Highlights
The GAR Report is a monthly summary of membership numbers by chapter. In the Chapter Recognition Program, up to 3,000 credits are available in the Membership Section in the areas of Base Growth, New Member Acquisition and Retention.
The GAR lists chapters by size (Group A = 300 or more members; Group B = 150-299 members, etc.). We also publish a GAR by region. It may be useful to see how individual regions compare. Don’t remember what the columns and numbers mean? Read a detailed explanation of the GAR Report.
AGA National Staff
Have you ever wondered who is on the other end of the line when you call the National Office? To find out, click on "Chapter Resources" in Members Only and then scroll to the bottom under “National Office.”
Mark Your Calendar
Feb. 18–19—AGA’s Eighth Annual National Leadership Conference
March 3—The War Against Fraud and Abuse: Are We Winning? audio conference
March 24—Suggested Guidelines for Voluntary Reporting audio conference
March 31—Fourth quarter Chapter Recognition Program credits due
March 31—Fourth quarter RVP reports due
Government Financial Manager Chapter Promotion
To celebrate March as CGFM month, we encourage you to bring the Government Financial Manager (GFM) courses to your chapter. If your chapter holds a GFM course through AGA National during the month of March, the chapter will receive 10 free CGFM Examinations that can be used by the course participants. That is a $1,090 value! If the chapter holds all three GFM courses, it will receive 30 free CGFM Examinations, which is a $3,270 value. For more information on this promotion and GFM courses, please e-mail Katya Silver or call 800.AGA.7211, ext. 305.
New Chapter Executive Committee Position
AGA strives to improve performance and accountability at every level of our government. We cannot do this without the help of our members and chapters. AGA would like to encourage chapters to designate a newly created executive committee position to help us in this endeavor, an Accountability Outreach Chair. The Accountability Outreach Chair will be responsible for promoting AGA’s three main performance and accountability programs to fellow chapter members and the local community. Accountability is one of the four strategic themes adopted by AGA’s National Executive Committee, and this new position is crucial to the successful advancement of accountability in government. For more information, please contact Jessica Jones.
Advertise for Free!
AGA’s online Training Opportunities Calendar allows chapters to list upcoming events free of charge. By clicking “Add an Event,” you can advertise your chapter meeting or regional event for everyone to see. With more than 1,200 visits every month, the Training Opportunities Calendar is a great way to get noticed by AGA members and nonmembers alike. |
February 2010, Volume 5, Issue 2
SHARE THE MAGIC of Membership!
The Share the Magic of Membership Member-Get-A-Member Campaign is still going on and offers you the opportunity to win great prizes just for sharing the value of your AGA membership with your friends and colleagues and persuading them to join. You only need to recruit one new member to win a prize! The campaign runs from May 1, 2009 – April 30, 2010 and encourages current members to recruit new members.
Ten individuals earned free membership by recruiting six or more new members before the New Year. Individuals earning free dues for the 2010-11 membership year include:
- Anita Arlie, Guam Chapter
- Riley Shaull, CGFM, CPA, Oklahoma City Chapter
- Adelaida Villanueva, CGFM-Retired, L.A. Civic Center Chapter
- Amelia Leswing, CGFM, CPA, CISA, Northern Virginia Chapter
- Brenda Tierney, New York City Chapter
- Ellen Silvela, CGFM, Virginia Peninsula Chapter
- Kanda Law, L.A. Civic Center Chapter
- Leanna Abele, CGFM, CPA, Central Ohio Chapter
- Stephanie Paschel, Cleveland Chapter
- Victoria Santiago, L.A. Civic Center Chapter
There is still plenty of time to participate! Recruit the most new members and win the grand prize of a complimentary registration to AGA’s 2010 Professional Development Conference & Exposition in Orlando, FL, and two one-day passes to an Orlando theme park. There are many opportunities to win prizes for you and your chapter!
Call for National Award Nominations
AGA’s National Awards Committee is now accepting nominations for the 13 National Awards that recognize the leaders advancing our profession and setting the standards of excellence. These awards will be presented during AGA's Professional Development Conference & Exposition (PDC) in Orlando, July 11–14. In many cases, individuals do not have to be members of AGA to be eligible. All nominations are due by Friday, April 16. Nomination forms and additional information is available online or contact Louise Kapelewski.
Call for 2010 National Academic Scholarships
Are you or a family member pursuing undergraduate or graduate studies in disciplines such as accounting, auditing, budgeting, economics, finance, information technology, public administration, etc.? If so, consider applying for an AGA National Academic Scholarship today. Each year, AGA awards up to four $3,000 full-time merit scholarships to AGA members and their family members; one $1,000 part-time merit scholarships to AGA members and their family members; and one $3,000 community service scholarship. The deadline for receipt of applications is March 31. Download a copy of the application or contact Louise Kapelewski.
PDC Chapter Hotel Scholarships
 Back by popular demand! We are happy to announce that AGA’s chapter hotel scholarship program will continue at this year’s PDC in Orlando. The scholarship program covers room and tax for two individuals from each AGA chapter for up to five nights during the PDC.
Members chosen by their chapter to receive the hotel scholarship are responsible for making their own reservations. Approximately one month before the conference, hotel scholarship participants will be asked to provide their confirmation numbers and arrival/departure dates, so that we may include them in the scholarship program and move their room and tax charges to AGA’s master account.
The rate is $108 per night until June 18, 2010, or until the room block is sold out. Reservations received after June 18, or after the block is filled, may be subject to higher rates. AGA’s scholarship program will not cover higher room rates for reservations made after the deadline or the after the block is sold out. The room block is already 50 percent sold and rooms continue to go quickly. We encourage you to book your room as soon as possible.
To make a reservation, please call the Orlando World Center Marriott at 800.621.0638and mention you are attending the “AGA PDC” to receive the discounted rate. Please do not mention the scholarship, as this may cause confusion when trying to book a room.
If you have any questions regarding the hotel scholarship program, please contact Jessica Jones.
Volunteer Opportunities at AGA PDC
AGA is seeking PDC 2010 Orlando Host Committee volunteers to share their time and talents, and provide assistance at the conference. The Host Committee plays an essential role by helping with bag stuffing, registration, session monitoring and other tasks during the conference.
In appreciation for your time, AGA will provide volunteers with a complimentary conference registration. AGA does not reimburse for airfare, hotel accommodations, parking, bus fare, taxi or any other travel expenses incurred by getting to and from the PDC.
- The Host Committee is limited to 30 individuals. Preference is given to AGA members who are able to work multiple shifts during the week. Great care will be taken to ensure the committee is diverse, includes both new/past participants, various agencies/organizations, and represents all AGA chapters and regions.
- Selection and notification will be made on May 7. If you are not selected you still be notified and be added to our waiting list.
This is a very popular program. As a reminder, even though we anticipate great interest, the Host Committee is limited to a maximum of 30 members. Submitting an application does not guarantee you will be selected; however, we appreciate your interest and willingness to help.
Cultivate Tomorrow’s Leaders Today
To help AGA prepare for the future, we must nurture the next generation of leaders and workers capable of managing the challenges ahead. With a majority of the government’s work force retiring over the next few years, many opportunities are opening up for new emerging leaders. This is precisely why we are dedicating the month of February to Early Career members.
AGA’s Early Career membership category is a great opportunity for learning, networking and growth within the field of financial management for those who are in the early stages of their careers. Early Career students represent the diversity of the field including a wide array of individual and organizational demographics.
Tell the rising stars within your place of employment about the benefits of joining AGA. You can demonstrate your support of future leaders by inviting them to attend chapter functions or by joining AGA today. For more information, visit AGA’s Tomorrow’s Professionals page.
Continuing Education That Meets Your Needs
We now offer 41 courses, which are currently available for delivery at your organization.
Some of our newer courses include:
- Administration of ARRA Grants
- Building a Productive Team
- Collecting Testimonial Evidence
- Effective Writing Skills for Accountants and Auditors
- Ethics in the Workplace
- Fraud Detection and Prevention
- Powerful Presentations and Briefing Techniques
- The Government Audit: Basic Concepts Through Resolution
- Working Papers and Audit Evidence
- Writing Reports More Effectively
These AGA-sponsored courses are developed and taught by experts in their field of study. These up-to-date courses are cost efficient, convenient and meet the growing demands of the government financial profession. Also, if your organization’s training needs are larger in scope or require a more customized approach, we can help assemble a tailored program that fits your needs.
For pricing and additional information, contact Joe Jozefczyk, at 800.AGA.7211, ext. 307, or Lynn Hoffman at ext. 342.
March is CGFM Month!
 For the past five years, thanks to the initiative and dedication of AGA regional and chapter leaders, states and local governments have been declaring March a CGFM month. This project has been a great example of AGA leadership and teamwork and continues to help spread the word about the CGFM Program. Read the 2009 proclamations.
Let's continue this tradition for 2010—contact your governor and ask him/her to declare March 2010 (or better yet, March of EVERY YEAR) a CGFM Month. Contact your local government as well. Join us in making this project a success!
Here is what you can do:
- To avoid duplicate efforts, contact your Regional Coordinator to volunteer or to find out who is handling this project in your state (Not sure who your RC is? Contact Katya Silver and I'll put you in touch with the correct person.)
- A sample proclamation can be found here. If you are handling this project, modify the sample proclamation for your state (we've highlighted some of the fields that need to be updated). If you'd like, you can send me a draft for review.
- Contact your governor's office and/or local government as soon as possible. Send them the modified sample proclamation. If necessary, send them the proclamation request letter.
- Follow up with the governor's office and/or local government. Let us know if you run into any problems/questions.
- When you get the proclamation, publicize it in your chapter. Display it at chapter meetings, publish it in your newsletter, send a press release to a local newsletter, etc. Don't forget to send us a copy so that we can post it on AGA website (if possible, please keep the file size under 5 MB).
- Make March a CGFM celebration. Plan a CGFM event for March, publish information on CGFM Program in your newsletter, recognize existing and new CGFMs in your chapter, etc. Let us know if you need ideas or supplies (CGFM brochures, stickers, ribbons, pens).
Obtaining a state CGFM month proclamation is worth 500 BONUS CREDITS in the Chapter Recognition Program (250 BONUS CREDITS for a local government proclamation). Publicizing it in your chapter, state and on the national level earns you an extra 100 BONUS CREDITS. Thank you for your support of the CGFM Program.
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