Happy New Year

By Patrick D. Rogan, CPA

I wish each of you a wonderful 2010 as we begin the new year.

The profession made great strides in 2009 with our successes in Sacramento, including legislation that makes California CPAs substantially equivalent and able to compete on equal footing with the rest of the country.

A few wishes for the upcoming year:

• The California Legislature comes to its senses and actually deal—and solve—the state’s budget crisis without gimmicks.
• Our clients value our services so much they are rushing to pay for services rendered.
• Staff appreciates the work ethic and partners appreciate how important staff and harmony can play in a successful firm and business. What is important is to find that proper balance between work and life.

Our challenges in 2010 are many. Our economy continues to sputter and probably will until the budget fiasco is behind us. Let’s be positive for the new year, though. I look forward to a better 2010 than what many of us—and our clients—experienced in 2009.

Our November student event at the Sacramento State Alumni Center was a glowing success. Along with the fabulous program that featured wonderful speakers—we were sold out! I get excited when programs sell out. Many thanks to our speakers, Andrea Cope, Toosje Koll, Crystal Ekanayake and Andrew Le, who enlightened the students. The chapter put on an impressive show for the students, who are the lifeblood of the profession. Our volunteers do a tremendous job in creating excellent events and are rewarded when they are sold out. Amy Lehmkuhl and Robina Bennion deserve a big thank you for organizing a super event.

Our ABC Mixer is fast approaching. The event will be held Tuesday, Feb. 2, at the Sutter Club. Sign up quickly as CPAs, attorneys and bankers are enrolling for the event faster than they were a year ago. Last year’s event was sold out—and I expect an early sell out this year.

CPA Day at the Capitol is fast approaching. Our professional successes in 2009 came because of the hard work and efforts of California CPAs like you visiting legislators. We need your help! Join CPAs from all over the state Wednesday, Jan. 20 as we visit the Legislature and promote the CPA profession. You can learn more and register online.

The Management of Accounting Practice and Technology committees are having a joint meeting Wednesday, Jan. 6 to discuss “Client Portals and Safe Transmission of Client Documents.” The Young and Emerging Professionals are meeting Thursday, Jan. 14. Come out and support our youngest and newest members. For more event details, visit our chapter website.

And the CalCPA Technology Committee is planning a free webcast Friday, Jan. 8 to discuss protecting your data. More details will be provided via e-mail.

I wish everyone a very productive and profitable 2010.

I welcome your comments and suggestions and would like to hear from you. Contact me via e-mail. I read each comment and respond.

This entry was posted on Monday, January 4th, 2010 at 11:42 am and is filed under President's Message. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.