One More Milestone
Volume 12, Number 53,
Issue 600
This issue of TaxFaxTM, Virginia's oldest, continually issued newsletter dealing with business topics that is distributed by electronic means, is my 600th issue. Yes, that's correct; I've written 600 weekly newsletters without interruption, having started in the Summer of 1993. This is also the last issue in Volume 12 and the 53rd issue for 2004. There were 53 issues this year because there were 53 Mondays.
Having taken a turn away from technical tax writing in February 2003, most of this year's issues concerned themselves with writing about entrepreneurialism. I did resume writing about technical tax topics in November 2004 and plan to continue that for at least January to highlight some of the complex 2004 Federal income tax changes. I'll return to writing stories and advice about entrepreneurialism in February 2005.
As is customary, I usually write the year end letter very selfishly, bragging about the staff and noting some words about what the end of year means to me. The most important thing that I've learned this year is that I continue to believe that a very core group of close friends and business allies is one of the most important keys to entrepreneurial success. There's no need to join a "tip club" or keep looking for referral sources-concentrate on having 5-6 professional "do anything for you allies" and declare victory. This year, I tested the depth of my "Go To" relationships several times when I went to the "well" of favors on behalf of clients and causes to find that it wasn't empty after all. What goes around ultimately comes around to each business person and you sow what you reap. I continue to remember that there are two ways to be rich: rich in money AND rich in relationships. There are some things more important than having money-it's having "Go To" relationships that center on maintaining an attitude of a burning desire to serve the public in an honorable way that brings passion and enthusiasm to the businessworld.
2004 ends on a very sad note for me after learning that a client family that I had been honored to serve for about eight years had experienced horrible tragedy after moving to Florida. Though I mostly see the "business" side of client relationships but then revel in the fortunate honor to experience personal friendships with long-term clients, every now and then I see a dark personal side. Learning that a client husband killed his children, shot his wife and then killed himself-a client that I thought I knew well-was more than a little overwhelming to me.
In 2004, when not engaged in my official profession of preparing taxes and offering personal and business consulting services, I returned to my personal passion for restoring old buildings. Most of you have been to my office's headquarters in the Historic 1850s Ivymont Manor House in Midlothian, but many do not know of my interest in several buildings in Petersburg. In June, I finished the restoration of an 1830s commercial building at 434 Grove Avenue in Old Towne Petersburg and moved my downtown Richmond satellite office there. For the 2005 busy season, I will be offering office hours in Petersburg! I also acquired two other commercial buildings in Petersburg that were both built in 1815. I have also just finished restoring the Jacob Luther Clapdore House (ca. 1813) on Plum Street and many of my clients came to the open house that I held. In fact, the Clapdore House was just on the Petersburg Christmas Tour of Historic Homes. I hope to sell the Clapdore House to someone in the near future.
When not professionally advising clients or restoring old buildings, I made substantial progress on finishing-up my book: Tales, Ideas and Quotes from a GreatcpaT--The Book! I-more than anyone else-will be very grateful when it is finally published sometime in 2005 after too many delays and negotiations about character names and descriptions. It's easy to write a book; the hard part is negotiating its publication.
Life as an elected official for Chesterfield County is very interesting and challenging. I very much enjoy being one of your James River Soil and Water Conservation District Directors. I've learned that the hardest part of being an elected official and upholding the trust that 13,349 Chesterfield voters granted me is that there is no hope in being able to please everybody. One citizen's happiness with you is often at the expense of another's displeasure (often vocal) with you. Elected officials need to have stomachs made of cast iron and I'm not sure that I have that after all.
With regard to community service, I've recently accepted an invitation to join the Board of Directors of Richmond's Firehouse Theatre. I was also honored to be appointed by Governor Mark R. Warner to the Board of the Assistive Technology Loan Fund Authority, a political subdivision of the Commonwealth of Virginia governed by a Board of Directors consisting of twelve members, including ten citizens--a majority of whom are persons with severe disabilities. Serving on the ATLFA Board has been a humbling experience that has reminded me of how fortunate I am. I also continue to serve on the Board of Associates of Randolph-Macon College and will assume the position of its Vice-Chair in February 2005.
Professionally, my eclectic group of part-time workers continues to change; some journey in and some away. Many of you remember Devan Barber and Rita Cook from the 2004 busy season afternoon receptionist positions--Devan now attends the College of William and Mary and Rita attends Old Dominion University. Those of you that visited Ivymont in the mornings remember Greg Nienow--Greg has been instrumental in attending to the logistics of restoring the Petersburg properties while he awaits word of the acceptance of his applications with the City of Richmond Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Greg married the love of his life, Shalon, in 2004. M. Robert Hines accepted a promotion to officially become my Office Administrator. Rob, a VCU student majoring in accounting, is scheduled to graduate in December 2005 and take the CPA examination shortly thereafter. Rob will continue to be my right hand during the upcoming busy season when it comes to overseeing the flow of work. Thomas D. Saunders, CPA (the original "s" in "accountants" in my firm's name) continues to work on his own novel when he isn't assisting me on projects that involve the assistance of professional staff. Gail R Casalaspi, CPA joined my professional staff early in 2004 and will be consulting with me in 2005 on various clients. Thomas Applewhite and Jared Calfee are my newest investments and will be the evening and weekend receptionists and telephone voices. Thomas attends James River High School and Jared attends Monacan.
My staff, myself and my devoted wife of 17 ½ years--whom I first met in the sixth grade at Harry F. Bryd Middle School in Henrico County--wish you the happiest of holiday seasons.
David B. Robinson, CPA
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