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It was some 20 years ago I realized engineering was not for me. I started searching for a different career path. One that I would enjoy and be proud to represent. I talked to my dad and couple of cousins (all of whom are accountants) and they showed me the path ahead. Now, here I am as incoming president of our chapter. I am a seasoned accountant and an audit staff member of Soares, Sandall, Bernacchi & Petrovich, LLP in Oxnard.

Let me start by thanking all the partners of my firm for their support and encouragement in my participation in the chapter’s leadership. I could not have succeeded without their support and encouragement. I would also like to thank our 2011–12 officers and board members: Gail Anikouchine, Jason Janzen, Yusuf Balogun, Darcia Stebbens, Jessica Johnson, Peter Iannone, Ellyn Cole and Patricia Krout.

As chapter president, my primary goals are to enhance the scholarship fund and to provide valuable CPE events to our members at a reasonable cost. By the time this message is published the board would have already discussed and outlined our CPE schedule and other scholarship fund-raising events in our annual planning meeting. Therefore, the slate is set and only success lies ahead of us.

The economy and the markets have been showing good signs these days; with this I hope we will not have to suffer negative returns on our scholarship funds. In the past we were able to generate substantial revenue from our annual golf tournament. We again have the same ambitious hopes for this year. We are planning to hold the tournament Oct. 22 in October at the Spanish Hills Country Club.

We, as chapter members, should be proud of the fact that our chapter leads all other CalCPA chapters in member participation on a per event ratio, based on membership. In 2012–13 we are hoping to offer interesting and valuable CPE events throughout the chapter where members will receive CPE credit at a reasonable cost.

I believe the last two ABC mixers in Santa Barbara have been a grand success! We are planning another mixer Aug. 16 at the Coral Casino in Santa Barbara. One of my other goals for this year is to have an ABC mixer in the Ventura/Oxnard area where members can network with attorneys and bankers from the southern region of our chapter.

The board is always seeking new ideas and volunteers to make the chapter events more successful. Let us know if you have any ideas or are interested in getting involved with CalCPA or the chapter. We need your participation and support sponsoring our fund-raising and CPE. Visit our website for further information.

I would like to introduce our new board members and committee chairs: Jason Janzen, vice president; Darcia Stebbens, treasurer; Yusuf Balogun, secretary; Peter Iannone, Ellyn Cole, Eddie Moreno and Gloria Berghoefer, directors; Don Loster (Accounting Education Committee); Gail Anikouchine (Accounting Principles & Auditing Standards Committee); Eileen Sheridan (Estate Planning Committee); Susan Jacobsen (Financial Literacy Committee); Garry Jones (Grassroots/Legislative Committee); Carol Hansen (Litigation Consulting Service Committee); Donna Nelson (MAP Committee); Patricia Krout (Scholarship Committee); and Katie Rhew (Young & Emerging Professionals Committee). Thank you all for your commitment and volunteerism towards the profession. I believe together we can achieve another successful year for our chapter.

Last, but not the least, I want to thank Rita Williams, our program associate and Kay Coffin, our program director for all their hard work on behalf of us and our chapter.

Thank you for giving me an opportunity to serve as chapter president. I hope to see everyone and introduce myself to all of you at one of the many upcoming chapter events. As I type this message the Dow is back at the 13,000 level (again), tax season is over and summer is knocking on the door. I wish you all the very best on the road ahead.

• Excellence in teaching and mentoring, as evidenced by receiving various awards or citations;
• Educational innovation, including developing curriculum, case studies and new programs;
• Published articles in professional or academic journals or written textbooks for use in accounting classes; and
• Significant involvement in professional or academic societies and related activities.

Download nomination criteria and a nomination form which is due May 1.

Possibly not surprising to many of you after 12 months, I decided to research the etymology of “to thank” and “to serve.”

We have heard the comical conjugation of the verb “to think” as “think, thank, thunk.” To my surprise, “to thank” is actually related to “to think.” “To thank” is derived from the proto-Indo-European language from 3700 BC and possibly started with the word “tong,” which meant to think/feel, and eventually became to think/feel good thoughts, so that to think and to thank became related.

How intertwined are the concepts of being a servant and being of service? “To serve” is found in Latin servire, (with a related root to servus (n), slave), but might be from the older Etruscan, “to attend to.” Today, we can relate it to help to achieve (servant), to wait upon (at a restaurant), to throw the first volley (volleyball, tennis, etc) or to assist (your board and members). Pandora seems to have many boxes on the subject of the evolution of servire. Is it based upon volition or attitude? I chose volition.

Thank you to Tricia Krout, Raj Acharya, Jason Janzen, Yusuf Balogun, Darcia Stebbens, Peter Iannone, Jessica Johnson and Ellyn Cole for your invaluable assistance during the year and your ongoing board service. Thank you also to our committee chairs and members, to CalCPA Chair Ed Jordan for visiting our November Awards Night and to Rita Williams, our program associate, and all the other CalCPA staff. To all of you, I do think/feel good thoughts.

Have your determined the answer to my May test question? Here it is: Our profession does rely to some extent on Common Sense, even if we think we find that lacking in certain Codes (especially right now). Yes, the author of the source of the opening lines of my May President’s Message was one of the early leaders of the United States: Thomas Paine.

Good luck as you power through the final days of Tax Season!

• Litigation support, fraud, economic damages, business valuation or family law.
• Personal Financial Planning Discussion Group

Please contact program associate Rita Williams if you are interested in participating.

Or … trust, integrity, independence?

What powers are these! They last our lifetime and, if lost, require more than a lifetime to regain.

Busy season certainly tests our mettle. Sometimes gnawing at the back of our minds is a teeny question: Did that add up? Not the addition requiring a 10-key, but the underlying question. Did two and two really make four? Then the next question: Do I have time to go back to check? While under stress, tired and ready for a 12-hour nap, we still realize we must draw upon these superpowers and dig in to make sure everything does add up. Using our superpowers restores our superpowers.

How to face the series of challenges that tax season presents in a seemingly stressful environment to ensure we take the time to investigate when we need to? In talking to those who have had jobs in industries with extremely stressful business cycles, such as cashiering in retail during the holidays or in fast food at lunch with several construction sites and high schools nearby, to get through this time period with a smile is to remember that there is only one customer—the one in front of you. Handle the transaction effectively and efficiently, and proceed to the next. Be aware there is another one right there whose turn will come. In this manner, each customer feels recognized and a stressful environment is reduced (somewhat, at least) to a busy one. Having worked in both these industries during these cycles, I encourage you all to approach the volume of tax returns similarly: one return at a time, prepared well.

I also encourage you to get up from your desk and look to the sea, the mountains, the gardens next door and breathe deeply. And again, restore the oxygen to your blood stream.

Happy tax season! Just a month to go!

Test question: What is the source of the first sentence? Clue: It originated from the beginning and end of a speech given Dec. 23, 1776.

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President: Raj Acharya
Vice President: Jason Janzen
Secretary: Yusuf Balogun
Treasurer: Darcia Stebbens
Past President: Gail Anikouchine
Director: Peter Iannone
Director: Ellyn Cole
Director: Eddie Moreno
Director: Gloria Berghoefer