By Bruce Zgoda  |  Buffalo Chapter President

Remember: growing older is mandatory, while growing up is optional. We make a living out of what we get; we make a life by what we give. Good friends are like stars; you don’t always see them, but you know they're there.

I believe this captures how I feel about being part of the NYSSCPA. The friendships made over my 45 years in this profession have been endless and extremely rewarding. I can’t encourage enough young CPAs to get involved, because by doing so your returns will grow tenfold. 

December was a busy month for most CPAs, with all of their year-end planning, but a quiet month for chapter activities. In January, we prepared for tax season with a few CPE events to assist in the process. 

Our NextGen Committee organized a wonderful CPE session explaining tax implications for startups, followed by a superb social hour. It was well attended and allowed many of our members a chance to enjoy each other’s company.

Chris Learman, our treasurer, put together a nice New York State Update session with a few auditors from our fine state. It  was a nice way to start off our year. Chris also arranged an intimate pre-holiday dinner where many of us could socialize and share concerns about running a small practice. 

We were pleased to have Jonathan Wilcox join our chapter. He is now heading up our Technology Committee.

I wish I had more to report, but you know what they say: too much work and not enough play. We were fortunate to welcome many new young members to the chapter as we are excited for the talents they bring.

God bless you all, and remember: You can never tell what type of impact you may make on another’s life by your actions or lack of action. Sometimes just a smile on the street to a passing stranger can make a difference we could never imagine. 

bmz4848@aol.com.