History
AGA
1950-1960
September 14, 1950
The Federal Government Accountants Association (FGAA) is founded on
the initiative of Robert W. King and group of federal accountants.
The Federal
Accountant
January 1952
Association holds first symposium for government officials,
accountants and auditors.
The Federal
Accountant
Fall 1952
373 attend the second annual symposium on November 12, 1952.
The Federal
Accountant
September 1953
Membership Statistics
326 as of June 30, 1951
396 as of June 30, 1952
938 as of June 30, 1953 (due largely to the formation of eight
chapters from New York to Tokyo)
FGAA News Notes
FGAA becomes national organization in 1956.
Nov. 12, 1956
1,050 attend 6th FGAA Symposium. Elmer S. Frazier
serves as Chair of Committee on arrangements.
Oct. 29 1956
Minneapolis/St. Paul Charter No. 19 approved by Executive
Committee with 64 applications
Association Office located in Room 505, 1145 19th St NW,
Washington, DC
December 1956
Nov. 14 - Dallas Chapter, Charter No. 20, has 36 initial
members.
Tokyo Chapter votes to award annual $100 scholarship to Japanese
student.
Early Community Service – “Many FGAA members use their financial
skills in voluntary community enterprises such as churches,
citizens' associations, health and welfare organizations and the
like, either in financial operations or in auditing the work of
others. May others do likewise – and if you are, or have been
performing work of this kind, please send us word."
January 1957
Nearly 200 professional accountants working for the government
in the Panama Canal Zone plan to establish FGAA Canal Zone Chapter.
J.M. Merrill Jr., Chair of new FGAA Membership Status Committee, was
recently appointed by President Robert King to study the question of
FGAA associate memberships.
Education Committee issues 4,200 copies of "Opportunities for
Accountants in the Federal Government."
Chair of Education Committee is Paul L. Appleman.
New Editorial Committee formed with Edwin J.B. Lewis as chair.
A recent Finance Newsletter distributed by the U.S. Post Office
Department to its Regional Controllers states: "In these changing
times, it is most important that we keep abreast of the latest
changes and developments in accounting and auditing. Regional
controllers, and their staffs who are eligible, will find
participation in local chapters of the Federal Government
Accountants Association, and the National Association of Cost
Accountants, highly rewarding."
February 1957
Issued membership brochure "FGAA – Its Purposes and Programs"
Paul A. Hagen serves as first president of Minneapolis/St Paul
chapter
Early member get a member campaign – Atlanta Chapter offers $10 to
members securing the most applications from December through April.
March 1957
Robert King signs membership certificate No. 2210 on Oct. 10,
1956. By the first week of Mach 1957, he had signed No. 2600.
Interest shown in forming San Antonio, Seattle, Salt Lake City and
Baltimore Chapters.
Executive Committee grants charter No. 21 to Canal Zone Chapter.
April 1957
300 people attend local technical symposium sponsored by Denver
Chapter.
New York symposium in May expected to draw 600.
Ben C. White named chair of National Chapters Committee.
May 1957
The Federal Accountant's new format debuts to rave reviews.
June 1957
William A. Newman Jr., General Accounting Office, elected as
1957-1958 national president.
Two new chapters formed: No. 22 to Seattle (known as Puget Sound
Chapter) and No. 23 to Salt Lake City.
Early interest in member affinity programs – 10 percent of total
FGAA membership expressed interest in professional association
insurance program.
September 1957
7th Annual National Symposium to be held on October
8, 1957 at Department of Commerce Auditorium. "Federal Accounting
and Budgeting – A New Look." Chair of Symposium Committee is Elmer
S. Frazier. "Ladies are especially welcome at the dinner."
4th Annual chapters’ conference to be held on October 7.
Charter No. 24 goes to Frankfurt A/M Germany Chapter.
President Newman names committee chairmen - Editorial, Edwin J.B.
Lewis, - Chapters, James L. Robbins; Bylaws, John C. Cooper Jr.;
National Membership, James R. Hock
October 1957
Membership plan – "For every duly qualified active or associate
member who applies for and is received into membership during the
period of November 1 through December 20, 1957, the national office
will return to that member's chapter the sum of $2.”
Charter No. 25 goes to San Antonio. Eddie Cox serves as president
with 34 members.
Charter petition received from Bridgeport, CT. Other chapters being
discussed in Omaha, NB; Columbus, OH; San Diego, CA, etc.
Membership certificate No. 3019 signed by President Newman. More
than 800 members have been added since October of 1956.
“As of January 1, 1958, the subscription rate of The Federal
Accountant will increase to $4 per year (fiscal year basis) and
$1.25 per copy. This will pertain to non-member subscribers. All
FGAA members will continue to receive the journal at no added cost.”
November 1957
What does an FGAA member get for his $7.50 that goes to the
National Office? "…It makes possible the operation of a genuine,
professional National Office to handle any matter that may come up
in the interest of the Association’s membership.”
December 1957
Bridgeport Chapter being formed with charter No. 26 with 29
members. E.R. Willats serves as president.
January 1958
"The FGAA is to be commended for providing various means of
keeping federal key financial people posted on significant
developments in this area. I can assure you that our member
employees, and others, who have attended the symposiums, round-table
discussions and meetings, have derived many benefits and have
broadened their accounting horizons as a result thereof." –
D. Otis Beasly, administrative assistant to the Secretary of
Interior
Philadelphia leads member program. More than 150 new members in FGAA
in November through December.
February 1958
FGAA Group Income Protection and Catastrophe Hospitalization
Program is now in effect. For all present and future AGA members who
are qualified, the low-cost, non-cancelable FGAA policies
remain available. You may deem this subject of special interest in
view of the following statement by President Eisenhower (from his
budget message): "Last year, I recommended a program of
hospitalization and medical insurance for government employees. In
view of the priority given to recommended pay adjustments, I propose
that this health insurance program be postponed."
March 1958
Charter No. 27 goes to Omaha
Charter No. 26 goes to Bridgeport
Total membership nears 3,000.
8th Annual National FGAA Symposium set for November 17
and 18, 1958. For the first time, exhibits are planned. "Management
– and Electronic Data Processing,” Shoreham Hotel
April - May 1958
21 booths engaged by prominent equipment manufacturers for
display at 8th Annual Symposium: IBM, National Cash
Register, Addressograph, Datamatic and General Electric.
Charter No. 28 goes to Baltimore with 40 members. Joseph F. Giza
serves as first president.
U.S. information Agency lists openings for qualified candidates –
The U.S. Information Agency has requested the assistance of FGAA in
recruiting auditors with base pay from $6,390 to $8,990 yearly.
These are located in Washington, but candidates must be willing to
travel 75 percent of the time in the United States and overseas.
National Committee on Chapter Participation completes the drafting
of a uniform set of bylaws for chapters, approved by National
Executive Committee on October 7, 1957.
June 1958
Harry J. Trainor elected as FGAA National President.
Pay increase given to federal employees – 10 percent to federal
officials and employees in executive, legislative and judicial
branches excluding postal field service and wage board employees,
also includes increase from $16,000 to $17,500 the existing maximum
salary rate of the general schedule of the Classification Act of
1949, as amended (among other changes)
L.H. La Motte, President of the Office Equipment Manufacturers
Institute, national organization of all the major office machines,
equipment and furniture concerns, will be a featured speaker at the
Eighth Annual National FGAA Symposium.
September 1958
Under new vertical committee structure chairmen of corresponding
chapter committees are automatically named to corresponding national
committees.
Columbus, OH earns charter No. 29 with 30 members. William H. Pattan
is first president
Toledo, OH earns charter No. 30 with 31 members, William Tolliver
Jr. serves as president
638 active members and 108 associates entered FGAA during FY58.
Total of 746 was 43 more than the 703 added during FY57.
Message from the President Trainor of FGAA:
“Dear Fellow Member:
It is my duty to inform you that FGAA faces a serious financial
problem. Reports sent out by President Newman in January and June of
FY58 made it clear that our cash position has been declining sharply
in spite of the addition of new members. As matters stand now, the
Association is headed into a dead-end street."
Advocates dues increase to $12.50 from current $7.50 will be
sufficient to assure a sound long-range FGAA program.
National Office enjoys free rent, free use of equipment and local
phone service. Has part-time executive secretary/treasurer with
part-time secretary to correspond and keep track of more than 3,000
members. Plan to begin employing full-time director on July 1, 1959
if possible.
October 1958
FGAA invited to attend American Institute of Certified Public
Accountants (AICPA) annual convention in October. Recognition by
AICPA and American Accounting Association must be counted as
important accomplishment.
American Society of Military Comptrollers holds second National
Conference with 26 chapters
November 1958
800 attend Eighth Annual Symposium; 300 more who didn't register
attend. Event covered by The Washington Post. More than $1
million worth of new business machines demonstrated for the first
time.
NEC debates dues increase. Immediate Past President Newman warns
that $2.50 increase would enable association to "hold its own" while
a $5 increase would establish firm basis for future operations Edwin
Lewis, speaking for his Washington DC Chapter, says more
justification for dues increase is needed. Other chapters support
$2.50 increase. Action deferred, President Trainor notes that
further clarification of situation is needed.
Symposium policy – First to be held outside Washington, D.C.
(NY/1960) President is authorized by NEC to appoint committee to
work with NY Chapter to work out financial and other arrangements
for next symposium.
Charter No. 31 goes to Anchorage Chapter with 15 members. First
president is Col. Wendell E. Carter, U.S. Air Force.
December 1958
Symposium date changes from autumn to spring in accord with NEC
decision that "it's preferable to hold the symposium toward the end
of the fiscal year, as a culmination of the year's activities,
rather than at the beginning when a new group of officers has just
commenced work."
Several FGAA chapters were not represented at national symposium and
annual NEC meeting in Washington because requests for travel orders
were turned down. Little uniformity between agencies on travel
policies. Addressing this issue would be important duty of full-time
FGAA director.
January 1959
Highlights of continuous improvement in the federal
government's far-flung financial management operations were
contained in the Tenth Annual Progress Report under the joint
program to improve accounting in the federal government, signed and
issued this month by Secretary of the Treasury Robert B. Anderson,
Director of the Budget Maurice H. Stans, and Comptroller General
Joseph Campbell. Report showed improvements resulting in many
millions of dollars in savings to the American taxpayers. The basic
aims set forth in the national and chapter bylaws of FGAA broadly
parallel those of the Joint Improvement Program.
10 reasons to belong to FGAA compiled by Philadelphia Chapter.
February 1959
Four changes to bylaws approved –
Empowers NEC to admit into active membership those recommended
by chapter executive committees even if not employees of federal
government.
Enables chapters to vote as units on matters referred to them by the
NEC.
Limits national office in the association to active members who are
federal employees.
Most important – revised the method of amending the bylaws.
Dallas membership goal of 100 for 1959 has been exceeded (now 132)
and since July 1, 1958, 33 1/3 percent expansion. San Antonio, which
began with 38 members in Sept of 1957, has grown to more than 90.
Eighth Annual Symposium numbers – 963 people signed registration
cards, 212 were FGAA members, 200 more were in attendance but did
not register. Letters of invitation to subscribe to the Federal
Government Accountants Association extended to the 663 nonmembers.
March 1959
National Membership Committee chairman Joseph Hock reports
majority of chapters are doing a good job of recruiting new members.
Total membership has more than doubled in the last two years and now
exceeds 3,200.
President Trainor appoints Joseph G. Barkan of New York, second vice
president of Association, as general chairman of ninth symposium to
be held in New York in May of 1960. Edwin F. Adams appointed
co-chairman.
April 1959
Further discussion of dues increase at National Financial
Planning Committee on March 16, 1959. "Unless dues are increased by
at least a modest amount, it will be a long time, if ever, before
the association can meet its obligations of professional service to
its members," President Trainor said.
Corrective action is needed because:
FGAA has no cash assets.
No borrowing power.
Income gained by the addition of new members is accruing at far too
slow a rate to offset higher costs of operations as members are
acquired increased postage rates and funds needed for an office.
Efforts to receive financial assistance through a foundation grant
have proved unsuccessful.
Attempts to create revenue through advertising do not show promise.
Question of a dues increase will be submitted to chapters for a vote
later this month.
Laurence W. Acker and Clark L. Simpson, both of Washington are
candidates for National President
May 1959
Leland P. Draney succeeds Col. Carter as president of Anchorage
chapter.
FGAA brochure "Opportunities for Accountants in the Federal
Government" to be revised and re-issued.
National Office receiving record number of national election
ballots.
June 1959
Laurence W. Acker elected FY60 president. He is the Deputy Chief
of Army Audit Agency.
September 1959
FGAA of Central New York Chapter forms with 25 new members. Hans
J. Pechner serves as first president.
Karney A. Brasfield appointed by President Laurence W. Acker to
chair new Long-Range Planning Committee. Interesting to note that
one of the questions the committee was asked to study was the name
of the organization. "Is the term 'accountant' too narrow and does
it handicap the organization?” Study to be completed by January 1,
1960.
October 1959
Rome - Syracuse - Utica Chapter, Charter No. 32 with 30 members
formed.
Required reading: "I want to compliment your Association on the
excellent articles in the September 1959 issue of The Federal
Accountant. We in the Air Force are just getting started in the
development phase of cost-based budgets and operating budget… I
intend to use this as required reading for my office. It is the
clearest discussion on the subject found thus far." – Excerpt from a
letter signed by Col. J.P. DuFour, USAF, Chief Systems and
Procedures Group, Directorate of Budget, Comptroller
November 1959
First symposium outside of Washington, D.C. slated for New York,
May 1960
December/January 1960
Joint Improvement Program name changes to the Joint Financial
Management Improvement Program.