TEI's global nature is confirmed by local efforts, advocacy.

• Author: O'Connor, Paul
• Position: Tax Executives Institute

The remarkable depth and breadth of Tax Executives Institute are, once again, confirmed by the Table of Contents of this issue of The Tax Executive. The reports on the Institute's educational programs, the summary of chapter meetings around the word, and the reprints of technical submissions to government authorities--all of these demonstrate the singular nature of the Institute as the premier organization of in-house tax professionals in the world.

Region IX Shines

Consider first the reports on our local chapter meetings. This issue contains stories on two excellent meetings held outside North America. Last fall our Asia Chapter teamed up with the Tax Academy of Singapore--an organization founded by the Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore in collaboration with the Big Four and others--to organize a three-day conference on U.S. taxation. The conference was everything one comes to think of in a TEI meeting: practical, professional, and effective. My congratulations to Sharon Tan, TEI's Vice President-Region IX; Tony Fay, Asia Chapter President; Kristy Ton, the chapter's representative on the Institute Board of Directors; and everyone else in the chapter who contributed to the program.

Region IX also distinguished itself by holding the first TEI meeting ever in the Middle East. In January, the region held a two-day conference in Dubai. Again, Regional Vice President Sharon Tan was at the helm, and while leaders from the Asia Chapter contributed, the bulk of the planning efforts came from members of the EMEA Chapter. (The "ME" in EMEA, after all, does stand for "Middle East.") Special thanks go to Peter Taylor (Sharon's predecessor as RVP); Christer Tonder Bell and Clive Baxter, the past two presidents of the EMEA Chapter; and Lluis Fargas and Clarence Ellis of the EMEA Chapter's Education Committee. The Institute also expresses its appreciation to Ernst & Young, which contributed mightily to the success of the program. A true highlight of the Dubai meeting was the welcoming address by His Excellency Khalid Ali AlBustani of the UAE Ministry of Finance, who provided an overview of business opportunities in Dubai and the Middle East.

Back Here in North America

You did not have to travel outside of North America, however, to witness the organization's global reach. Hence, in January our Santa Clara Valley Chapter cosponsored the first Pacific Rim Tax Institute. Featuring presentations from government officials not only from the United States...