J. Michael Cook received the Public Oversight Board’s 2001 John J. McCloy Award for outstanding contributions to the auditing profession at the December AICPA National Conference on Current SEC Developments. POB Chairman Charles A. Bowsher presented the award to Cook, a former chairman of the Institute.

The Accounting Standards Executive Committee (AcSEC) named Val R. Bitton its vice-chairman in December. He served as chairman of the AICPA international strategy committee from 1998 to 1999 and also was a member of the Institute’s committees on SEC regulations, international strategy and financial reporting (the “Jenkins Committee”).

A new AICPA publication, Effects of a Third-Party Service Provider in a WebTrust or Similar Engagement—Version 3.0, supplies nonauthoritative advice to practitioners performing examinations intended to provide assurance to WebTrust clients and their auditors about controls on third-party service providers. The book explains how to evaluate the quality of offerings from Internet service providers or Web site hosts, such as performing essential data processing activities and administering Web site security. Practitioners can obtain the guide at no charge on the AICPA Web site at www.aicpa.org/webtrust/index.htm .

Meanwhile, TradeCard Inc., a provider of online communication services, received the first WebTrust Confidentiality Seal granted in the United States. During a recent WebTrust engagement, Ernst & Young LLP auditors evaluated TradeCard’s online privacy policies and controls and confirmed the company adequately safeguarded all confidential information collected and stored on its Web site.

AICPA members and member firms participating in the Institute’s insurance trust life and disability program will learn this month how many shares of stock they’ll receive from Prudential Financial Inc., formerly Prudential Insurance Co. of America, which made an initial public offering December 13 after transforming itself into a public entity from a mutual company. The AICPA Foundation asks that members who receive shares in the IPO consider contributing them to the foundation to support its goals of advancing the science of accountancy, improving accountancy education and enhancing the profession’s recruitment activities.

Prudential’s stock transfer agent, Equiserve, will send each affected member a letter verifying the number of shares in his or her name and providing information on how to hold, sell or transfer them to the foundation. In addition, the foundation will contact all members to ask that they choose the last of these options: a tax-deductible donation of shares. Members who make such contributions can earmark shares for specific purposes or donate them to a general fund.

Robert W. Batty, CPA/PFS, received the Distinguished Service Award in January at the Personal Financial Planning (PFP) Technical Conference in Orlando. Batty is president and managing shareholder of Batty, Erlandsen & Associates, PS. He served on the AICPA PFP division’s executive committee and as chairman of its practice subcommittee. PFP committee chairman James Mitchell presented the award as Anat Kendall, AICPA director of financial planning, looked on.