FROM THE DIRECTOR'S CHAIR


Fall for Your Society

Now that the fall season is in full swing, the RISCPA is well underway with its CPE program. We appreciate your turning to the Society for your educational needs and we’d like to remind you that if you haven’t chosen your courses, please do so at this time, as the roster becomes a bit more crowded as we approach the end of the calendar year.

The autumn season also marks the time when state societies attend the AICPA Fall Council meeting. This year the meeting took place in sunny Arizona. The fashionable and efficient Biltmore Resort served as the venue accommodating over 600 attendees who participated in the seasonal conference.  Along with your Executive Director, RISCPA was well represented by Board President, Martha Conn Hultzman; Incoming Board President, Samuel K. Suls; Immediate Past President, Arthur Lambi, Jr.; outgoing three year Council Representative, Mary F. Bernard; incoming three year Council Representative, Jacquelyn H. Tracy; Council Member and Chair of the AICPA’s UAA Committee, Kevin Currier.

Ernie Almonte, also attended the event in his capacity as past AICPA Chairman and  presented an update to the AICPA’s successful “Feed the Pig”  financial literacy program with Jordan D. Amin, Chairman-National CPA Financial Literacy Commission. The Fall Council meeting is especially important as it affords attendees the opportunity to meet with colleagues across the societal plain, explore new horizons and receive relevant information regarding operational, legislative and new developments affecting the profession. The remarks from AICPA’s President and Chief Executive Officer, Barry C. Melancon, CPA were one of the key highlights of the event, as his insight, vision, vast knowledge of the profession and stewardship of the institute remain a centerpiece to the AICPA’s success. Remarkably, Melancon appears to have his thumb on the heartbeat of the 377,000 members, that the Institute currently boasts.

Additional Council Highlights

  • With the approval of the new CGMA designation, attendees were favored with comments by AICPA’s Senior Vice President-Management Accounting, Arleen R. Thomas, and Charles B. Tilley, Chief Executive-Chartered Institute of Management Accountants;
  • Gregory J. Anton received the baton from out-going AICPA Chairman, Paul V. Stahlin;
  • Richard J. Caturano (Past President, Massachusetts Society of CPAs) stepped into the in-coming Chairman’s role;
  • Paul V. Stahlin’s CPA Horizons 2025: A visionary effort to ensure the profession’s continued vitality;
  • The effort to improve the relevance of accounting standards for private companies and their financial users; 
  • As a sponsor of the landmark Blue Ribbon Panel on Private Company Financial Reporting that issued recommendations in January 2011, the AICPA has led the call for enhanced usefulness and reduced complexity in financial reporting for private companies, including an independent board to implement the much-needed changes on behalf of the nation’s 28.5 million private businesses. In an effort to make this possibility a new reality, the institute not only served on the panel, but also strongly and publically supported the panel’s recommendations and called on all stakeholders to do the same (RISCPA’s voice was made clear in support of this important matter).

As always, advocacy remains a strong and important component for the Society. And as the Rhode Island legislature convenes to address the looming pension problem facing the Ocean State, we will continue to remain active. As previously communicated, it’s critical that you contact your state representatives and senators to stress the significance of moving to enact meaningful pension reform. General Treasurer Raimondo is to be commended for her intelligent and sensitive approach to tackling this enormous issue, and we hope you will join us in moving Rhode Island forward.

In closing, as we continue working maintaining a strong standard of commitment to our member-centric mission, your RISCPA staff extends its appreciation to you, our members, for your continued support.


Bob Mancini