Wednesday, March 28, 2012

Dennis Meservy: Certified Fraud Examiner

My dad is a practicing CPA and CFE with a number of specializations. He recently audited the books of a charity as an expert witness for a case going to trail with federal involvement. I know very, very little about this whole thing other than that the story as well as a mention of my dad were front page of the Las Vegas Review Journal today. Other than that, my Dad hasn't discussed the books or client.  My mom has told me that he feels very comfortable with his audit and seems to believe that she may be in the wrong.

Las Vegas Review Journal Frontpage

Las Vegas Review Journal second story

Dennis K Meservy, CPA can be contacted via his website.

Sunday, March 25, 2012

Fun Times in P-Town

Wednesday, we headed to my favorite venue in the world, Velour Music Gallery, to watch Imagine Dragons play a second sold-out show this month. We went with BIL & SIL J & J Harding. They agreed by the end of the night that it was a fantastic show and a good time was had by all. I even got to chat with my cousin and lead singer Dan Reynolds. And, we partied it up with my sister E and cousin S too.

Thursday, we stayed in Heber, UT and house sat (as opposed to baby sat) along with some of the best behaved kids I've visited with. The Wright kids are fantastic. In fact, not only did they clean the house for us in advance, cook us dinner and bake cookies for us (included setting and cleaning the table), choose a movie that we hadn't seen, and tell each other to limit their video games to like 5 min, but one of them even gave me a foot massage. Another woke himself up and made his own lunch. Ages 6, 10, 14, and 15 these were some really fun and very bright children. It made me laugh out loud at how improved the young generation is. For instance, the 10 year old had his own Netbook (provided by the school) and was about to receive his own iPad 2.

Friday, we dressed up as people from "The Capitol" (Hunger Games) and went to Noodles & Co. with J & J Harding and friends Anna and Curtis. We liked the food--not gourmet but tasty. Austin Cope, my former mission companion, called us over and filled me in on his life and times with his lovely wife Britney and his budding family. Following that reunion we went to see the film The Hunger Games. It was violent and definitely not for children, but I felt that they portrayed the book exceptionally appropriately. Aside from the shaky camera-syndrome which drove me nuts, I really like it.

Saturday, we took my sister E on a blind date with Julia's friend to the annual Festival of Colors in Spanish Fork. It was my first time attending in six years in Provo. Afterward, we had pizza at Little Caesars.





Friday, March 23, 2012

123postcards

For the last 6 months Julia and I have been working at a dental advertising group called 123postcards. It is one of the best jobs, in terms of perks and fellow workers, that I have ever had. More importantly, they do some great advertising for dental practices (of all kinds) all over the United States.

Julia is the company's Maps Specialist and helps delegate where the postcards will be mailed and to which demographics. I am an Account Manager and oversee the reporting and results of client mailings. We work with hundreds of offices and millions of postcards.

Thursday, March 22, 2012

Update On My Parents (The Meservys)

Dennis has just been re-appointed to the prestigious NV State Board of Equalization by Governor Sandoval. Last time he was appointed by Governor Gibson. He will sit on the board until 2015. He is the Ward Mission Leader (for like the 5th time). He is in the throws of tax season. And, he recently purchased an interest in his office building and has been busy renting out the remaining spaces.

Mara is teaching Seminary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She is currently teaching the Old Testament. She is also substitute teaching at an elementary school for about 5 weeks and tutors a young remedial reader who is learning to read in the evenings at her home. She is also seeking to sell her parent's home in Sun City Summerlin (following their passing).

They both became adoring grandparents to my brother W and SIL K's new baby girl in February.

Sunday, March 18, 2012

Real Reasons Mitt Romney Deserves Good Press

As a Christian I believe character counts and I believe the Savior counts charity as being very important as told in scripture--here are some great things about presidential candidate Mitt Romney for better or for worse...

*Romney donates 14% of his income annually to charity
*He donated his CEO salary for turning around the 2002 Olympics to charity
*He donated his inheritance to charity
*He served for more than 10 years as a layman for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (no pay)
*He served as a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for two years on his or his father's own dime (no pay)
*He served as a governor for four years (no pay)
*He shut down his business and flew his volunteer employees out to search and rescue his partner's daughter in NYC after she attended a rave and ended up missing--she was found after a call in to the rescue effort asking about a reward led the police to her location
*He gave his pocket cash, $50, to a woman in need on the campaign trail and called over his campaign chairs to help her out during the middle of campaigning
*He calls his rivals (both of whom have attacked his personal integrity) by kind terms. Gingrich + wife he calls each "a friend" and Santorum he calls "a good guy"
*Despite having earned enough money to last a lifetime no matter how many Cadillacs he needs he is determined to serve and turn around the economy for other Americans
*He promotes belief in the United States of America as the greatest nation in the world
*He has been married faithfully to the same woman for more than 42 years and helped her raise a family of sons (all married and educated)

Weekend Plans

Friday night for our date we went to the mall. We ate at Red Robin and had desert at one of our new favorite spots in Provo a Japanese sweet shop called Tokyo Sweet within the Provo mall food court. We then went home and watched Jackie Chan's Shanghai Noon.

Saturday we spent mostly at home. Julia cooked an awesome dinner.

Sunday, we went to church and meetings and then watched some Psych episodes and followed Mitt Romney winning the Puerto Rico primary.

Wednesday, March 14, 2012

SOMETHING VERY FUN LOOKING

My sister E is working heading up advertising for an upcoming new BYU TV series called AUDIO-FILES. The series seems to revolve around some awesome national talent including Imagine Dragons (Interscope/KIDinaKORNER), Paper Route (Universal Motown), LOW (Sub Pop), and more.



Friday, March 2, 2012

Happy Texas Independence Day, Y'all!

Happy Texas Independence Day to the Lone Star State! I miss the bluebonnets, mockingbirds, pecan trees, and monarch butterflies. Did you know the state got it's name from the Caddo Indians of eastern Texas who called their group of tribes the "Tejas," meaning "those who are friends" and that the state motto is "friendship?"

The Texas Song: "Texas, Our Texas."

Texas, our Texas! All hail the mighty State!
Texas, our Texas! So wonderful so great!
Boldest and grandest, Withstanding ev'ry test;
O Empire wide and glorious, You stand supremely blest.

[Refrain] God bless you Texas! And keep you brave and strong,
That you may grow in power and worth, Thro'out the ages long.

Texas, O Texas! Your freeborn single star,
Sends out its radiance to nations near and far.
Emblem of freedom! It sets our hearts aglow,
With thoughts of San Jacinto and glorious Alamo.

[Refrain]

Texas, dear Texas! From tyrant grip now free,
Shines forth in splendor your star of destiny!
Mother of heroes! We come your children true,
Proclaiming our allegiance, our faith, our love for you.

"On Top of the World" by Imagine Dragons





Both of these runs simultaneously used this song. I actually think this is a coincidence and that it's really remarkable. I'd like to close this with the words of Dan Reynolds "Music--it like cuts right to the core of anyone in the quickest way I know possible--it is the quickest doorway into your deepest emotions. And to be part of that is incredible."

Charity As It Can Be Found Around

I am concerned with the world as it is. And, still, I've seen and witnessed some great acts of kindness and charity in the news and locally each day. As I hope and believe that charity is the greatest thing out there and that compassion is one of the most desirable traits in a wife I would love to share some of these AWESOME stories with you. According to the scriptures "charity is the pure love of Christ, and it endureth forever" (Moroni 7:47).

"Nothing you do makes much of a difference if you do not have charity. You can speak with tongues, have the gift of prophecy, understand all mysteries, and possess all knowledge; even if you have the faith to move mountains, without charity it won't profit you at all....

"Without charity—or the pure love of Christ—whatever else we accomplish matters little. With it, all else becomes vibrant and alive.

"When we inspire and teach others to fill their hearts with love, obedience flows from the inside out in voluntary acts of self-sacrifice and service" (Elder Joseph B Wirthlin, Ensign, Nov 2007, 28–31).

1. 'A Victim Treats His Mugger Right' - NPR

2. Romney gives cash to struggling supporter at rally - CNN

By the way, Mitt Romney did inherit money from his father which he then gave away entirely to various charities in honor of his father.

3. Jack Johnson announces new super-righteous live album - HitFix

4. What The IRS Could Learn From Mormons - WBUR

5. Elderly Man Proves "You're Never Too Old" - KTSM & PEOPLE

In my own community I am aware of a recently divorced man who visited with and cried with another man who also recently divorced and encouraged him to move forward.

I know a recently homeless man--he's a vegan and confused about religion and its role. He's had a hard life and one of the members of my ward welcomed him into his home for a week.

In Las Vegas I know of a couple families who received help from church members paying to turn on their lights and helping them visit the doctor's office.

My own mother helps teach a child to read during evenings at home. I read his carefully written thank you card and it was AMAZING. He called her one of his favorite people and thanked her and mentioned how fun it was to be with her. She really is fun to be around! I am not kidding.

My wife's charity is radiating and splendid. Everyone at work likes her. Our home teachers and friends all like her. My Meservy family reminds me often that I lucked out with her--she plans and humbly asks my opinion, she sweetly gives my kisses whenever I need them, she always helps me get up and get going in the morning--very patiently, she dreams of a future family and a glorious existence somewhere in the distance. She even allows me to spend or donate money when I feel things are important. It is a beautiful thing to see our love grow and our mutual respect develop.