Inside AICPA

Thomas wins education award…Robertson earns laurels for community service…Institute’s disaster-recovery guide and volunteer efforts praised.

Institute Honors Thomas as Outstanding Educator
Paula Bevels Thomas, CPA, DBA, accepted the AICPA 2004 Distinguished Achievement in Accounting Education Award in Scottsdale, Arizona, at the spring council meeting. She is a member of the board of examiners and is advisory board distinguished professor of accounting and interim chairwoman of the department of accounting at Middle Tennessee State University, Murfreesboro.

Thomas has served on many Institute committees, including the governing council, the academic and career development executive committee and the work/life and women’s initiatives executive committee. Granted each year, the citation recognizes full-time accounting educators for excellence in teaching and national prominence in the accounting profession.

Robertson Cited for Volunteer Work
Austin G. Robertson Jr., CPA, received the 2004 AICPA Public Service Award at the spring council meeting. A partner of Robinson, Bailes and McClelland LLP in Shreveport, Louisiana, Robertson has devoted more than 40 years of service to his community. He was instrumental in the establishment of residential, referral and crisis intervention programs for excessive gamblers and their families and has led efforts that increased funding for counseling services for thousands of clients each year. The annual prize recognizes AICPA members who have made significant contributions to their communities.

AICPA Lauded for Disaster Advice and Public Service
The Institute received a 2004 Award of Excellence from the American Society of Association Executives for its publication of Disaster Recovery: A Guide to Financial Issues and the pro bono program it developed with CPAs from around the country to help educate the public about steps to take following a catastrophe. The award recognizes programs that “provide significant benefits to Americans and make America a better place to live.” The guide, jointly developed by the AICPA, the AICPA Foundation and the National Endowment for Financial Education, is available free of charge at American Red Cross chapters nationwide and online at www.redcross.org/services/disaster/0,1082,0_605_,00.html.