CPA and the business public;

              The CPA and the Business Public
by JOHN W. QUEENAN Partner, Executive Office
Presented before the Annual Meeting of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, Chicago — November 1961
IT HAS BEEN customary on these occasions in the past for the incom­ing
president to present a theme or goal for his administration. Mark Eaton, whose memory is woven into the fabric of our profession, never formally adopted a theme, but his deep concern for the economic health of CPAs led to the Management of Accounting Practice project. Perhaps his most important statement during his year in office, made here in Chicago, concerned the problems of financial reporting in a changing society and the profession's responsibility, through the Institute, for leadership in the search for better reporting methods.
Following logically his predecessor's call for leadership, Al Jen­nings
proposed in his acceptance speech the creation of a new research organization to further the development of accounting principles.
Lou Penney selected for special emphasis during his administra­tion
the improvement of the CPA's competence as the key to personal recognition and greater personal income. He thus promoted the new professional development program, urging state societies to make it available to members, particularly in smaller communities.
On his election to office, Jack Seidman announced a program for bringing the Institute closer to its members. He proposed greater personal contact by Institute officials with members throughout the country, increased membership participation in Institute activities, and expansion of the committee structure, in terms of both size and number, including new committees devoted to the affairs of members with special interests.
Louis Pilié set as his major objective of the year, improvement of the lot of the largest single group in the Institute, the small and medium-size practitioners. Relying on cooperation between large and small firms and utilizing the new CPA Consultation Service, he pro­posed
measures to improve competence in the specialized areas of practice. A year ago Louis promised to subordinate all else to the interests of the Institute and the profession. He has kept that pledge. In the past year Louis has spared no effort in pursuit of his objectives and the profession is better for his service. Few have demonstrated
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