Keeping tax in perspective.

• Author: McCormally, Timothy J.
• Position: Less taxing matters

It's critical to keep things in perspective. Upon returning to Washington on August 10 following TEI's Annual Meeting of Members, I sat down with Publications Manager Rick Skippon to review" the schedule for the July-August issue of The Tax Executive. Once again, we had fallen behind, owing in no small measure to summer's presenting us with a variety of publishing imperatives--chief among them our 2005 Membership Roster and the preliminary program for the Annual Conference. Rick and I identified that last few articles that needed to written or edited, including the piece you're reading now.

"What are you going to write about this issue?" Rick asked. "Oh, the usual--a little of this, a little of that," I nonchalantly answered. I have a couple of notes from retiring members, sharing how much their benefitted from belonging to TEI. I also thought I'd cover a couple of not-so-pleasant topics." I paused, and Rick's expression told me he knew" what I was talking about.

"Let me guess," he smiled. "Continuing, uh, challenges with our website and mail delays." Rick would know. As our webmaster and publications maven, Rick hears a lot of about both these topics. He's been in the forefront of our efforts to maintain and improve the website since it was launched in August 2004, and he has fielded more phone calls and emails about how long it takes the magazine and other materials to reach TEI members than anyone else on the staff.

Website Improvements and Snail Mail Laments

TEI's website is improving every day. More and more members are using it--to pay their dues, to learn about and register for educational programs, to share information and insights with their fellow tax executives, and to keep on top of TEI developments, at both the Institute and chapter levels. In July, for example, we averaged more than 625 visitors each day, with the sessions averaging more than 10 minutes each.

I don't think there is such a thing as a perfect website. At least I know that's what Rick thinks. The challenges with TEI's website, at least from my vantage point, fall into three categories--

* Members need help gaining access to the website, either because they have mislaid or forgotten their login and password, or because the Internet gods have fiddled with the "email me my password" feature.

* Transmission errors occur, with less than 100 percent of the information members are entering being written to our membership database. The vast majority of transactions begin...