Everywhere you look you can see the early germination of growth occurring in anticipation of the warmer spring days ahead. The same can be said for the SSA, we have decided to sow the seeds for growth with our membership incentive program by offering a $250 credit towards this year’s SSA Annual Conference to each member who successfully refers an individual who becomes a new SSA member on or before June 1, 2017! I hope that everyone can help our organization grow by taking advantage of this program.
The SSA is entering its 71st year of providing members with educational opportunities to help with their professional development, inform on important issues in our industry today, and to advocate on behalf of the companies they represent to Regulators in our industry.
The following are upcoming events that should provide you with some excellent educational opportunities:
· Our April 19, 2017 Luncheon at Battery Gardens Restaurant starting at 11:30 AM EDT will provide us with the fundamentals of Block Chain Technology and the impact on us as shareholder service professionals and the shareholders we service.
· On April 27, 2017, the SSA and STA will be holding a joint webinar at 2:00 PM EDT on the STAMP and Medallion Program basics which should be beneficial not only to new members but also those seasoned members since they plan not only to explain the basics but also review topics that our membership wanted to see covered on this webinar.
Registration has opened for the SSA 2017 Annual Conference being held at the Hyatt Regency Coconut Point in Bonita Springs, Florida from July 18 - July 20, 2017. This year’s conference will be packed with excellent topics and opportunities to network with your peers from other companies across the nation. Register now so you won’t miss out on this highly rated SSA event.
https://www.shareholderservices.org/calendar/event/ssa-2017-annual-conference
We are also looking to adding value back to you with the roll out of the SSA Certification Program this Summer. So, look for future communications on this from our Certification Committee.
As you can see from the above programs, the SSA not only feels strongly about enhancing your professional development, it also has a strong sense of responsibility to advocate the views and concerns of our membership to the regulators and legislatures that affect our industry, the companies that we serve and the shareholders that we service.
In early March, the SSA Executive Committee and the Chair of the Legal & Regulatory Committee did just that by meeting with representatives from the SEC Divisions of Corporation Finance, Enforcement and Trading & Markets to discuss topics that included proxy mailing and voting, Corporate Actions, and the SEC Transfer Agent Concept Rules release. These open dialog discussions not only help the SSA to bring forward your views and concerns to the SEC on current and upcoming rules they also provide a sounding board for the SEC to help give them a better understanding of our industry. Read the member e-blast of this meeting here.
On the state legislature front we have been busy with various States that have drafted bills changing how they handle abandoned property. As noted in our April 6th e-blast, the state legislatures of Utah, Arkansas and South Dakota were drafting bills concerning abandoned property laws. In response to the drafted bills in Utah and South Dakota, the SSA jointly with the STA and with the help of Jen Borden (Borden Consulting Group) drafted a letter to each state commenting on concerns we had on their proposed changes. Although our efforts came back with mixed results, the SSA and the STA provided enough weight to warrant return calls to discuss our concerns in more detail and at least effect small changes in how some states operationally go about handling escheated property.
Look to the SSA for continuing to keep a close eye on the changing regulatory climate and act accordingly on the behalf of the membership as each opportunity presents itself.
Finally, I cannot stress enough the importance of your membership. Without you we could not do any of the above. Without you being ambassadors of our association and our profession, we cannot grow in numbers and in strength. So, Stay in Touch. Stay Informed. Always Connected.
Very truly yours,
Alvin Santiago
President