AWSCPA's Financial Services Corporate Sponsor:

JNC UPDATE
By Stefanie Yurus, 2008-2009 AWSCPA President-Elect

The 2008 Joint National Conference in Dallas, Texas at The Fairmont Dallas is just three weeks away!  Have you registered yet?

For complete conference information, please view the online 2008 Conference Details.  You may register online now via the Conference Registration Form.  To reserve a room, contact The Dallas Fairmont reservations department at 214-720-2020.  Be sure to mention that you are attending the ASWA/AWSCPA Joint National Conference to receive the discounted room rate of $169.  Once the room block is sold out, rooms will be on a space available basis only, so do not delay!  

Keynote Speakers from Southwest Airlines and Ernst Young!
We are excited to announce our featured speakers who are leaders in their field.  Laura Wright has been the Senior Vice President Finance and Chief Financial Officer of Southwest Airlines since July 2004.  She is a member of Southwest's Senior Management Committee, the airline's senior officer group, and the Executive Planning Committee, the eight-member executive officer group responsible for strategic and long range planning.   Ms. Wright will share what Southwest Airlines does to attract and retain its most valuable resources, its employees and how it maintains its world renowned culture.

Beth Brooke, CPA, FLMI, is Global Vice Chair-Public Policy, Sustainability and Stakeholder Engagement at Ernst & Young.  She has been recognized by Forbes as one of the "The World's 100 Most Powerful Women" and by Accounting Today as one of the "Top 100 Most Influential People in Accounting."  Ms. Brooke will share the most important trends shaping the global business environment, including the critical role of the accounting profession and new approaches to leadership amid a changing global landscape.

Joint Foundation-Sponsored Financial Literacy & Fundraising Lunch
Join your friends and colleagues at Thursday's joint foundation fundraising lunch where we will learn about how we can bring financial literacy to our communities, network and make our final bids on silent auction items. The ASWA Educational Foundation and the AWSCPA Foundation will be hosting this event to raise important funds to support their missions. The two-hour event will feature a 50-minute CPE session on financial literacy, items donated by affiliates, chapters, firms and individuals across the country.  Don't miss the opportunity to learn, grow and win!  If you, your chapter/affiliate or firm wish to donate an item for this event, please complete and submit the Donation Form.

Forrest A. Kessler Eighth Annual Walk for Humanity!
On Tuesday evening, join your new and old friends for the eighth annual Forrest A. Kessler Walk for Humanity.  This is an event to remember all humanitarians we have loved and lost and also to recognize and support those who are struggling with treatments and healing.  All of the proceeds from the event will go to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.  To register, please download and send in your Walk Registration.

Earn 24 Hours of CPE Credit!
On Tuesday evening, October 28th, we'll kick off the two and a half day conference, from Tuesday to Thursday, where you'll have the opportunity to earn up to 24 hours of CPE credit (including four hours of pre- and post- conference CPE) in four tracks of Accounting & Auditing, Controllership, Personal & Professional Development and Tax.

Resources to Complement Your Learning Experience!
Each full conference registrant will receive one copy of all session handouts in a keyword searchable format on compact disc accompanied by a notepad for taking notes during educational sessions.  A link to the handouts will also be available to all paid registrants to download from the Internet prior to the JNC.

Women's Leadership Academy
Join us for the inaugural Women's Leadership Academy, conducted as an optional pre-conference event on Monday, October 27th with 6.0 hours of CPE.  This session, led by Mary Bennett, MBA, CEC, Executive, Crowe Horwath LLC will provide a comprehensive customized leadership development program where leadership development planning, dialogue with peers regarding the advancement of women leaders, the building of leadership networks, and career/life integration planning will be delivered. 

With more than 21 years of experience in the accounting and consulting industry, Mary is the founder of the Women Into Leadership Program at Crowe and has been instrumental to the firm's success with expertise in practice leadership, business development, market expansion, and women's leadership and inclusiveness programs. 

The Academy includes pre-work to help customize the program and all participants will be provided with inclusion in an ongoing network with a post-event coaching/mentoring circle.  The Academy is planned from 10:00 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. at The Fairmont Dallas.  The fee for this intensive all-day program, including pre and post event opportunities is $175 for ASWA/AWSCPA members or $250 for non-members.  The fees include all course materials, pre and post event opportunities, and lunch.  Register for the Academy and the JNC online.

We hope to see you in Dallas!