TEI's Strategic Plan at One.

Board Hears Task Force Reports, Prepares to Refresh Priorities

A year after Tax Executives Institute adopted a comprehensive strategic plan to ensure the Institute's role as the preeminent association of business tax professionals, TEI President Charles W. Shewbridge, III, reported to the Board of Directors on March 18 that major strides have been made toward achieving the Institute's vision. "Advancing TEI's mission of serving its members through education, networking, and advocacy is a never ending task," Mr. Shewbridge said, "but I am enthusiastic about the progress we have made to date." He continued that the prominent role TEI has played in the debate over corporate tax shelters is one example of the Institute's efforts paying dividends. "A year ago, we committed ourselves to `being at the table,' and I am pleased to report that we have not only been there, but we've been able to affect the debate positively."

Last year, the Institute Board established task forces on volunteerism, marketing, and advocacy to advance the Institute's specific strategic objectives. The three task forces are headed, respectively, by Henry T. Pasniewski of International Flavors & Fragrances, Ltd., TEI's Vice President-Region II; David L. Bernard of the Kimberly-Clark Corporation, a member of TEI's Executive Committee; and Raymond G. Rossi of Intel Corporation, also a member of the Executive Committee.

Mr. Shewbridge was highly complimentary of the task forces' work. "Hank Pasnieski's volunteerism group has productively focused on the need to promote the benefits of membership to members and non-members alike." Among the tentative recommendations contained in Mr. Pasniewski's report to the board are the integration and energizing of TEI's public and private websites, the greater use of push technology to provide members with news about TEI and its accomplishments, and the use of the Annual and Midyear Conferences to promote greater involvement among the members. In addition, Mr. Pasniewski's report suggested that a "volunteer officer" be appointed in each chapter.

As for the task force on the marketing of TEI's educational programs, Mr. Shewbridge was also effusive. "The work of the task force headed by Dave Bernard speaks for itself." Noting that TEI remains the preferred provider of continuing education for its members, Mr. Bernard's report concluded that the...