By Mike Colgan, PICPA Executive Director and CEO

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As CPAs approach the beginning of another “busy season,” I cannot help but think of many of the conversations I have had with members this year, and in years past, about the challenges that the next 80 days or so will bring. This year certainly did not get off to a great start with the fiscal cliff discussions in Washington, D.C., and the resulting delay in the beginning of the busy season.

Often, members observe that as their life goes madly hectic from now through April 15, the PICPA enters into a slow, or down, time. I used to think the members were correct in their assumption, as we would reduce our programming in the first quarter of the year and clean-up from the prior year programs. But in reality, there really is no down time in our current economy and in this environment of constant change.

The PICPA will be in full strategic mode over the next several months, and, based on recent member volunteer activity, we will have plenty to keep us busy. The PICPA could not function, and could not be effective, without the countless hours that our members provide in various volunteer roles.

Since the first of the year, PICPA committees have completed the following:

• The Budget and Finance Committee and Nominations Committee have met to plan for the 2013-2014 year.
• The Legislation Committee and CPA-PAC Board have met to review our legislative agenda.
• The Education Committee and Diversity Committee have met to plan for the next steps in these two critical areas for our profession.
• The Trustees of the Scholarship Fund have met to establish criteria to expand our scholarship program to assist transitional CPA candidates who need to get additional hours of education to meet the 150 hour requirement.
• The Image Enhancement Committee has met to discuss tax season, when many of our members will interact with the media and the public, as well as projects for our new fiscal year.
• The State Tax Committee continues to provide guidance to the state legislature and Corbett administration on corporate tax reform proposals, and severalCPE conference planning committees have met to plan their 2013 programs.
• The Fiscal Responsibility Task Force has had several meetings and will soon release its second report of recommendations to improve Pennsylvania’s financial condition at a news conference early next month in Harrisburg.
• The task force reviewing PICPA’s governance and structure is scheduled to meet during busy season in February to keep this important project on schedule.

There have been additional meetings and conference calls too numerous to mention, and I have not even begun to discuss activity within our 11 chapters.

So, despite about 50 percent of our members preparing to enter “busy season,” it has not stopped them from participation in PICPA events and initiatives, from giving back to their profession. The PICPA, and the CPA profession in Pennsylvania, owe a debt of gratitude to these volunteers who find the time to make a difference. They understand that only through a group effort – the “Power of We” – can the profession succeed. The Power of We makes the PICPA relevant to our members.

The PICPA team sincerely thanks all of our volunteers and engaged members at the state and chapter level. We could not be going into our “busy season” without your input. If you are currently not engaged with your organization but would like to begin to pay back your profession, please contact me by commenting below and we will be happy to assist you.