PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE
CPAs: True Leaders in Unprecedented Times
From the beginning
When the societal year began, my goals were very simple: 1) leave the Society better than I found it; and 2) provide members with service beyond expectations.
Your society staff, board of directors, and all of the committee chairs and RISCPA volunteers have worked tirelessly to ensure that these goals were met. I am so proud of their extra effort and the immense dedication that they have demonstrated all year long. Please allow me the opportunity to express my gratitude with a great big, “THANK YOU” to all of you whose efforts were so instrumental in making this past year a success!
Not just any call to serve
To be successful, non-profit membership organizations rely on their members. Our society is certainly no different. At last year’s annual dinner, I asked you to take responsibility for your society and for your profession’s future. Many of you answered this “call to serve.” The numerous success stories of your efforts will be highlighted at the business meeting that will precede the RISCPA Annual Dinner on April 26th. I hope you will make it a point to attend the business meeting and to hear the many great accomplishments of this past year, as well as to hear the challenges that await us as a society, and as a profession.
The keynote speaker for our annual dinner on April 26, 2011 will be David Walker. Mr. Walker is a nationally renowned speaker on fiscal responsibility and stewardship in government. In his book, Comeback America, Mr. Walker illustrates his thorough understanding of the serious economic issues currently facing our great nation. Armed with detailed facts and with his extensive experience as our country’s Comptroller General for more than a decade, he articulates the importance and urgency of holding our governmental leaders accountable, of full financial transparency, and of becoming involved to help resolve the fiscal challenges that face our local, state, and federal governments. Oh, and did I mention that Mr. Walker is a CPA?
True leaders in unprecedented times
Since the birth of our country, history tells us that every generation has been charged with tackling a significant political, humanitarian, economic, or military challenge. So what, then, is our generation’s challenge? As we witness deficit spending at all levels of government spiral out of control, has our generation’s challenge become saving our government from itself?” If so, then wouldn’t you agree that your skill sets as CPAs are the finest and most advanced “equipment” needed to combat this “new age battle?”
True leaders are ordinary people just like you. They simply have an extraordinary command of the subject matter and a great deal of determination. Leadership undoubtedly requires courage, and courage requires some degree of fear or anxiety of becoming involved, of becoming a front-runner.
That said, future generations of our state, and our country for that matter, are counting on you, the CPA, to be fearless…to be a true leader. As Certified Public Accountants, we have a responsibility to become involved when fiscal challenges affect us, or the public’s best interest. Isn’t that what we swear to do when we become a CPA? Your local, state, and national governmental leaders are looking for your help; they need your expertise and your careful analysis. Your neighbors want to hear what you have to say about “what needs to be done.” Let me assure you that your assistance and input will be welcomed by all of them. I promise you that!
Farewell, but not goodbye!
During the past nine years, I have had the distinct honor of serving you and this great profession as a RISCPA Board member and, over the past year, as your chief advocate and President. So, as my tenure on the Board and “my year” as President come to a close, I would like to extend my sincere appreciation for your past confidence and support. The friendships made during this tenure are unmatched, the success stories of our work numerous, and the development of future leaders has been reassuring. In fact, it has become very clear that many of our members share the same passion for our society, for our profession, and for our most cherished and valuable credential, the CPA.
It is comforting to know that outstanding leadership will follow, a leadership that understands the importance of perpetuating the value of the CPA designation, and a leadership that has the energy and ability to cultivate their successors.
May God bless you, your family, and this great profession.
Fondly,
Arthur Lambi, Jr., CPA, MST
2010 / 2011 President
Rhode Island Society of Certified Public Accountants
