It’s Time to Renew Your VSCPA Membership

Our 2012–2013 membership year is here and promises to be one of our best yet, with a variety of new benefits like Connect — VSCPA’s interactive member directory!

 

We hope you’ll continue your commitment to the VSCPA and the CPA profession by renewing your benefits and membership today. You can renew by using the invoice we sent you via email, renew online at www.vscpa.com/Renew or call us at (800) 733-8272.

For your 2012–2013 members-only benefits, click here.

For a list of our 2012–2013 membership dues rates, click here.

It’s Time to Renew Your VSCPA Membership

Happy New Year, VSCPA members! It's the first day of our new membership year, and we're really excited about our plans for 2011-2012. We hope you are, too!

Please continue your dedication to the VSCPA and the CPA profession by renewing your membership today. You can use the invoice we sent you via e-mail, renew online at www.vscpa.com/Renew or call (800) 733-8272. (Need our list of 2011-2012 membership dues rates? Click here.)

Your Membership Makes a Difference

As the 2010–2011 membership year draws to a close, I want to thank you for your membership and support this year. Your dedication has enabled us to enhance our products and services to meet your needs and protect CPAs’ interest — from advocating for you at the state and national level to getting you access to online CPE vendors that provide the CPE credits you need at the prices and convenience you want. They say that TEAM stands for “Together Everyone Achieves More.” That couldn’t be truer of the VSCPA.

In fact, I think Andrew Martin, a VSCPA member from Chesapeake and “Top 5 Under 35” award winner, said it best earlier this year:

“I think it’s important to support the CPA community. You can get more accomplished as a group than any single person can on their own.”

So true.

But, I think there’s something that’s even better than collectively achieving great things for the CPA profession. It’s helping our communities in the process. I’m so proud of the more than 600 CPAs who rolled up their sleeves during our CPA Day of Service on September 24 and of the CPAs who serve their employers and clients everyday by providing sound financial services and advice. These acts of service are what make me so proud to be a part of the VSCPA.

Because of your dedication, the VSCPA membership has never been stronger. This year, we exceeded 10,000 members — an important milestone in the VSCPA’s history and a testament to the commitment, character and quality of our professional community.

As our new membership year begins, I hope you will continue your dedication to the VSCPA and the CPA profession by renewing your membership with us. Membership renewal officially begins on May 1, but our online renewal system is ready for those who would like to renew now. (Site login required.)

Thanks, again, for your membership this year. I’m looking forward to a great year in 2011–2012. I hope you are, too.

Dash for the Cash: VSCPA Members Recruit New Members

You already understand why this community is so important. That’s why you’re a member.

But what about those CPAs who aren’t members? Who don’t directly support the organization that represents them at the Virginia General Assembly? Who don’t understand the value of staying connected to more than 9,000 members across Virginia? Who are missing out on information, discounts and career resources to enhance their professional success and the overall CPA brand? 

Someone needs to tell them — and you are the best advocate for your professional association.

The VSCPA Dash for the Cash member-recruit-a-member campaign is a great opportunity for you to spread the word.

The campaign, which began October 18 and runs until November 30, aims to grow this community — but it could also grow your bankroll.

Here’s how it works:

• For every licensed CPA member you successfully recruit to join the VSCPA by November 30, you’ll be entered into a drawing to win cash prizes. There are seven chances to win: $1,000 grand prize, one $500 prize, one $250 prize, one $100 prize and three $50 prizes.
• Recruits must be CPAs licensed in Virginia to count toward your Dash for the Cash. (Although feel free to recruit students and other members, too!)
• Recruits must officially join by 5 p.m. on November 30.
• Recruits must include your member ID number on their application. Not sure what your member ID number is? Give us a call at (800) 733-8272 or check your recent Dash for the Cash e-mails.
• In order for prizes to be awarded, at least 50 new members must be recruited.
• We will announce prizes in early December — just in time for the holidays!

So begin your Dash for the Cash today, and tell a colleague what your VSCPA membership means to you. Visit http://www.vscpa.com/ for details and updates on how many new members you’ve collectively recruited.

Why I Renew

Why I renew my VSCPA membership year after year:

"The VSCPA is the most prominent and best-enabled organization in the state to promote and protect the CPA franchise, which is crucial. Being a CPA gives you a different seat at the table. The VSCPA does that through educational efforts, to ensure competence among members, and advocacy efforts. It’s crucial to the profession in Virginia. Education is more than CPE, too. It’s keeping members informed."

— Brad Jones, CPA, Partner, PBGH

"You’re meeting people you never thought you’d get to meet. It helps you to mature quicker. It’s a comfortable environment where people are willing to help you grow and learn new things. Without that environment, you’re really limited to mentors in your own firm or company. The VSCPA gives me a bigger network."

— Niki White, CPA, Manager, Yount, Hyde & Barbour, PC

Why do you renew? www.vscpa.com/renew 

New Members Had Questions. We Had Answers.

The office is calm now, but it wasn’t so quiet this morning! Every so often, staff at the VSCPA take some time to call members just to check in. This morning, staff called about 600 members who had recently joined to welcome them to the Society and find out how things are going.

We asked our newest members if they had any questions about their VSCPA membership so far. Here are a few of the actual questions we received this morning, along with the answers:

Question: How do I log in to the website (to change my contact information, register for a course, etc.)?
Answer: Click on the “For Members” section of the menu at http://www.vscpa.com/. Your username is your last name, and your password is your member ID number, unless you’ve changed it. Give us a call at (800) 733-8272 if you need a refresher.

Question: I'm not in public accounting. Are there many other members who work in industry?
Answer: There sure are! Right now, CPAs in public accounting make up 42.5 percent of our membership, so the majority of members work in industry, education, government and other fields. No matter what you do, this is a community for you. [By the way, check out the free Business & Industry Virtual Roundtable on February 24 for a great way to connect and share best practices with other industry members.]

Question: Now that I’ve joined, how can I get more involved with the VSCPA?
Answer: [We love this question.] It depends on how and why you’d like to get involved, but here are a few ways to get started:

• If you feel like volunteering your time, check out our various volunteer opportunities online. While the deadline for some 2010–2011 volunteer opportunities has passed, there are several year-round roles to fill.
• If you’d like to network, consider joining our quickly-growing social networking sites or visiting your local chapter. Local chapters offer CPE, volunteer opportunities and a great way to connect on the local level. Keep an eye on the “CPE & Networking” section of the site for virtual and in-person networking and CPE events, which also help you connect. Oh, and check out the searchable Membership Directory.
• Consider writing an article for a VSCPA publication to share your expertise.
• Check out information on the VSCPA Educational Foundation and CPA PAC of Virginia for ways you can support the CPA profession in Virginia.
• There are so many other ways to get involved. Let us know if you’d like help brainstorming!

Question: Do you offer any pro bono tax programs I can volunteer for?
Answer: Yes we do, and we’d love your help! Check out all the VSCPA offers on its consumer site, http://www.financialfitness.org/, and contact VSCPA Community Relations Coordinator Tracey Zink at (804) 612-9427 to volunteer for any of the programs listed.

Question: What career resources can the VSCPA offer me?
Answer: The VSCPA offers several resources to help you land a great position. Browse the online Career Center for job openings, and sign up for the LinkedIn group to receive news on available positions. Also, we know the down economy has been tough for many members. Check out the VSCPA’s Economic Resource Center for a list of resources and articles to help you weather the downturn.

Question: Can you help me pass the CPA Exam?
Answer: Perhaps indirectly. We offer our members deep discounts on CPA Exam prep, among other goods and services. Study hard!

Question: Do you have any resources to help me get through tax season?
Answer: We sure do!

• Lean on your fellow members in tax this season and benefit from their collective expertise by signing up for the VSCPA Taxation E-mail Listserve. This listserve is an incredibly popular resource year-round.
• The VSCPA hosts an online referral database, CPA Referral Online. Fill out this sign-up form to make sure you’re listed.
• Stay tuned to VSCPA communications for tax headlines throughout tax season.

This just scratches the surface of how you can leverage your VSCPA membership. Want to know more? There’s a virtual New Member Orientation Wednesday, March 24, 2010, from 12:30 – 1:30 p.m. We’ll walk you through accessing your membership benefits online and connecting with other VSCPA members across the Commonwealth.

Whether you’re a new or veteran member, don’t hesitate to call us any time to ask a question, inquire about a resource, or leave feedback. The Member Services Hotline is (800) 733-8272.

Welcome, new members, and thanks for the great questions!