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Highlights Upcoming Audio Conferences Feb. 11—Building
Fraud Risk Assessment Into Audit Planning March 11—Using
Internal Controls to Better Manage and Monitor Programs View the 2009 Audio Conference Schedule
Cost Recovery Auditing Subject of New Feb. 25 Audio
Conference Specifically, learn how to take advantage of tax exemptions available to federal, state and local governments and how auditors can perform reviews of construction contracts, as well as credit card purchases, to identify these hidden opportunities. Also to be discussed are CPI adjustments and lease pass-through issues, both of which are timely in today’s economy. If time permits, the speaker will also explore some of the other topics covered in his new AGA two-day seminar on Cost Recovery Auditing: utility expenses; fuel taxes; fleet management; construction recoveries; lease exposure; duplicate payment issues; and hidden taxes. Speaker is Anthony C. Gulotta, JD, CPA, private consultant and trainer, and former audit supervisor for the U.S. Property and Fiscal Office in Pennsylvania where he performed hundreds of performance and financial audits. Click here to learn more and register. This Week on the
AGA Blog Friday: Jeffrey C. Steinhoff, CGFM, CPA, CFE,
director, KPMG LLP, on "The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009—The
Dawn of a New Day in Government Accountability and Transparency" Member News AGA Course Offerings AGA Advertising Opportunities! |
Volume 49: Issue 3, February 9, 2009 TOPICS is Brought to You by AGA Corporate Partner Grant
Thornton Grant Thornton Global Public Sector delivers financial, technology and performance management solutions to federal, state and local government clients, and international organizations. Call us to see if we can help your agency manage its resources more efficiently and effectively at 703.637.2750. From the National President I was born in the year of the monkey. In Chinese folklore, there is a famous story about a monkey who fell off a tree and accidentally landed on the back of a tiger. The monkey hung on for dear life while the tiger raced ferociously through the jungle and the neighboring villages trying to shake the monkey from its back. All the animals and villagers that witnessed this spectacle were amazed and impressed that the monkey could ride a tiger so valiantly. They were unaware that the entire time the monkey was desperately trying to dismount without being eaten alive. Leadership positions are somewhat like a monkey riding on the back of a tiger. There is the perception that they are grand and majestic, however it is impossible to understand their challenges until you yourself are in that position. AGA is not quite like the tiger in this story, but you get the idea. Speaking of leadership, I am delighted to have two extremely capable young leaders succeeding me as AGA National President. The first of these is “Crowned Prince” Billy Morehead, Ph.D., CGFM, and the second is Lisa Casias. I know both of these individuals well and am confident that they, like their predecessors, will serve AGA to the best of their ability. They both have pledged to continue my efforts to prepare AGA for the challenges of the future. Read the entire column. Sam Still Time to Register for AGA’s National Leadership
Conference In today’s challenging economic times, now more than ever, government financial managers and accountability professionals must stay abreast of the latest developments, policies and issues affecting our citizens, and continually enhance their skills. Staying up to date on new regulations, while maintaining a clear vision of government transformation, can be accomplished through the best training. The NLC provides a cost-effective way of doing just that. Offering timely topics and an impressive lineup of speakers, NLC 2009 promises to be bigger and better than ever. Earn up to 14 CPE hours, get technical training and hear lessons learned from the best in the business. In addition to an outstanding technical program, the National Leadership Conference offers a multitude of opportunities to network with colleagues and meet new friends. Show your commitment to a more accountable future—register today! The NLC Program is now available online! Why wait? The conference program is here and ready for printing. Take a look at what the NLC has to offer. View the program to check out the complete list of speakers and education sessions or find your room assignment. You can also use the program guide to find specific exhibitors and learn more about this year’s award recipients. All registrants will receive a printed program at the conference. Those participants who want a sneak peek before arriving in D.C. may do so here. TOPICS is Brought to You by Real Asset
Management International And the Groundhog Says…Just Six More Weeks to Renew In fact, you may have already received several e-mail notices and your renewal invoice by mail. Your Association has planned a year filled with great conferences, CPE opportunities and programs. When you renew, you ensure that you will continue to receive other great career-boosting benefits, such as the Journal of Government Financial Management, and countless peer networking opportunities. Renewing your AGA membership shows your dedication to furthering your career and the profession, but did you know that renewal also practically pays for itself? By participating in AGA programming and events you will save more than $200 in fees. It only takes a few minutes to login to the website and renew your membership. Don’t miss your chance to participate in a year of learning, excitement and change in the government financial management field. So don’t let renewal time pass you by. Your career—and your pocketbook—will thank you! Renew online now! AGA Invites Government Executives to a Complimentary
Forum—Information and Accountability that Make a Difference Please join us for this highly interactive session. Topics and panelists include: Ensuring Accountability and Driving Change
AGA Research Report Overview—Procuring Audit
Expanding Management Information and Reporting
The entire program and complimentary registration form is attached. We hope that you can join us! Limited spots are available, so register today!
Forum agenda & Government Executive registration form SEA: Taking Accountability and Transparency to
a New Level Audio Conference Set SEA, Performance Reporting, Performance-Based Budgeting—Did you ever wonder when and why these initiatives began? AGA Past National President Sam McCall, CGFM, CPA, CIA, Tallahassee City Auditor, is finishing his Ph.D. in public administration. His dissertation discusses the history of performance initiatives by governments, the AGA Service Efforts and Accomplishments Report Review Program and the impact that the GASB’s 16 suggested criteria has had on the quality of performance reports submitted. McCall will be joined by Ken Smith, PhD., CPA, professor at Willamette University in Oregon, and AGA's academic adviser for the SEA Program, who has been instrumental in creating a website that explains, with examples, each of the 16 suggested criteria. Governments looking to prepare performance reports as well as those entities recently having their report reviewed by AGA will benefit from our new Performance Reporting 2.0. Cost: $249 per site (UNLIMITED ATTENDANCE) if you register on or before Friday, March 20, 2009 and $299 thereafter. SPECIAL PROMOTION: Government agencies and CPAG members who register five or more offices will pay $200 per site.
If you have any questions regarding registration, please contact Maria Lucas at 800.AGA.7211, ext. 308, or Questions regarding the program should be directed to Raymond Harris, CGFM, at ext. 339. Affordable Lodging Confirmed for National Community
Service Project in New Orleans April 27 – May 1 There is also a one-time charge of $7.50 per person for linens. Each suite must be occupied by the same gender. Couples may obtain one-bedroom suites with a full-size bed for $30 per night per person. Southwest Airlines is advertising airfare specials from $49 to $99 to various cities, including New Orleans. If you are interested in participating, or have other
questions before you can decide, please contact Past National President
Jeff Hart, CGFM, CFE. Please submit your UNO lodging needs to
Jeff Hart by Feb. 28. |
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Other AGA Links Bring New AGA-Sponsored Training Courses to Your Organization
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© Association of Government Accountants 2009 Disclaimer: AGA serves government accountability professionals by providing quality education, fostering professional development and certification, and supporting standards and research to advance government accountability. If you would like to opt off of future AGA mailings, please e-mail agawebmaster@agacgfm.org. Thank you. |
Happy
Lunar New Year! According to the Chinese Lunar calendar, 2009 is the year of the
ox. The ox symbolizes hard work, dependability and occasional stubbornness. In
most agricultural societies, the ox is the engine that sustains farming and
transportation (ox carts) in the villages.
If
you’ve already registered for AGA’s National Leadership Conference (NLC), we
look forward to seeing you. You’ve made a smart investment in yourself and your
organization. But if you have not yet registered, don’t worry… there’s still
time.