Chapter outreach - ReachOut - Brief Article

California CPA, Jan-Feb, 2002

For decades, CalCPA chapters have reached out to students via their annual scholarship programs. More recently, scholarship winners also have received a complementary year of CalCPA student membership. Now many chapters are taking these efforts to the next level.

ADOPT A STUDENT

The East Bay Chapter recently kicked off its adopt-a-student program that pairs CPAs with college accounting students. The CPA sponsor funds a scholarship for the student's $30 CalCPA dues as well as invites the student to their office and a chapter event.

MATCHMAKING

The Citrus Belt Chapter is playing matchmaker to boost involvement in the outreach program. At its January meeting, board members will receive a list of matches that pairs members with their local high schools. The board members then will contact members about approaching high schools.

A TWO-YEAR MODEL

The San Jose chapter has created a two-year "adopt-a-student" or sponsorship model. Dan Morris kicked the program off during a recent presentation at Foothill College. It goes something like this: Following a discussion of the benefits of membership, all students receive and complete a CalCPA application. If they pay their first year, the San Jose Chapter will use its scholarship money to pay for the second year.

POWER LUNCHES

In 1999, the San Francisco Chapter instituted "Power Lunch; Business One-on-One," the program pairs an upper-class college accounting student with a CPA. The pair meet over lunch to candidly discuss the student's interest in a CPA career.

These are some of the many ways chapters reach out to tomorrow's CPAs. Ask your chapter leadership how you can help.