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Highlights

Assessing Risk and Controls Focus of Upcoming Audio Conference
AGA, in conjunction with the National Association of State Auditors,
Comptrollers and Treasurers (NASACT) and the Association of Local Government Auditors (ALGA), is sponsoring an audio conference worth 2 CPE hours, addressing risk and internal control issues that confront auditors and
management and offering practical solutions for both. Speakers include Frank W. Crawford, CPA, president, Crawford & Associates, P.C., Certified Public Accountants, and chair, AICPA Government Expert Panel and
Oklahoma Society of CPAs Government Accounting and Auditing Committee; and Arthur A. Hayes, CGFM, CPA, CFE, director, Division of State Audit, Office of the Comptroller of the Treasury, State of Tennessee, who has chaired and served on various committees and task forces for AGA, GFOA, Southeastern Intergovernmental Audit Forum and AICPA. Both speakers are renowned lecturers, trainers and discussion leaders for government agencies at all levels, government and private associations and firms. Join us from 2 – 3:50 p.m. EST, Feb. 28 for a lively, open discussion. Cost is $249 per site (unlimited attendance) before Feb. 23, and $299 thereafter. Register online. Visit the AGA website for the audio conference schedule.

Free Research Reports Available from AGA
The AGA Corporate Partner Advisory Group (CPAG) continues to produce research studies of great value to governments, industry and the entire AGA membership. The CPAG has six published studies and upwards of nine are in the works. Download the reports. Contact Susan Fritzlen for hard copies.

Chapter News
Third quarter Chapter Recognition credits are due February 19. Questions? Contact Jessica Jones.

FASAB Seeks Candidates for Board Openings
Interested in serving on the Federal Accounting Standards Advisory Board (FASAB)? FASAB is updating its registry of potential candidates who do not work for the federal government and are interested in serving five to 10 years on the board, which has six nonfederal members. One vacancy will come up on July 1. FASAB is particularly interested in candidates with experience as analysts of financial and/or performance information. To be added to the registry, submit a resume to FASAB Executive Director Wendy Comes, CGFM, at 441 G St., NW, Mailstop 6K17V, Washington, D.C. 20548 or fasab@fasab.gov. More information about FASAB can be found online.

Member Happenings
Joe and Kristina Poist, both members of AGA's Baltimore Chapter who work at the Social Security Administration, became parents to Brooke Ava on Jan. 12.

Kristen Schnatterly, a member of AGA's Baltimore Chapter who works at the Office of Inspector General, Social Security Administration, gave birth to a daughter, Lauren Noel, on Jan. 5. Congratulations Kristen.

AGA Advertising Opportunities!
Advertise in AGA's electronic newsletters—TOPICS and AGA Today! Get maximum exposure and build your brand. Find out what's available in an upcoming issue! Contact AGA's Director of Communications, Marie Force.

Volume 47: Issue 3, February 12, 2007

TOPICS is Brought to You by AGA Corporate Partner

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, Jeffrey S. Hart, CGFM, CFE

In Creating Exceptional Value for Government Accountability Professionals, my theme for the year, I've said we are going to be guided by our core AGA values of Service, Accountability, Integrity and Leadership. Under our third AGA strategic value—Integrity—I've said that we always walk our talk and ensure that AGA is the best possible role model for all the important things we stand for.

Obviously, performance measurement and reporting is one of those things. In that spirit, I have developed a draft “AGA Performance Dashboard” to be discussed at our third National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of the year occurring this week, right after the NLC. This dashboard, just like the one in a car, will tell us at a glance how AGA is progressing on our “trip”—our trip to creating exceptional value for you. It will track AGA performance in producing the outputs and outcomes that are most important to us, and that will create or lead to exceptional value. Read more from President Hart.

Saddle Up, Dust Off Your Best Pair of Boots and Get Ready for AGA's PDC in Nashville
Join us June 24–27, 2007 at the Nashville Convention Center in Music City, USA for AGA's 56th Annual Professional Development Conference & Exposition (PDC).

With dozens of educational sessions, social events and exhibitors available, the PDC is an authoritative source for the knowledge and contacts you need to succeed in today’s constantly changing environment.

The PDC offers exceptional training opportunities. Learn about the newest research in the field. Discover tools and techniques that have advanced the profession. Meet the top leaders from federal, state and local governments. Sessions will be organized around the following tracks:

Accountability & Ethics
Auditing Tips, Tools & Techniques
Financial Management Strategies
Innovative Funding Mechanisms
Management Challenges & Solutions

In addition to an outstanding technical program, the PDC provides unparalleled opportunities to network, exchange ideas and meet new friends.

Sykes, Radford Appointed to NEC
On February 1, the Bylaws and Procedures Committee certified the current slate of officers and Samuel T. Mok, CGFM, officially became AGA’s National President-Elect Designate. He will begin his term as President-Elect on July 1. Mok, the chief financial officer at the U.S. Department of Labor, was already serving on the National Executive Committee (NEC) as the presidential appointee of National President-Elect RIchard Fair, CGFM. As a result of the nomination of Mok as President-Elect, Gwendolyn Sykes, MBA, CGFM, CDFM, has been named by Fair to be his new presidential appointee to complete Mok’s original term.

Sykes, the chief financial officer at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, will join the NEC on July 1 and will serve until June 30, 2009. Sykes joined NASA in November 2002 when she was selected as the deputy chief financial officer for Financial Management. Since that time, she has made significant strides toward improving agency-wide financial integrity. She has launched several management initiatives designed to improve NASA's financial health and performance. Her leadership and resourcefulness are invaluable assets to the NASA community. A member of AGA’s Washington, D.C. Chapter, Sykes served as co-chair of the 2005 PDC Technical Committee. She received an AGA National President’s Award in 2005.

Mok has named Oregon State Controller John J. Radford, CGFM, CIA, CFE, to be his presidential appointee to the NEC. His three-year term will begin on July 1. Radford began his career working for the City of Omaha, Nebraska, in various financial management positions. In 1983, he moved to Oregon and began work as the budget officer in the Oregon Judicial Department and was promoted to management services director in 1985. In 1989, the governor appointed him to the position of state controller. He has served in this capacity under five consecutive Oregon governors.

A founding member of AGA’s Mid-Willamette Valley Chapter, Radford received an AGA National President’s Award in 2006 for his chapter development and human capital initiatives. Radford was also recently appointed to a three-year term as a trustee of the Financial Accounting Foundation, the oversight body of the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) and the Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB).

Annual CGFM Renewal Time!
AGA is getting ready to send you an annual renewal invoice for your CGFM certification and/or AGA membership. If your address has recently changed, please be sure to update your contact information with AGA and pay your dues in the "Members only" section of the AGA website. Below you'll find answers to frequently asked questions about CGFM renewal:

Q: How often do I have to renew my CGFM designation?
A: CGFM certification is renewed on an annual basis. A renewal invoice is sent out in February and the payment is due by March 31st. If you do not receive an invoice by mid-March, please call AGA at 800.AGA.7211. Read more about maintaining your CGFM certification.

It's Time, It's Time!
Renewal time is here! Help take your career to the next level by renewing your AGA membership in 2007. You will receive all of AGA’s great membership benefits like peer networking, continuing professional education opportunities and the Journal of Government Financial Management—plus you will be a part of an association that continues to thrive and move to the forefront of the government financial management field.

How to Renew Online: Access the AGA website. Click on ‘Members Only’ on the left palette. Login using your membership ID number and password (your first initial followed by your last name—no spaces), click on the gray ‘billing’ button above your name. All you have to do is input your credit card information and hit ‘Submit.’ The transaction will automatically process via our secure server and the renewal information will be automatically updated in AGA’s in-house membership system. While you are logged into the Members Only section, be sure to take a look at your contact information and make any updates as necessary (especially your e-mail address).

Need assistance? We are happy to help. Contact the AGA Customer Satisfaction Center at 800.AGA.7211. Why wait? Renew today!

2007 Call for National Awards
AGA’s National Awards Committee is now accepting nominations for 12 National Awards that recognize the leaders advancing our profession and setting the standards of excellence:

Robert W. King Memorial Award
Einhorn-Gary Award
Frank Greathouse Distinguished Leadership Award
Achievement of the Year Award
Educator Award
Cornelius E. Tierney/Ernst & Young Research Award
International Achievement Award NEW
Emerging Leader Award of Excellence NEW
Chapter Service Award
Chapter Education Award
Chapter CGFM Award NEW
Community Service Award

These awards will be presented during AGA's Professional Development Conference and Exposition in Nashville, TN June 24-27, 2007. In many cases, individuals do not have to be members of AGA to be eligible. All nominations are due no later than Friday, March 2, 2007. Nomination forms and more information is available online. Contact Rosanna Ortiz with questions.

Now Accepting 2007 Scholarship Applications
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 National 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 30, 2007. Apply now and take full advantage of all the benefits of AGA membership. Download a copy of the scholarship application. Contact Rosanna Ortiz with questions.

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