Dear Friends:

Mark your calendars for our chapter's upcoming annual meeting on April 22nd, 2009. It is going to be a busy day, with bylaws presentation, chapter elections and most important our technical meeting on "Strategic Financial Management during Current Times".

For the past couple of months the bylaws committee and the chapter board has spent quite a bit of time to come up with the latest version of bylaws that is posted on the chapter website. This version is for your review and comments. We hope that you will read through this document and provide comments to the bylaws committee prior to the annual meeting so we can approve and execute the document starting the new chapter year.

Our technical session on April 22nd again would consist of four panelists and a moderator. This discussion session will cover critical issues that are most relevant to finance professionals including, budgeting and control, strategic planning and forecasting, performance measurement, financial leadership, and ethical practices. The session also specifically covers the challenges that are being faced by the financial executives during current economic situation.

One of the most valuable products offered by the IMA is a video-training program introducing and explaining up-to-the-minute accounting and finance issues. Viewing and participating in the group discussion following provide 4 hours of NASBA-approved CPE credit. We are continuing our partnership with Palo Alto chapter in bringing these FMN tapes view to the chapter membership. Look out for the announcements.

As we bring forth to you the CMA learning system through collaborative efforts with UCSC, we also would like to inform you of the chapters study groups. We are currently holding the study sessions for Part 1 CMA. For more information on the study group, contact any of the board members on the board contact list on the chapter website.

I have been on the board of non-profits for many years now, and I continue to find it extremely rewarding in terms of serving the professional community/membership and the opportunity to make significant improvements in the operations of the association. At the upcoming elections on April 22nd, I hope to see many of you, the chapter members contest for the critical board positions and be part of the chapter leadership.

Regards,

Sudha