MACPA members approve bylaw revisions

MACPA members have approved a list of bylaw revisions that will increase the association's efficiency and allow it to more readily embrace technological advances to better serve its members.

The revisions were approved by members who voted in an association-wide ballot in late June and early July.

Many of the revised bylaws are aimed at increasing the efficiency of the MACPA Board of Directors while ensuring the board retains its diversity and demographic mix of members. The changes are rooted in the MACPA's Governance and Structure Task Force, a group of volunteer members that was charged by the Board of Directors to review the MACPA's structure and make recommendations for change to align it with the vision and mission of MACPA. The purpose was to build a "community of value" by and among MACPA members and to expand the MACPA's relationships with its members.

Under the revised bylaws, the nominations process to the MACPA's Board of Directors continues to be member-driven. Seven seats are available to represent various member classifications and demographics across all geographic areas.

Other revisions were suggested due to changes caused by technology and to revise gender references.

Specifically, the proposed revisions will accomplish the following:

Board of Directors and Executive Committee

Reduce the number of elected officers, and thereby the number of years an elected officer would serve on the Executive Committee, from five to four.
Revise the titles of the officers of the Executive Committee to chair, chair-elect, secretary / treasurer, immediate past chair, and president / CEO.
Require any officer or board director who is not a CPA to comply with the Code of Professional Conduct.
Recommend that the officers nominated be representative of membership classifications and demographics.
Reduce the number of members of the Board of Directors to 13.
Revise the title of the executive director to president / CEO.
Provide that the president / CEO be a voting member of the Board of Directors.
Remove unnecessary detail but retain the Board of Directors' authority in the selection and engagement of the MACPA's auditors and budget approval process.

Public member on the Board of Directors

Provide for one at-large public member on the Board of Directors who is not a CPA and who agrees to comply with MACPA's Code of Professional Conduct.

Professional ethics changes

Update the language in the Code of Professional Conduct.
Add a requirement for members to comply with the laws and regulations of the state governing CPAs.
Allow two members of the Professional Ethics Committee to be members who have not served in public practice.
Allow members of the Professional Ethics Committee to serve a second term of three years.
Provide that membership may be suspended if any professional license held by that member is suspended as a result of a disciplinary measure by a regulatory body.

Other changes

Update the MACPA's mission statement to reflect our focus on being a resource to our members.
Allow more flexibility in the appointment of committees and task forces of MACPA to better serve and meet the diverse needs of membership.
Allow former MACPA members who are not currently Maryland residents to become associate members even if they have not been MACPA members for a full year.
Simplify the requirement for dues payments, which are to be set by the Executive Committee and approved by the Board of Directors. Failure to pay dues will continue to be grounds for termination of membership.
Allow for technological changes in forms of communication.
Remove gender bias references.

Feedback from members was vital to the revision process. The proposed revisions were outlined to members in a series of town hall meetings held throughout the state prior to the vote. Based on overwhelming concerns from all chapters, one provision regarding membership for non-CPAs was removed from the final proposal.

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