April 2001

Board Approves Dues Increase

NEW YORK—The New York State Society of CPAs board of directors has approved a $5 across-the-board increase effective June 1, 2001, the beginning of the Society’s fiscal year. The increase affects all members except student members, whose dues have been reduced to $5.

“The board believes that small increases are a responsible way to keep pace with rising costs,” said Society President P. Gerard Sokolski. “The board also believes the Society must do all it can to encourage college student memberships to encourage entry into accounting as a profession.”

The 2001–2002 dues invoice has been mailed to the home or work address designated by each member. The most recent dues increase occurred in 1999.

Save Time, Pay Online

A significant change to paying dues this year is that members can now pay by credit card. The Society accepts American Express, MasterCard, and Visa and encourages members to pay by credit card on or before May 31, 2001.

Members also can pay online at a personalized, secure area of the NYSSCPA website (see illustration on page 3). Paying online is convenient and time efficient, but it also ensures that the Society has the correct contact information and continuing professional education (CPE) interest codes for each member. Interest codes are used to determine FAE course content and to help the Society direct CPE information to the right people.

Credit card payments and most information updates made by members are automatically reflected on the Society’s main database as soon as electronic confirmation by the appropriate financial institution has been received.

Contribute to the Future

In addition to membership dues, contributions to the following funds are suggested on every invoice:

Scholarship. The Society created its college scholarship fund in 1990 to provide financial assistance and encouragement to potential CPAs. In fiscal year 2000–2001, members contributed more than $50,000 to this fund via the dues check-off.

The Scholarship Awards Committee, which has representatives from every NYSSCPA chapter, selects recipients from each chapter area based on students’ home addresses. The number of scholarships per chapter is allocated based on the number of NYSSCPA members per area. Last year, the Society awarded more than $81,000 in new scholarships and renewals.

COAP. Career Opportunities in the Accounting Profession (COAP) is a summer residence program developed by the NYSSCPA, the profession, and leaders from education and industry to encourage minority high school students to attend college and pursue careers in accounting.

The program has a proven track record: A COAP alumni survey revealed that 94 percent of respondents believe COAP strengthened their decision to attend college and 88 percent believe COAP demonstrated to them that business or accounting was the appropriate direction to take. More than 90 percent of recently surveyed COAP alumni moved on to college.

CPAPAC. In a recent survey, members cited government advocacy as one of the Society’s top services. CPAPAC, the organization’s political action committee, fulfills the important task of ensuring that New York state elected officials represent the voice of CPAs. Last year, CPAPAC raised more than $100,000 via the contribution check-off on the dues invoice, enabling the Society to make meaningful contributions in support of legislation that will impact the profession.

Pay on Time

To avoid termination of membership, Society members must return their dues invoices within 90 days. The Society will mail a second notice to members whose dues were not received within the first 60 days. The notice will state that membership may be terminated unless payment is received within 30 days from the date of the notice. If dues remain unpaid, the board of directors may terminate the membership.

Members who wish to discontinue their membership should state their intent to resign on the invoice and return it to the Society or send an e-mail to membership@nysscpa.org. Member IDs should be included on all resignations to ensure proper handling of the request.