PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE

Summertime: Renewal, Refreshment, and Recommitment

Aaaah ... the smell of hamburgers cooking on the grill, and that familiar feeling of “brain freeze” from sipping that cup of Del’s lemonade a little too fast. Summer’s here in Rhode Island! And, after an extended (and wet) busy season, it hasn’t come too soon.

I would like to thank you for the opportunity to serve as your Society President. This position is a great honor, and comes with immense responsibility – a responsibility to give back to a profession that has given so much to me. I look forward to serving as your chief advocate throughout the coming year.

Change is in the air
Even within this “rock solid” profession, things seem to be changing these days as if they were written in beach sand. But throughout all the changes, your dedicated Society staff and Board of Directors remain committed to supporting each of you (whether you practice in industry, public, government, or education).

RISCPA will continue to be hard at work for you through the summer. Sharon Kennedy and the CPE Committee will be planning the 2011/2012 CPE program for the Society. Denise Jacobson and the rest of the staff will be continuing their training with our new computer hardware and software. And Executive Director Bob Mancini will continue to guide activities at the Society, including his tireless efforts to communicate up-to-the-minute information about RISCPA and the accounting profession as a whole.    

I hope to see you at our very popular Membership Day (formerly Leadership Day) on Sept. 30. The Society will provide you with details of the initiatives currently underway, and offer networking opportunities at an event that evening. You will also hear from RISCPA leaders and incoming AICPA Chairman Paul Stahlin. In addition to the free CPE component, these two events promise to be a highlight of the year!

And the survey says?
In preparation for Membership Day, the Board of Directors and your Executive Director would like to hear from you. We’d like to know how we can make your membership and active participation in the Society more valuable. So, during the month of August, you will be contacted and asked to complete a very brief survey. We appreciate your input, and urge you to contact any member of the Board of Directors, Bob Mancini, or me if you would like to communicate any feedback in the meantime.

You can be a part of the change ... or a result of it
For years, members of your Society, our lobbyist and Executive Director have collaborated with other professionals and business groups to educate our governmental leaders about the financial impact of Rhode Island’s tax policies on business, and ultimately on the financial health of our state. The General Assembly’s recent decision to reform the income tax rules to become more competitive with our neighboring states is a direct result of this collaborative effort of advocacy and education, as well as the dedicated efforts of several active members of RISCPA. We are very grateful to these members.    

Your Society is committed to continuing its work to improve the business and tax environment here in Rhode Island, as well as on a national level.  It is also committed to its ongoing relationships with the leaders of the AICPA and the Rhode Island Board of Accountancy, to strengthen the value of the CPA designation and the profession as a whole. This advocacy comes at a time when many believe that the CPA designation and our attest services are becoming too “watered-down” amid tax preparer registration, the convergence of international financial reporting standards and sweeping changes to generally accepted accounting principles that will be proposed later this year by the AICPA’s “Blue Ribbon Panel.”

As the trained stewards of this nation’s capitalistic business environment, we have a responsibility to speak out when problems arise that affect CPAs or the public interest. We can facilitate positive financial decision-making in our towns, and in this great state we all call home. People want to hear what CPAs have to say. So, speak up! 

It takes a first step to start any journey
Summer vacations provide us all with the opportunity for renewal, to refresh our “over-taxed” schedules and reclaim our priorities. Please consider how you might make a difference in your profession, and at the same time enhance your own career and abilities.  If you haven’t already, join a Society committee this summer. All of the committees are currently seeking to increase their membership. You’ll be surprised how much you have to offer, and how much your active involvement can benefit you.

Very truly yours,

Arthur Lambi, Jr.