CPA Island

XBRL International Conference live from CPA Island

Wow! We just completed a test of broadcasting the Main Stage of the XBRL International Conference into Second Life and it worked! We were able to particpate by hearing the live speakers and seeing their presentations from the comfort of our virtual conference center.

Once again, this supports the concept that this technology can be used to effectively run "mixed reality" meetings from anywhere. With our team capturing the footage, we could have streamed it out as a webcast saving thousands of dollars from renting a video crew on-site. This was accomplished with an audio in plug from stage to Eric E. Cohen's laptop on-site and him driving the avatar on stage for speaking. We loaded the powerpoints ahead of time and voila - we had a great "virtual" version of the conference.

Our thanks to Eric E. Cohen (PWC) and Tony Fragnito (XBRL Int'l) for taking the chance to pilot this session.

Stay tuned for archive video & photos.

CPAs & Second Life featured at AICPA Tech+ Conference

What are CPAs doing in Second Life?

Find out by attending the upcoming AICPA Tech + Conference in Las Vegas. Or pop into Second LIfe and join us as we present this session in Second Life along with real life!

Join Byron Patrick (in-world as Bean Wollongong) of Hosted Solutions (and one of the founder's of MACPA's NYPN group) and Tom Hood of MACPA (appearing as Rocky Maddaloni) in a session, CPAs & the Virtual World of Second Life. This session will feature the major activities of CPAs in the virtual world. Watch for some special guests that will be joining us... 

Including a surprise visit by Linden Lab & Second LIfe founder Philip Rosedale (Philip Linden).

From accounting education to continuing education, meetings, student recruitment, and even consulting and business development. The virtual world of Second Life offers an exciting new medium to do real work!

Register for CPAs & the Virtual World of Second Life Monday, June 15th 4:00 pm - 4:50pm (ET) or 1:00 pm - 1:50pm PT/SLT

Here are our materials for the session: CPAs & Second LIfe and a post on our companion blog CPAs in Second Life

Pictures from the session are here on Flickr - STay tuned for archive of video from today.

Resources & recent articles:

See our blog post – 2008 Year in review – CPAs start adopting Second Life for Training

and our post at CPAs in Second Life – Is Second Life for Real?

Accopunting Technology (Alexandra DeFelice)  article - Second Chance for Second Life - May 20, 2009

Hypergrid Business (Maria Korolov) – Do You Need a Virtual World – May 13, 2009

Accounting Web article (Gail Perry) – Flying Around CPA Island with Tom Hood – March 5, 2009

SLENTREPENEUR MAGAZINE - Real Life in Second Life

Ground Breaking article in Journal of Accountancy – Accounting for Second Life June, 2008

Is Second Life for real?

We are often asked if Second Life is THE Virtual World platform. This latest report indicates the leading virtual world platform continues to be strong.

Linden Lab released encouraging statistics this past week on their Second Life blog from their CFO and frequent guest presenter on CPA Island, John Zdanowski aka Zee Linden (pictured at right on podium) in-world. This is great news for educational institutions and training organizations as the platform continues to grow and mature.

"Linden Lab is pleased to announce results for Q4 and 2008.  User hours increased by 61% over 2007, highlighting the tremendous growth rate in user engagement that Second Life maintained throughout 2008.  User hours increased steadily each quarter, culminating in a record-setting 112 million user hours in Q4.  In addition:

• Peak concurrent users were up 31% over 2007
• Land owned by Residents increased 82% over 2007
• Exchange Volume increased 33% over 2007
• User-to-user transactions in Q4 increased 54% over Q4 of 2007.

Financially 2008 was an outstanding year for the company from a profitability and cash flow perspective. We are in a strong position to weather the economic downturn while continuing to invest in the Second Life platform." - Zee Linden, CFO of Linden Lab

The other thing I noticed, is that Second Life seems to be maturing and finding its niche - meetings and training. Considering that everyone is looking to cut costs and improve efficiency, I am bullish on the potential of Second Life to do real training, meetings, and business. As Zee Linden said during last year's "mixed reality" session at the MDBIZEXPO, "Second Life is more compelling than a conference call, less intimidating than a video conference, and a hell of a lot better than business travel."

We held

See our prior posts on Virtual Worlds & Training:

CPAS in Second Life blog post A Second Life for training

CPA Success blog post Four tips to help you cross the digital divide

CPA Success blog post Here's a look at Second LIfe's business potential

Accounting Education & Second Life:

CPA Success blog post Accounting for Second Life

Journal of Accountancy article (June, 2008) Accounting for Second Life

CPAs in Second Life post about Accounting Education

Leading Knowledge Workers - Human Capital - Not Cattle

Join us as bestselling author Ron Baker, CPA, Founder and Principal at the Verasage Institute discusses Leading Knowledge Workers - Human Capital - Not Cattle.

The number one MAP issue facing firms across the country is the challenge of recruiting and inspiring team members.  This program will provide insights and methodologies enabling firm leaders to develop their human capital program into a competitive advantage.

• Transitioning from a Human Resources to a Human Capital Model
• Explore the motivating forces that propel knowledge workers to success
• Build a repertoire of Key Predictive Indicators that measure the right things, thereby facilitating the performance and success of knowledge workers    
• Becoming a lightning rod to attract human capital to your business, and how to develop that human capital
• Current developments in leading, developing, and motivating knowledge workers

Date: Monday, February 23, 2009 12:00 noon - 1:00 pm (EST) 9:00 am - 10:00 am (PDT/SLT)

Location: BLI Conference Center on CPA Island in Second LIfe

CPE Credit - 1 Hour if you register by clicking this link

Check back to this post for updates and materials

New to Second Life? Follow these easy steps:

Use the new Direct SLURL feature by clicking on our link http://slurl.com/secondlife/CPA%20Island/149/159/23 to go to the Second Life URL. On that page, click “sign up” and quickly register, download and login to the viewer, and arrive at their originally intended destination. A quick tutorial will open upon their initial arrival.

Already have a Second Life presence?

Just click our SLURL http://slurl.com/secondlife/CPA%20Island/149/159/23 and login and you will be teleported right to the BLI Conference Center on CPA Island in Second Life.

Steps to Qualify for CPE:

1. Register via this link - sponsored by the Maryland Association of CPAs
2. Login and attend the virtual session in Second Life - use this SLURL
3. Join the Group - SLACPA (Second Life Association of CPAs) in SL
4. Answer questions via chat during the session
5. Complete the post-session evaluation for on-line at this link

Resources:

Business Learning Institute - Knowledge, Innovation, Leadership

Journal of Accountancy article - Accounting for Second Life

Check out the latest developments in the virtual world at our blog www.slacpa.org

Want to learn more about Web 2.0  & CPAs- try our free on-line self-directed learning program "15 minutes a day" www.cpalearning2.com

A Second LIfe for Training - Chief Learning Officer Magazine

2008 Year in Review - CPAs start adopting Second Life for training

2008 was a big year for CPAs and Second Life!

We held over a dozen events, 13hours of free CPE (Continuing Professional Education), had demos at 4 colleges & universities and did a presentation to the AACSB International conference. We had thought leaders from all segmentsof the CPA profession speaking from the podium in our BLI Conference Center on CPA Island.

We were featured on the Metanomics show with Beyers Sellers, interviewed by the Mike O'Hara of the iinternational Virtual Worlds Business Cast, and even made the Journal of Accountancy.

We had Bob Laux of Microsoft, John Zdanowski of Linden Labs, Chris Newman of Restoration Hardware. We covered hot topics like Fair Value, XBRL, Enhanced Business Reporting, using social media for job searches, and more. Who could forget the Maryland Business & Accounting Expo where Intuit came and did the Future of Small Business session live and in Second Life, followed by John Zdanowski projected to the EXPO floor from his office in Silicon Valley.

The biggest highlight for me gets to the whole point of social media. It is not about the technology at all, it's all about the relationships!

We met lots of new friends and built new relationships with cool people. There ie the San Francisco Financial Executives Networking Group, the Bay Area chapter of the Financial Executives International who worked to hold several "mixed reality" sessions. Mixed reality is an event that is both live (in the real world) and live in the virtual world (see our recap here). Special thanks to Gladys Lam (SF FENG & SF FEI) and Richard Acton-Maher of Linden Labs.

We met three innovative accounting educatorsand CPAs, students, accounting educators from all over the world. We even connected with CPA Australia as they held their inaugural event in Second Life this past October and all of our friends that took the risks and ventured into the virtual world with us.

2008 was indeed a great year and we are already making plans for an even better 2009. Check back for updates and special events.

Mark your calendar now for the Maryland Business & Accounting Expo on June 16th & 17th, 2009 where we will feature more Second Life and social media sessions.

Hot Topics in Financial Reporting - Fair Value, M&A & Consolidations

Join us for our next session in conjunction with the SF Bay Chapter of Financial Executives International and the SF FENG on the hottest topics in Financial Reporting. Fair Value (FAS 157), M&A and Consolidations (FAS 141R & 160) will be covered by a panel fo experts from industry and a Big 4 firm.

Date: Tuesday, December 4th 2:30 pm - 4:30 pm (EST) 11:30 am - 1:30 pm (PDT/SLT)

Location: BLI Conference Centeron CPA Island in Second LIfe & Live at Carnelian Room on top of the Bank of America building in San Francisco

Register: by clicking this link - qualifies for 2 hours of CPE

Speakers:Allen Plyler - VP of Accounting Policy - Wells Fargo Bank, Alex Bender, Matt Banks, & Tim Wilcox of E&Y

Materials: Download Statement 157 FEI Presentation Ver C [Compatibility Mode]

Download Slides for FEI Presentation - 11.24

New to Second Life? Follow these easy steps:

Use the new Direct SLURL feature by clicking on our link http://slurl.com/secondlife/CPA%20Island/149/159/23 to go to the Second Life URL. On that page, click “sign up” and quickly register, download and login to the viewer, and arrive at their originally intended destination. A quick tutorial will open upon their initial arrival.

Already have a Second Life presence?

Just click our SLURL http://slurl.com/secondlife/CPA%20Island/149/159/23and login and you will be teleported right to the BLI Conference Center on CPA Island in Second Life.

Steps to Qualify for CPE:

1. Register via this link - sponsored by the Maryland Association of CPAs
2. Login and attend the virtual session in Second Life - use this SLURL
3. Join the Group - SLACPA (Second Life Association of CPAs) in SL
4. Answer questions via chat during the session
5. Complete the post-session evaluation for on-line at this link

Resources:

Business Learning Institute - Knowledge, Innovation, Leadership

Journal of Accountancy article - Accounting for Second Life

Check out the latest developments in the virtual world at our blog www.slacpa.org

Want to learn more about Web 2.0  & CPAs- try our free on-line self-directed learning program "15 minutes a day" www.cpalearning2.com

A Second LIfe for Training - Chief Learning Officer Magazine

Leading Knowledge Workers - Human Capital - Not Cattle

NOTICE - THIS SESSION WILL BE RESCHEDULED DUE TO INSTRUCTOR ILLNESS-CHECK BACK FOR DETAILS. Join us as bestselling author Ron Baker, CPA, Founder and Principal at the Verasage Institute discusses Leading Knowledge Workers - Human Capital - Not Cattle.

The number one MAP issue facing firms across the country is the challenge of recruiting and inspiring team members.  This program will provide insights and methodologies enabling firm leaders to develop their human capital program into a competitive advantage.

• Transitioning from a Human Resources to a Human Capital Model
• Explore the motivating forces that propel knowledge workers to success
• Build a repertoire of Key Predictive Indicators that measure the right things, thereby facilitating the performance and success of knowledge workers    
• Becoming a lightning rod to attract human capital to your business, and how to develop that human capital
• Current developments in leading, developing, and motivating knowledge workers

Date: Wednesday, November 12th 12:00 noon - 1:00 pm (EST) 9:00 am - 10:00 am (PDT/SLT)

Location: BLI Conference Center on CPA Island in Second LIfe

CPE Credit - 1 Hour if you register by clicking this link

Check back to this post for updates and materials

New to Second Life? Follow these easy steps:

Use the new Direct SLURL feature by clicking on our link http://slurl.com/secondlife/CPA%20Island/149/159/23 to go to the Second Life URL. On that page, click “sign up” and quickly register, download and login to the viewer, and arrive at their originally intended destination. A quick tutorial will open upon their initial arrival.

Already have a Second Life presence?

Just click our SLURL http://slurl.com/secondlife/CPA%20Island/149/159/23 and login and you will be teleported right to the BLI Conference Center on CPA Island in Second Life.

Steps to Qualify for CPE:

1. Register via this link - sponsored by the Maryland Association of CPAs
2. Login and attend the virtual session in Second Life - use this SLURL
3. Join the Group - SLACPA (Second Life Association of CPAs) in SL
4. Answer questions via chat during the session
5. Complete the post-session evaluation for on-line at this link

Resources:

Business Learning Institute - Knowledge, Innovation, Leadership

Journal of Accountancy article - Accounting for Second Life

Check out the latest developments in the virtual world at our blog www.slacpa.org

Want to learn more about Web 2.0  & CPAs- try our free on-line self-directed learning program "15 minutes a day" www.cpalearning2.com

A Second LIfe for Training - Chief Learning Officer Magazine

Increasing Transparency - Enhanced Business Reporting

Archive of Session now available - click here

Materials - Download enhanced_business_reportingsecond_life.pdf

Join us for an exciting look at the latest developments in financial reporting as Bob Laux, CPA - Microsoft's Senior Director of Financial Accounting & Reporting presents Increasing Transparency - Enhanced Business Reporting. Bob will share his thoughts as an international thought leader in financial reporting and transparency and his experience as a founding member of the Enhanced Business Reporting Consortium (www.ebr360.com). He will cover the reason behind the need for more transparent reporting and the role of the EBR consortium in in achieving "better markets through better information". You will learn about how EBR can help enhance and simplify financial statement disclosure and close the gap between internal and external reporting. This session will also cover how EBR helps report on non-financial measures like KPIs, strategy, risks, and opportunities and begins to close the gap between internal and external reporting.

Date: Thursday, October 23rd 12:00 noon - 1:00 pm (EST) 9:00 am - 10:00 am (PDT/SLT)

Location: BLI Conference Center on CPA Island in Second LIfe

CPE Credit - 1 Hour if you register by clicking this link

Check back to this post for updates and materials

New to Second Life? Follow these easy steps:

Use the new Direct SLURL feature by clicking on our link http://slurl.com/secondlife/CPA%20Island/149/159/23 to go to the Second Life URL. On that page, click “sign up” and quickly register, download and login to the viewer, and arrive at their originally intended destination. A quick tutorial will open upon their initial arrival.

Already have a Second Life presence?

Just click our SLURL http://slurl.com/secondlife/CPA%20Island/149/159/23 and login and you will be teleported right to the BLI Conference Center on CPA Island in Second Life.

Steps to Qualify for CPE:

1. Register via this link - sponsored by the Maryland Association of CPAs
2. Login and attend the virtual session in Second Life - use this SLURL
3. Join the Group - SLACPA (Second Life Association of CPAs) in SL
4. Answer questions via chat during the session
5. Complete the post-session evaluation for on-line at this link

Resources:

Business Learning Institute - Knowledge, Innovation, Leadership

Journal of Accountancy article - Accounting for Second Life

Check out the latest developments in the virtual world at our blog www.slacpa.org

Want to learn more about Web 2.0  & CPAs- try our free on-line self-directed learning program "15 minutes a day" www.cpalearning2.com

A Second LIfe for Training - Chief Learning Officer Magazine

Going Private - Insight from a Management & Investor Perspective

Going Private - Insight from a Management & Investor Perspective

Archive now posted - click here for recording of SL session

Join us for our third event in conjucntion with the San Francisco Financial Executives Netwoking Group (SF FENG) for our third "mixed reality" event (real life & virtual world)

Date: October 14th 7:00 pm - 8:40 pm PDT/SLT or 10:00 pm - 11:40 pm EST.

Location: live at offices of Protiviti, 50 California Street, 17th floor, S.F, CA

virtual - BLI Conference Center on CPA Island in Second LIfe - see link below

CPE Credit - 2 Hours if you register by clicking this link

Check back to this post for updates and materials

Materials Download going_private_seminarfinal.doc

Download 0607_goingprivatestudysummary_fnl.pdf 

You will learn from first-hand management and investor perspectives the following:

• Why do some companies consider going private?
• What is the process of taking your company private?
• What are the risks & rewards?
• How can management and private equity firm work together to maximize the deal value?

This will be a panel discussion by:

Chris Newman, CFO Restoration Hardware http://www.restorationhardware.com

Ben Bisconti, Managing Director, Accel KKR Partners www.accel-kkr.com

Jennifer S. Muller, Managing Director, Houlihan Lokey www.hlhz.com

Moderator - Doug Hart, Partner, BDO Seidman, LLP www.bdo.com

New to Second Life? Follow these easy steps:

Use the new Direct SLURL feature by clicking on our link http://slurl.com/secondlife/CPA%20Island/149/159/23 to go to the Second Life URL. On that page, click “sign up” and quickly register, download and login to the viewer, and arrive at their originally intended destination. A quick tutorial will open upon their initial arrival.

Already have a Second Life presence?

Just click our SLURL http://slurl.com/secondlife/CPA%20Island/149/159/23 and login and you will be teleported right to the BLI Conference Center on CPA Island in Second Life.

Steps to Qualify for CPE:

1. Register via this link - sponsored by the Maryland Association of CPAs
2. Login and attend the virtual session in Second Life - use this SLURL
3. Join the Group - SLACPA (Second Life Association of CPAs) in SL
4. Answer questions via chat during the session
5. Complete the post-session evaluation for on-line at this link

Resources:

Business Learning Institute - Knowledge, Innovation, Leadership

Journal of Accountancy article - Accounting for Second Life

Check out the latest developments in the virtual world at our blog www.slacpa.org

Want to learn more about Web 2.0  & CPAs- try our free on-line self-directed learning program "15 minutes a day" www.cpalearning2.com

A Second LIfe for Training - Chief Learning Officer Magazine

Cash is King - Powerful Ways to Drive Cashflow

Join us on September 16th at 7:00 pm PDT/SLT (10:00 pm EST) for our second group hosted by the San Francisco FENG (Financial Executives Networking Group) as V Rory Jones, author of the "Executive Guide to Boosting Cash Flow and Shareholder Value", A Wiley publication, joined by Jerry Iwata of Commerica will show you the various ways of funding in today's tough market. The session will qualify for one hour of CPE and last about an hour plus time for Q & A.

Check back for registration link and materials...

Registration is now fixed and working - click on this to Register for CPE Credit

Here is a copy of the materials Download acg_pres.pdf

and the Instructor BIOs Download Sept16SFFENG.docx