FROM THE DIRECTOR'S CHAIR

A successful Membership Day

With this particular issue of What Counts focusing on our membership, it’s only appropriate to highlight activities in recent weeks that have benefited our members.

What’s in a name? Clearly, a lot. During the group’s first meeting, the aspiring leaders of RISCPA’s NYPN Task Force suggested that the Society would be better served if it changed its Leadership Day to Membership Day, stressing an open opportunity for all members to attend. Goal Champion Sam Suls and I quickly responded that it was a terrific idea.

Shortly, after bringing it to our Board, the decision was final: The day dedicated to providing RISCPA members with highlights of Society goings on, coupled with matters affecting the profession nationally and internationally, and topics impacting R.I.’s economy, would now be known as Membership Day.

The change was well received. The turnout at the Providence Marriott was robust, and in addition to receiving five complimentary hours of CPE, members were presented with a solid morning filled with pertinent information delivered by members of RISCPA’s Executive Committee; the incoming Chair of the AICPA, Paul Stahlin; New Harbor Group’s David Preston; Gary Sasse, Gov. Carcieri’s former administration director who currently serves on the faculty of Rhode Island College and Bryant University; and Gina Raimondo, founder and former General Partner of Point Judith Capital.

Then, at 5 p.m., RISCPA, supported by sponsor TD Bank, hosted its fall networking event for approximately 335 attendees including CPAs, attorneys, financial professionals and students from Johnson & Wales University and Roger Williams University. The evening festivities also marked the launching of TD Bank’s collaboration with RISCPA. R.I. Market President, Bob Kolb, along with a number of the bank’s senior cadre, welcomed guests throughout the evening affair. Thank you, TD Bank, for supporting R.I.’s premier professional organization.

Support system at work

As we’ve discussed over the past year, legislative advocacy has been very much in the forefront of RISCPA. This being an election year, the Society wanted to step up its profile of involvement. Therefore, joining forces with the Northern R.I. Chamber of Commerce and SBANE, RISCPA was proud to host a Gubernatorial Financial Forum on Oct. 13 at the Providence Marriott Hotel. The candidates fielded questions drawn, in advance, from our members and from those of our hosting partner groups. The forum provided a platform for candidates to articulate their views on the state of the R.I. economy and emphasize their plans for addressing the need to improve the overall business climate in Little Rhody.

In cooperation with DiSanto Priest & Company, RISCPA hosted over 100 attendees at its second annual R.I. Government Officials Seminar at CCRI’s Warwick Campus on Oct. 5. The event provided participants with an overview of innovative ways to govern municipalities and school districts with limited resources. With opening remarks from RISCPA Board President Art Lambi Jr., participants benefited from very informative presentations from a stellar lineup. It included: R.I. Commissioner of Elementary and Secondary Education, Deborah A. Gist; Keith W. Stokes, Executive Director, R.I. Economic Development Corporation and panel members; Mayors Allan W. Fung, City of Cranston; Scott Avedesian, City of Warwick; and Daniel J. McKee, Town of Cumberland. DiSanto Priest Partner and Former R.I. Auditor General Ernie Almonte served as the program’s moderator. Special thanks are in order for RISCPA Board member Linda Ide for her excellent efforts in coordinating and producing the very well-attended program.

As a reminder, please be sure to watch for RISCPA’s CPE e-mail updates on courses being offered. The last quarter is always very busy, so please visit www.RISCPA.org to register early. Again, those interested in joining one of RISCPA’s fine committees, please take a moment to peruse our website to see what might pique your interest. Remember, committee participation is important to sustaining a healthy Society.

To all our members, thank you for your continued commitment and for making our Society a success.

Until next time, please have an enjoyable autumn.

Bob Mancini