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

• Author: McCormally, Timothy J.

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...