Recently, CMA’s office supplies vendor held a contest to recognize its clients’ accounting departments. Diana Escobar, CMA’s Operations Administrator in Burbank, submitted the winning essay describing why CMA’s accounting department deserved the prize. Here is a picture of CMA’s Accounting Department enjoying their reward – a free lunch provided by Ron Lasley and Cathy de Leon of Economy Office Supply (Cathy even brought home-made cupcakes!).

CMA's Accounting Staff - click to enlarge

On behalf of the entire staff of CMA, I would like to take this opportunity to thank the folks in the Accounting Department for all they do to keep us running, and kudos to Diana Escobar for taking the initiative to write an essay recognizing their extraordinary efforts. Economy Office Supply published Diana’s winning story in their own online newsletter:

Winning Story for the Accounting Dept.:
Credit Management Association (CMA) is a non-profit association that has served business to-business companies since 1883. CMA helps credit, collection, and financial decision-makers get the information and support they need to make fast, accurate credit decisions.

CMA’s Accounting Department consist of 8 individuals including the CFO bookkeepers and IT personnel who handle everything and anything that has to do with money and programming. These 8 people have been the longest standing employees for CMA with more than 100 years combined and one person having more than 30 years of experience working for CMA. They handle all accounting for our other remote locations as well. Everything goes threw them and they are very strict individuals who work very hard for the company with very little recognition.
CMA is an association with a major focus on our members we hold a lot of functions, seminars and events for the members to network. Plenty of times departments are invited to join in on the events but unfortunately the accounting department hardly ever goes as there is always a reason to stay behind and run things smoothly.

I believe CMA’s accounting department deserves some type of recognition and know that we [everyone else at CMA] appreciates them for their hard work. I hope to hear from you that our Accounting Department has won as they deserve the lunch away from the office and especially deserve the recognition.

Respectfully,
Diana E.
CREDIT MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION

More pics from today’s lunch:

Accounting Department and Economy Office Supply

At a recent meeting of CMA’s Western Home Furnishings Credit Group, long-time member Sandberg Furniture informed the group that a tax auditor from the State of Texas was currently on site at Sandberg’s office requesting Texas Sales and Use Tax Exemption Certificates (aka Resale Certificates) for all of Sandberg’s Texas customers. According to Sandberg, this is the first time the furniture manufacturer has ever been audited by another state to produce proof of customers’ status as resellers. Texas requires that suppliers get certificates signed by resellers in Texas and must keep original signed certificates on file in order to prove exemption from paying state tax on purchases. Failure to produce signed certificates can result in possible liability for unpaid sales tax that could be billed to suppliers.

CMA is bringing this matter to the attention of all of our members because of its potential to affect any member with customers in the State of Texas. Also, this action suggests that other states may engage in similar audits in an effort to generate additional tax revenue.

I would like to extend CMA’s appreciation to Sandberg Furniture for alerting us to this potentially serious situation, and allowing us to share this information with all of our members so they can be prepared.

Respectfully,

Mike Mitchell, CAE
President and CEO

For many years, CMA published a printed, glossy, multipage monthly newsletter. In order to offer information that was more timely, we transitioned to an online monthly newsletter, which eventually became a daily news feed. Currently, we are in our fourth year of offering this CMA Blog (formerly CMA Daily News), and CMA has been at the forefront of offering various ways to connect with the Association and other CMA members through social media like the CMA Community (now in its 9^th year!), LinkedIn, Facebook, and most recently, Twitter. You have a lot to say, we have much to tell you, and we try to use a variety of channels to promote communication that will accommodate the great diversity of member businesses and personal preferences. Although many of our members like (or at least are warming up to) these communications channels (which also include email announcements and website updates), many other members have told us that they don’t have the time or the interest to keep in touch with the Association through these newer electronic channels.

Yesterday, we re-introduced a monthly members-only newsletter that I hope will strike a good balance between keeping members informed and communicating with a frequency and format that is manageable. Named “Just the Fa(x)cts,” the mission of this newsletter is to provide members with a quick glance of the important information, events, and special promotions CMA is offering for the month ahead. Most sections of the newsletter will include links to sections of CMA’s websites www.creditmanagementassociation.org and www.anscers.com to get more information or take advantage of special programs and offers.

The format of the newsletter is purposely designed to look simple and clean for maximum readability on a fax page. Why a fax newsletter? Sometimes it’s just nice to have something you can pass around the office and let your coworkers know what’s happening at CMA. It’s new, it’s retro, it’s black & white, it’s brief, it’s only once a month, it’s only for members, and we hope you like it.

Respectfully,

Mike Mitchell, CAE
President & CEO

 December 4, 2009 – Opinion Section, pg. 27

The CMA Nominating Committee is now accepting nominations and applications for service on the 2010-2011 Board of Directors. If you are interested in applying for a Director position, or you would like to nominate a candidate for service, please complete a Candidate Application or Nomination form and return it to CMA by December 31, 2009. Click to download form: CMAdirectorap10. 

Board of Directors Qualifications and Responsibilities 

As provided by the Bylaws of CMA, the Board of Directors oversees the general operation and sets policy for the Association. It is, therefore, essential that members of the Board understand their responsibilities and be willing to commit the time and effort necessary to do justice to this great organization.

The responsibilities and qualifications of a member of the Board are as follows:

1.  Read and be familiar with the Bylaws of the Corporation.

2.  A Board member is required to be the authorized representative of his/her company to CMA.

3.  Attend the Annual Meeting and Installation of Officers and Directors (or a similar – Chapter Annual Meeting)

4.  Attend Board meetings, five times per year, typically held on the fourth Tuesday of the month.

5.  Attend the Annual Board Retreat (2 days usually in May or June).

6.  Review and accept financial and operating statements of the Association.

7.  Review and approve reports of committees, project teams and boards of governors.

8.  Serve on various committees of the Association as assigned by the Chairman of the Board.

9.  Show support for the Association and its programs by participating in CMA’s member services and by attending educational and social functions, and promote CMA’s services to other members and prospective members at every opportunity.

10.  When possible, attend the annual NACM Credit Congress held each May or June, and/or the Western Region Credit Conference in September or October, sponsored by the NACM affiliated associations of the Western Region.