Take a Tour of the NASPP
In addition to Executive Director, I have a new role here at the NASPP: tour guide. I’ve recorded an 8-minute tour of the NASPP website to help our members find their way around. Some of the things you’ll learn on the tour include:

• How to use the NASPP to stay current on industry developments.
• Where to find an index of all the topics covered on the NASPP website.
• Where to find in-depth guides to offering stock compensation in over 30 countries.
• How to have fun while learning about stock compensation.
• How to connect with other NASPP members.

The Beginner’s Guide to the NASPP
The tour is part of our new “Beginner’s Guide to the NASPP.”  The Beginner’s Guide collects our most popular resources on a single page to make them easy to find. Here are some of the things you’ll find in the Guide:

• Articles on the core concepts key to understanding stock compensation. We have in-depth resources covering the primary types of equity awards, including ISOs, NQSOs, ESPPs, and restricted stock/units. 
• The definitive guide to tax reporting and withholding for stock compensation. Seriously, whatever question you have about US tax procedures, we cover it here.
• We also have articles on the accounting considerations for stock compensation, Section 16, Rule 144, and proxy disclosures.
• Links to the data from our Stock Plan Design and Administration Surveys, as well as the numerous other Surveys & Studies posted to Naspp.com.
• Are you a joiner? We have a list of things to subscribe to here at the NASPP.
• Trying to avoid work? We also provide a list fun things to do at the NASPP that still count as “working.”

Check out the Guide and take the tour today!

– Barbara

This is my last blog entry of 2012, so I thought I’d have a little fun with it.

My Favorite Words
One thing I enjoy about working in stock compensation is that I get to use a lot of fancy words. Some of these words are so fun to say that I wondered if I could sneak them into my non-work conversations. Here are a few examples that you can use to impress your family and friends at holiday gatherings:

• Escheat:  “If no one wants that last cookie, I’m going to escheat it.”
• Disgorge: “Disgorge my Eggo!”
• Commensurate:  “The gifts Santa brings are commensurate with your behavior over the past year.”
• Fungible:  “Darn it! None of the lights on any of the ten strands on the tree are fungible.”
• Bifurcate: “If you kids don’t get along, I’m going to bifurcate you and no one will get to play with the toy.”
• Pro rata: “This bottle of wine is running low–shall I pour everyone a pro rata distribution and then open a new bottle?”
• Expiry: “What is the expiry on the return period for this hideous sweater that Aunt Edna gave me?”

What are your favorite stock compensation terms?  10 pts to anyone who emails me a favorite word with an example of how to use it correctly in a non-work context. 

Things To Do on the NASPP Website That Count as Work But Are More Fun Than Actual Work
Even thought it’s the end of the year, the week between Christmas and New Year’s can often be a little slow. Many folks are on vacation and those that remain behind can fall victim to a holiday-induced malaise. With that in mind, I have compiled the following list of things to do that count as work but are more fun than your actual job, just case you need it next week.

• Complete the current Compliance-O-Meter on stock ownership guidelines and catch-up on past quizzes in the Compliance-O-Meter archive.
• Write a “Stump Your Peers” question for the Question of the Week challenge.  You might even learn something in the process. (Here’s a tip: find the answer first in a document on the NASPP website, then write the question.)
• Take the Question of the Week Challenge and don’t guess this week, really try to find the answer on the NASPP website.
• Read through some postings in the NASPP Q&A Discussion Forum and answer the ones you can.  This counts as networking!
• Complete your NASPP Meet Our Members profile.
• Catch up on the NASPP Blog. We’re clever here at the NASPP–this is more fun than you think.
• Listen to that NASPP webcast you missed earlier this year. 

The Award for the Best Holiday Ecard…
Goes to Maslon Edelman Borman & Brand for being innovative, engaging, and touching all at the same time.  Check it out today; the stories behind the words of wisdom are as interesting as the quotes themselves.

Happy Holidays
The NASPP Blog will be taking next week off to enjoy the holidays.  I hope you all have a great holiday season and look forward to seeing you in the new year!

– Barbara