Chair's corner.

• Author: Ezzell, William F.

It is with a great sense of commitment that I took the reigns as chairman of the AICPA Board of Directors last month. I look forward to serving this wonderful profession and providing the stewardship needed to face the challenges--and opportunities--that lie ahead.

Welcome to my first CPA Letter column. This month I will share some of the highlights of my presentation to Council. We already have many new initiatives under way to address the need to do a better job detecting fraud (see page 1), having a greater role in improved corporate governance, and implementing the many changes that will result from the recently enacted legislation and the potential for additional legislation in the states. I do not plan to add any additional major initiatives at this time. Instead, restoring confidence in this profession and in what we do will receive my utmost attention as this year gets under way. That is my agenda, and I will pursue it with unfettered passion.

As I see it, this is a year of restoration on three fronts:

* Restoring our belief in ourselves and our connection to our core values.

* Restoring our reputation with the publics we are committed to serve.

* Restoring the shared purpose of this profession and the AICPA, the national home for all CPAs.

Achieving our goals in these areas will result in a boost in our morale--and clearly, our individual and collective morale needs to be uplifted. We will face many challenges in the months ahead but we are capable of turning those challenges into opportunities. Join with me in taking the long-term view and beginning the process of rebuilding.

The lessons for us from the past year are two-fold. One, make sure CPAs everywhere, including those yet to become CPAs, truly understand the core values that make...