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Highlights

Upcoming Audio Conferences

March 3: The War Against Fraud and Abuse: Are We Winning?

March 24: Suggested Guidelines for Voluntary Reporting—SEA Performance Information

April 21: The Latest Tools and Techniques for Auditors

May 19: Those Faint Signals: Learning to Catch Ethical Slippage Before It's Too Late

Entire 2010 Audio Conference Schedule

Limited Spots Available for FREE Forum on Emerging Issues in Government Financial Management, Feb. 17
AGA’s Emerging Issues Committee will hold its third Forum, set for 1– 5 p.m. Feb. 17 at the Ronald Reagan Building & International Trade Center in Washington, D.C. A networking reception will immediately follow the forum from 5 – 6:30 p.m. We anticipate close to 150 participants—a mix of government and private sector executives.

Please join us for this highly interactive session. Read more and register.

Training Opportunities

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Reason No. 8 to be an AGA Member
Make Important Professional Contacts.
A true professional knows the value of good contacts. Your local AGA chapter puts you in touch with other accountability professionals in your area. At the national level, AGA conferences include social events, business meetings and educational seminars that connect you with colleagues across the country who understand the challenges you face.

Watch upcoming issues of TOPICS for the other top reasons to be an AGA member!

Member News
Congratulations to Jeff Broglie, a member of AGA’s Baltimore Chapter, who was promoted to a GS-13 Systems Accountant position in the Division of Financial Policy and Reporting within the Office of Financial Policy and Integrity in the Social Security Administration.

Lynn Canton, a member of AGA’s New York Capital Chapter, has accepted the position of Regional Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency based in New York City. This is a position she held during the Clinton administration. Congratulations.

James Cox, CGFM, a member of AGA’s New York Capital Chapter, has been promoted to Regional Inspector General for Audit at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Region V, based in Chicago. Congratulations.

Wallace G. Donnelly, a member of AGA’s New York Capital Chapter since 1981, has passed away. Donnelly was very active in community service and headed up the chapter's involvement in the Voluntary Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program. A very caring man, he will be truly missed.

Tina Kim, CGFM, CPA, CIA, a member of AGA’s New York Capital Chapter, has accepted the position of Deputy Comptroller for Audit in the New York City Comptroller's Office. Way to go!

Charles R. (Charlie) Melchin, CGFM, of Abington, MA, a member of AGA's Boston Chapter since 1988, has passed away. He was retired from the Massachusetts State Auditor’s Office after many years of service, and had held many positions within the Boston Chapter, including chapter president in 1990 – 1991. Even after his retirement, he frequented many chapter training sessions and events. He will be greatly missed by his family, friends and colleagues.

Mark Wohlfort, a member of AGA’s Baltimore Chapter, was promoted to a GS-13 Systems Accountant position in the Division of Financial Integrity within the Office of Financial Policy and Integrity of the Social Security Administration.

Send your member news to Chris Camara for inclusion in a future issue.

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Volume 50: Issue 3, February 16, 2010

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.

Don’t Miss AGA’s National Leadership Conference—Register Today!
Did you get snowed in before you had the chance to register for AGA’s NLC? Don’t worry… there’s still time!

If you register and receive an e-mail confirmation by 4 p.m. today, we’ll have a name badge, CPE tickets and conference materials ready upon your arrival to ensure a smooth check-in. After today, you can register onsite at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center.

Registration is located in the Atrium Hall Foyer (Concourse Level) and is open during the following hours:

Thursday, February 18, 6:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Friday, February 19, 6:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

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 trends and 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. This event is packed with dynamic speakers, hot topics and informative sessions, including CFO strategic priorities, federal budget outlook, transforming CFO operations, ARRA and other critical national issues.

Earn up to 14 CPE hours, learn practical skills to improve your agency, hear from the top opinion leaders and industry experts, and exchange problem-solving ideas with colleagues. The NLC is the place to be for getting the latest information about issues that impact you.

In addition to an outstanding technical program, the NLC offers a multitude of opportunities to network, mix and mingle with colleagues and meet new friends.

Program Now Available Online! View the agenda to see the complete list of speakers, education sessions and networking events offered at this year’s conference. You can also use the program to learn more about our sponsors or to find specific exhibitors.

Show your commitment to a more accountable future—register today!

TOPICS is Brought to You by Real Asset Management International
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Request a free Government Fixed Asset Software Info Pack or contact RAMI today at solution@realassetmgt.com or 617.426.0893.

Volunteer Opportunities at AGA’s PDC in Orlando
Thank you for your interest in volunteering at AGA’s 59th Annual Professional Development Conference & Exposition (PDC), to be held July 11–14, 2010 in Orlando, FL. We value your time, contribution and enthusiasm.

AGA is seeking PDC 2010 Orlando Host Committee volunteers to share their time and talents, and provide assistance during 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 five-hour shifts from Saturday, July 10 through Wednesday, July 14, 2010.

Great care will also be taken to ensure the committee is diverse, includes both new and past Host Committee participants, and represents AGA chapters and regions.

If you’re interested in volunteering, please complete and return the Host Committee Application by e-mail to meetings@agacgfm.org by April 16, 2010.

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.

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. See you in Orlando!

Six Weeks Left to Submit Your 2010 National Academic Scholarship Application
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 Wednesday, March 31, 2010. Apply now and take full advantage of your AGA membership.

Download the application or contact Louise Kapelewski.

Continuing Education That Meets Your Needs
AGA now offers 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. The courses are cost efficient, up-to-date, 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 organization needs.

For pricing and additional information, contact Joe Jozefczyk at 800.AGA.7211, ext. 307, or Lynn Hoffman at ext. 342.

In Their Own Words: AGA Members Tell Us What's In It For Them
"Possibly the most important benefit to me personally was that my peers in AGA encouraged me to run for president of our chapter. When I joined AGA just four-and-a-half years ago I never imagined I would be here. I started on the education committee almost immediately after I joined, and went on to be our newsletter editor and webmaster for a couple years. This is most important to me because I never considered that I would be in this very important position; I always felt there were others who could do a better job; and I was extremely nervous. Now that my year is almost half over, I am very happy that my peers had the confidence in me that I did not; and they encouraged me to push myself beyond my comfort level. I am very proud to be president of our Idaho Centennial Chapter of AGA," Laura Gilmore, President, AGA's Idaho Centennial Chapter

The Value of AGA Membership—What Does That Really Mean? What’s in it for Me?
By: Bobby Derrick, CGFM, and Ray Harris, CGFM
(Reprinted from "Capital Ideas," the newsletter of AGA's New York Capital Chapter)
Every so often, these questions come up in conversation. Both members and nonmembers want to know the tangible and intangible value of their dues. Hopefully, the following will help you decide to join the New York Capital Chapter of AGA, renew your membership and/or sponsor a new member.

Tangible
Let’s start with the tangible factors. As you may know, the chapter is a perennial national award winner for its extensive, cost-effective education and training programs. This year, the chapter is offering around 100 continuing professional education (CPE) credits at significantly reduced rates for members. While the cumulative savings to members from registering for these programs far exceed the cost of membership, the chapter also offers 12 two-CPE audio conferences at no cost to members. That’s 24 CPEs valued at $180 for free! In fact, the estimated savings (that is, the difference between the member and nonmember rates) for all the chapter’s educational events this year exceeds $500. Further, based on program evaluations from the participants, the quality of these events is excellent and is reason enough why high attendance continues despite these tough financial times.

In addition, your membership includes the quarterly magazine Journal of Government Financial Management and weekly e-newsletters (TOPICS and AGA Today), periodic research reports from national AGA and the chapter’s annual Continuing Professional Education Program and Events guide and award-winning newsletter and website. Read more.

The United States Coast Guard is Currently Recruiting for a Senior Executive Position, Director of Financial Operations/Comptroller
The Director of Financial Operations/Comptroller reports to the Deputy Chief Financial Officer in the Resources Directorate. Read the complete announcement here.

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. Click here for all the information you need to run your ad. Or, you can contact April Pardoe.

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