About the IDNAC

Featured Article About the IDNAC From Intuit
This article was published in the May, 2004 Intuit Developer Network (IDN) Newsletter about the role of the Advisory Council in the Developer Community.  Click here....

What is the IDNAC and why was it organized?
How is the IDNAC structured and who are it's members?
What is the Mission Statement of the Main Council?
What is the Mission Statement of the Sub-committees?
What is the Mission Statement of the ProAdvisor Sub-committee?

What is the IDNAC and why was it organized?

The Intuit Developer Network Advisory Council (IDNAC) is an independent organization outside the official Intuit and Intuit Developer Network (IDN) Structures.   It is a self-formed and self-supporting group of volunteer QuickBooks Integrated Application Developers and Certified QuickBooks ProAdvisors who have formed this group and this website; with the express purpose of bring together Developers and Advisors in an effort to provide better solutions to the QuickBooks end user.

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How is the IDNAC structured and who are it's members?

The IDNAC consists of a Main Council, several Subcommittees, and a Board of Directors for idnac.org.  It's structure and members are as follows:

Main Council - Co-Chaired by
    Neal Katz, Count Me In, LLC
    Nancy Smyth, Sunburst Software Solutions, Inc.

Board Members
    Paul Jackson, Alocet
    Nate Chute, AFB, Inc.
    Brad Waddell, FLEXquarters.com, LLC
    Leslie Capachietti, Automated Financial Solutions

Subcommittee 1 - Tool Providers Subcommittee
Co-Chair - Brad Waddell
Members - Tom Crawford, Synergration, Inc., Eric Madariaga, /n software, inc.

Subcommittee 2 - Non-North American Developers Subcommittee
Co-Chair - We are currently seeking a volunteer for this position

Subcommittee 3 - In-house/Custom Developers Subcommittee
Co-Chair - Nate Chute

Subcommittee 4 - Box Products Subcommittee
Co-Chair - Paul Jackson
Assistant Co-Chairs
    Retail Edition - Janene Brunk, Attitude POSitive
    Contractors Edition - Scott Stephenson, Timbre Software
    Non-Profit Edition - David Bodnarchuk, eventIQ
    Manufacturing & Wholesale Edition - Ian Benoliel, NumberCruncher
    Professional Services Edition - Seeking a volunteer for this position
    Accountant Edition - Seeking a volunteer for this position

Subcommittee 5 - Marketing & Distribution Subcommittee
Co-Chair - Seeking a volunteer for this position

Subcommittee 6 - ProAdvisor Subcommittee
Co-Chair - Leslie Capachietti
Assistant Co-Chair - Dawn Scranton, Accounting Directors, Inc.

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What is the Mission Statement off the Main Council?

The Mission Statement & Responsibilities of the Main Council shall be as follows:

1. Act as a liaison between the Developer Community and Intuit to
• Resolve problems of who to talk to when problems arise
• Work with IDN/Intuit Executives to resolve problems in a timely fashion
• Promote efficient and timely communications between IDN Members and Intuit, regarding SDK and QuickBooks release and ship dates
• To promote the interests of the IDN at large and work towards developing better outcomes of all members and other stake holders
• Collaborate with Intuit Executives to continually improve the IDN
2. Act as a liaison between the Developer Community & the ProAdvisor/CPA Communities to create an open line of communication and a friendly environment
• Establish and maintain good relations with a clearer/better understanding of ProAdvisor/CPA needs
• Provide and promote education to the ProAdvisor/CPA Communities
• Relay information regarding specific events and/or issues
• Develop and promote activities that are mutually beneficial to both the IDN and ProAdvisor communities
3. The Main Advisory Council will have subcommittees representing
• Tool Providers
• Non-North American Developers
• Custom/In-House Developers
• Box Product Developers
• Marketing and Distribution
• ProAdvisor/Accountant sector
• Others as appropriate or deemed as necessary by the Main Council to meet the greater needs of the IDN Community
4. Partner with Intuit Executives to act as a sounding board/gain commitment on any topic they need assistance with, including but not limited to
• Setting direction of future QuickBooks capabilities and enhancements
• Provide a loud voice in helping to gauge relative priority and specific enhancements to be added to QuickBooks
• Gain insight regarding Intuit direction, budgets, future products, development cycles and specific areas of need of the QuickBooks end-user that enable the IDN Community to set their own direction
5. Partner with the IDN Team to act as a sounding board/gain commitment on any topic they need assistance with, including but not limited to
• Setting direction of future Software Development Kit (SDK) capabilities and enhancements
• Provide a loud voice in helping to gauge relative priority and specific enhancements to be added to the Software Development Kit (SDK)
• Gain insight regarding IDN direction, budgets, future products, development cycles, and specific areas of need that enable the IDN Community to set their own direction
6. Communicate directly with Subcommittee Co-Chairs on a monthly basis
7. Work with the Subcommittee Co-Chair and Assistant Co-Chair(s) to develop and implement a warning system for non-productive members
8. Bring specific needs and problems of the individual Subcommittees to the attention of Intuit/IDN Executives and seek resolution
9. Bring specific resolutions back to the Subcommittees
10. Main Council positions should be help through December 2005, thus allowing us time to continue the progress we have made to date and make things start to happen
11. Main Council Members remain a part of and continue to be voting members of their respective committee's and/or board until such time as they resign
12. Develop and promote other means of marketing for IDN companies, so as to not rely heavily or entirely upon Intuit
13. The Mission Statement may be amended from time to time at the sole discretion of the Main Council, subject to normal voting procedures

What is the Mission Statement of the Sub-committees?

The Mission Statement and Responsibilities of each Sub-Committee shall be as follows:

1. Each Subcommittee Co-Chair may admit members who will provide good support/feedback for the group at their sole discretion, but subject to Main Council approval
2. Each Co-Chair must elect their own Assistant Co-Chair by April 1, 2004 - thus allowing time for membership, getting to know one another, and finding a good Assistant Co-Chair
3. Once Assistant Co-Chairs are found and elected, the Co-Chair may assign tasks to the Assistant Co-Chair as needed
4. Assistant Co-Chairs will be allowed access to the Main Council's forum upon election
5. Subcommittee members may not be another member of the Co-Chairs own company
6. Co-Chairs will be responsible for their own subcommittee in the following areas:
• Co-Chairs will forward any/all communications from the Main Council
• Have at least one monthly communication or meeting
• Co-Chairs with the help of the Assistant Co-Chair will be responsible for initial problem resolution within the subcommittee
• Co-Chairs with the help of the Assistant Co-Chair will be responsible for compiling, prioritizing, and presenting unresolved problems within the Subcommittee to the Main Council
• Co-Chairs with the help of the Assistant Co-Chair will be responsible for bring problem resolutions from the Main Council back to the Subcommittee Members
7. Co-Chair and Main Council positions will be held through December 2005.  This will give us all time to continue the progress we have made and continue to make things happen
8. Each Subcommittee Co-Chair and Assistant Co-Chair will work with the Main Council to establish and implement a warning system for non-productive Subcommittee members
9. Co-Chairs will remain a part of and a voting member of their respective committee's and/or boards until such time as they resign or are voted out by a majority vote and approval of the Main Council for non-productive efforts
10. Each Subcommittee's Co-Chair and Assistant Co-Chair will hold an annual review of current member efforts and evaluate the effort and contributions of each current member.  If members are found to be heavily lacking in contribution efforts, unless due to extenuating circumstances, the Co-Chair and Assistant Co-Chair may hold an internal vote to keep or disbar current membership.  The results of the internal vote must be brought to the Main Council for approval prior to disbarring a member
11. This Mission Statement may be amended from time to time at the sole discretion of the Main Council, subject to normal voting procedures

What is the Mission Statement of the ProAdvisor Sub-committee?

The Mission Statement and Responsibilities of the ProAdvisor Subcommittee shall be as follows:

1. Subcommittee Co-Chair may admit members who will provide good support/feedback for the group at their sole discretion, but subject to Main Council approval
2. Co-Chair must have an appointed Assistant Co-Chair by April 1, 2004
3. Once Assistant Co-Chair has been found and elected, the Co-Chair may assign tasks to the Assistant Co-Chair as needed
4. Assistant Co-Chair will be allowed access tot he Main Council's forum upon election
5. Subcommittee members may not be another member of the Co-Chairs own company
6. Co-Chairs will be responsible for their own subcommittee in the following areas:
• Co-Chairs will forward any/all communications from the Main Council
• Have at least one monthly communication or meeting
• Co-Chairs with the help of the Assistant Co-Chair will be responsible for gathering information from Subcommittee Members
• Co-Chairs with the help of the Assistant Co-Chair will be responsible for initial problem resolution within the subcommittee
• Co-Chairs with the help of the Assistant Co-Chair will be responsible for compiling, prioritizing, and presenting unresolved problems within the Subcommittee to the Main Council
• Co-Chairs with the help of the Assistant Co-Chair will be responsible for bringing problem resolutions from the Main Council back tot he Subcommittee Members
7. Co-Chair and Main Council positions will be held through December 2005
8. Each Subcommittee Co-Chair and Assistant Co-Chair will work with the Main Council to establish and implement a warning system for non-productive Subcommittee Members
9. Co-Chairs will remain a part of and a voting member of their respective committee's and/or boards until such time as they resign or are voted out by a majority vote and approval of the Main Council for non-productive efforts
10. Each Subcommittee's Co-Chair and Assistant Co-Chair will hold an annual review of current member efforts and evaluate the effort and contributions of each current member.  If members are found to be heavily lacking in contribution efforts, unless due to extenuating circumstances, the Co-Chair and Assistant Co-Chair may hold an internal vote to keep or disbar current membership.  The results of the internal vote must be brought to the Main Council for approval prior to disbarring a member
11. Subcommittee will act as a liaison for improved relationships/communications between IDNAC and the newly forming Intuit Accountant Advisory Council (IAAC)
12. Subcommittee will help facilitate a better understanding of the needs of the IAAC and the ProAdvisor community
13. This Mission Statement may be amended from time to time at the sole discretion of the Main Council, subject to normal voting procedures