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There are several ways that you can help prove that accountants are funny too! Got a great sense of humor? Then audition for Accountants One’s 2012 Search for the South’s Funniest Accountant (thru our live auditions or a video submission) or submit a funny joke that you think would be great for our Gallery of Funny Financial Professionals. Want to sit back and be entertained instead? Plan to purchase tickets from Ticketmaster (www.ticketmaster.com) and come see the show!

Event proceeds will benefit Junior Achievement of Georgia, which partners with businesses and educators to bring the real world to students, opening their minds to their potential.

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Accountants One is proud to work with Junior Achievement of Georgia.  In this article, Kerry Wilkerson, an Accountants One recruiter shares her experience with JA.

Making a Difference Through Junior Achievement
by Kerry Wilkerson

This fall I have had the opportunity to volunteer with a program through Junior Achievement called the JA Fellows Program. This program gives high school students the chance to have a better understanding and appreciation of the role that business plays in our society. Over the first 12 weeks students begin the process of organizing and operating an actual business. They develop a product and marketing strategy; sell actual stock; produce and sell their product; analyze their results; and liquidate the company.

I have to admit that after the training night, I was a little nervous going in for the first meeting. I was thinking to myself, “I have never started or run my own business. How am I supposed to teach others how to do it?” However, during our first meeting, the students spent time learning more about each other. As I listened to everything they had already done, I was so impressed. It really made me excited about what we were going to do over the next 12 weeks. I walked out of the meeting thinking I would learn just as much, if not more, from these students.

One of the great things about this program is the materials it provides for the volunteers. Having a detailed outline of topics and activities to cover each week really helped me keep the students focused and on track with their business. A second great thing about this program is that it is set up for students that want to be there. They have gone through an application and interview process to be in the class, meaning that they are motivated and excited about what they are going to learn. Through the weeks I have seen these students come together to motivate each other about their company and selling their product, mini bags with a logo.

After the first week of selling stock, most of the students had not even sold the minimum of what they committed to sell. We discussed the importance of capital and the impact it would have on the business. At the end of the meeting, when it was time to handout more stock to sell over the next week a couple of the students stood up and really motivated the rest to sell more over that next week. When the students returned the following week, they all had sold 2-3 times what they did the week before. Situations like this and many others have really made this experience worthwhile. It has been interesting to work with the students as they have handled the decisions, frustrations, and hurdles they have had to overcome to run their business.
Working with these students and teaching them the concepts and importance of operating a business has been an experience that I will never forget and one that has positively impacted these students’ lives forever. I would encourage anyone to make the commitment and be part of such a valuable and rewarding program.

About Junior Achievement of Georgia, Inc.
Using hands-on experiences, Junior Achievement of Georgia helps young people understand the “economics of life.”  JA brings the real world to students, opening their minds to their potential by is bridging the business and education communities.  JA’s success depends on the involvement of people who want to make a difference in the life of a child, which is possible through volunteering your time or donations.  During the school year, JA of Georgia impacted over 101,000 students statewide through six district offices located in Atlanta, Augusta, Columbus, Dalton, Gainesville, and Savannah.  For more information, visit www.georgia.ja.org