I’m honoured to be ringing in the new 2010/2011 year as your new President. Many of you may not be aware that Toronto CFA Society will be celebrating its 75th anniversary in 2011. Several events are being planned to mark this special occasion. The celebrations will build awareness of the society and the CFA brand outside simply the investment community.

In addition, we have set out an ambitious plan to fulfill many, if not all, of the feedback from our membership survey that was conducted in the spring of 2010. First, we will provide a broader array of programs that cater to different segments of our membership, continuing our commitment to education. Second, we will create greater awareness of the CFA brand through partnerships with organizations such as the Toronto Financial Services Alliance (TFSA), whose mandate is to promote Toronto as a financial centre of excellence. Third, we will provide better access to our programs and services by leveraging technology. Fourth, we will continue our efforts in advocacy through our membership in the Canadian Advocacy Council and organize programs that will update our members on the latest regulatory developments.

Kicking off this year’s programming season is the Forecast Dinner with Patricia Croft and Bob Doll, CFA. Then, in addition to the many luncheon programs we offer, we will add even more continuing education courses to our ongoing curriculum. With the installation of better audio-visual equipment in the office, we will be able to offer workshops to members who are not located downtown. We will also continue to expand our half-day and full-day conferences.

The upcoming year will be one of investing in our society: (1) improving continuing education programs, (2) enhancing the CFA brand, and (3) upgrading technology to provide better access to all members. My personal goal this year is to help more of our members find rewarding careers through more effective employer outreach. I look forward to hearing from you about our progress this year.