March 2000

Syracuse

By Joseph J. Schlegel, CPA, President

The NYSSCPA Syracuse Chapter covers six counties across central and northern New York state. The chapter has approximately 900 members, with almost one-third in industry, education, and government.

As the accounting profession goes through many changes, the goal of our chapter is to try to keep pace with the rapid changes. The chapter has had problems in recruiting and retaining personnel, similar to other chapters. The key for the Syracuse Chapter is to encourage involvement from the younger members of our profession and to recruit the next generation of CPAs. The Syracuse Chapter has followed the models of Suffolk, Northeast, and other chapters in establishing a Young CPAs Committee and getting their input on chapter events. Another concern of our chapter is increasing participation by members in the North Country along the Canadian border. These North Country members are located as many as four hours from Syracuse.

Events

The chapter began the 1999­2000 year with its third annual clambake and CPE session. More than 80 CPAs attended the technical session on retirement planning, and more than 150 CPAs feasted on the seafood sponsored by Fleet Bank. In October, the chapter hosted its annual student awards night, where CPA firms sponsor tables of five students to attend the dinner and awards ceremony. The students gain exposure to the firms, and the firms gain exposure to the students. The sponsorship program was a success: Eight local accounting firms sponsored 10 tables, enabling 50 students to attend the dinner meeting, which was attended by more than 35 CPAs. Also in October, the chapter held a CPE session on last-minute preparations for easily overlooked Y2K issues. In January, more than 30 members attended our second annual Crunch night--a fine evening of catered food and attendance at a Syracuse Crunch hockey game. The Young CPAs Committee held two networking events during the year.

After busy season, the chapter plans a CPE session in the North Country as well as a session with the Turnaround Management Association. The CPE session will explain the accountant's role in identifying troubled companies and helping them get the resources they need to improve their financial situation.

As the profession moves ahead in the new millennium, the chapter will continue to respond to the needs of its members. *