May-June 2009
In my last column, I wrote with pride about the efforts of members of the Minnesota Chapter to support AccountAbility Minnesota, a volunteer tax-preparation organization, as well as the Institute’s decision to make a cash grant to the organization under TEI’s Social Responsibility Plan. That pride is even more palpable because Karen Piehler-Shaw of Ceridian, the chapter’s 2007-2008 Chapter President, recently informed the Institute that the nonprofit organization has selected TEI as the winner of AccountAbility Minnesota’s 2009 Corporate Partnership Award. The Corporate Partnership Award is given each year to a private sector organization that has increased AccountAbility Minnesota’s capacity for service through volunteers or financial support and thereby promoted the mission of AccountAbility Minnesota to serve those in need with tax and financial services in order to help them reach economic self-sufficiency.
TEI was notified of the award by Elizabeth Albrecht, the charity’s Volunteer Director, whom I had the pleasure of meeting in April when the Institute presented its social responsibility grant to AccountAbility Minnesota. Ms. Albrecht’s message to the Minnesota Chapter explained her group’s reasoning:
I have only worked at AccountAbility Minnesota for six months, but already I am coming to know how invaluable our relationship with TEI is and how much your group has done to help us grow through increased awareness, volunteer outreach, and financial support — and subsequently increase the number of individuals we serve in our community.
These words make clear that the Institute’s receiving the Corporate Partnership Award was not just owing to its financial contribution, but importantly, to the ever-refreshing cadre of Minnesota Chapter members who provide volunteer services to AccountAbility Minnesota. Given how time pressed many, if not most, of us find ourselves, it is often easier to open our checkbook rather than to roll up our sleeves for a charity, but in this case the Institute and its members were able to do both. I commend every member who has given up as little as one evening or weekend to provide tax preparation assistance to individuals, families, and small businesses in navigating the tax rules and obtaining the much needed benefits that are available in our complicated tax laws. By getting involved, they made a positive difference — one that they, their fellow chapter members, and all of us should be proud of.
50 Years of Service in Upstate New York
On May 21, 1959, TEI’s three upstate New York Chapters — Syracuse, founded in 1946; Rochester in 1949; and Niagara Frontier (now, Buffalo-Niagara) in 1958 — held a joint meeting in Buffalo. Unlike groups that boldly style their first endeavors something akin to “So-and So’s First Annual Corn Detasseling Contest” (extra credit to anyone knowing what corn detasseling is without using Google), the three chapters were more modest in their promotional efforts. The modesty, while not surprising, was not necessary because the meeting drew what TEI’s publication of the day, TEI News, described as “fifty-odd members and business guests.” (Thank goodness for the hyphen or the reference would have been not to their numbers but to their character!) More important, it did indeed spawn an annual meeting, which has become known as the Tri-Chapter Conference.
One of the premier tax events in the upstate area, the 50th Annual Tri-Chapter Conference, was held in Rochester on May 5, 2009. I had the privilege of attending the program, which provided the more than 100 registrants with seven excellent hours of CPE, and speaking at the luncheon. Diane Gardner of Eastman Kodak, 2008-2009 president of the Rochester Chapter (which hosted the event), provided some historical context by noting the following about 1959:
- Alaska was admitted to the Union as the 49th state.
- And later, Hawaii was admitted as the 50th state.
- The first “annual” Daytona 500 was held.
- The first Barbie doll was introduced.
- The St. Lawrence Seaway was opened by Queen Elizabeth II and President Eisenhower.
- The Twilight Zone premiered on TV.
- The average house cost $12,400.
- A gallon of gas was 25 cents.
And to add one tax-related item, Diane pointed out that —
- The highest corporate tax rate in 1959 was 52%.
Diane then did what effective leaders always do: She acknowledged that credit for the successful program belonged not to her, but to a dedicated group of Rochester Chapter members who served on the planning committee for the golden anniversary of the Tri-Chapter Conference:
- Jeanne Borrelli of Excellus Health Plan, Treasurer and Pres-ident-Elect, who coordinated getting the bags and the pens.
- Dee Waldruff of Paychex, immediate Past President and acting secretary who took care of the RSVPs, attendance list, and the agenda.
- Linda Mitrano of Constellation Brands, who coordinated the presentations and helped with hotel arrangements.
- Laurie Phelps of Wegmans Food Markets, who worked with the event’s sponsors, coordinated the gift baskets . . . and donated use of her laptop computer.
- Kim Pepe of Home Properties, for preparing the CPE forms.
- And Mike Nesbitt, the Rochester Chapter’s representative on the Institute Board of Directors for providing experience, support, and for getting our luncheon speaker here today!
Diane also thanked members of the Rochester Chapter board, including Keith Thorp of PAETEC Communications, Gary Steinberg of Global Crossing North America, Jim Foreman of Carestream, and Neil Cieminis of Wilmorite Management Group, for helping us secure speakers and for providing ongoing advice and ideas.
What Diane did in identifying those who deserve the credit was not unusual in my experience of observing TEI leaders, nor is the volunteer efforts of so many people to keep the Tri-Chapter Confer-ence’s tradition of excellence alive. I join Diane in expressing appreciation to them for their efforts, and I repeat my thanks to her for her service as chapter president.
New York Chapter Scores Another First
While chapter leaders in upstate New York were contributing by hosting the 50th anniversary of what has become their chapters’ signature event, their colleagues in the New York Chapter were expanding their networking and education efforts by holding a brand new event. On May 21, the chapter hosted an all-day program workshop with representatives of LMSB’s Communications, Technology, and Media Industry. Held at the IRS’s facilities, the program featured presentations by IRS officials (including CTM Industry Director Pat Chaback), key practitioners (such as former LMSB Commissioner Debbie Nolan), and several members of the chapter. Participants in the workshop came from both industry and LMSB, and they peppered the speakers with an array of insightful, challenging questions.
The following members of the New York Chapter deserve special recognition for their efforts: Iris Schneider of Sony, Chapter President; Ray Gwydir of Estee Lauder, the chapter’s representative on the Institute Board of Directors, and Tom Wharton of Pearsons. On an ongoing basis, they have made a difference.
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I would be remiss if I did not acknowledge the retirement of Frank Y. Ng, LMSB Commissioner. Frank provided 36 years of dedicated service to the Internal Revenue Service, and was a good friend of the Institute. The Institute wishes him success in his future endeavors.
Timothy McCormally