Certified Management Accountants Society of British Columbia

How can your colleagues and friends earn their CMA designation in as little as three years? By applying for September admission into the 10-month CMA FastTrack Program. The program prepares individuals to qualify for the June 2004 CMA National Entrance Exam.

CMA Information Sessions are being held at CMA Canada - British Columbia from 1:30 to 2:30 pm every Thursday in July and every Tuesday and Thursday in August. Let your co-workers, colleagues and peers know they can learn more about the CMA designation and the CMA FastTrack Program at any of these free sessions.

CMA student advisors are also available to provide personalized guidance over the phone or in person. The registration deadline for September 2003 admission into the CMA FastTrack Program is 4:30 pm on Friday, August 22nd or until seats are no longer available.

The CMA Executive Program enables Senior Managers and Executives to earn CMA Designation

As a CMA, you probably know some senior managers or executives who have a degree and have expressed a desire to pursue a professional business designation that takes their experience and hectic schedules into account.

CMA Canada - British Columbia has partnered with Simon Fraser University to offer the CMA Executive Program, which is available for the first time this September in the Lower Mainland. Appreciating the business and personal demands faced by many managers and executives today, the program is structured to take optimum advantage of the skills and experiences of candidates through the use of innovative self-study and peer-interactive sessions.

Like the other pathways leading to the CMA designation, the CMA Executive Program is both challenging and rewarding. The SFU Business Faculty, with over 30 years of experience in executive education, provides 42 weeks of technical review during the first year of the program.

In the second and final year, CMAs from high-profile industry roles moderate six weekend sessions while CMA Canada evaluates the assignments to ensure the rigorous standards demanded of all CMA candidates are maintained. Throughout the program, the senior management experience of the candidates is taken into account and built upon.

Remo Ferraro, Manager of Market Development, says he's received a number of inquiries from potential candidates who have heard about the CMA Executive Program from a CMA. To obtain information about the program for someone you know, call Ferraro at 1-800-663-9646 or 604-687-5891 extension 238 or email him at remo@cmabc.com.

The registration deadline for September 2003 admission is July 31st. Classes begin on September 12th.

Volunteer online mentors at CMA Canada - British Columbia provide peer support and guidance to CMA students and candidates who are working through the CMA accreditation process now.

There are online mentors who provide advice and share experiences via email to CMA students preparing for the CMA National Entrance Exam. There are online mentors who share their experiences in getting prepared for the Board Report module in the CMA Strategic Leadership Program. And in the coming months, there will be online mentors who mentor CMA Campus Members.

CMA Campus Members are full-time university and college students who haven't necessarily made a decision about what they want to do when they graduate from their post-secondary institution. Volunteer online mentors at CMA Canada - British Columbia could share their experiences with CMA Campus Members and, in doing so, help CMA Campus Members decide whether becoming a CMA is right for them.

Because our volunteer online mentors provide support to individuals at different stages of the CMA accreditation process, the amount of time and the nature of the required support can vary. Most volunteer online mentors can become as involved as they wish, choosing to exchange telephone numbers or to meet with their assigned CMA students or candidates.

For More Information

If you're a 2nd year CMA candidate and would like to explore becoming an online mentor in the CMA Strategic Leadership Program in 2004, please email Jennifer Lang at jennifer@cmabc.com.

If you're a CMA candidate or a recent graduate and would like to look into becoming an online mentor for CMA students preparing for the CMA National Entrance Exam, please email Andrea Sherstobitoff at andrea@cmabc.com.

If you're a CMA or a CMA candidate who would like to be a part of the first group of online mentors for the CMA Campus Members, please email Jerrick Barroso at jerrick@cmabc.com.

Partnership with Langara College helps prospective CMAs qualify for the CMA FastTrack Program

The CMA FastTrack Program is an accelerated 10-month program designed to help individuals qualify for the CMA National Entrance Exam. Admission requirements for the CMA FastTrack Program include course credit for Introductory Financial Accounting, Intermediate Financial Accounting, Introductory Management Accounting, Intermediate Management Accounting, Corporate Finance, and Information Technology.

Some individuals have course credit covering these topic areas while others do not. For people who don't have credit for one or all of the prerequisites, Langara College offers the courses to qualify for admission into the CMA FastTrack Program. These courses are called the CMA FastTrack Preparation Series, and they are available at Langara College at its Vancouver campus.

Depending on the number of required courses that they're missing, individuals can register at Langara College for a specific course or for the entire CMA FastTrack Preparation Series. Others choose to take the entire series as a way to review or learn the essential concepts that are built upon in the CMA FastTrack Program.

Individuals who are interested in taking all the courses as a series can pre-register with Langara College. The next scheduled offering for the series is January 2004.

To register call Langara College at 604-323-5322 or click here to register online.

To learn more about the CMA FastTrack Preparation Series, call Sharlene Oliver at 604-323-5940 or Phuoi-Linh To at 604-323-5982 at Langara College.

To find out more details about the CMA FastTrack Preparation Series, email Jeanette Leitch at jamskan@canada.com. Leitch completed the final two courses in the CMA FastTrack Preparation Series in June. She plans to enrol in the CMA FastTrack Program in January 2004.

2003 FCMA Nominations
The CMA Canada Due Diligence Committee is reviewing nominations from across Canada. In July the committee will inform CMA Canada's provincial partners of the results of the review. Recommendations for fellowships will go to the Board of Directors at CMA Canada for its approval in September 2003.

2003 Annual General Meeting
The 2003 Annual General Meeting is scheduled for Friday, September 19th at 3:00 pm at the Hyatt Regency in Vancouver. For the first time, CMA Canada - British Columbia will hold the Annual General Meeting (AGM) completely separate from Convocation. The 2003 Convocation Ceremonies are being held on Saturday, November 1st at the Hyatt Regency in Vancouver.

Reporting Continuing Professional Education Activities
CMAs need to report their annual professional development activities by filling out the Continuing Professional Education Form and then mailing or faxing it to CMA Canada - British Columbia by September 1st, 2003.

For information about continuing professional education requirements for CMAs, click here.

Affiliation with Financial Executives International (FEI)
Representing CMA Canada and CMAs across BC, CEO Colin Bennett of CMA Canada - British Columbia completed his one year term as President of the Vancouver Chapter of FEI. Over 180 senior financial executives from all industries are members of the chapter. CMA Canada and its provincial partners continue to strengthen ties with the organization across the country.

Affiliation with Leadership and Management Development Council of BC (LMDC)
Representing CMA Canada and CMAs in BC, CEO Colin Bennett of CMA Canada - British Columbia is serving on the LMDC's Executive Board. In early 2004 the LMDC is scheduled to launch the Small Business Check-up Program, an online business diagnostic tool that will allow small and medium businesses to review their operations, identify areas that need improvement, and develop an action plan to improve their operations.

Instrumental partners in the development of this new business tool include Western Economic Diversification Canada, the Government of British Columbia, and the University of British Columbia.

In January 2003 the National Board at CMA Canada approved two recommendations:

To develop a consolidated certified member growth plan for the partnership of CMA Canada

To reflect in that plan incremental growth in 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2006, achieving a consolidated growth target of 6 percent by December 31st, 2006

Senior staff in the CMA partnership is developing this growth plan now. The BC Strategic Plan includes the same strategic objective of quality membership growth as CMA Canada. In 2002 the growth rate of accredited membership for CMA Canada and its CMA Provincial Partners was 2.6 percent. In BC the growth rate was also 2.6 percent. While CMA Canada - British Columbia projects to increase its membership at a rate of 5.6 percent in 2003, the organization faces several challenges.

Challenges to Quality Membership Growth in BC

In our market niche, competition is increasing from MBA programs and various programs leading to professional designations.

Over half of CMA Canada - British Columbia's certified members are now in the later stages of their CMA careers (55.6 percent of certified members are 45 years of age or older).

The number of first time National Exam writers in BC is expected to surge before the degree requirement is implemented effective October 2006. After that date the challenge is maintaining the growth rate given the tighter admission requirements.

CMA Canada - British Columbia's Quality Growth Strategy:

Providing better access to programs that lead to the CMA designation
	The CMA FastTrack Program, offered by five CMA Strategic Partners in the province, qualifies individuals for the CMA National Entrance Exam. (CMA students taking this pathway can earn their CMA designation in as little as three years.)
	Business programs accredited by CMA Canada serve to encourage recent graduates from these undergraduate programs to challenge the CMA National Entrance Exam within three years of graduation. In BC the BBA program at SFU is accredited by CMA Canada and three more business programs from other post-secondary institutions are pending. In Canada nearly 20 business programs have been accredited by CMA Canada. (CMA students taking this pathway can earn their CMA designation in as little as two years.)
	MBA/CMA Programs serve to attract high achievers to the profession of management accounting. CMA Canada - British Columbia is mirroring the successes of other CMA provincial partners by developing a made-in-BC MBA/CMA program. (CMA students taking this pathway could earn their CMA designation in as little as two years.)
	The CMA Executive Program serves to attract senior managers and executives with a degree. The program is being launched in BC at Simon Fraser University this September. (Candidates taking this pathway could earn their CMA designation in as little as two years.)

Raising the Profile and Awareness of the CMA designation
	To increase the awareness and value of the CMA designation in the workplace, CMA Canada - British Columbia is regularly visiting BC's largest and most successful corporations. This plan entails CMA sponsorship programs that the corporations endorse and promote, initiatives to help recruit those corporations' promising employees into the CMA FastTrack Program or the CMA Executive Program, and advertising. Members are encouraged to become CMA information ambassadors at their workplace and in the business community. To find out how you can help, email Remo Ferraro at remo@cmabc.com.
	To increase the awareness and value of the CMA designation at BC's post-secondary institutions, CMA Canada - British Columbia is visiting high priority institutions in the Okanagan, in the Lower Mainland, and on Vancouver Island. This plan also includes sponsorships, initiatives to help recruit full-time students into CMA Campus Membership or to challenge the CMA National Entrance Exam soon after graduation, and advertising. Members are encouraged to become CMA information ambassadors by volunteering with CMA Canada - British Columbia. To find out how you can help at any our events, email Jerrick Barroso at jerrick@cmabc.com.

Members who have inquiries about CMA Canada's direction or CMA Canada - British Columbia's strategy are encouraged to email President Robert A. Strachan at bstrachan@crd.bc.ca or CEO Colin Bennett at colin@cmabc.com.

The Vancouver Chapter held its annual golf tournament at the Northview Golf & Country Club Ltd. on June 8th, donating all of the proceeds from its raffles and silent auction to the Kidney Foundation of Canada BC Branch.

Michael Gareau, Brian White, Rob Mennie and Dave Ludwar won the tournament trophy, which was presented by Chapter President, Linda Pradel, and supplied by prize sponsor, David Aplin & Associates.

Individual winners included Sean Geall and Nancy MacKellar (longest ball); Heather Blatchford and Jim Chen (closest to the pin); Pearl Wong, Michael Chow, Edward Lum and Danny Lee (early bird team prize); and Michael Gareau (early bird individual draw).

Corporate sponsors included Steve Bassaw from SYSPRO Software Ltd. (Platinum); Bob De Ritter from Candlewest Systems Ltd. (Gold); and the Great Little Box Company Ltd.

For more coverage on the 5th Annual Vancouver Chapter Golf Tournament, click here.

Congratulations to these members of CMA Canada - British Columbia who either accepted a new career opportunity or were promoted.

Mr. Claudio Addis, CMA candidate, Controller, Slocan Forest Products (Vavenby)

Mr. David Dempster, CMA candidate; Controller, Sentes Chevrolet Ltd. (Penticton)

Mr. Gavin Froehlich, Dipl.T, BA, CMA candidate; Manager of Finance, Infowave Software Inc. (Burnaby)

Mr. Neil Gray, AAT, CMA; Team Leader - Underground Economy Audit; Canada Customs and Revenue Agency (Prince George)

Ms. Lee Jenkinson, CMA, Directeur General, BPASP Back Pack Agent Solutions Providers, (Le Lamentin, Martinique)

Mr. Richard MacNeill, CMA, Dipl.T; Director, Finance & Administration; Teldon International Inc. (Richmond)

Mr. Blair Matheson, CMA, Owner, Matheson Consulting (Victoria)

Ms. Coralynn Webber, AAT, CMA candidate; Accounting Manager, Internet Marketing Center (Vancouver)

The Certified Management Accountants of British Columbia wish to extend their sympathies to the families and friends of the following members who have recently passed away:

Mr. Scott A. Andrews, AAT (1996), Victoria

Mr. Vernon Buick, AAT (1997), Kelowna

Ms. Constance L. Davis, CMA (1983), Nanaimo

Mr. S. A. Gray, CMA (1944), Life Member (1981), Burnaby

Mr. Gilbert R. Howard, CMA (1960), North Vancouver

Mr. Gordon A. Jones, CMA (1956), Life Member (1982), Victoria

Mr. G.W. Millen, CMA (1964), Nanaimo

Mr. Edmund Sparks, CMA (1974), Chilliwack

If you knew any of these members and would like to send condolences to their families, contact Director of Operations Rick Lightheart at 604-687-5891 or 1-800-663-9646 extension 226 or email him at rlightheart@cmabc.com.

CMA Canada - British Columbia is pleased to celebrate with the Governor General of Canada and the Department of Canadian Heritage the awarding of a Queen's Golden Jubilee Medal to Glynn Spelliscy, CMA, FCMA.

Created to mark the 50th anniversary of the accession of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II to the throne on February 6th, 1956, this commemorative medal was awarded to 46,000 Canadians who have made a significant contribution to Canada, to their community, or to their fellow Canadians. Over 850 of those recipients came from BC.

To determine the recipients, the Canadian Federal Government invited over 175 social service organizations as well as the RCMP, Canadian Forces, Members of Parliament, among others, to nominate Canadians for their outstanding contributions. The Canadian National Institute for the Blind (CNIB) nominated Spelliscy for his 50 years of dedicated service to the organization. During that time he has served on numerous committees and boards at the provincial and national levels.

Spelliscy has been a certified member since 1948, a FCMA since 1979, and a life member of the Certified Management Accountants of British Columbia since 1980. During his career as a CMA, he has served as the National President and as a National Director for CMA Canada; the chair for the Vancouver Chapter and the Memorial Scholarship Fund; and as a member on the Life Membership Subcommittee, Provincial Council and Professional Conduct Committee. Spelliscy continues to serve CMA Canada - British Columbia on the Scholarship Fund Committee. CMA Canada - British Columbia is pleased to congratulate Spelliscy on this outstanding achievement.

CMA Canada - British Columbia is pleased to celebrate with the Commerce Undergraduate Society and everyone at the Sauder School of Business at the University of British Columbia the awarding of the Annual Teacher's Excellence Award to Jeff Kroeker, CMA. This is the 2nd consecutive year that Kroeker has won the award.

The award acknowledges an instructor in the Sauder School of Business whose dedication, teaching excellence and commitment to his or her students exemplify the value of the Bachelor of Commerce degree. Each year student members of the Commerce Undergraduate Society nominate instructors for consideration and later confer the award on a winning recipient.

During his eight year career as a Certified Management Accountant, Kroeker has instructed thousands of business students at the University of British Columbia and has helped cultivate many young business leaders. Active in the business community, he has made significant contributions to CMA Canada - British Columbia, including devoting his time and expertise to the CMA Strategic Leadership Program and to the Provincial Board of Directors.

Welcome to these CMAs who have recently transferred their membership to CMA Canada - British Columbia:

Ms. Marie Basaraba, CMA, Surrey

Mr. Brian Cebryk, CMA, Courtenay

Ms. Jane Cikes, CMA, Burnaby

Ms. Cecilia Lo, CMA, Burnaby

Mr. Sean Monaghan, CMA, Langley

Mr. Ronald D. Nelson, CMA, Roberts Creek

Ms. Ardith Ralph, CMA, Vancouver

Mr. Perry Schneider, CMA, Kelowna

Mr. David Splett, CMA, Trail

Ms. Liane Voelpel, CMA, Vancouver

Annual Membership Dues
Payment for annual membership is due July 1st. To avoid late charges, existing members must pay for their annual membership fees by July 31st. Effective August 1st, 2003, a late fee of five percent will be applied for each month or portion outstanding since July 1st. For example, on August 1st 10 percent will be assessed on the outstanding balance at that time for the months of July and August. Click here to pay for your annual membership online.

Member Resignations
Members who resign must do so in writing and return their membership certificates by August 1st, 2003. For more information, email Rick Lightheart at rlightheart@cmabc.com or call him at 1-800-663-9646 or 604-687-5891 extension 226.

Member Contact Information
Having members' updated contact information ensures that the many services that CMA Canada and its CMA Provincial Partners provide continue without disruption. Those services include the delivery of CMA Canada's Management Magazine, notices of special offers, tax receipts, breaking news, and much more. Click here to check or update your member contact information now.