Fort Worth Chapter
Texas Society of Certified Public Accountants
2001-2002 Chapter Report
Bretta Milner
President
817/ 424-2168
Kathy R. Kelly
Executive Director
817-335-5055
1701 River Run, Suite 607
Fort Worth, Texas 76107
www.fwtscpa.org
Part I: TSCPA Goals (Up to 11 points per goal; up to 33 points for this page)
Goal 1: Focus: Membership, Initiative A, Goal 2: Explore the creation of TSCPA affiliate membership.
The Chapter selected this goal because of our understanding that attracting Student and Academic
Affiliate members could impact an issue that is a key Chapter focus for the year, declining entry into the
profession. We realized that the TSCPA program for recruitment of student members relies on faculty
support, so we advanced this goal by initiating and bolstering relationships with accounting faculty in the
five colleges and universities in our region.
In August, we convened a meeting of the chairs of the departments with our Accounting Education
committee chair and president. At that meeting, we reviewed a report by Dr. Karen Pincus, chair of the
AICPA PcEEC entitled ―Where Have All the Accounting Students Gone and How Can We Get Them
Back?‖ The meeting laid the foundation for a colloquium among practitioners and academics, many of
whom were not members, held April 29, 2002.
We compiled a comprehensive list of accounting faculty at University of Texas at Arlington, Texas
Christian University, Tarleton State University, Texas Wesleyan University and Tarrant County College.
In February, we surveyed everyone on the list to develop interest and agenda issues. We recruited
TSCPA chair Gary McIntosh and the chair of his Blue Ribbon Task Force on Entry Into the Profession,
Dr. D. D. Holmes, to speak at the colloquium. Results: (1) the Chapter has created one on one
relationships with departments of accounting in all five schools in the region; (2) the five schools are
aware of the value of student membership; (3) the Chapter is aware of issues of importance to individual
faculty members.
Goal 2: Focus: Membership, Initiative B, Goal 2: (a) Provide cost-effective, quality continuing education
that is responsive to both the experience levels and diverse needs of all CPAs, and incorporates
technology to the maximum extent practical; (b) implement recommended CPE that makes the best use
of the resources at the chapter and state levels, eliminating redundant functions and services to provide
value-added services to Texas CPAs; and (c) incorporate vision-related courses throughout the CPE
curriculum.
The Chapter implemented this goal by (1) producing; (2) developing and delivering two courses with
content of unique timeliness [―Helping a Business Survive in a Down Cycle‖ {4 hours) and ―Succession
Planning in Independent Public Accounting Practice‖ (8 hours)];(3) delivering CPE presentations in
outlying areas [the city of Denton, Texas (two presentations) and south Arlington, Texas (one
presentation)]; and (4) negotiated and executed a new agreement with the TSCPA CE Foundation to
site 27 eight-hour CPE events in Fort Worth during 2002-2003 and indefinitely thereafter.
Goal 3: Focus: External Relations, Initiative A, Goal 1: Develop and implement a plan to communicate
TSCPA's value to appropriate external audiences.
The Chapter initiated a successful sequence of 96 thirty second advertisements on a north Texas radio
station, KERA 90.1FM, reaching listeners throughout a 5.4 million population north Texas area. Themes
for the five messages were (1) the general value of the CPA (―The Fort Worth Chapter … reminds you
that CPA stands for certified public accountant—someone to be trusted for reliable information on your
business enterprise…‖); (2) the specific value of the CPA‘s skills (performance indicators,
benchmarking, budgeting and tax planning); and (3), in the wake of the Enron scandal, that the trust
accorded a CPA is deserved (―Since 1929, north Texans have counted on the CPAs of the Texas
Society for audited financial statements, tax services and business insight. CPA stands for certified
public accountant—a person reliant on your trust, working to earn it each day, every day. More
information at www.tscpa.org‖) These messages were broadcast over KERA because of the
coorelation between the station‘s listenership and senior management; according to their audited
reports, the NPR audience is 165% more likely to be in top management.
Fort Worth Chapter TSCPA 2001-2002 Report Page 1
Part II: Chapter Goals (Up to 11 points per goal; up to 33 points for this page)
Goal 1: Membership: (a) expand networking opportunities to accommodate diverse interests and
needs; (b) provide tools for member interaction; (c) recruit new CPAs and CPAs living or working in
Tarrant County; (d) focus recruitment resources in east Tarrant County; (e) develop recruitment plans
for student and professional affiliate members; and (f) develop program plans for student and
professional affiliate members.
Website development was a key means of creating interaction among members, extending participation
outside the downtown Fort Worth area and reaching student members. The email newsletter developed
in coordination with the website has been published 16 times, each issue reaching 1,900 members and
other subscribers. As a recruitment tool, the email news has been used as a targeted communication
piece. We evaluate the impact of the website and the email news based on transactions concluded
using it; over 60% of our CPE and event sales are now transacted on-line.
The results of membership recruitment efforts parallels site usage. As of May 31, 2001, the Chapter
membership stood at 2,284, or 8.3% of the TSCPA‘s membership of 27,532. As of April 30, 2002, our
membership has increased to 2,321, or 8.47% of the TSCPA‘s membership of 27,438. In other words,
we have succeeded in reversing the downward trend in membership, albeit narrowly.
Goal 2: CPE: (a) evaluate alternatives for industry-specific conferences; (b) provide member access to
on-line CPE; (c) increase utilization of training facility to (i) increase member benefits and (ii) increase
revenue; and (d) develop website.
While subparts (a) and (b) proved irrelevant by midyear, the Chapter attained (c) and (d). With the onset
of the recession, the idea of focusing on a single industry for a seminar gave way to the idea of
providing education on coping with financial adversity. Online CPE proved unavailable due to the
unwillingness of vendors to work with Chapters, rather than larger units of membership.
Utilization of the training facility and concomitant increases in revenue were attained. During the 11-1/2
months ending May 15, 2002, the Chapter delivered a total of 80 programs, generating revenue in
excess of $192,000 and presenting10,600 hours of CPE. A website was successfully launched in
August, 2001. Since then, the Chapter has posted over 460 CPE events, committee, board and general
membership meetings, networking events and TSCPA events on the site. Additionally, with the posting
of a continually updated membership directory organized by areas of expertise in detail, members have
become more connected with each over via the web, as well as more attentive to the availability of CPE
programming.
Goal 3: Accounting education: plan and implement an event (symposium, forum) to discuss issues in
accounting education and awareness of the value of the profession.
The colloquium on entry into the accounting profession, held April 29, 2002, accomplished this Chapter
goal. Over 80 faculty members from six institutions were invited to attend. All invitees experienced
heightened awareness of the Chapter‘s role in encouraging accounting education. All attendees—24 in
all—shares perspectives on the viability of the pragmatic program suggestions presented by the Task
Force on Entry Into the Profession. Each participant received a meeting summary.
Key points of consensus arising from the meeting: some environmental factors (competition for students
from other professions, grade inflation, rising costs of high education relative to career-span financial
rewards) are not susceptible to induced change; accounting curriculum and pedagogy is subject to a
number of influences, some of which discourage change; scholarship funds, which in some cases
assuage the burden of the 150 hour rule, are subject to unfavorable restrictions; and college and
university programs would benefit from more participation from practitioners because of the need by
faculties to obtain practicum experience.
Fort Worth Chapter TSCPA 2001-2002 Report Page 2
Part III: Innovation (Up to 8 Points per Program; up to 24 Points for this page)
Program 1: CPAs Helping Schools; increasing elementary students’ sense of participation in the
global community.
After September 11, President Bush issued a call for the school children of America each to earn $1.00
and to make that dollar a gift to the children of Afghanistan. The purpose of the program, implemented
by the International Red Cross, was to help American children understand their connection with other
people throughout the world. One Fort Worth Chapter CPA was concerned that the students at our
adopted school, Springdale Elementary, would not partake of the message because their circumstances
would not permit a gift of a dollar. He volunteered to make one dollar per child available to purchase art
each student might create, with the understanding that the Chapter would arrange the following: (1) an
opportunity for the greater community to view the children‘s art; (2) a presentation directly to a Red
Cross representative so that the children would have a sense of immediacy; and (3) that the children
would make the presentations to the exhibitor and the Red Cross directly.
The Chapter arranged for an office of Wells Fargo to post the children‘s art in their branch adjacent to
the school. The school organized a ceremony at which representatives from each grade made
speeches and delivered art to the Red Cross‘ local executive director and community outreach
manager, the Wells Fargo Bank branch manager, and a representative of the CPAs Helping Schools
committee.
In part because of the effectiveness of this effort with the children of the school, the Chapter and the
school won the Fort Worth ISD‘s Outstanding Elementary School Corporate Partnership Award for
2001-2002.
Program 2: Mentoring accounting students. In September, 2001, the University of Texas at Arlington
approached the Chapter regarding its mentoring project. UTA had created a database of prospective
mentors in a range of business occupations and professions for use in matching requests of sophomore
to senior students in their evaluation of career paths. UTA had many prospective mentors in banking
and financial services, but few in accounting. The Chapter gave the program director a forum at a
membership meeting to recruit participants in the program. Additionally, the Chapter prepared and
published an extensive article about the program in the print newsletter, and published an on-line
version in the email newsletter. Each of these steps supported individual members in their interest in
connecting with individual future entrants into the profession.
Program 3: Communication among CPAs across generations. The Chapter‘s Membership
Committee recognized the need for today‘s CPAs to understand the motivations of students in order to
fully appreciate the problem of declining entry into the profession. When Chapter volunteers heard a
particularly eloquent presentation by a new, young CPA at a swearing in ceremony, they obtained
permission to reprint her remarks in the Chapter newsletter. ―A New CPA‘s Voice,‖ by Tara McDonald,
was printed in the December, 2001, issue of CPA News.
On the other side of this generational span, the Chapter initiated a Past President‘s Council. President
Milner inivited all Chapter past presidents to a luncheon, the focus of which was to ask their guidance
about new ways to raise CPA PAC funds. The result of the luncheon was a campaign targeted to CPAs
in local public firms, plus awareness of the value of continuing to gather these valued leaders to share
their perspectives and expertise.
Fort Worth Chapter TSCPA 2001-2002 Report Page 3
Overall Annual History (No Points)
Glenn Hanner, who has led a very active Communications Committee. Not only did we launch a new
and improved web site in August, 2001, we have published 16 issues of e-mail newsletters in addition to
10 issues of print newsletters. We also have continued to maintain the Image Enhancement campaign,
airing 96 30 second spots on KERA 90.1 FM. Glenn‘s committee responded appropriately by altering
our public relations messages when the Enron case started to hit the media.
Dan Chick has provided interesting and well-attended chapter meetings. In September we had a first-
time ever breakfast meeting with approximately 80 in attendance. In November we held a joint meeting
with attorneys, which included a pre-dinner CPE session with investment gurus and their best guesses!
January brought us a joint meeting with bankers and our largest attendance of approximately 150 in
attendance! Susan Sessions organized three after-work CPA gatherings at local establishments. They
have also been well-attended and promoted the networking that is important to all of our members.
Don Pierson has generated a great deal of political awareness with the Legislative Affairs Committee
this year. Our chapter endorsed three CPAs as candidates in state legislative primaries. Our Chapter‘s
leadership, collecting CPA-PAC donations from 100% of the Board leadership, issued a fund-raising
challenge to other chapters. Additionally Don Craig and Linda Ketter-Craig have continued to provide
strong leadership in the legislative arena.
Sandi Iacabucci and her committee have provided numerous CPE opportunities, including the
introduction of evening 2 hour CPE sessions to meet the needs of members in industry and CPE events
in Arlington. Carol Paul has been a valuable resource to the CPE Committee and to the multitude of
CPE offerings we have had this year. A Task Force on CPE Topic Selection has been put together to
assist in evaluating CPE alternatives in the next chapter year. The chapter is constantly looking for new
ways to provide CPE to its members. If you have any suggestions, let us know – don‘t keep it to
yourself!
Kevin Crum has put together a great Leadership Development class. This group continues to represent
the young leaders of the Chapter and Kevin is responsible for producing an important part of the
Chapter‘s future building blocks.
Leslie Moore has chaired a very successful Community Service Committee, providing Christmas gifts
for 280 children at the YWCA day care, volunteers for a much-coveted stint for Boo at the Zoo and
volunteers to Mayfest.
Keith Hollar continues to support us through his leadership with the CPA Helping Schools Committee.
Our Adopt-A-School earned exemplary status this year for the first time and that achievement has a lot
to do with Keith and his team of volunteers!
Andy Padgett has chaired the Membership Committee this year. We have an excellent retention rate
and increased our membership by 168 members. Additionally we have added 38 student members.
Beth Rubin has been an important contributor to the efforts of the Membership Committee.
Ron Fory chaired the Accounting Education Committee, promoting the need to work with academic
faculty. Look for the results of the Accounting Education event scheduled April 29.
In addition to the individuals named above, Rick Baumeister, Jim Reeves, Cindy Snider, Bob Henson,
Larry Autrey and Elizabeth Sanders have provided much-needed discussion, analysis, support and
wisdom in making decisions for the Chapter this year. In addition to other policy decisions, we have
exercised a renewal option in our lease for 5 years and made modifications to the space. Stop by and
check out the changes!
Fort Worth Chapter TSCPA 2001-2002 Report Page 4
Part IV: (Up to 10 Points for Completion)
Directions: The following information will be helpful in the selection process as well as in providing
chapters with an overview of activities in other areas.
LEADERSHIP
1. Describe leadership program(s) conducted by the chapter. Include invited guests, length of
program, time of year, and subjects covered. Graduated 6 members of the Leadership
Development class of 2002. Held six formal class meetings, with members presenting oral
reports on a function of the TSCPA and the Chapter. Highlight: ―Seven Habits of Highly
Successful People‖, presented by a professional Covey facilitator.
Four guests plus six mentors, August 2001 through April 2002. Class members met goals for
participation in a variety of Chapter activities, include attendance at meetings, proctoring at the
CPA exam, community service. Program topics: Chapter and TSPCA organization; mission;
programs. Philosophy of volunteering; becoming an effective volunteer leader. Work/voluteer/life
balance.
2. Did the chapter's president whose name is on this report attend TSCPA's Chapter Presidents-
elect Forum held in preparation for this service year? Yes No
3. Did chapter members who are TSCPA directors report back to the chapter Board of Directors?
Yes No
In what manner? Reports at regular board meetings; specific report on 2002 TSCPA Midyear
Board of Directors meeting by Bretta Milner at the February, 2002, Board of Directors meeting.
CPE
1. What tools did the chapter use to assess the CPE needs of chapter members?
Surveys Focus groups Informal Polling Attendance Records
Other: Initiated monthly CPE transcripts mailed 60 days prior to end of birth month.
2. How did the chapter promote TSCPA CPE courses held in the area?
Chapter newsletter Announcements at chapter meetings Phone calls
Other (please specify) Direct link from posting of each TSCPA course on Chapter website
calendar with TSCPA website registration page.
Fort Worth Chapter TSCPA 2001-2002 Report Page 5
3. For the service year, indicate the following:
7 # eight-hour chapter-developed seminars
2 # chapter-developed conferences (multiple topics, eight or more hours)
5 # four-hour chapter-developed seminars
64 # chapter-developed seminars less than four hours
Note: chapter-developed courses do not include those where the chapter's primary involvement
was promotional (e.g., co-sponsorship of courses offered at a local college or training center)
COMMUNICATIONS/PUBLIC RELATIONS/PUBLIC SERVICE
1. 10 # of newsletter issues published during the year 12 average # pages per issue
Chapter directory published: Annually Biannually Other
Directory includes: All members Volunteers only
Other: (please specify) Chapter publishes constantly updated membership contact information
on its website. At the request of TSCPA chair Gary McIntosh, in August the Chapter‘s board of
directors served as a focus group on strategic issues facing CPAs in Texas.
2. How did the chapter improve its communications with members?
More frequent newsletter Newsletter improvements
Chapter ED on e-mail Direct mail for chapter meetings
Other: significant increase in contact with members via email newletters, which interact with
web site to produce multiplayer communication and feedback. Also utilized Zoomerang survey
mechanisms to obtain survey data on nominations and awards. Mechancially, created better
communication by increasing data speed with T1 line capabilities and faster computers.
3. How did the chapter communicate changes in laws regulating CPAs?
Newsletter Special communications Chapter meetings
Announcements at CPE meetings Rely on TSCPA
Rely on State Board Discussed at chapter Board meetings
Other (please specify) Email newsletter features link directly with TSBPA site; drew traffic to
TSBPA site with feature on availability of individual licensee data. In September, the
Chapter conducted a townhall meeting for 35 CPAs from the Dallas Fort Worth area on the
AICPA‘s proposed global credential
4. What public relations/community service programs did the chapter conduct?
Program # Members # People $ Raised*
Helped
CPAs Helping Schools 50 600 $2,500
Taxpayer Education
Charity events: Santaccountants 180 290 $13,050
Other: volunteers for community events: 60 Huge public No financial
Fort Worth Zoo, Streams & Valleys Inc. events support
requested
* Includes in-kind contributions of new gifts and school supplies, per donee request
Fort Worth Chapter TSCPA 2001-2002 Report Page 6
5. The chapter issued news releases on the following:
Officer elections Awards Chapter meetings CPE courses
CPAs Helping Schools Taxpayer Education Charity Events
Other (please specify)
MEMBERSHIP DEVELOPMENT
6. How did the chapter recruit new members?
Written invitation to chapter meeting Mentor program
Other (please specify) Direct mail; one-on-one at swearing-in; pitch at large CPE events
attended by nonmembers; individual one-on-one phone calls (Spring 2001 campaign)
7. How does the chapter retain members?
Mentor program Contact each member to perform one small volunteer job
Offer "non-traditional" member services, e.g. purchase discounts, credit cards, etc.
(Please list all such services) Wells Fargo membership rates program
No active membership retention program
Other: focus on new members in email news, web start page and print newsletter, with pictures
and short stories to make new members feel recognized; deflect focus from well-known
leaders
8. How does the chapter recognize outstanding volunteers?
Awards:
Outstanding council chair Outstanding committee chair
Outstanding committee member Distinguished Public Service
Young CPA Meritorious Service to the Accounting Profession
CPA of the Year
How communicated:
Acknowledgement in newsletter Announcement at chapter meeting
Personalized letter from president Personalized letter from chairman
Other (please specify) photos in email news; certificate; framed award
CHAPTER ACTIVITIES
1. Chapter Board meetings were held 5 times plus initial leadership orientation session.
2. Chapter (member) meetings were held 4 times during the year.
3. How did the chapter enhance relationships with other professionals? List activities and
committees responsible. Joint meeting with realtors and joint meeting with bankers/financial
professionals (Program Committee); joint CPE with Dallas/Fort Worth Turnaround Management
Association (CPE Committee); socials with other professionals (Networking Committee).
Fort Worth Chapter TSCPA 2001-2002 Report Page 7
PUBLIC AFFAIRS
The chapter:
sent personalized letters to legislators regarding key issues? Yes No
covered legislative topics in the newsletter? Yes No
conducted a CPA-PAC campaign? Yes No
devoted a chapter meeting to public affairs? Yes No
CHAPTER STATISTICS
2000-‗01 2001-‗02
Number of Chapter business meetings 4 4
Average number of members attending chapter business meetings 100 100
Percentage of entire membership attending chapter business meetings 7.0% 6.5%
CPE was offered in conjunction with meetings Yes Yes
Number of chapter networking/social gatherings 7 3
Average number of members* attending chapter networking/socials 50 60
Percentage of entire membership attending these meetings 5.6% 3.0%
(networking/socials)
Chapter business and networking events are the same No No
Number of members contributing to PAC dues check-off** 127 134
Percentage of entire membership contributing through dues check-off** 5.6% 5.7%
Amount collected by chapter in other PAC-related promotions*** $50 TBD
Amount contributed to political candidates **** $18,250 $10,250
Number of college scholarships awarded by chapter 0 0
Average dollar amount of scholarships awarded 0 0
* Attendance records not kept at 2001-2002 social events; attendees included paraprofessionals and
attendees from other professions.
** Using records obtained from CPA PAC; cannot distinguish checkoff from direct gift.
*** Solicitation of managing partners of local accounting firms began May 7; results incomplete as of
May 15, 2002.
****Additional distributions due prior to May 31, 2002.
Fort Worth Chapter TSCPA 2001-2002 Report Page 8