Accounting Program Leadership Group Minutes of Board of Governors’ Meeting
August 2, 2009
Kevin Stocks, president of the APLG, called the meeting to order at 9:00 am on Sunday, August 2, 2009 at the Hilton New York Hotel in New York, NY. Members attending included Marty Wartick, Greg Carnes, Doug Ziegenfuss, Julie Peters, Kevin Stocks, Bud Fennema, Jim Young, Phil Reckers, Kathy Shoztic, Linda Nichols, Charles Davis, Jim Benjamin, Mary Beth Mohrman, Ellen Glazerman, Dan Murphy, and Lydia Rosencrants. Guests from the Austen Group joining the meeting included Mike Williams, Kristin Akervall, and Robin Prinzing.
Approval of February 8, 2009 Minutes
The minutes from the Board of Governors of meeting held on February 8, 2009 were approved.
Undergraduate Curriculum Project Update
Members of the Austen Group attended to bring the Board up to date on the undergraduate curriculum project. Mike Williams distributed a list of department chairs/contacts who responded to the survey sent electronically. Mike also presented examples of the reports which will be available to each participating school. Approximately one-third of the 1,000 schools contacted responded to the survey. Mike walked the Board through the results using Brigham Young as an example.
Kevin requested that Board members meet with the members of the Austen Group and offer suggestions for clarifying questions on the survey and the presentation of results.
Mary Beth Mohrman suggested that we try to coordinate with others who survey department chairs such as the AICPA and AACSB. This may increase response rate because chairs would be less overwhelmed with requests for data.
The next step will be a survey of graduate programs. Kevin requested volunteers to help with this survey. Jim Young, Linda Nichols, Phil Reckers, and Doug Ziegenfuss all agreed to assist with the initiative.
Treasurers Report
Treasurer Dan Murphy distributed documents showing 1) Budget to Actual to date (6/30/09) for the fiscal year ending 8/31/2009, 2) the financial history of the APLG since 2000, 3) the financial report of the midyear meeting from Nashville in February 2009, 4) midyear meeting profitability from 1998 to 2009 and 5) a count of active section members. Without contributions from the FSA, net cash flow from the 2009 midyear meeting was approximately $-32,000. Dan noted that the quality of the speakers was higher this year and thus the funds used for speaker fees were higher. Also, fewer registrations occurred than were expected.
Advocacy Committee Update
Greg Carnes presented an update on the joint AAA/APLG Advocacy Committee. Greg began by presenting a history of this collaborative effort. The purpose of the joint work is to try to avoid having letters come from both the AAA and APLG concerning issues which affect both. Instead, one letter could be issued by the advocacy committee which represents both parties.
Greg worked with Sue Haka, president of the AAA, on this effort. Greg presented this concept to the APLG Board during the February meeting. Sue presented to the AAA Executive Board in March. The AAA Executive Board expressed concern that the charge of this committee would overlap the work of the Ph.D. Shortage Committee. The decision was made to merge the Advocacy Committee with the Ph.D. Shortage Committee.
Greg is concerned that the joint committee may move slowly and asked the Board to consider that the APLG have its own advocacy committee that would remain in close contact with the AAA committee. Kevin made a proposal that the APLG retain its own advocacy committee.
Report of 2009 Annual Meeting
Kevin noted that he received feedback from the 2009 meeting right before leaving to come to this meeting. He will distribute this information electronically to the Board at a later date, but did provide a hard copy which was available for the Board to review.
2010 Annual Meeting Update
Bud Fennema, President-Elect, reminded the Board that the 2010 mid-year meeting will be in Albuquerque, NM. The hotel is the Uptown Sheraton. The dates will be February 13-16.
The Board discussed possible meeting locations for the 2011 annual meeting. Locations mentioned were New Orleans, Savannah, and San Antonio.
APLG Communications Update
Doug Ziegenfuss informed the Board that the current newsletter is at the AAA awaiting publication. Doug also discussed using the AAA commons more effectively. It has become more difficult to get the Spring/Summer newsletter published in a timely manner. Electronic distribution would help with this problem. Some Board members expressed a preference for the paper newsletter. It was determined that members would be asked whether they would prefer an electronic or paper newsletter.
Ph.D. Coordinators Breakfast
The second annual Ph.D. Coordinators breakfast will be held on August 3 during the AAA meeting. The APLG and AAA co-sponsor this breakfast to allow these coordinators to talk about issues of concern to them.
Kevin raised the question of how this breakfast benefits the APLG. Phil Reckers expressed that this is a need due to the Ph.D. shortage and does benefit our group.
APLG/FSA Meeting Agreement
Kevin informed the group that the agreement has been finalized subject to Board approval. A copy was not available for Board examination, so a vote was postponed.
Passing of the Gavel
Kevin Stocks announced that Bud Fennema is now President of the APLG. Outgoing Board members were thanked for their service and excused from the meeting.
APLG Committees
Bud reminded the Board that six committees of the APLG now exist. These include the Communications Committee, Membership Committee, Best Practices Committee, Database Committee, Meeting Committee, and Advocacy Committee. Each committee includes members outside of the Board as well as a Board member who acts as a liaison.
Volunteers from the APLG membership were requested and Bud has assigned them to a committee.
The assignments of Board members to committees are as follows: Membership Committee– Quinton Booker, Best Practices Committee – Mary Beth Mohrman, Database Committee – Jim Young, Meeting Committee – Charles Davis, Communications Committee – Doug Ziegenfuss and Advocacy Committee – Jim Benjamin. Kathy Shoztic and Julie Peters will work with Jim on the Advocacy Committee.
Charges for Regional Representatives
Bud informed the Board that a charge is needed for the APLG Regional Vice Presidents. Discussion ensued about how important the regional meetings are to the APLG membership.
Doug suggested the regional VPs organize a roundtable for chairs at the regional meetings. Dan believes that smaller schools may be more easily reached at these regional meetings. Bud will contact the AAA to see if department chairs typically attend the regional meetings.
Executive Team Responsibilities
Bud requested that Executive Team members record their responsibilities for those who will follow in their positions.
Fall Board Meeting
Bud raised the question of whether a fall meeting is needed. The Board agreed that a meeting would be held in Atlanta on November 6.
Adjournment
Bud adjourned the meeting at 11:55 so that the Board could have lunch with the FSA.
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