2010-2011 Year in Review - California Society of Enrolled Agents

COmmiTTEES
charged with the continued development and identification
of new areas and opportunities to promote the EA designation
as a career option and to provide material for Chapters to
conduct outreach efforts. In response, a Membership E-ACT
Subcommittee was formed to further explore ideas to support
these efforts. Subcommittee Chair Joni Terens, EA, the PIA
Committee and CSEA staff developed, created and presented
the Booth in a Box (Career Box), a portable, all-inclusive resource
that can be used at myriad events. This Career Box has been
approved for PIA matching funds for the Chapters and will
provide a complete and professional setup for career fairs,
recruiting events and Chapter education meetings. CSEA
will use the original prototype for CSEA education events, IRS
Forums and other venues that CSEA attends.
The Awards Subcommittee, under the outstanding guidance
and leadership of the Chair, Robert Cantu, EA accomplished
the drafting and approval of a new Public Information
and Awareness (PIA) award category. The PIA Award, developed
in collaboration with the PIA Committee, recognizes an
individual(s) who has made significant contributions and efforts
in promoting the EA designation and profession. In addition,
this Subcommittee embraced the insightful recommendation
of Raven Deerwater, EA, CSEA Second Vice President, in the
Nominating Committee David A. Shaw, EA
It was a great honor to serve as Chair of the 2010-2011
CSEA Nominating Committee and have such a talented and
insightful team to work with. The Committee had the privilege
of interviewing a great pool of candidates. The amount of
talent and leadership within CSEA Members never ceases to
impress me. As a committee, we reviewed numerous candidate
packets and held personal interviews in January 2011. After
a lengthy deliberation process the Committee presented the
Political Action Committee (PAC) Jennifer macmillan, EA
The California Society of Enrolled Agents Political Action
Committee (CSEA-PAC) has a distinct purpose and functions
independently of all other CSEA activities. While they
operate under extremely complex regulations, Political Action
Committees have a singular pursuit; they make political
contributions in an effort to be influential in legislative affairs.
With the worthy purpose of protecting California’s taxpayers
and the voice of Enrolled Agents, the CSEA-PAC made an
unprecedented number of contributions to key leaders in
the California Legislature during this fiscal year.
The CSEA-PAC holds significant funds in reserve (sometimes
referred to as a “war chest”) for emergency legislative
action in case of a sudden threat to our profession. In the
20 CSEA 2010-2011 Year in Review
review, consideration, recommendation and approval of the
CSEA Board of Directors for a new voting procedure for Awards.
This new procedure, Instant Run-Off Voting, will ensure a lively
and inclusive system for awards voting and presentations for
this year and beyond.
I extend my sincerest appreciation and gratitude to each
member of the Membership & Chapter Development Committee;
to the supporting members of this Committee; to the PIA
and Education Committees and Chairs, Kathy Rocha, EA and
Margy Dunn, EA (respectively); and to the Committee’s Staff
Liaison, Cary Steward, and Cognizant Officer, Jean Nelson, EA,
CSEA First Vice President. Your dedication, hard work, input and
support was immeasurable. All of you have been an integral
and important asset to this committee. It has been my honor
and pleasure to serve as Chair this year.
Respectfully submitted,
Sandy Danioth-Jones, EA – Chair
COMMITTEE MEMBERS: Anne Arms, EA, Robert Cantu, EA, Margaret
Dunn, EA, Paul Cheatham, EA, Peggy Hall, EA, Cognizant Officer Jean
Nelsen, EA, Sharyn A. Scarrott, EA, Joni Terens, EA, Jacquelin Thomson,
EA, and Robert Woodford, EA.
best team of Officers to serve as candidates for the 2011-2012
year. Thank you for allowing us to serve in the process of
selecting our next leaders.
Respectfully submitted,
David A Shaw, EA – Chair
Committee Members: Margy Dunn, EA, Connie Ferrell, EA, Lonnie
Gary, EA, and Jackie Thomson, EA.
absence of looming and perilous legislation, the PAC has
the resources to fulfill its parallel goal: to enhance CSEA’s
visibility and promote Enrolled Agents as “The Tax Professionals”
among legislators.
The true success of the CSEA-PAC this year was generated
by strategic analysis of where our dollars make the biggest
impact. The Committee determined the types of events that
led to the greatest amount of time and attention of candidates
and further refined our strategy of sending Members to these
select fundraisers. Ultimately, our forte is putting a friendly
and knowledgeable face with the term Enrolled Agent. This
strategy accomplished our goals, as many CSEA leaders had
significant “face time” with our favorite lawmakers: the ones