As we move past Thanksgiving, can tax season be far behind? Tis the season to download this year's version of your tax software.  To those of us who survived last year's debacle with Tax Works, it is time to move on to better things.   And once again, tax season will open later, which will impact many of us.

This has been a busy year for NYSSEA and a very good one.  We have seen a new chapter come to life, a new venue for our conference (more on that later), new bylaws were adopted and we reviewed where we are and where we are going.

In June, the board did a SWOT analysis looking at our strengths, weakness, and the opportunities and threats we face.  One thing became perfectly clear to the board and to me.  We are doing a good job at providing educational opportunities but we need to be doing more in the area of advocating for the EA credential in Albany and in making the public aware of our credential.

I believe that most of our members feel that NAEA and NYSSEA should do more to promote the EA credential to the general public.  On the national level I hear this all the time.  We should do more public relations, spread the word and some members even suggest we advertise.  Of course all that would be nice and all of that costs money.  When asked what they are doing individually to promote the EA credential, the silence is deafening.  When asked how much more they would be willing to ante up to advertise I am often met with blank stares. 

That being said, we as leaders are not absolved from taking charge and putting into place programs for our members so that they can help spread the word to the general public and to their legislators.  There are many tools provided by Gigi Jarvis and the NAEA PR team and by Bob Kerr and the  NAEA GR team for us to use as individuals.

But what is NYSSEA doing to help at the state level?  Well, the good news is that this year through the work of Evan Golar, EA, CPA, we are getting recognition at the NYS Department of Taxation and Finance.  Those of you who know Evan will understand that he can be tenacious in pursuing something.  He has put together a FOIL request to get the NYS Audit Manual.  He has contacted (may I say at times pestered) the powers that be at DTF to include us in surveys and announcements. 

Frank Degen, EA USTCP, has represented us before the NYS Senate Standing Committee on Finance chaired by SENATOR JOHN A. DEFRANCISCO on October 3, 2013.  It is my hope that we continue to offer well thought out testimony that articulates our position as EAs to the state legislature.  Toward that goal our Secretary Michael Lawrence, EA is working on a project to accomplish just that.  This project is the result of his attending the NAEA Leadership Academy last June.  When we put together the program we will, of course, share it with you.

Continuing education (CE) has become a commodity.  Companies are competing to take our dollars as EAs and that puts continued pressure on our chapters and on our annual conference.    Competition is a good thing since it lowers costs.  I hope this lower cost does not compromise the quality of our educational opportunities. This year we moved our annual conference to the Villa Roma which disappointed some of our long time attendees who had become comfortable at the Desmond in Albany.  Unfortunately the costs of hotel conferences have increased substantially over the past few years but the price per CE has decreased with the emergence of new providers.

There are a few options open to us.  We can increase attendance or increase the price to cover the rising costs.  Unfortunately we were at capacity at the Desmond and to increase the price of our conference would put it out of reach of many of our members.  Hence we moved. The new venue came with some problems that have since been addressed.  In fact, the Villa Roma has been extremely cooperative.  The one thing we can't change is its location.  We are however, working on ways to make everything better for our 2014 conference.   I look forward to seeing more new faces at our annual conference slated for October 25-October 27, 2014.  Please save the date and be prepared for what I am sure will be our most exciting educational program ever. 

I want to thank all of you for your continued support of NYSSEA and NAEA and wish you a very happy holiday, wonderful new year and a stress-less, profitable tax season.

Don Rosenberg, EA

President