Citing concerns of fairness and a spirit of cooperation, the AICPA has made addresses of its membership available to opposition voices regarding the ongoing vote on the organization's proposed global credential.

Responding to a request made by the management of accounting firm BDO Seidman as well as Susan Bradley who is affiliated with XYZTalk.com, the AICPA has agreed to provide mail and e-mail addresses of its members so that these opponents of the Strategic Business Professional credential may express their views on the credential.

The AICPA will not screen or review the information dispatched by these parties.

Ms Bradley indicated that she contacted the AICPA requesting the addresses after receiving a letter from current and former Tax Executive Committee Chairs expressing their "personal observations and insight on this controversial professional issue...."

Although the letter went on to state, "These are not put forward as the views of our firms, the AICPA or the Tax Executive Committee," the letter was printed on AICPA stationery. "I am assuming that the mailing was paid for by the AICPA," said Ms. Bradley. "I felt that in this country we have FTC regulations regarding the equal time and use of media. I felt that since these three members had the ability to contact the membership, I too should be granted this ability. We live in a democracy and all organizations should abide by the spirit of that democracy."

Ms. Bradley has been instructed by the AICPA to destroy her copy of the database by January 1, 2002.

For more information on the proposed global credential, including a link for downloading the voting ballot and a chance to participate in the ongoing debate, visit AccountingWEB's Global Credential Resource Center.