Since NJSCPA Connect launched in May 2010, more than 4,200 members have logged on to talk with other members, read Society blogs, share information and discover more about their NJSCPA membership community. We think 4,200 members is an impressive number, but the story of one member might impress you even more and provide insight into how you can “Connect.”
In December, Ed Mendlowitz of WithumSmith+Brown was preparing for tax season, as he has for 40 years. Ed was looking for a tax return reviewer's checklist for an article that he was writing. Having come up empty with his online searches, he posted a message to the NJSCPA Connect Open Forum, an online community that enables CPAs to reach out to all NJSCPA members. Unfortunately, his Open Forum query went unanswered. So, Ed created his own tax return reviewer’s checklist and posted another Open Forum message offering to send the checklist to anyone who was interested.
He received more than 200 requests in two days. Ed responded to each request personally, realizing that “I had just made 200 new professional contacts.” Looking to spread the word, NJSCPA Online Communications Manager Rachael Bell suggested that Ed post the checklist to Connect’s Resource Library, which would enable any member to download it on their own. The document was downloaded 385 times.
Not one to rest on his laurels, Ed created another document, this time a minimum fee schedule template. He posted another message on the Open Forum and posted it to the Resource Library. Another 200 requests and 204 downloads.
Ed has received dozens of thank you emails, which is, as he put it, “a remarkable response and a testament to the great value of member collaboration made possible through the Society.” And it doesn’t end there. Truly putting the “social” in social networking, two members who lost touch with Ed more than 15 years ago contacted him through Connect.
So, are you connected?