Society Leaders Reach Out to Chapters

By Lorrie Lamazor

One of the goals of NYSSCPA President George T. Foundotos is to strengthen the ties between the Society's leadership and the 11 chapters across the state. An active member of the Suffolk Chapter himself, including serving as its president, Foundotos attended all the chapters' organizational meetings to meet with the local officers, committee chairs, and other leaders.

Accompanied by Vice President for Chapters P. Gerard Sokolski and Executive Director Louis Grumet, Foundotos stressed that he wants to empower the chapters and encourage more participation in decisions regarding the Society and the profession.

"As a chapter member myself, I know how vital the chapters are to the future of the Society," said Foundotos. "I wanted to deliver this message in person, right at the beginning of the officers' new terms. I re-emphasized the commitment of the Society's leaders to the chapters, including getting their input on all initiatives regarding the future of our organization and the profession as whole."

The Uniform Accountancy Act is one issue that Foundotos and other Society leaders feel is crucial to obtain feedback from the chapters in order to better gauge the views of the membership at large. At the summer meetings, Foundotos and Grumet discussed the UAA, stressed the importance of educating chapter members on the specific proposals, and requested that each chapter use whatever means it felt best to convey the issues to their members and develop their own response for the NYSSCPA Board of Directors. Foundotos and Grumet offered to attend chapter meetings to discuss the UAA and promised additional assistance to help the chapters communicate this important professional issue.

In the coming months, Foundotos, Grumet, and President-Elect Alan E. Weiner also will visit all 11 chapters in a more formal gathering to meet and talk with the general membership. *