It is hard to believe summer is coming to a close and we are starting a new program year! We ended the 2010 – 2011 program year on a high note:
- The Scholarship Committee hosted the first annual Trivial Pursuit fundraiser in June. The fundraiser was a big hit; it was great fun with a lot of laughter and good-natured competition among the teams. The Scholarship Committee raised several hundred dollars for a great cause.
- The Wichita Chapter was one of six chapters recognized for reaching the 2010 – 2011 National membership goals with 23 new members and an 84% retention rate, thanks to the efforts of the Membership Committee and members who joined during the year.
We have an exciting year ahead of us as we will celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Wichita Chapter’s Charter Night in June 2012. Stay tuned for more about the plans to celebrate this amazing milestone.
The Public Relations Committee kicked off the new program year with the first annual Past President’s dinner on August 19th. I enjoyed hearing about the experiences of the past presidents. They are a truly inspiring group of women; I am just beginning to appreciate how much ground they broke for the rest of us through their efforts. This event raised $550 for the Scholarship Fund. I am already looking forward to next year’s dinner.
The Program Committee started the new program year with a bang! There were about 100 members and guests in attendance for the August 23rd membership meeting. Richard Dinkel, the Koch Industries Inc. Controller and Chief Accounting Officer spoke about the future of accounting in the United States as it relates to the status of new standards and private accounting standard setting. You have set a high bar for us to meet for the remainder of the year with attendance at this meeting!
As always, the Program Committee has a great slate of meetings planned for the balance of the program year. Stay tuned to the newsletter and web-site for details of upcoming meetings. I hope to see you at our next meeting, which is scheduled for September 20th.
The 2011 Annual National Conference for Women in Accounting is scheduled for October 24 – 26 in Charlotte, NC. Our chapter is eligible to send 5 delegates to the conference. We’ve won 2 free registrations through the National Membership Challenge. If you have an interest in attending the conference, please contact me or any of the other board members. This conference is a great opportunity to earn CPE, improve your technical skills and knowledge and/or focus on personal and professional development. Additionally, it’s a wonderful opportunity to meet and network with other accounting professionals.
I would like to close this letter with an invitation for you to get involved in one of the following committees, if you have not already done so: Program, Newsletter, Public Relations, Scholarship and Membership. This is a great way to enhance the value of your membership for yourselves, your companies, and ASWA.
Regards,
Marsha Helmer
helmerm@kochind.com
316-828-6015