YEAR-END REPORT FORM
2009-2010 OUTSTANDING TSCPA CHAPTER AWARD
DUE: MAY 20, 2010
This form constitutes the chapter annual report.
Forms containing more than two pages in addition to this one will be accepted but the extra pages
will be discarded. (No reporting may be included on this page.)
The report will be disallowed if the type used is smaller than Arial 10 point.
Entry form must be received at TSCPA by 5:00 p.m., May 20, 2010, to be considered for an
Outstanding Chapter Award or to be included in the report of chapter activities distributed
at the TSCPA Annual Meeting.
Please complete this form and e-mail to Rhonda Ledbetter (rledbetter@tscpa.net) or mail to:
Rhonda Ledbetter
TSCPA
1651 Dallas Pkwy Ste 700
Dallas, TX 75254-7408
Prefer no faxes but, if no other means available, send to 972-687-8608.
By sending it to TSCPA, the chapter agrees to allow the completed form to be posted on the
Internet after May 20.
Chapter: San Antonio, Texas
President: Edie Cogdell
President phone: 210 /829-6027
area code
Executive director/secretary: Jacqui Belcher
Executive director/secretary phone: 210 /828-2722
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What were your goals for achievement and/or improvement and how did you meet them?
What did you do that was new for your chapter?
New for the chapter:
Leadership Advantage Program
During 2009-2010 Fiscal Year, the San Antonio CPA Society, through our New CPA
Involvement Committee developed and implemented the CPA Leadership Advantage program
at the local level. The San Antonio CPA Society marketed the program to local CPA firms and
reached out to local industry. We had 14 total participants, 2 from industry and 12 from CPA
firms in the San Antonio area. The chair of the program was Melanie Geist and co-chair was
Maria Martinez. They both attended the six-month program, beginning in June 2009 and ending
in November 2009. The program was designed to build leadership skills, develop relationships
essential to their personal and professional careers, business and meeting etiquette and
volunteerism and its importance to professional growth. In early January 2010, a reception was
held at a local restaurant honoring the participants and their mentors/sponsors. The program
was a great success, with all 14 graduating at the January 2010 San Antonio chapter meeting
held at the University of the Incarnate Word.
Sarah McLaughlin, CPA, Audit Specialist at NuStar Energy and graduate of the 2009-2010
program gave her testimonial of the program, “Leadership Advantage Class helped me learn
more about my strengths, different leadership styles and how to network with other
professionals. It also helped me develop and recognize the differences between managers and
leaders. The peer panel on the last class was inspirational. This class has something to offer
for every level of leadership and can strengthen your business and personal life.”
Kimberly Roach, CPA, Armstrong Vaughan & Associates said, “I was one of those people that
thought the San Antonio CPA Society was simply that place I went to for Continued Education
classes, but the Leadership Advantage Program opened my eyes to new possibilities and
opportunities and now I am excited about serving on a committee and being more involved in
the accounting profession. A fun and memorable way to listen to extraordinary speakers, learn
more about yourself, and meet new people with the Chapter. What a great investment.”
Kathleen Dvorak, CPA, Ridout Barrett & Co, “I found the Leadership Advantage Program to be
inspiring and motivational. I had frequent “WOW” moments as the speakers shared their
wisdom and personal experiences. The program provides opportunities for networking and
mentoring, as well as valuable insight on how much the Texas Society of CPAs and the San
Antonio chapter contributes to their members, the profession and the community.”
VITA Program – Volunteer Income Tax Assistance
The VITA program is designed to assist low income families with their income tax returns. The
New CPA Involvement Committee reached out to the local director of the VITA program in San
Antonio, with 20 of our local CPAs participating in this volunteer event, joined by many of our
student members. Training was held in December 2009, in preparation for the event on
Sunday, January 31, 2010, at the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center. More than 550
individuals received assistance with their 2009 income taxes.
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Blue Santa – “Stuff the Van”
The San Antonio CPA Society’s New CPA Involvement Committee has been participating in
Blue Santa over 10 years; however, “Stuff the Van” was a new and much improved way to
collect more donations and draw participation of our members. Mark Goldman, CPA and owner
of MGR Personnel, volunteered to drive his wife’s van around San Antonio picking up the toys
and donations. Magnetic signs (see photo below) were designed and displayed during the
collection drive, which exceeded our previous record with 283 toys and $2,330 in donations
collected for Blue Santa. The Blue Santa chapter meeting was held in November 2009, with
over 70 members participating.
Our CPA Involvement Committee won the local award for Outstanding SACPAS Committee for
2009-10, for these three new initiatives.
Business & Industry Committee
Our 2009-2010 President, Edie Cogdell, CPA and comptroller for the University of the Incarnate
Word, has been in industry for over 10 years. One of Edie’s goals during her presidency was to
reach out to the Business and Industry audience in conjunction with the Texas State Society of
CPAs. In August 2009, the San Antonio CPA Society held its first Business & Industry
Committee meeting in more than 10 years, with an overwhelming response of more than 30
members. Most of the members had never been involved in any SACPAS committees and
were very excited to have the opportunity to network with other industry members. The
committee developed a survey directed to members in business & industry, who make up
approximately 42% of our 2,600 members. The survey concluded that members were most
interested in networking and continuing education. The Business & Industry Committee will
conduct one-hour ‘lunch & learn’ CE classes, provided by volunteers within the committee. Re-
establishing the Business & Industry Committee has made a significant impact on member
benefits and participation within our chapter.