Page 41 - BusinessWest November 23, 2020

Virtual Open House for Elms Graduate Education Programs
Dec. 1: The Elms College Graduate Admission Office will hold a virtual open house from 5 to 6:30 p.m.
to share information about graduate programs in education (MED/MAT). This sessions will allow pro- spective students to meet with program directors, alumni, and graduate admission counselors. Anoth- er virtual open house will take place on Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2021 from 6 to 7 p.m. to share information about all Elms College graduate programs. Elms has 30 graduate, post-graduate, and certificate programs offered in a variety of models, including hybrid, online, and on campus. To register for either session, visit www.elms.edu/graduate-studies/visit.
Spay/Neuter Voucher Day
Dec. 1: Second Chance Animal Services announced it will host its first Spay/Neuter Voucher Day at its Springfield Community Veterinary Hospital. The program, made possible in conjunction with the Mass Animal Fund and local animal-control offi- cers, provides free spay/neuter services to cats and dogs owned by low-income Massachusetts residents. For those who don’t qualify for the state voucher program, Second Chance’s low-cost spay/neuter program is available to everyone. Complete infor- mation on both programs can be found at second- chanceanimals.org. The Second Chance Springfield hospital also offers full-service veterinary care for all, with subsidized rates for qualifying households, plus
Review
Continued from page 31
Refocus
If there is any bright spot in the cur- rent environment, it is the ability to step back and refocus. Bringing the lessons learned from 2020 thus far into clear view, organizations can’t neces- sarily do what they have always done and survive. Some key areas that may need a refocus include:
• Technology and security of accounting systems and sensitive data;
• The review and planning for changing accounting standards. We know there is potential for new stan- dards or revisions of existing standards to assist in evaluating the impacts of the pandemic on financial reporting. In addition, the timeline for implemen- tation of standards that have already been deferred may be moved even fur- ther down the road.
• The use of PPP and other stimu- lus funds, including employer credits, requires additional consideration from a financial-reporting and a tax-compli- ance perspective. Will additional stimu- lus funds be made available in 2021?
• Long-term remote working may encourage the movement from tra- ditional brick-and-mortar locations going forward.
• Fundraising efforts of not-for-prof- it organizations may need to continue to shift and adapt to our current virtual environment, with gathering restric- tions for physical events still in place. The balance of budgeting between
a weekly vaccine clinic by pre-registration offering rabies and distemper vaccines for $12, microchips for $20, and nail trims for $12. Those interested in registering for the voucher day can visit the website and check out the Spay/Neuter Information section of the registration form.
MCLA Virtual Information Session
safe and festive event that has been a holiday tradi- tion since 1995. They will be instituted during setup, breakdown, and during the event, and include masks, regular cleaning, online ticketing, and more. Restrooms will be for emergency use only, and the usual bustling gift shop, amusement rides, horse- drawn wagon and carriage rides, and visits and sup- per with Santa will not be available. This will help keep all visitors safe and socially distanced in their vehicles during the experience. Bright Nights at For- est Park is three miles of a unique holiday experi- ence featuring more than 675,000 lights and iconic displays like Seuss Land, Everett Barney Mansion,
Dec. 2: The Division of Graduate and Continu-
ing Education (DGCE) at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (MCLA) will hold a virtual information session at 4 p.m. This information session will offer details about MCLA’s bachelor’s degree
completion program; master of busi-
ness administration, master of education,
and teacher licensure programs; and the
MCLA Leadership Academy. Members of
the community interested in pursuing a postgraduate degree, advancing in their education careers, or completing their undergraduate degree are encouraged to attend. Representatives from each postgraduate program will present information and answer questions about degree paths, enrollment, balancing responsibilities while pursuing a degree, and more. For more information or to register, visit mcla.edu/infosession.
Bright Nights at Forest Park
Through Jan. 3: Bright Nights at Forest Park will take place this year. Spirit of Springfield and the city of Springfield have developed protocols to provide a
Agenda
Toy Land, Happy Holidays, Springfield, and so many more. It generates $15 million in economic impact annually and has created a lifetime of family memo- ries in its 25-year history. It also promises to be one of the safest events, with families contained in their cars. Admission will be $23 per car weeknights, weekdays, and holidays. Discounted tickets will be available at participating Big Y World Class Markets for $16.50. Due to bus-capacity limitations in Mas- sachusetts, admission for buses has been reduced to $100 for buses with capacity of more than 30 people. Vehicles with seating from 17 to 30 people will be charged $50 for admission.
mission and funding will seemingly continue for the next few years. Will this spur mergers of not-for-profits to allow for continued mission?
• A shift of international business perspective, including supply chain, will need to continue to occur, perhaps to source more products and services locally.
A common thread weaved in among
“
year ahead using the 2020 rearview mirror, one thing is for sure: they should have their team of professionals on speed dial.”
As business owners and management think about the
improved lenses for 2021. This ‘new normal’ that organizations are facing encourages outside-the-box think-
ing, as the original box may not exist anymore or may look entirely different than before. Resetting may continue to be critical to an organization’s success and survival. Resetting in some key areas will help the organization be agile and adaptable to change.
your accounting professionals — have moved to a shorter-term focus, includ- ing many transactional and situational planning opportunities, as a result of the continuously changing environ- ment, additional stimulus-fund oppor- tunities, and compliance requirements.
Business owners and management do not need to hold all the informa- tion necessary to reset and reframe, but they do need to know the appropriate people to whom they can reach out.
Takeaways
As business owners and manage- ment think about the year ahead using the 2020 rearview mirror, one thing is for sure: they should have their team of professionals on speed dial.
If they do not have the right pro- fessionals in place, now is the time to make changes. The guidance provided by the spokes on the professional wheel should not be underestimated because one thing is clear: no one of us has all the answers to navigate the new normal, but collectively the team can help provide the input needed to move the organization to the next levels.
Remember: review, refocus, and reset. u
Julie Quink, CPA, CFE is the managing principal of West Springfield-based Burkhart, Pizzanelli, P.C., certified public accountants; (413) 781-5609.
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NOVEMBER 23, 2020 41
the suggested areas of refocus is the impact they have on the financial health and well-being of an organiza- tion. Taking the time to strategize and refocus in key areas opens new oppor- tunities to shift and reset. With many demands on business owners and management to manage day-to-day operations, this process can be easily lost but remains critical.
Reset
The resetting process is the oppor- tunity to remove the 2020 eyeglasses and pick up a prescription with new,
It is clear that business owners
and management may not be able to embark on the resetting process all on their own. The reliance on IT, account- ing, legal counsel, investment advisors, and business consultants, included in an organization’s team of profession- als, will become increasingly impor- tant. These spokes in your professional team’s wheel are critical to maneuver through the upcoming year.
Traditionally, strategic planning has encompassed perhaps a three, five-, and 10-year plan. Internal plan- ning — and planning externally with