7 minute read
Vol. 17 No
Riding into 2021 as a “hill seeker”
It is my privilege to serve the WICPA as chair of the board of directors for 2021–2022, and I am excited for the opportunities this year will bring! The WICPA staff and I are here for you, our members. We want to hear from you, connect with you and share resources for the good of the profession. When I set my intentions on achieving a goal, I am not one to shy away from the challenges of accomplishing it. I seek out the challenges, but I think of them as opportunities. I am excited to strategize and work hard for our members to succeed, and I look forward to the opportunities the WICPA has in store for this fiscal year. The “Hill Seeker” quote noted on page 10 is one that resonates with me partly because I am an avid cyclist and enjoy the downhills, but it runs much deeper than that. It is easy to stay where I am comfortable — on the flat road of life — but I have realized I have a passion for success in the accounting profession and in helping others. I have accepted that I need to become comfortable with being uncomfortable. If I didn’t climb the hill and take the risk, I would not get stronger or feel the same sense of pride in my accomplishments. When I first joined the WICPA, it took a while before I attended an event in person. It was challenging for me to figure out how to connect and participate in events that I was not fully aware of with people I did not know. I wish I had made the time and found the courage to step out of my comfort zone sooner because involvement is so rewarding. But the important thing is that I finally showed up. If you are like me, I encourage you to look at our committee listings; find a committee that interests you and reach out to the chairperson, me or Tammy to learn more; and then attend a meeting. I have enjoyed my time with the WICPA much more since I increased my participation in events. As a committee member, I value the knowledge sharing that occurs in a room full of CPAs from a variety of industries across the state. It reminds me that I have access to a vast informational resource. I found a natural interest in volunteering on the Public Policy Committee and started going to events — representing the WICPA and meeting more professionals who were as passionate about accounting as I was. The years have passed, and now I call many of these professionals my friends. I have gone out into the community to share financial literacy with children of all ages, served as a board member, testified before the Wisconsin State Assembly and Senate for important legislation, and last year joined our new High School Educator Committee. One of my goals over the next year — once pandemic protocols are lifted — is to get back into the schools and help continue efforts to build relationships, promote the profession and fill the pipeline. I challenge each of you to be a hill seeker: Go after that goal you have been thinking about, and reach beyond your comfort zone this year. I hope we can connect, and I look forward to seeing more members in person soon. It’s going to be a great ride this year, and I hope you’ll join me in being a hill seeker!
Angela C. Thomas, CPA, is the expenditure and revenue accounting section chief for the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. Contact her at 608-318-3881 or angela.c.thomas@gmail.com.
Looking Forward to the New Fiscal Year
We know COVID-19 has impacted many individuals and businesses. We recognize our future is going to look a little different. We will continue to fine-tune our offerings, which include relevant and timely updates, virtual learning, advocating for the profession and filling the pipeline with talented and diverse individuals. As we head into the new fiscal year starting May 1, here are a few things we have planned for the year ahead:
Membership renewal
We made the decision to have no dues increase this year to help members keep costs down. We hope it helps as we all recover and come back stronger in 2021!
Go-to resource
The WICPA is committed to being your go-to resource. We will continue to provide up-to-date, accurate and trustworthy information through our Featured News, social media, Connect, high-quality publications and e-news. We plan to deliver new videos to include featured members and committees, state and national updates, and interviews with members and invited guests. We will start our virtual monthly member orientation meetings again in the fall for those who wish to learn more about the WICPA.
Advocacy
Advocacy for the profession will remain strong through these challenging times. The WICPA will be vigilant regarding both state and federal legislation that would impact the profession and the business community while continuing to build and maintain relationships with legislators, leaders and agencies.
CPE
December 2021 marks the end of the two-year CPE reporting period for WICPA membership and CPA license renewal. To assist members with their CPE, the WICPA will again offer free CPE programs comprising a three-part technology series and one selected program from each of our conferences that will include ethics. That’s 12+ complimentary new formal CPE credits, plus the free programs already in our course catalog! Since our planning needs to be done nearly a year ahead of time, we will continue to hold most of our programs as livestream through 2021. Continued livestreaming of our programs also allows us to keep reduced CPE prices for members. We have planned more two- to four-hour livestream programs with the popular Wednesday and Friday breakfast program season passes. We are optimistic that we will hold our November Tax Conference and the popular Individual Income Tax Update breakfast program in person, with the breakfast program also held in multiple locations. Planning for the 2022 conferences is already in process for in-person attendance.
Increasing the pipeline
As educators have navigated the teaching challenges of the pandemic and now plan classes for fall, we are eager to work together with college educators and the
new High School Educator Committee to present in their classrooms and their business groups to inform students about the unlimited opportunities the accounting profession has to offer. We plan to record presentations by young professionals and provide the videos to high schools and colleges to promote the profession. With continued collaboration with the National Association of Black Accountants (NABA), we will provide resources and mentors to encourage diversity in the profession.
Events
Our annual golf outing is back on at Ironwood Golf Course in Sussex on Sept. 17, and our Bowling Night at New Berlin Ale House is scheduled for April 28, 2022. We thank you for your continued loyalty and membership as we continue to shape programs, services and activities designed to enhance your opportunities and member experience.
Tammy J. Hofstede is president & CEO of the WICPA. Contact her at 262-785-0445 ext. 4518 or tammy@wicpa.org.
it’s time to renew
your membership
keep your member benefits coming
If you have not yet renewed your 2021–2022 membership, visit wicpa.org/renew for quick and easy online payment to keep your valuable member benefits coming, including On Balance magazine.
Pay your dues in the “My WICPA” section on the WICPA website. For information regarding your membership, contact Tammy Hofstede at 800-772-6939 ext. 4518 or tammy@wicpa.org.
Check out our featured member benefit providers
isolved
isolved is an employee experience leader that provides intuitive, people-first HCM technology. Our HCM platform, isolved People Cloud, seamlessly connects and manages the employee journey. Employ, enable and empower your workforce for a better today and a better tomorrow.
Pearl Insurance
With comprehensive and competitively priced coverage, Pearl Insurance has been providing accountants with professional liability insurance for 60 years. Our team is continuously evolving our insurance plans, ensuring we stay ahead of the curve as an industry leader with coverage that is responsive to the needs of accounting professionals.
Spectrum Investment Advisors
Spectrum Investment Advisors
co-sponsors the annual Retirement Plan Investment Seminar, which offers WICPA members CPE credits at a nominal cost. Members can work directly with Spectrum to receive plan consulting services for their retirement plan program as well as individual wealth/asset management services.
These affinity partners and more can be found at wicpa.org/discounts.
