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Information about Education Splost Renewal
Written by: Royce Duncan
As a member of the local accounting community, you may have questions or may be asked about the Education Splost renewal vote on the November 8 ballot. The important ballot question is whether to extend the penny sales tax for education in Gwinnett County.
The renewed E-Splost sales tax will fund technology in all Gwinnett County schools to be upgraded; five new schools, nine additions/renovations; 433 new classrooms; air conditioning all gyms and kitchens; and with new technology, increase students’ and teachers’ learning resources, with no tax increase.
Five years ago in the last E-Splost renewal, GCPS said it would build 16 new schools, three replacement schools, two school additions, three new school clusters and upgrade schools’ technology with the penny sales tax, and GCPS delivered on these promised facilities, while continuing the GCPS’ stellar, nationally recognized standards for excellence in academics.
For more specifics on each school and each cluster, visit www.GwinnettKidsCount.com. Voting can be done by absentee ballot, early voting, or at your Gwinnett County polling location on November 8, 2011.
-Royce B. Duncan, CPA
Rhodes, Young, Black & Duncan
Randy Whitelock – In Memoriam
Written by: Royce Duncan
It was a week ago today that I gathered with family, friends and fellow CPAs to mourn the passing of Randolph ”Randy” Whitelock, CPA. It has taken me several attempts, but I have finally been able to summarize my thoughts and emotions relative to his unexpected death.
Randy, thank you for all your many efforts to impact and improve our profession, the Georgia Society of CPAs and most notably, the Society’s DeKalb Chapter. While you and I certainly had our differences of opinion and used different methods to attempt to effect change, there is no doubt in my mind that your intentions were honorable, and that you always truly had our profession’s and the Society’s best interests at heart. In that light, your efforts and affection for the profession and the Georgia Society are acknowledged and greatly appreciated.
I will not belabor our differences on various matters and issues, but I will always acknowledge your right to the opinions you held and respect you for holding to the principles you lived by on a daily basis.
I know you had the same doubts and suffered the same disappointments we have all experienced at some point in our personal and professional lives. I earnestly hope that your faith and trust in the Lord we both serve will one day allow you to see beyond these temporary setbacks and to fully realize the positive impact you had during your accounting career.
Your friends and fellow members of the Society – especially those who served with you in the DeKalb Chapter – will miss you and always be mindful of your tireless efforts on our behalf!
Thanks for the Memories!
Written by: Royce Duncan
I am now back in town after a few days of vacation following our recent convention at Amelia Island and wanted to take this opportunity to thank many GSCPA members for their support throughout my year as Chairman.
In my remarks at the Chairman’s Dinner, I mentioned my “Fab Five” – memories that will stay with me through the coming years.
1) We kicked off the year with the convention at Hilton Head Island. I can still remember everyone enjoying the shag style dancing, notably Bobby and Pat Whitmire, among many others. It was equally matched by the great time we had Sunday night at Amelia Island starting this year’s convention with the sounds of the Second Chance Band.
2) I also enjoyed the reaction I got from the Young CPA’s section and our Board after I had a chance to show them a video from my skydiving experience. It did add an exclamation point to my contention that sometimes you have to take some calculated risks in your career, and place significant trust and confidence in others at times. I did hear observations from several Board members who questioned my mental condition for what they considered was a fool-hardy stunt!
3) I will always remember the hospitable welcomes I received from members during my twelve Chapter visits to various points across Georgia. From the heat of Valdosta in August to the sleet encountered on my way to Columbus in December, it was always a pleasure to tell the Georgia Society story throughout the year.
4) At various times during the year, I had opportunities to interact with a number of accounting students, as well as some recent graduates. Seeing their collective excitement at the prospects of a future career in accounting gave me a tremendous sense of optimism about the future of our beloved profession. My own parents had limited educational opportunities, so I remain committed to insuring that we do all we can for our students as part of my personal legacy. Read the rest of this entry »
CEOs Behaving Badly
Written by: Royce Duncan
Once again, we hear the rumors, followed by the press conference announcing another top corporate executive falling prey to an unbridled sense of personal privilege. Time after time, we find ourselves as observers to the downfall of the titans of commerce. It is certainly unfair to assign this type of behavior only to business leaders , as we have also seen the high and mighty in the realm of the sporting world , and heads of state also succumb to the embarrassment of public disclosure of personal misdeeds. Read the rest of this entry »
Extreme Makeover
Written by: Royce Duncan
Being a student of Georgia politics, it was readily apparent to me after viewing Tuesday’s election results, that we are
heading into uncharted waters in 2011, with an unprecedented number of newly elected Constitutional officers, and other elected officials ready to take on the tremendous economic and political challenges facing our beleaguered State.
At a minimum, we will have a new Governor, Attorney General, Labor Commissioner, Insurance Commissioner, School Superintendent, and Agriculture Commissioner. It is also possible that we might have a new Secretary of State and Lt.Governor, depending on the outcome of the run-offs and November general elections. And I haven’t even talked about the imminent changes in the leadership of the General Assembly due to retirements and other changes!
What a time to have almost every leading state official in some stage of “on the job” training. It is also my understanding that many highly experienced state employees are approaching retirement age, and will be departing over the next few
years, taking with them a tremendous amount of institutional knowledge that would have been invaluable to our newly elected government leaders. Is it a possibility that many or all of these individuals saw such rocky times ahead that they made decisions to get out now to avoid the fallout? Read the rest of this entry »
