It's all about the members.

• Author: Hollein, Marie N.
• Position: FROM THE PRESIDENT

At year-end, I'm reflecting about the value of membership in Financial Executives International, so I'd like to share some of my thinking with readers. From FEI's local chapters, to regional sessions--which are presented by FEI along with valued sponsors and in collaboration with other professional organizations--to committee meetings, publications, webcasts and national conferences, the goals are similar.

FEI aims to provide members with top-notch networking and professional education opportunities that they can put to practical use in their jobs, in building their careers and in helping their companies succeed. For example, from the accounting policy perspective, FEI presented its 31st annual Current Financial Reporting Issues (CFRI) conference.

Attendees at the conference heard updates from the chairman of the Financial Accounting Standards Board, vice chairman of the International Accounting Standards Board, a board member of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board and the acting chief accountant of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

It was also a great pleasure to attend FEI's seventh annual Hall of Fame gala, at which four extraordinary financial executives were inducted into the Hall of Fame. Financial Executives Research Foundation (FERF) is the beneficiary of proceeds from the glamorous event. (FERF has been publishing unbiased research reports for nearly 70 years.)

But the Hall of Fame and other FEI events are certainly not only about "glamour." A great deal of work goes on behind the scenes--not only by FEI staff but also by the hard-working volunteer members, and not just for events but for many of the ongoing activities.

For example, members of the Committee on Corporate Reporting (CCR) analyze proposed rulemaking and communicate in writing and in regular meetings with the national and international standard setters, to advocate for practical rulemaking on behalf of financial executives.

Among other advocacy committees are those on tax; private companies; government business; finance and IT; governance, risk and compliance; and treasury.

In my travels during the past year, I was pleased to...