1996 Annual Meeting - Chicago, Illinois

	Beta Alpha Psi Comes to That Toddlin' Town (Fred Richardson)
	President's Message/Annual Meeting Address (Penelope Yunker)
	Personal Perspective: Leadership Seminar (Richard Finke)
	Personal Perspective: Seven Habits Prove Effectiveness (Dionne Harris)
	Photographs of the 1996 Annual Meeting

Announcements

	Fall 1996 Newsletter - Online Only
	Call for Newsletter Newsnotes
	1997 Graduate Case Seminar
	1997 Manuscript Contests
	1997 SAIL (Summer Abroad in London)

Thomas J. Burns Undergraduate Student Seminar

Personal Perspective (Andra Riley)

1996 SAIL (Summer Abroad in London) Program

Personal Perspective (Mandy Andress and Katie Babb)

THE 1996 ANNUAL
ΒΑΨ NATIONAL STUDENT MEETING
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS

BETA ALPHA PSI COMES TO THAT TODDLIN' TOWN

The twenty-first Annual Beta Alpha Psi National Student Meeting was held at the Chicago Hilton and Towers on August 16 - 18, 1996. Outstanding attendance of approximately 985 students and 145 faculty advisors highlighted the meeting. 198 chapters were represented, including 22 petitioning chapters. Marquette University's Psi Chapter provided host-chapter services.

The meeting was preceded by a Friday Leadership Conference that received nearly universal praise from the student attendees. The Baxter Institute for Leadership conducted the morning session based on the best-selling book by Stephen Covey, The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People, and each participant received a copy of the book. The afternoon was devoted to team building exercises that focused on communication and trust building. These exercises were led by employees of Creative Training Concepts, which offers leadership courses to college students throughout America.

On Saturday morning, attendees were welcomed by Dr. John C. Fletcher, chair of the Accounting Advisory Board at Marquette University. His welcome was followed by a rousing address by Reverend Jesse Jackson. Though somewhat anticlimactic after this auspicious start, breakout sessions during the day dealt with officer workshops, graduate student issues, chapter management issues, an Internet facilities session, a session on how the Financial Accounting Standards Board operates, and many other topics. Sessions were even held on techniques for writing winning manuscripts and attaining Superior Chapter status. Two sessions were devoted to petitioning chapter issues.

On Sunday morning, attendees were treated to a discourse from A. J. McGuire, past basketball coach at Marquette and current color commentator for televised basketball games. This was followed by the presentation of awards and recognitions, and a banquet. Included were recognition of Superior Chapters, Distinguished Chapters, Chapters of Merit, Significantly Improved Chapters, and the Most Improved Chapter. Individual awards were presented for outstanding papers in the Graduate and Undergraduate Manuscript Contests, for being outstanding in the field of accounting (Accountant of the Year awards) and as faculty advisors, and for winning the IMA Case Competition. A particularly stirring moment was experienced by attendees when Charles Harke, husband of the late Nancy Harke (the fraternity's first National Administrator and Executive Director), was presented with a copy of the plaque that officially designates the "Nancy C. Harke National Office of Beta Alpha Psi."

At the close of the awards and recognitions, outgoing President Dr. Fred Richardson passed the gavel to incoming President Dr. Penelope Yunker. President Yunker gave a speech paying tribute to our tragically deceased Executive Director, Nancy Harke, but vowing that despite this loss, Beta Alpha Psi would continue on to attain new heights in promoting excellence in accounting education.

Everyone who attended the meeting appeared to have a good time and to become motivated for an outstanding year in 1996-97. We look forward to seeing you in Dallas for another successful National Student Meeting of Beta Alpha Psi.

Report Prepared by Fred Richardson, Previous ΒΑΨ President

President's Message/Annual Meeting Address

Installation speech delivered at the 1996 Annual Meeting
by incoming President Penelope Yunker.

As I look back over my many years of involvement with Beta Alpha Psi, I am impressed by the extent to which the continued success of the fraternity may be attributed to the close cooperation and teamwork between the Council, the Forum, the faculty advisors, and the chapter members. This team approach will be all the more important during the coming year as we incorporate a new player into our winning team. Our alliance with the AICPA is going to provide our organization with many opportunities for growth and improvement, and should make it even stronger as we look forward toward the needs of students entering the accounting profession in the 21st century.

This alliance will of course involve a period of transition. The necessary adjustments will not always be smooth--change can sometimes be uncomfortable. It must be appreciated that to a large extent the exceptionally smooth functioning of ΒΑΨ over the last few years was owing to Nancy Harke's many years of experience and tremendous expertise in all aspects of Beta Alpha Psi's operations. Nancy's tragic death last year was a tremendous loss to the fraternity, and it inevitably entailed a great deal of dislocation, confusion, and inefficiency. Change has been enforced on ΒΑΨ by circumstances beyond our control.

But successful organizations which are unexpectedly confronted by the need for change typically utilize these occasions as opportunities for growth and development. We now have the opportunity to work together to shape the future of our organization. The change in the structure of our organization is very similar to that which many business organizations are implementing today. I expect that, like their's, our re-emerging organization will be stronger and better prepared to serve the needs of its members in the years to come.

During the coming year I will be asking for your input as we work with the AICPA to streamline the chapter reporting process; to design and implement an information system that can effectively handle the reporting needs of individual chapters; and to improve the communication process both between the national organization and the chapters, and among the individual chapters. Our intention is to take full advantage of the tremendous advances in microcomputer technology which have taken place over the last decade.

In August, the Board approved a number of changes to the ΒΑΨ National Constitution and By-Laws. In response to input received at regional meetings last year, two Regional Directors will now serve on the Board instead of one. This will help to insure that the membership's concerns are more clearly communicated to the Board, and that action on various issues will be more prompt.

The Board has also made the position of President-Elect an elected position, rather than having Directors automatically assume this position in the 3rd year of their term. As a result, many qualified individuals who are eager to serve ΒΑΨ, but who cannot commit to the four or five years currently required, will be more readily able to join the Board.

We also have a new National Administrator, Elizabeth Walsh, who will be working closely with the AICPA to implement the changes and improvements mentioned above. All of these changes will, we hope, give the Board the opportunity to devote more attention to strategic planning issues for the entire ΒΑΨ organization, since it will be less bogged down in the myriad details of day-to-day operations.

I have been involved with ΒΑΨ for over 13 years, and it is with mixed feelings that I look forward to the coming year. On the one hand, this year will be a challenging one with many opportunities to implement significant improvements in both the administration of the fraternity and the programs we offer. On the other hand, this year will also be my last year of involvement with ΒΑΨ and as most of the faculty advisors know, ΒΑΨ tends to become a way of life. It has certainly become a major part of my own professional life, and I know that I will feel a sense of loss when this year comes to an end.

I very much look forward to working with all of you during the coming year, and I do hope that you will freely share with me and other members of the National Council your ideas and suggestions. Together we will continue the great Beta Alpha Psi tradition of leadership in accounting education.

Personal Perspective:
LEADERSHIP SEMINAR - CHICAGO, AUGUST 1996

On Friday, August 17th, prior to the start of the 1996 Annual Meeting a group of over 200 ΒΑΨ members took part in the Annual ΒΑΨ Leadership program. This year's program took place on the campus of Loyola University. All participants were bused from the Hilton Hotel and Towers to the Water Tower Campus where Rob Reindl of the Baxter Leadership Institute conducted a program based on Stephen Covey's book The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People. Rob demonstrated how he had adopted the habits and attributes mentioned in the book and how they had contributed to his personal success. He also demonstrated how Baxter Corporation uses some of Stephen Covey's ideas in the training and continuing education of its employees.

Baxter emphasizes the importance of understanding all levels of the organization if one wants to understand how people reach decisions. One cannot just look at the world from one's own perspective if we hope to be successful. Many people have difficulties making the transition from one position to another as they are promoted within the organization. Baxter attempts to teach its employees how leaders think and work so that they will better understand how their bosses think and what they expect of the employees. Rob also stressed the importance of being prepared for leadership for when our day comes.

At the conclusion of the morning session, we were bused to the Lake Shore Campus of Loyola University where Shelly Gruenig of Creative Training Concepts had a "Ropes Challenge Course" waiting for us. The participants were split into seven groups, each one bearing the name of one of the "Seven Habits." The objective was for each group to use a team approach to develop the "Seven Habits" but especially its own "Habit." A variety of activities requiring the participation of every team member and the use of individual strengths and weaknesses were necessary to accomplish the team objectives.

One activity required that we move all team members from one side of a giant spider web to the other side. The web had 16 holes of various sizes through which each team had to move its 17 members - we were only allowed to use 2 holes twice - without touching any part of the web. This proved to be a difficult and challenging assignment. It took a lot of teamwork and cooperation to agree on a plan and to use our resources to accomplish our goal. It was a fun and sometimes frustrating endeavor.

At the end of the day, the seven teams assembled and a representative from each team explained to the group the value of their individual "Habit." There was a great deal of pride in the individual team accomplishments and in demonstrating the value of the "Habits." By five o'clock we were all tired but motivated to see how we could use these "Seven Habits" in our classes and later in our careers.

Richard Finke, President
Psi Chapter
Marquette University
Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Personal Perspective:
SEVEN HABITS PROVE EFFECTIVENESS

During my spare time this summer, I read a profound book written by Stephen Covey that has been on the international best seller lists for a long time. When I found that this book, The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People, was the theme for the 1996 National Student Leadership Conference, I was excited for several reasons. I hoped that attending the conference would provide insight on what I had read and put the habits into perspective for me. I also hoped the conference would assist me in incorporating the seven habits into my lifestyle so that I could be more effective not only on a day-to-day basis, but on a long-term basis as well. I knew that the conference, just like all Beta Alpha Psi activities, would be a fun experience and that it would give me the opportunity to meet a lot of people and to expand my networking circle. Needless to say, my expectations were fulfilled.

Attending the morning seminar was essential to a successful afternoon session. It was at the morning seminar that the seven habits were presented so that we could begin to understand the relevance of these habits to being effective. The speaker provided us with helpful handouts for reference throughout his presentation. After lunch came the true test of how we could all benefit by applying these seven habits.

As a member of the "Seek First to Understand, Then to Be Understood" group, I learned more about that habit than any other. Such was probably the case for all of the other students because at the end of each team-building activity, the moderators asked how our habit related to successfully completing the assigned activity. By asking this question, we were all forced to focus on our habit so that we were then at least 1/7 of the way to becoming more effective.

Just as the other groups learned that day, the "Seek First to Understand..." group learned that all of these habits are interrelated and that the more habits applied, the more effective the group could be. The habits that I feel contributed most to my group's success were "Synergize", "Begin with End in Mind", and "Think Win/Win".

By participating in this conference, I feel I gained a new perspective on the seven habits of proven effectiveness. I made plenty of friends at the conference, many of whom I have seen while attending other Beta Alpha Psi functions. It goes without saying that the conference helped to expand my networking circle.

My participation in the day's events allowed me to develop my leadership skills. There were times when my knowledge allowed me to provide input necessary to complete an activity so that my group could quickly advance to other tasks. I was able to share my ideas with others and to play a leadership role in the group's decisions. I also realized that being a good leader sometimes involves being a good follower. The objective is always to achieve the common goal. One of the most important things I learned was that a good leader must also be an effective follower.

Perhaps saying that one of the country's future Presidents will come from the ranks of those who attended the National Leadership Conference is a bit extreme, but it is possible. Many of the Beta Alpha Psi presidents and members who attended this conference are developing superior leadership skills which could lead to such an achievement. In my opinion, the conference theme, "The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People", was very appropriate and led to an enjoyable and effective conference.

Dionne Harris
Zeta Sigma Chapter
North Carolina A&T State University
Greensboro, North Carolina

ANNOUNCEMENTS

FALL 1996 NEWSLETTER -- ONLINE ONLY

Because of the amount of time devoted by the National Administrator and various members of the Board of Directors to completing the transfer of the National Office from Sarasota to New York, the Fall 1996 Newsletter has been delayed. Also, questions have been raised about the large degree of overlap between the Fall newsletter and the Annual Report issued the previous summer. Under consideration is a proposal to reduce the degree of overlap, to issue the Fall Newsletter somewhat later in the Fall, and to have more original material in it.

As a result of these considerations, it has been decided to cancel the printed Fall 1996 Newsletter and instead go with an online-only edition. This online edition will not repeat any of the material contained in the 1996 Annual Report. We apologize for the inconvenience, and will make every effort to distribute the printed 1997 Spring Newsletter on schedule.

WANTED -- NEWSLETTER NEWSNOTES!

In the past, because of space constraints only a relatively small proportion of the Newsletter newsnote items submitted by the chapters actually were published in the Newsletter. In the future, it is intended to supplement the printed Newsletter with an online Newsletter. No space constraints apply to the online Newsletter, and ordinarily all items submitted will be put online as they are received--along with accompanying photographs.

Newsnote items may be submitted simultaneously to the National Office and to the ΒΑΨ Website manager (Penelope J. Yunker, Department of Accountancy, Western Illinois University, Macomb, IL 61455, e-mail address: Penelope_Yunker@ccmail.wiu.edu). The National Office needs hardcopy sent through the postal mail, preferably accompanied by a diskette containing the file. Material going to the Website manager can be sent through the Internet in the form of a file attached to an e-mail--you can even attach a second image file (PCX, GIF, etc.) containing a photo. Please note, however, that publication of an item in the online Newsletter does not guarantee award of points for the item--the suitability of the item remains at the discretion of the National Office.

1997 GRADUATE CASE SEMINAR

Do you have any graduate students in your chapter? Are you sending a graduate student to the Graduate Case Seminar? If the answer to these two questions are "yes" and "no" respectively, then get with it! Get your application in right away!

The seminar is being hosted by the Zeta Theta Chapter, State University of New York (SUNY) at Buffalo on January 17-19, 1997. Who wouldn't want to be in beautiful Buffalo in January to enjoy some accounting camaraderie and winter sport?

If your chapter is interested in sending a participant, contact the Zeta Theta Chapter Faculty Advisor, Dr. Ron Huefner at the following address:

Department of Accounting and Law
370 Jacobs Management Center
SUNY Buffalo
Buffalo, New York 14260-4000
E-Mail: rhuefner@acsu.buffalo.edu
Phone: (716) 645-3276

WANTED - MANUSCRIPTS!!!!!!

$750, an all-expenses-paid trip to Dallas, and a plaque are the three items the first prize winners of the Undergraduate and Graduate Manuscript Contests receive. The first prize winners also get their manuscripts published in the JOURNAL OF ACCOUNTING EDUCATION. The second and third place winners in each category receive $500 and $250 respectively.

Why not make an attempt? Forward all manuscripts to the National Office, postmarked no later than March 1, 1997. Good luck!

Also, don't forget the Association of Chartered Accountants in the United States (ACAUS) International Accounting Awards Program. ACAUS grants two awards. An open award of $1,000 is granted for a research proposal relating to a current international accounting or business topic. The restricted award of $500 is given for a completed manuscript covering a current international accounting or business topic. Submissions for both awards are due no later than May 1, 1997. Please submit entries to the following:

Dr. T. Sterling Wetzel
Director of National and International Programs
School of Accounting
Oklahoma State University
433 College of Business
Stillwater, OK 74078-4011

For further information concerning the ΒΑΨ Manuscript Contest or the ACAUS Awards Program, write Dr. Wetzel at the above address,
or E-Mail: dipper@okway.okstate.edu
or phone (405) 744-8610.

Manuscript info is also posted on the ΒΑΨ Web site.

1997 SAIL (SUMMER ABROAD IN LONDON)

Beta Alpha Psi has gone into "partnership" with Oklahoma State University to offer an opportunity for interested members to study in London. The 1997 program is scheduled for the period May 30 to June 28, 1997.

The program will include an international accounting course in addition to other international business classes. Inquiries about the program should be addressed to:

Dr. T. Sterling Wetzel
Director of National and International Programs
School of Accounting
Oklahoma State University
433 College of Business
Stillwater, OK 74078-4011
or E-Mail: dipper@okway.okstate.edu
or phone (405) 744-8610.

Enrollment is limited, thus if interested, inquire immediately.

1996 Thomas J. Burns Undergraduate Student Seminar

A Personal Perspective on the 1996 NSS

The Thomas J. Burns Undergraduate Student Seminar is an excellent opportunity for students who enjoy a challenge and who like to seek out new experiences. In September, I had the unique opportunity to represent Oklahoma State University. Approximately 70 undergraduate students from universities across the nation represented their local Beta Alpha Psi chapters at Ohio State University.

The National Student Seminar was founded by Ohio State Professor Thomas J. Burns in an effort to expose students to accounting through research, writing, and discussion. The goal is to allow students to look at accounting in an in-depth way that is not always possible in normal course work. By writing papers we were involved in the research and writing processes before arriving at the seminar. During the two day seminar, we focused on the discussion of the topics researched.

Our topic of discussion centered around the advantages and disadvantages of segment reporting. Since each student was assigned either the pro or con side of various related aspects of the topic, the discussion covered a multitude of issues. We discussed issues such as competitive advantages and disadvantages of reporting segment information -- do competitors really gain vital information from segment disclosure or do they already have access to the information? We weighed the benefits investors might receive from the disaggregated information against the financial and non-financial costs incurred by companies - on whom should the priority be placed? The discussion sessions allowed us to not only share our own views but to hear the views of others. Our purpose was not to solve all the problems presented by segment reporting but rather to look beyond the surface into the heart of the issue. Some students left with a stronger stand on their argument, others with a changed mind, but all with new thoughts and ideas and a deeper understanding of the complexities of financial reporting.

The seminar is designed to promote student interaction and discussion not only on an educational level but on a personal level as well. As students, we rarely get an opportunity to meet with 70 other students with the same interests and goals in a setting such as this. All of us coming from different parts of the country, and in some cases of the world, we each brought with us different backgrounds, experiences, personalities, and perspectives. The seminar provided an opportunity to get away from the everyday studies, tests, and meetings, and to meet new people and to see new places. We were able to experience the culture of the campus and of Columbus and to be around people that enjoyed the same things we did no matter how many states separated us.

For me the seminar was a wonderful experience. I was able to come together with my peers in a setting where there were no grades given, no right or wrong answers, just an opportunity to learn from each other and realize that we all have a common thread - the desire to make a difference.

Andra Riley
Chi Chapter
Oklahoma State University
Stillwater, Oklahoma

SUMMER ABROAD IN LONDON (SAIL) 1996

A Personal Perspective on SAIL 1996

Howdy from Texas A&M University and two Aggie roommates who took the trip of a lifetime this past summer with the OSU summer program to...London, England! We want you to hear our stories so you won't miss out on such an incredible opportunity.

Here's the scoop: you get to spend three weeks in an exciting European city, learning about international business or accounting and experiencing a unique culture. We stayed at Regent's College, a small college in the northwest area of London. It's right across the street from Regent's Park , one of the many beautiful parks in London. We stayed in dormitory style rooms -2 per room - and were provided with 17 meals per week in the college cafeteria. The food there was quite good. (They had Haagen Daz ice cream, so we weren't complaining!) The college is very accessible to London. Several main areas are within walking distance; everything else is within subway or bus distance.

Class was in session from 8:30-12:30, Monday to Friday. This leaves you every afternoon free to explore the numerous sights of London. If you are hoping to travel, weekends are free. Classes didn't consist of straight book material, either. Guest lecturers included a London actress, an expert on the monarchy, and an internationally recognized modern art expert. In addition, we took class field trips to the Houses of Parliament, Lloyd's of London, and the Drury Lane Royal Theater. The trip to the theater included a backstage tour and an inside look into the world of theater.

Three weeks in London is plenty of time to see everything you would like to see, but you will never run out of things to do. Our favorite excursion was our trip to Wimbledon; we managed to make it to the front row of the men's semifinal match! We had a blast eating strawberries and cream and snapping pictures of famous players. It was exciting to be only five feet from 150 mph serves. We enjoyed touring the cabinet War Rooms, the underground bunker where Winston Churchill ran England's war campaign during WWII. Some of our favorite memories are those of climbing on the huge lion statues in Trafalgar Square; these make great pictures to bring back home. Westminster Abbey and St. Paul's Cathedral are beautiful. We spent most of our evenings in London at the theater; we managed to see twelve shows in three weeks! They are fantastic and affordable, if you take advantage of student discounts, the half-price ticket booth, and the balcony seats! Our favorites were "Phantom of the Opera" and "Les Miserables."

We didn't experience much culture shock, although there are many differences to which you must simply adjust. The food is different, but there is a McDonald's on every corner if you are missing home. London is a huge, international city. It is always crowded and has a fairly rushed atmosphere. This takes some getting used to, but everything is manageable, especially since the language is the same! The British accent is an enjoyable change, and you will notice many differences in vocabulary. For example, the subway is known as "the tube."

Speaking of the tube, you will be traveling underground to get around London most of the time, especially at night. London is quite safe and we didn't experience any problems. Of course, you always have to be careful in any big city, but we felt completely at ease.

If you want to get away from London for the weekend, your choices are endless. We traveled via train to the Lake District of England. We hiked through the breathtaking countryside and stayed at a charming Bed & Breakfast. We also traveled to Paris, which was a wonderful but bewildering experience. If you want to experience culture shock, travel to a country where you don't speak the language! Finally, we were able to take day trips to Oxford (to see the University), to Windsor Castle (to see Queen Elizabeth's home), and to Canterbury (to see the cathedral.)

If the cost of the trip is an issue for you, be sure to investigate scholarships. We would have been unable to afford the trip had we not received generous help from our own university. Looking back, it is safe to say this trip was worth every penny! We have a new awareness of other cultures and hundreds of great memories. We have eight rolls of film, twelve theater programs, and plenty of postcards to show our friends here at home.

However, our personal experiences are the best thing we brought back with us - and we'll carry those with us for the rest of our lives!

Mandy Andress and Katie Babb
Delta Iota Chapter
Texas A&M University
College Station, Texas