Renew online today. For rules, go online.

The scholarship program will be administered by CalCPA’s Accounting Education Committee and funded by the CalCPA Education Foundation. Three doctoral candidates will be selected per year to receive a maximum of $10,000 per year with a possible renewal of three years total.

Applications are due to CalCPA by April 15. Accounting students, accounting education and the accounting profession will benefit from this opportunity.

If you have questions, contact John Angelo, CalCPA division director of strategic relations.

Apply today.

— Rufino Ucelo

I feel very privileged to be a recipient of a CalCPA scholarship. It is quite an honor.

I’ve recently applied for student membership with CalCPA and I am anticipating greater involvement in the accounting field.

I will be graduating from Fresno Pacific University in May. I’m so excited! I ask for your prayers as I embark on my future. Thank you again.

— Paige L. Abeytia

First off, I would like to thank you for selecting me for the CalCPA Fresno Chapter scholarship. I am very grateful to a recipient for this award and I will do my very best to make you proud. I applied for a scholarship through Fresno State hoping to receive any amount at all, but the generosity of the scholarship came as a shock. I am honored that you would choose me to receive this scholarship.

I am a business administration student with an emphasis in accounting. After I graduate in the spring of 2010 from Fresno State, I plan on becoming a CPA while continuing my career in accounting. I’ve recently started my last year at Fresno State and love every day of it. I plan on continuing my education at Fresno State and pursue a graduate degree.

Receiving the CalCPA scholarship will make it easier for me to focus on my studies this year and my short-term goal of making the President’s List for my final two semesters at Fresno State. It has always been a dream of mine to start a scholarship later on in my life. With your generosity, it is now a goal of mine to be able to do for others what you have done for me. I will do my very best to prove to you throughout this semester that you placed your faith in the right person. Once again, thank you for this scholarship.

— Tyler S. Esswein

I realize that many of us are busy with tax season, and while our board of directors doesn’t meet for a few months, our chapter has still been busy.

We held our first blood drive with the Central California Blood Center during the week of Jan. 11. We had 64 participants who attempted to donate, and 53 who were able to do so—which resulted in 53 pints of blood. For our first blood drive, these were excellent results. A big thank you to Denise Patterson who coordinated the drive and to everyone who took time out of their busy schedule to donate. Another thank you goes out to Britz Fertilizer, BPF, and MYW who had mobile blood units at their businesses. And of course, thank you to the employees of the blood bank.

CPA Day at the Capitol Jan. 20 was another success with more than 100 CPAs participating. There is no pending legislation affecting our profession at this time, but it is important to maintain the relationships we have built over the past few years with our representatives in Sacramento.

The CalCPA Council meetings Jan. 21 included a presentation by Sen. Leland Yee and State Controller John Chiang, who provided an update on California’s budget concerns. We also received an update on CalCPA’s big move from Redwood City to San Mateo this summer.

The nominating committee for our local chapter submitted a slate of officers and directors to be voted on by the board of directors. The membership elected the following officers.

President: Elaine Reule, M. Greene &Co; Vice President: Jodie Rolih, Hemming Morse; Secretary: Laura Cullen, KRM Risk; Treasurer: Tim Baker, Watt, Campbell Chi & Baker; Past President: Sheryl Yardumian, Morse Yardumian Wittwer;

Chapter Directors: Norman Wong (2010–12), Dunn Jeffries Hering & Wong; Nicole Centafonti (2010–12), M. Greene &  Co.; Jodi Nemeth (2010–12), Morse Yardumian & Wittwer; Kathleen Bates (2010–11, finishing up Tim Baker’s term), Torosian & Walter

Council Representatives: Elaine Reule, Jodie Rolih

Thank you to all of our board and committee members who have made the commitment to serve our chapter. We appreciate all of the applications received this year and encourage each one of you to stay involved—or become involved. Remember, this is your chapter.

• Jan. 13: Baker Peterson & Franklin; 10 a.m.–1 p.m.
• Jan. 13: Britz Fertilizer, Inc.; 1-4 p.m.
• Jan. 14: Morse Yardumian & Wittwer; 1:30-4:30 p.m.

In addition, you may donate at the following locations:

• Main Donor Center; 4343 W. Herndon; Fresno
• Fresno Donor Center; 3445 N. First Street; Fresno
• North Fresno Donor Center; 8094 N. Cedar Ave.; Fresno
• Visalia Donor Center; 1515 S. Mooney Blvd.; Visalia
• Porterville Donor Center; 93 N. Main St. Suite D; Porterville

This is a wonderful way to give back to our CPA family. All blood donated during this week will benefit CalCPA members and their families by going into a “bank” to be drawn on when needed in the future. Please help by donating. If you are able to donate, refer to guidelines on the American Red Cross website for tips, which include:

1. Eat a good breakfast and/or lunch
2. Drink plenty of water and other liquids, but avoid caffeine
3. Eat iron-rich foods
4. Avoid fatty foods.

For more information regarding the blood drive, please contact Denise Patterson.

The event also will recognize our Women to Watch Award winners. Categories include Established Leaders (one who has advanced to a higher level or leadership position within the organization) and Emerging Leaders (professional who has made significant contributions to the profession and to her community, but who has not yet reached the highest levels of advancement).

Go online to review the award criteria and download a nomination form, due March 22.

Register for the event today.

Happy 2010 to everyone! This is our last chapter Bulletin until May because of the coming tax season. With this in mind, I thought it would be a great opportunity to share some tips for making tax season a bit easier:

1. Learn relaxation techniques, such as listening to classical music, aromatherapy candles, herbal teas, yoga and breathing exercises.
2. Reward yourself and escape from the office for a few hours. Go to a funny movie, get an ice cream sundae or go to the batting cage and work off some stress.
3. Keep healthy by eating a balanced diet, reducing caffeine and alcohol, and munching on healthy snacks.
4. Remember to exercise—take a walk during your lunch break and keep a set of small hand weights in your office.
5. Make sure your office is comfortable with pictures of family and friends, fresh flowers, and that your furniture and computer hardware are ergonomically correct.

There’s no guarantee these will work, but it’s worth a try.

Our first blood drive will be held the week of Jan. 11 with mobile donation sites at the following offices:

• Jan. 13: Baker Peterson & Franklin; 10 a.m.–1 p.m.
• Jan. 13: Britz Fertilizer, Inc.; 1-4 p.m.
• Jan. 14: Morse Yardumian & Wittwer; 1:30-4:30 p.m.

In addition, you may donate at the following locations:

• Main Donor Center; 4343 W. Herndon; Fresno
• Fresno Donor Center; 3445 N. First Street; Fresno
• North Fresno Donor Center; 8094 N. Cedar Ave.; Fresno
• Visalia Donor Center; 1515 S. Mooney Blvd.; Visalia
• Porterville Donor Center; 93 N. Main St. Suite D; Porterville

This is a wonderful way to give back to our CPA family. All blood donated during this week will benefit CalCPA members and their families by going into a “bank” to be drawn on when needed in the future. Please help by donating. If you are able to donate, refer to guidelines on the American Red Cross website for tips, which include:

1. Eat a good breakfast and/or lunch
2. Drink plenty of water and other liquids, but avoid caffeine
3. Eat iron-rich foods
4. Avoid fatty foods.

For more information regarding the blood drive, please contact Denise Patterson. I hope to see everyone out there!

Register or learn more about CPA Day at the Capitol online.