DUES COMMITTEE REPORT

The Alabama Society of CPAs Dues Committee met in January and reviewed several reports including state dues comparisons, a multi-year comparative dues report of ASCPA, and the current membership profile.

The committee voted in 2022 to fold chapter dues into membership dues. COLA in 2022 was 6%, which was also taken into consideration for the 2022-23 annual dues. Life members and student members have long had a $0 dues amount.

Following much discussion, the committee recommended FYE April 30, 2024, annual membership dues increase, with the following in mind:

• COLA. Increase of 8.7%

• Pipeline Initiatives. Investing in new human resources/ human capital talent to address pipeline initiatives for members, while protecting and retaining our current staff.

• Technology/Service Offerings. Investing in new platforms and establishing new service offerings to better serve our members.

For more information, or for questions about membership dues, contact Bethany Booth at (334) 386-5751 or by email at bbooth@alabama.cpa.

Recently ASCPA members Stacy Cummings, of Wilkins Miller in Mobile, and Matthew Hilburn, of Crowne Health Care in Monroeville, spoke to Personal Finance, Economics, and Business Management classes at Handley High School about the advantages of having a career in Accounting.

“I was fortunate to have a dad who was an accountant and a mom who was a teacher,” said Cummings, “but I went to school with many who didn’t have any good, sound financial advice or good examples to follow. So, I recognize and appreciate how helpful that was for me and my future, and that’s why I love talking to kids.”

The pair partnered with the Career Coach for Roanoke City Schools, Robin Cottle, and made a lasting impression on the students they met.

“The students have been buzzing about those ‘special guests’ we had at the school yesterday,” said Cottle, in an email to Cummings. “Apparently, you both made quite an impression!”

The presentations did not fall on deaf ears. According to Cottles, the information about Accounting as a profession was brought up in conversations by students with their friends and family in the days that followed.

“The information forced (the students) to take a good look at the decisions they are making about their future careers,” said Cottles. “Not only did you enlighten them about a career in accounting, you made them think about how they need to be responsible about their finances at this time of their life.”

In Hilburn’s opinion, the students and faculty at Handley High School were welcoming, engaged, and inquisitive.

“It was incredibly insightful as to the challenges that lie ahead for our profession,” said Hilburn. “Very few people knew an accountant and even fewer knew what a career in accounting looks like.”

When Hilburn asked if any students knew an accountant personally, one student replied, “Yes. You.”

“While this certainly provided comedic relief,” said Hilburn, “it has left a few questions worth asking: ‘How do we solve our pipeline challenges if so many don’t know we exist? If we aren’t pounding the pavement in our communities with the same energy that we commit to business development, is it possible to move the needle?’”

Cummings and Hilburn are not the only CPAs who have made classroom visits in their communities, and ASCPA thanks all those who have been champions for the profession. If you are interested representing the profession in your community, contact Zack Camerio at zcamerio@alabama.cpa or call (334) 386-5763.

“We need to sell our profession as the American Dream,” said Cummings. “Looking for a better life? Looking to be a business owner? Be a CPA.”

“I am hopeful this will just be one of many experiences that we as members of ASCPA will collectively undertake and build upon as we continue to wrangle with pipeline challenges,” added Hilburn.