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HAPPY HOLIDAYS!
DECEMBER 2014 |
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JANUARY 2015 MEMBERSHIP MEETING
*There is NO membership meeting in December, but be sure to sign up for the membership meeting in January.
| | Date: | 1/27/2015 | | | Doors Open: | 6:00pm | | | Location: | Biltmore Hotel | | | | 2151 Laurelwood Road | | | | Santa Clara, CA 95054 | | | Presentation: | Revenue Recognition by Kyle MacLeod | | | Cost: | Day of Event at the Door | | | | $40 members | | | | $50 guests | | |
Pre-registration:
| Discount rate, register and pay using Paypal here | | | | $35 members | | | | $45 guests |
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JANUARY KEYNOTE SPEAKER:
Kyle will share with us an overview of the new revenue recognition standards and how they will impact financial statements.
Major Subjects:
- Why revenue recognition is so complex and why it matters
- Implementing the new revenue recognition standards
Kyle provides attest and consulting services to companies in the manufacturing and distribution industries throughout the Bay Area. Before joining the team at GALLINA, Kyle worked with a large national CPA firm for 13 years, and also has 4 years of experience working in private industry. His experience includes complex audit and accounting issues, inventory management, cost accounting, business combinations, financial planning, and strategic planning.
<Register Here>
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THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS!  (click on a Sponsor to be directed to their website)
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IN THIS ISSUE
- November Membership Meeting Recap - - December Annual Holiday Party Recap -
Looking Back on a Great Year - 2014 Senate Approves Tax Extenders Bill
Holiday Gift Ideas That Make a Difference
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Nicole Letellier
AFWA - Silicon Valley Chapter President
It is December already! It is hard to believe that we will say Good Bye to 2014 in just a couple of weeks.
Thank you to all of you who came to our Holiday Party. It was well attended and I had a great pleasure hosting this fun event. We collected many pounds of food that were delivered to the Second Harvest Food Bank in San Jose. They are very grateful for our donation. Thank you to all who participated.
I hope that 2014 has been a successful year for all of you. Mine has been filled with great experiences and challenges. I have grown in my professional life as well as my personal life. AFWA has provided me with great opportunities to learn leadership, communication, and technical skills through the monthly membership meeting speakers and also by taking an active role in the organization. I am grateful for the opportunities and I hope you will decide to take an active role in your organization. By taking either a board position or playing a role in a committee, you have the chance to shape what your organization will look like and will provide to its members. I highly recommend being part of the leadership team. I can guarantee that it will be an unforgettable experience.
Whatever your plans are for the Holidays, I wish you and your family, a Joyful and Safe Holiday season. I am already looking forward to seeing you next year!
Happy Holidays!
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NOVEMBER MEMBERSHIP MEETING RECAP
AFWA Silicon Valley members and guests attended November's membership meeting for the presentation "Public Speaking"
from special guest speaker Monika Miles.
________________________________________________________________________ Great tips on what to do and what NOT to do from former AFWA Board President Monika Miles!
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For more pictures from the membership meeting, check out our Facebook page! 
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DECEMBER ANNUAL HOLIDAY PARTY RECAP
AFWA Silicon Valley enjoyed a fun, intimate holiday party
at Board President Nicole Letellier's home.
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Members and guests dropped off canned goods and nonperishable items for the food drive.
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Salad, pasta, dessert and wine was served while everyone mingled, catching up before the new year.
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The night ended with a White Elephant gift exchange - tea sets, scarves, candles, and the joke of the night was a key chain breathalyzer!
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To view the rest of the pictures from our event,
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DECEMBER NEWS
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By Berranthia Brown, CMI,
AFWA National President
Wow, where do we begin? A lot has happened in the first part of this fiscal year for AFWA.
It's so hard to believe that 2014 is coming to a close in just a few weeks and we are halfway through our year. As we are in the midst of the holiday season and our focus is on giving to others, I thought it would be great to recap all of the major accomplishments that AFWA has made to date this year.
- March 2014 - Changed management companies and moved our Headquarters to Lexington, KY and hired a new Executive Director and staff for AFWA & the Foundation of AFWA.
- June 2014 - Strategic Planning for 2014-2015 and Joint Board meetings for AFWA & Foundation Boards and installation of officers.
- July 2014 - Hosted 2 National Strategic Plan webinars to present the 2014-2015 Strategic Plan to chapter and regional leaders to explain the plan and encouraged chapters to align their chapter strategic goals, with the National Strategic Plan
- August 2014 - Redesigned our Accountability E-newsletter to include more AFWA news and highlights. Improved our Social Media presence, with over 1,000 fans on Facebook, and 2,100 members in our LinkedIn group since its inception. Produced a new Student Member Brochure to aid and support our student chapters in their recruitment efforts.
- Chartered the 2nd Student Chapter at Mississippi State University with 57 students.
- Attended the ALPFA & Beta Alpha Psi Conference representing AFWA
- September 2014 - Hosted a successfully National Conference in New Orleans, LA with over 200 attendees, and implemented a new electronic voting process at the Annual Business Meeting. Launched the new AFWA online store!
- Improved the CPE submission process for chapters
- Updated chapter resources for social media & our marketing toolkit
- Hosted 2 National webinars on a variety of topics for chapter leaders to use ( Membership & Leaders)
- Created a link for members to volunteer on a national level online
- Improving the Member-Only section of the website to be more user-friendly.
- November 2014 - Foundation receives $10,000 grant from PNC Bank. Foundation launched the Opt-In Donations for to contribute to the Foundation at membership renewal.
- December 2014 - AFWA National President Berranthia Brown & Foundation Chair Susan Adams, and National Director Mary Burns travel to Cuba on a People to People Delegation Trip and meet with Director of Federation of Cuban Women
The past few months have truly been exciting times for AFWA and I can't wait to see what 2015 has in store for AFWA.
I believe our organization is heading in the right direction to increase membership, improve our online tools for members and chapters in the next few months, member engagement, as well as expand awareness of our organization in the accounting and financial industry.
It has been a great honor to serve as your National President this year and to work with this National Board as we continue to strengthen and grow our organization, and "Build our Foundation for our Future". I wish you and yours a wonderful holiday season and a Happy New Year - See you in 2015!
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from the Robert Half blog
December 3, 2014
In a recent Robert Half survey, 7 in 10 professionals polled admitted they frequently go to work when they're feeling sick. Managers are aware of the issue: Sixty-five percent said that sick employees go to work at least somewhat frequently.
While you may fear falling behind if you take a sick day, when you feel the flu coming on or you're contagious with a viral or bacterial illness, it's far better to stay home and rest.
But sometimes it's hard to tell whether you're ill enough to call in sick. Here are five situations when staying home is the right thing to do:
- Stay home if you have active symptoms - you're coughing up phlegm, have a runny nose or are sneezing frequently, for example. Not only do you need bed rest, but you also could infect others if you go to work.
- A fever isn't an illness itself but a symptom of an underlying condition, most often an infection. It's the body's defense against sickness and a way of telling you to slow down and recuperate.
- The flu doesn't begin with vomiting, but rather with extreme fatigue, body aches and chills. It's best to stay home if you have these symptoms. If you do have the flu, you could be contagious even before you start showing serious signs of an illness.
- You may be feeling better, but if you're still taking medication, you could pose a danger while you're driving. If there's no way for you get to work safely, it's best to call in sick.
- Don't think you're letting down the team by calling in sick. If you're not feeling well, you could make mistakes on the job. Stay home to avoid bringing down productivity.
Don't wait until the flu knocks you down to ask your supervisor how he wants to be alerted that you are home sick. Find out ahead of time whether your manager would prefer to hear by phone, email or text. And when you do let your supervisor know that you won't be coming in, leave out the gory details.
Don't overdramatize your symptoms or be a hero, either. After all, heroes don't spread illness to others. Turn on Netflix and rest.
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from Forbes
by Kelly Phillips Erb
December 16, 2014
With just over two weeks left in the 2014 calendar year, the Senate finally made up its mind about the tax extenders bill. The bill, which extends the life of a number of tax breaks through 2014, passed the Senate 76 to 16. Only 60 votes were needed for approval.
Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-UT) referred to the bill as "quite literally the best we could do." Apparently, the best they could do is pass legislation that lasts for only a short while: the bill, which is only applicable to the 2014 tax year, expires on December 31, 2014. Yes, that's just two weeks.
The provisions included in the bill had previously expired at the end of 2013. You can see a list of tax extenders which might have affected you here: those provisions have now been extended through the end of the year. They will not be renewed for the tax year 2015 unless the new Congress takes the matter up again.
The bill now goes to President Obama, who is expected to sign it into law this week.
The lag in passing the bill - which is retroactive to January 1, 2014 - will certainly delay the opening of tax season. The IRS Commissioner has not yet announced a start date to the 2015 season: I would expect a late January to early February date. Stay tuned.
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from Statefarm Insurance
November 21 , 2014
Looking for unique gift ideas that your family and friends will appreciate? Consider one of these financial gifts - and the gift will keep giving.
For Young Children: Contribute to College
With college costs rising each year, starting a college fund early makes sense. There are various savings options to choose from - some of which have the potential to grow tax-deferred and may qualify as a deduction on your state tax return.
For Teenagers or Young Adults: Book a Session with a Financial Professional
Help a young person you love start off on the right foot financially by setting up a session with a financial professional. Contact your State Farm� agent about helping a young person in your life understand how to achieve their financial goals, such as saving for a car, while teaching them how to establish a budget and use credit cards responsibly.
For Friends or Relatives: Make a Donation
If you don't know what to give someone this year, contribute money or needed material goods to their favorite charity. This is a gift you can benefit from too - you may be able to receive an income tax deduction for your contribution.
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BOARD OF DIRECTORS 2014-2015
Pictured from left to right, front row: Jeanne Kourmako, Nicole Letellier, Wendy Matthews, Eileen Perry, Nicole Sheets. From left to right, back row: Marvel Khan, Diane Ollila, Julia Beckland. Not pictured: Amrit Dhaliwal, Edronda Guiriba, Susan Wright.
President - Nicole Letellier President - Elect - Eileen Perry Secretary - Nicole Sheets Treasurer - Wendy Matthews Program - Diane Ollila Membership - Amrit Dhaliwal Scholarship - Susan Wright Newsletter/Web - Edronda Guiriba Hospitality - Jeanne Kourmako CPE Compliance - Marvel Khan Immediate Past President - Julia Becklund
Click here for more info about the Roles and Responsibilities of the Board of Directors. |
COMMITTEE UPDATES |
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PROGRAMS
Chair: Diane Ollila
There is an excellent line-up of programs for the Silicon Valley Chapter this year, and most of them qualify for CPE! Check out the line-up as we have engaged some dynamic and outstanding speakers.
January
1/27/2014
Speaker: Kyle MacLeod
Presentation: Revenue Recognition
February
2/24/2015
Presentation: Tax Update
March
3/24/2015
Presentation: TBD
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MEMBERSHIP
Chair: Amrit Dhaliwal
QUALIFICATIONS: - All Levels of Accounting & Finance
- Bookkeepers
- Corporate Accounting Finance
- Public Accounting
- Management & Educators
- Recruiters
If you would like to join the Silicon Valley Chapter of AFWA, follow the link to our National website: http://www.afwa.org Please feel free to complete the application or forward a copy to someone you think would benefit from joining our Chapter.
MEMBERSHIP BENEFITS
- Prestigious status of professional affiliation
- National contacts for networking and professional information
- Forum for CPE
- Scholarships
- Leadership opportunities in supportive arena
- Subscription to Accountability e-newsletter
- National and regional conferences at a discounted rate
- Access to Career Center
- Access to AFWA's LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter groups and National online membership directory
- Discounted membership to the Institute for Management Accountants (IMA)
- Discounted products and services through affiliation agreements
- CPA review courses, CCH tax & accounting books, Long Term Care Insurance and Bank of America credit card.
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HOSPITALITY/CPE COMPLIANCE Hospitality Chair: Jeanne Kourmako CPE Chair: Marvel Khan
Reservation and cancellation policy: Reservations or cancellations are requested by noon on the Friday preceding each meeting. Email Jeanne to reserve or cancel. The goal is an accurate count for the hotel. Unreserved members (not guests) incur a surcharge of $5.00.
Reserved members or guests who are no-shows will be billed if not cancelled by noon the preceding Friday. We do want you to come to the meetings and reservations are helpful but if you have to cancel let us know beforehand to avoid incurring the cost of the meal. WE ACCEPT CREDIT CARD PAYMENT AT THE DOOR.
Volunteers are always welcome at our monthly membership meetings. Lend a helping hand to make our monthly events and meetings even more interesting while building a great network and forming new relationships.
CPE credit is available for participating in any of our qualified programs. See Marvel for more details in person at the meeting.
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NEWSLETTER Chair: Edronda Guiriba
Send in your articles!
We encourage our membership to submit articles of interest for our monthly newsletter. Please make your submission under the following criteria...
- Prepared as a Microsoft Word document
- Photos in JPEG format
- captions are okay, no imbedded text, please
The newsletter is prepared and distributed on a monthly basis. Visit our web site atwww.afwasiliconvalley.org. If you have questions regarding articles to submit or about the newsletter, email the newsletter chair, Edronda, at [email protected]
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SCHOLARSHIPS Chair: Susan Wright
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NOW OPEN: AFWA Silicon Valley is now accepting applications for the 2015 scholarships, for students pursuing a degree in accounting or finance.
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The Silicon Valley Chapter of the Accounting & Financial Women's Alliance (AFWA) has been awarding scholarships since 1976 and has distributed over $70,000 during that time.
Scholarships are awarded annually. Applications will open in December and are awarded in April. We encourage you to introduce AFWA to a potential applicant for next year and continue to think of fundraising opportunities throughout the year so we may reach even more of the future stars.
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LOOKING FOR SPONSORS
There are four sponsor levels of contribution established for the scholarship fund.
Bronze
Sponsorship up to $150.00
Silver
Sponsorship up to $300.00
Gold
Sponsorship up to $500.00
Platinum
Sponsorship $750.00 or more
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Share the information!
See Susan Wright for more details.
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AFWA FOUNDATION The Foundation is all about us, accounting and financial professionals, we strive every day to make a difference in the financial world and in our communities. The Foundation is charged with raising funds for national scholarships, and educational advancement of our peers and rising leaders.
The Foundation offers each of us the opportunity to support the future direction of the profession where we have gained our own personal successes.
It is important to support those entering the profession and working alongside us. Those that follow in our footsteps have much to teach us and much to learn from us. They embody the next generation of accounting and financial professionals. Our goal for you and AFWA is to lead the way in their development.
Mission
The Foundation promotes and advances education, career development and leadership in finance and accounting. Our vision is to guide women along the path to achieve success in finance and accounting.
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ANNUAL CONFERENCE
2015 AFWA National Conference
Mark your calendars for the 2015 AFWA National Conference to be held October 26-28, 2015 in Pittsburgh, PA. More details coming soon!
You should attend if you are...
- Responsible for monitoring developments in accounting, taxation and finance
- Responsible for the quality and profitability of your company or firm
- Supervising and/or training accounting and finance staff
- Interested in developing a network of outstanding professionals.
- Ready to promote your company or product in today's marketplace
- A beginner or veteran, with or without a degree, in private or public accounting, finance or academia
What will you learn at the Accounting & Financial Women's Alliance Annual Conference?
- The latest technical developments in accounting, auditing, finance, tax, management, leadership, government and industry, including e-commerce, and budgeting and accounting software applications
- Motivational strategies that work
- Methods for effective management of people and the marketplace
- Effective means of identifying and responding to economic problems
- Valuable leadership techniques
- Means for achieving effective communication
- Professional contacts in a variety of industries
Need help convincing your organization to send you to our conference? Build your case and read our reasons why you should attend.
Stay tuned for session and registration details!
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Founded in 1938, AFWA/ASWA provides women in accounting and finance the leadership, education and networking opportunities needed to achieve their career goals. Celebrating 75 years as the only organization that solely represents the interest of women in the entire accounting and finance community. The organization's mission is to enable women in all accounting and related fields to achieve their full personal,
professional and economic potential and to contribute to the future development of their profession.
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