Help Support IMA’s 12th Annual Student Leadership Conference: Contribute to the GEMS Program As accounting students across the country sharpen their skills in the classroom, they also are preparing for life after graduation. A great way for students to do this is by attending IMA®’s 12th Annual Student Leadership Conference, to be held November 10-12, 2011 in Cincinnati, Ohio. This event gives students the opportunity to learn about management accounting careers and the importance of developing leadership skills. To make this event a success, IMA members and chapters and councils can contribute to the GEMS program, IMA’s special fund designed to help offset expenses of the event. GEMS funds help subsidize the cost of the Conference to help keep the event registration fees at an affordable level for attendees. The Student Leadership Conference owes a great part of its continued success to GEMS and the generosity of IMA members. Maintaining reasonable prices for this event is vital, especially in these trying economic times. For the third consecutive year IMA is proud to offer the Student Leadership Conference with no increase in registration fees. Members, chapters, or councils looking to contribute to GEMS have the chance to donate $100 to $5,000, or more. These contributions are tax-deductible and are often eligible for employer matching gift programs. Many members enjoy giving back to the Conference because it allows hundreds of students to network with professionals and improve career-building skills. This year’s Conference will be addressing the value of the CMA®, leadership, job search techniques, and ethics, among other topics. Students will have a chance to learn about these topics in a series of in-depth sessions and networking events presented by leading practitioners and professors from around the country. IMA director of alliances and student/academic communities, Jodi Ryan, CPA, is very excited and explained, “Last year’s Conference was a great success, and this year’s line up looks to build on that success.” GEMS contributors are recognized with special signage at the Conference and in the Conference program. Members working at companies that offer a matching gift program are asked to complete the employer’s matching gift form and include it along with the contribution. Contributions to the GEMS program should be made payable to IMA and sent to Jodi Ryan, CPA, director of alliances and student/academic communities, IMA, 10 Paragon Drive, Suite 1, Montvale, NJ 07645. Please contact Ms. Ryan at jryan@imanet.org with any questions. Online registration for IMA®’s 12th Annual Student Leadership Conference will open in September. For more information on the Conference, please visit www.imastudentconference.org.