Society Coffee Wagon Greets CPA Exam Candidates

By Frank Pagani

Hundreds of CPA candidates received free coffee, pastries, and key rings on their way to take the November CPA exam in New York City, thanks to the NYSSCPA Membership Committee, which initiated and helped organize the hospitality event.

Among the volunteers were committee Chair Barry Doll, committee members Myrna L. Fischman, Marc Haynes and Joseph DiPietro, and Xuemei Wang, an accounting student at Long Island University. Candidates received a New York state-shaped key ring promoting the NYSSCPA and its website, and a business card reminding them that when they pass the exam, they are eligible to join the Society as an associate member. Volunteers distributed more than 1,000 key rings and cards to candidates over the two mornings.

Among the many candidates who visited the coffee wagon were a group of Russian staffers who work for PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP in Moscow and St. Petersburg, Russia. According to Doll, whose firm for the past two years has hosted Russian students, the initiative is part of PricewaterhouseCoopers's ongoing effort to promote the CPA profession's development in Russia.

With future participation from Society chapters, the Membership Committee hopes that the coffee wagon idea can expand to other CPA exam locations.

The NYSSCPA also wants to remind New York State Association of CPA Candidates members who took the November exam that when they receive notification in February that they have passed the exam, they should apply for associate membership in the Society, dues free the first year. Candidates should call (212) 719-8392 or (800) 633-6320, or complete an application online at www.nysscpa.org. *