Christine Ness, CPP, is APA’s Region 4 Advisor. She serves as the liaison between APA and local chapters in Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, and Texas. Learn more about Christine with this exclusive Q&A session!
Can you tell us a little about yourself?
I have been working in payroll for over 30 years. I am currently the Director of Payroll Services at the University of San Diego, where I have been for almost 13 years. I also serve as Treasurer for a nonprofit called “Beer for Boobs” that my daughter-in-law started which gives back to several cancer charities.
I grew up in San Diego as my dad planted us here while he was in the Navy. I have two boys and two grandsons that are the joy of my life. We plan many family vacations together, especially since I have one son in San Francisco and the other in Asheville, North Carolina. My favorite place to visit is Hawaii, where I was born. In my spare time I enjoy gardening, quilting, and sewing.
How long have you been involved with APA and local chapters?
I started with my local San Diego Chapter about 14 years ago. I have served on the board as Parliamentarian, Secretary, Treasurer, Vice President, and my current position as President. Statewide, I have served as the Webmaster for the Southern California Focus Day committee and on the Speaker Committee for the California Payroll Conference. Nationally, I am a member of the Strategic Payroll Leadership Task Force for Higher Education, Hotline Referral Service, Board of Advisors, and Grant Committee.
What advice would you like to give to the chapters in your region?
Keep the chapter moving forward by increasing your membership through CPP/FPC classes and new meeting topics each year so members have incentive to come back. Encourage members to join your board, volunteer on a chapter committee, or get involved with your chapter’s charity events. Invite potential new members to attend their first monthly meeting for free. One thing I learned from a fellow payroll friend, do not be afraid to tap a chapter member on the shoulder and invite them to join as a board member.
What are some chapter issues you have helped resolve?
I was able to assist a chapter with getting back on track as they did not have any of the information from the past treasurer and they did not know when their last 990 form had been filed to the IRS. I provided them the link to go online and verify since these are public records. We talked about ideas for duties that could be incorporated into the bylaws, including how often the bank account should be balanced, submission of monthly reports to the board, number of board officers on the bank account, and multiple signers on the check to ensure accountability.
What APA resources would you recommend to the chapters in your region?
A great resource is the Chapter Leaders Blog as it offers information on different topics that can be utilized as a resource when a chapter is trying to find information on Congress, chapters who have won awards, webinars on new policies or changes at the APA, and ideas on improving your chapter with speakers, social media, and more. There are easy to find links to the APA Chapter Guides and Forms under Resources in the upper right-hand corner. If you want to connect with the Chapter Relations Team or APA Board of Advisor for your region, click on Connect in the upper right-hand corner of home page.
Are you a proud chapter leader in Region 4? Introduce yourself to Christine in the comments or send her an email.
Christine Ness, CPP began her 2-year term as the Region 4 Advisor in May 2018.
