November 1999

One-on-One Alive and Well in Buffalo

As an active NYSSCPA member, I am a bit puzzled about the article in the September issue of The Trusted Professional, "Whatever Happened to the One-on-One Program?" I cannot speak for the other chapters, but there is no need to reactivate the One-on-One program in Buffalo. The Buffalo Chapter has always had a very active One-on-One program, and this year is no exception.

I have been the chairperson of this committee for the past three years. Every year the program gets better and better. We always have approximately 30 very enthusiastic volunteers who contact area high schools requesting an opportunity to speak to their students about careers in accounting. In addition, a letter is sent to every high school in the area explaining the program. I include my name and telephone number in the letter so that any school interested in using our service, and that is not contacted by one of our volunteers, can call me directly. I then arrange for a volunteer to contact the school and set up a date for the presentation. No school is ever turned down.

We also maintain a database of all the contacts we have in the high schools and update this database every three years. This is done by sending a form to the high schools asking them to list their principal, counselors, and bookkeeping and accounting teachers. We also include a line on the form for a requested date for a presentation at the school. Approximately 80 percent of the schools fill out the form and send it back to us in the postage-paid envelope.

Last year, we expanded the program to include area colleges. We felt that although these students have probably made some kind of commitment to the profession, we still lose too many students who drop out of the colleges' accounting programs. We asked the colleges to allow us to set up tables at the "Meet the Accountants" functions that are held annually. Every college was receptive to the idea, and the program was a great success. We provided a neutral ground for students to ask questions about the profession that they might have been reluctant to ask a prospective employer. I attended two of these functions and spoke so much that by the end of the night I could hardly talk. Since most of these students did not even know what the NYSSCPA was, the function served the dual purpose of promoting the profession as well as the Society to prospective new CPAs. (What else can we do to promote the NYSSCPA? I am distressed that these students had no idea who we were and what the Society represents!)

If your chapter has not had an active One-on-One program, I encourage you to reactivate this committee immediately. My own involvement has been one of the most exciting and rewarding experiences of my life! If you need any help getting started, I would be more than happy to help you in any way I can. My e-mail address is pgalley@dopkins.com. I hope to hear from you soon. *

Patricia P. Galley is chair of the NYSSCPA Buffalo Chapter's One-on-One program, co-chair of the chapter's Cooperation with Educational Institutions Committee, and a member of the Firm Liaison Committee. She is a senior accountant in the tax advisory group of Dopkins & Co. LLP in Buffalo.