I am about to begin what could be the most challenging year yet for myself.  It may seem daunting, but it is very exciting to me to take on each new challenge I have set for myself this year. One thing that keeps me going is the positivity and support I receive from my fellow AFWA members in addition to regular support from family and friends.  Of course my family and friends give positive support no matter what however, it is incredibly reassuring to hear it from my AFWA peers; many of whom have families on top of many other obligations comparable to my own. AFWA members understand, because they too are accounting or financial professionals. 

 

Last month, the board members met to discuss the strategic plan for the current year. The board this year is highly dedicated.  The meeting started late; however, we managed to quickly set our goals, finalize the budget, have lunch, and get our ideas lined out for speakers well in advance with five minutes left to spare!  Talk about women who know how to get in there and get it done! 

 

In addition to each one being active board members, each have families and obligations of their own to tend to outside of AFWA.  It is inspiring to hear their stories which keeps me motivated for my future.

Again, I highly recommend anyone in accounting or finance to get involved with the AFWA association.  Come meet friendly faces, network, and gain your own network of support and hope for your future.  You can start by joining us at our July monthly member meeting. See our events calendar for more details.

 

 

  

                                  Click here to register- REGISTER NOW    

 

                                                   Diana Patton, CPA, CFP 

 

NEW $10 BILL TO FEATURE A WOMAN

Alexander Hamilton will share the $10 bill, which will feature the first woman on American paper currency in more than 100 years, Treasury Secretary Jack Lew announced Thursday.

Lew said he would announce which woman was chosen before the end of the year, after the administration seeks national input this summer.

"America's currency is a way for our nation to make a statement about who we are and what we stand for," Lew said. "Our paper bills - and the images of great American leaders and symbols they depict - have long been a way for us to honor our past and express our values."

Martha Washington and Pocahontas were each featured on paper currency more than 100 years ago, Treasury officials said.

The announcement comes after much speculation in recent weeks that a woman would be on a new paper note.

 

Research suggests that women might be better money managers than men. Recent studies, for example, have found that women investors have more patience for long-term returns and exhibit greater self-control, which leads them to less impulsive, risky decisions.

 

In the context of family finances in the developing world, these characteristics translate into something that Caitlin Sanford from Bankable Frontier Associates calls "playing defensive". At a recent gathering promoted by the non-profit Women's World Banking on the role of women in financial inclusion, Sanford recalled the story of an East African family that she met during a year-long research project. When the family ran into legal trouble over their makeshift home-brewery business, the woman made sure her husband was taken into custody, not her. The rationale: He simply wouldn't have been able to mobilize their family and friends network in order to raise the required bail money as she did.

 

Given the central role women play in the family finances in many developing countries, there is some good news in the recently released Global Findex data: The traditional financial access gender gap has narrowed in some countries. In Kenya and Cote d'Ivoire, for example, where technology innovations are driving broader financial inclusion success, there is virtually no difference in access to the new mobile money accounts between women and men. In Tanzania, the access gap by household income is now nearly twice as big as the gap between men and women, suggesting that poverty is a bigger barrier than gender.

 

READ MORE 

 

 

  

 

You're a pro at managing the finance and accounting department, but how well do you manage your stress level? All that extra work covering for vacationing colleagues, not to mention having the kids home for the summer, can add up to tension and anxiety. To make it worse, your Facebook and Instagram feeds are filled with images of other people enjoying picture-perfect holidays.

 

While you can't completely eliminate work pressures from your life, you can learn to achieve a healthy work-life balance this summer. As another busy quarterly deadline approaches, step back, take a deep breath and focus on these four stress-management tips:

 

1. Come to work rested. The best stress-management strategy is completely free and requires you to do absolutely nothing: sleep! Make it a priority to get seven to eight hours of shut-eye every night. If that means skipping "Game of Thrones" and getting to bed by 10 p.m., then so be it. (You can always DVR the episode.) When you get enough sleep, you'll wake up rejuvenated, clearheaded and ready to take on another busy day at the office.

 

2. Schedule me-time throughout the day. Participating in frequent back-to-back meetings may seem like a business necessity, but information overload can sap your energy and drag you down. Make sure you take time out of your daily schedule to do something just for yourself. Eat a real lunch, away from your desk. Take a brisk walk around the block. Get out of your chair and stretch your legs every hour. Grab a healthy snack. Give yourself time to hit the refresh button before you jump back into work.  

 

3. Embrace the outdoors. One ofthe best things about summer is that the days are longer. Take advantage of those hours. When you get home from work, there's plenty of daylight left to enjoy a bike ride, walk the dog, go for a run or hit a few balls at the driving range. Many towns have free summertime events such as outdoor concerts, plays and movies. After you spend quality time outside, you'll feel like you've had a mini vacation. 
 

unplug . Prioritize work-life balance by keeping your two worlds somewhat separate. Yes, you are super busy, and there always seems to be one more thing to do. But having work regularly encroach on your personal life is ultimately counterproductive.

 

 

Stress is unavoidable, and sometimes it can be the motivation that helps us do what needs to get done. But too much of it - and too little work-life balance - is unsustainable. So while the days are long and the weather is pleasant, disengage a little and give yourself permission to relax. It'll make a world of difference in your productivity and job satisfaction.

 

Accountemps, a Robert Half company, is the world's first and largest specialized staffing firm for temporary accounting, finance and bookkeeping professionals. Accountemps has more than 340 locations worldwide. More resources, including online job search services and the Accountemps blog, can be found at accountemps.com.

 

 

  

Board President: Eileen Perry	Program Director: Nicole Sheets	Newsletter/Web Chair: Amrit Dhaliwal
President Elect: Edronda Guiriba	Scholarship Director: Julia Becklund	Hospitality Director:  Allyson Girardi
Treasurer: Sue Stokke	CPE Chair: Marvel Khan	Hospitality Co-Chair:  Barbara Lietzan
Secretary: Lois Vega	CPE Co-Chair: Deborah Rosengarten	Immediate Past President: Nicole Letellier

 

Chair: Nicole Sheets

 

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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The newsletter is prepared and distributed on a monthly basis.  Visit our web site at www.afwasiliconvalley.org.  If you have questions regarding articles to submit or about the newsletter, email the newsletter chair, Amrit, [email protected]