffalo Chapter President Ray Nowicki said. "Chapters can use the sites as an effective e-tool to publicize their activities, gain new members, and market the service capabilities of our chapter members. We can't let progress be hindered by fear of our names being available, since we are already out there in the yellow pages."

Even the four chapters (Buffalo, Rochester, Staten Island, and Westchester) that have their membership directories on the website did not think that a password should stand in the way of progress. However, any member who wants to remove his or her name from the directory before the passwords are removed should contact the NYSSCPA customer service department by November 1st by phone at (212) 719-8333 or (800) 633-6310, fax at (212) 719-3365, or e-mail at custserv@nysscpa.org

"Between eliminating the passwords and planning chapter educational sessions, I believe we will significantly enhance the value of the Society's website through the chapters efforts," Vice President for Chapters Nancy Newman-Limata said. *