krista.txt

Because I have now become involved in the bookkeeping of a local business, recently I had decided to look into a course offering for QuickBooks as I had obtained a copy of QuickBooks Pro 2007 in an effort to convert their manual accounting system into a computerized one. However once I had received it, I found out rather quickly how different it was to QuickBooks 2002! (I hadn't realized it had been that long since I was in college!) Either way, I now needed to polish my skills in using this program and decided to attend Advanced QuickBooks 2007, a WICPA-sponsored seminar that had been held recently in my area. Although at first I had been intimidated by the cost, upon registering I had been notified that I would receive a free copy of Microsoft Office Accounting Professional 2007 - a $150 value - and I thought it would be a great way to be able to meet other people who have taken to a passion for accounting.

Little did I know, however, that I would receive in software above and beyond what I had paid for this course! Prior to its start not only were we all handed out a copy of Microsoft Office Accounting Professional 2007 as was advertised, but we were also signed up for an additional license as well as a copy of QuickBooks Premier Accountant Edition 2007 in addition to another license, but during lunch a drawing had been held and I won a copy of Adagio Accounting! I just couldn't believe my luck! As you can see, the Accountant Edition of QuickBooks is roughly $400 alone; it was just absolutely unreal, nevermind the free WICPA pen as well that is nothing compared to this!

What was interesting to note was that there were approximately forty of us and during lunch (which was on them by the way) I had met a CPA local to the area of whom much to my surprise I am following in the same footsteps - she attended and received her Associate's degree from NTC and later on to Upper Iowa; but luckily for her she was able to beat the 150-hour educational requirement before it went into effect in 2001 (believe me, I am envious). However she had suggested to me that I ought to jump on becoming a Certifed QuickBooks ProAdvisor in my area, as there are absolutely none within a fifty-mile radius of me (and yet another program I had been unaware of). But just starting to refamiliarize myself with QuickBooks all over again, in doing such may be just a tad bit too soon for me (that, and I probably best not put the cart in front of the horse just yet).

Nonetheless I had an absolute wonderful experience, and although I am not a CPA - yet - this CPE earned doesn't really count for anything other than getting the skinny on the latest version of QuickBooks. However I left the seminar knowing why people go to college; you can really live the good life just on earning CPE! ;)