Singing TEI's unsung heroes: plus … not all the comments we receive are happy grams

Tax Executive, The, May-June, 2005 by Timothy J. McCormally

Last year TEI's Board of Directors created two awards to recognize the good work that the members of Tax Executives Institute do at the chapter level or on our committees. The Meritorious Chapter Service Award and Committee Service Award have as their foundation the unassailable truth that TEI would not succeed without the efforts of its members. While the Institute has a solid history of recognizing the contributions of members who have rendered service as President or in another major official capacity (by granting them Honorary Membership) or for sustained contributions beyond the chapter level (by granting them the President's Award), the Board concluded that something was missing--specifically, awards for "rank and file" members whose good work, while sustained and valuable, is more appropriately recognized at the chapter or committee level. The phrase I've previously used to describe such recognition is "singing the unsung hero."

Reviewing the contributions of the first recipients of the new awards underscores how "in tune" the Board was in creating the awards. The Canadian Commodity Tax Committee selected Ricardo Horton of the Toronto Chapter to receive the first-ever Committee Service Award. Ricardo has mastered the intricacies of Canada's Goods and Services Tax and as a vice chair of the Commodity Tax Committee has taken a lead (for several years) in developing the agenda for the Institute's annual liaison meetings with Canadian government officials. I was honored to be on hand at this year's Canadian Tax Conference, where Committee Chair Sherrie Ann Pollock presented a surprised Ricardo with the award, which read:

   In recognition of your outstanding service to the
   Canadian Commodity Tax Committee, the Institute
   expresses its deep appreciation. Your involvement
   with the Committee during the last ten years has
   enhanced the effectiveness and reputation of the
   Institute; in particular, your diligence and expertise
   have been an invaluable part of TEI's annual liaison
   meetings with Canada's Department of Finance and
   the Canada Revenue Agency.

The first recipient of Meritorious Chapter Service Award was equally deserving. A member of the Pittsburgh Chapter for nearly a quarter century, Thomas P. Hartsell has done it all: He has served on as chapter president, chapter representative to the Institute's Board of Directors, the chair of several committees, and a member of the chapter board and informal adviser and mentor to chapter members. (He also served on the Institute's International Tax and Corporate Tax Management Committees, as well as a regional vice president.) Tom received his award at the Pittsburgh Chapter's 2005 Annual Meeting in May. His plaque read:

   In recognition of outstanding service to the Pittsburgh
   Chapter, the Institute expresses its deep
   appreciation. Since joining in 1981, your selfless
   efforts and active participation at the chapter level,
   including serving as chapter representative, chapter
   president, and on the chapter's board of directors,
   has enhanced the effectiveness, reputation, and
   operations of the Institute.

Ricardo and Tom were only the first recipients of the Institute's new awards. Since they received their plaques, several other chapters and committees have submitted their nominations. TEI's other "unsung heroes" will be "sung" in future issues.

It's no accident that Ricardo and Tom became active contributors to their TEI chapters and committees. It is part of the cultures of their tax departments and their companies. Specifically, tax professionals from General Electric and Alcoa (in Canada, the United States, Europe, and soon in Asia) have a rich tradition of being involved in TEI's educational, networking, and advocacy activities. The organization as a whole has benefitted from that tradition, and I thank them, their tax departments, and their employers for the support they have unstintingly shown TEI.

The importance of company support for TEI was brought home to me by a note I recently received from Jim Hollingsworth of the Pittsburgh Chapter. Jim works for United States Steel Corporation, and wrote to inform the Institute of the death of W. Bruce Thomas, former vice-chairman and CFO of U.S. Steel and, not insignificantly, the company's former Vice President-Taxes. Although he himself was not active in TEI, Bruce Thomas was a strong supporter of his staff's involvement in the organization. A separate note from Jim Bodfish (who served as TEI's 1979-1980 International President) confirmed this: "Bruce encouraged key people in the Tax Division to join TEI and to actively participate. He endorsed my serving as President as a valuable substantive and networking investment opportunity for me and the corporation. Bruce's support for TEI was recognized in 1986 when he was awarded the Pittsburgh Chapter's Distinguished Service Award."

The support of upper management for tax professionals to be involved in TEI was also evident earlier this year when George Buckley, Chairman and CEO of the Brunswick Corporation, participated in the Institute's Senior Tax Executive Conference, which was presided over by the company's Vice President-Taxes, Judy Zelisko. George discussed "The Real Impact of Sarbanes-Oxley: Life as a CEO in 21st Century America," and was quite generous with his time, responding to questions from the audience well beyond the allotted time segment. His vocal and visible support for Brunswick's tax department was both welcome and inspiring.