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Highlights Environmental Fraud Audio Conference Set for Wednesday AGA, in conjunction with the National Association of State Auditors, Comptrollers and Treasurers (NASACT) and the Association of Local Government Auditors (ALGA), is pleased to announce a new audio conference, How Fraud Can Undermine the Integrity of Environmental Programs and Create Environmental Risks. The audio conference, worth 2 CPE hours, is set for 2 – 3:50 p.m. EST, March 5. Criminal Investigators at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), working with auditors and investigators across the federal, state and local accountability community, have an impressive record addressing fraudulent activities that can affect human health and the environment. Prosecuting these bad actors is just the first step. To prevent future fraud, it is critical to address the systemic weaknesses that allow fraud to occur and prevent the individuals and organizations that commit fraud from continuing to do business with the government. Speakers include Michael Daggett, Director, EPA OIG Program Integrity Directorate; Leonard Newmark, Criminal Investigator, EPA OIG Financial Fraud Directorate; and Frank Lane, Director of EPA’s Suspension and Debarment Division. Cost is $299 per site (unlimited attendance). Government agencies and CPAG members who register five or more offices can receive a 33 percent discount (pay only $200 per site). Register online, or print the regular registration form, or the special promotion registration form and fax it to 703.684.6933. View the entire audio conference schedule AGA Research Report Released: 21st Century Federal Financial Managers—A New Mix of Skills and Educational Levels?
AGA Government Finance Case Challenge Champions
Selected Deadline Rapidly Approaching for Member News Academy News AGA Advertising Opportunities!
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Volume 48: Issue 4, March 3, 2008 NOTE: Please ‘whitelist’ AGA's newsletters by sending an e-mail to postmaster@303media.net to prevent AGA from being blocked by e-mail or spam filters. Enjoy our weekly newsletters and feel free to forward them to your government financial management colleagues. 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 The survey was commissioned as part of AGA’s “Advancing Government Accountability” campaign to educate government and the public on the benefits of increased government accountability and transparency. The campaign also seeks to provide practical programs relating to the education of government financial managers and the reporting of government financial information. The survey findings are a significant contribution toward increased public understanding of the issue, which AGA sees as a vital jumping-off point for reform. AGA believes that the importance of fiscal accountability to a healthy democracy can’t be overstated. Without reliable financial information, delivered regularly, in a format that’s easy to understand, citizens lack information they need to make informed decisions. A lack of government accountability and transparency can undermine democracy and give rise to cynicism and mistrust. This result is reflected in the survey findings, which reveal deep dissatisfaction among the American public with both the availability of government financial information and the way it is delivered to the people. The survey found that:
AGA members are in the very forefront of the fight to increase government accountability and transparency. This survey supports our belief that government financial reporting needs to improve drastically. I urge each of you to review the survey results and work with AGA in this difficult but important challenge. Thank you for your service. Rick Move Your Career Forward in 2008—Renew Your AGA Membership! Are you looking to advance your career in 2008? Renewing you AGA membership today can help you achieve your professional goals and more. Don’t miss out on another year of great AGA benefits like peer networking, continuing professional education opportunities and the Journal of Government Financial Management. You will also be a part of an association that continues to flourish and gain influence in the government financial management field. Renewals have been mailed and if you have not received yours yet, you should shortly. You can return your renewal by mail, fax, or better yet, renew online. It's simple and only takes a few moments. 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. Succeed in 2008—renew today. TOPICS is Brought to You by Keller Graduate School of Management
Why Wait? Make Your Hotel Reservations for PDC 2008 Reserve your room today for AGA’s 57th Annual Professional Development Conference & Exposition to be held July 27 – 30, 2008 in Atlanta. The conference will take place at the Atlanta Marriott Marquis, located at 265 Peachtree Center Ave. This newly renovated hotel is conveniently located in the heart of downtown, just a few blocks from restaurants, nightlife and many area attractions, including the Georgia Aquarium, World of Coca-Cola, CNN Center, Philips Arena and the Georgia Dome. Room rate is $129 (plus tax) for single and double occupancy. Rates are guaranteed until July 6, 2008, or until the block is sold out. We encourage you to make your hotel reservations early, for the best price and availability.
Information about the agenda, speakers and technical education sessions will be available soon. Stay tuned to the website for more information. We look forward to seeing you! FASAB and GASB Emerging Issues Topic of March 26 Audio Conference Hear from two key officials from the Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB) and the Federal Accounting Standards Advisory Board (FASAB). The speakers will discuss the conceptual frameworks being developed at the two boards; what future standards may arise as a result of new concepts; how the new standards may affect preparers, auditors and users; the impact of international accounting standards on the two boards; and the progress being made in financial and performance reporting during the last 10 years and the goals for the next 10. Speakers include David R. Bean, CPA, Director of Research and Technical Activities, GASB, and Wendy M. Payne, CGFM, CPA, Executive Director, FASAB. Cost is $249 per site (unlimited attendance) if you register on or before March 21, and $299 thereafter. Government agencies and CPAG members who register five or more offices can receive a 20 percent discount (pay only $200 per site). Register online, or print the regular registration form, or the special promotion registration form and fax it to 703.684.6933. March is CGFM Month! We want to congratulate all of the CGFMs for earning this important certification. You've made the right investment in your professional development. The CGFM's reputation as the "gold standard" in government financial management continues to grow. Coming Soon! AGA's Web Blog Starts April 1 New Audio Conference Set on Citizen-Centric Reporting Americans want transparent financial management information, but are frustrated with what they are currently receiving across all levels of government, according to a new AGA/Harris Interactive® poll, Public Attitudes Toward Government Accountability and Transparency 2008. A large majority of the 1,652 survey respondents—89 percent—believe that as taxpayers, they are entitled to transparent financial management information. Providing readily accessible information that is detailed, yet understandable, will narrow the expectations gap. AGA’s Citizen-Centric Government Reporting Program encourages governments to publish an annual “state of the government” report that is no more than four pages long. The reports, designed to be visually appealing and easy to read, provide information to citizens about the performance and financial condition of the government, as well as demographics and future challenges that answer the question, “Are we better off today than we were last year?” Learn what tools are available from AGA to produce such a report. Speakers are Mary Lechner, CGFM, CPA, Chief, Internal Control Branch, US Coast Guard; Sam M. McCall, CGFM, City Auditor, City of Tallahassee, FL, and AGA Past National President; Kim Wallin, Controller, State of Nevada; and Relmond Van Daniker, DBA, CPA, AGA Executive Director. Please join us for two hours of lively discussion that includes about 20 minutes of Q and A. Cost: $249 per site (UNLIMITED ATTENDANCE) if you register by April 18 and $299 thereafter. SPECIAL PROMOTION: Register five or more offices from your government agency or CPAG firm and receive a 20 percent discount. Also, AGA chapters can register for $200 per site.
Community Service, Leadership and Music: April 2008 New Orleans Habitat for Humanity Trip Why are we going back again this year? New Orleans still needs our help. By one estimate, as many as 20,000 buildings in the city remain uninhabitable. In fact, 27,500 families, mostly from New Orleans, are still living in tiny, 300-square-foot, government-issued travel trailers across the state, waiting for their homes to be repaired or for some kind of affordable housing to become available. Many other people remain in faraway cities. And hundreds—by some accounts, thousands—live on the city streets. Read the entire article. From the National Office "Thanks to each of you for giving me a great work environment for the last five years," Julie said. "It's been my honor to be a part of the AGA team, and I look forward to hearing the continued successes for the association, staff and membership." The staff wishes "Little Shot" all the best in her new position. |
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© Association of Government Accountants 2008 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. |
The
2007–2008 team champions of AGA’s First Government Finance
Case Challenge are from the University of Texas at Dallas: Jeff
Kaspar, Christopher Holsonback and David Kent Johnson.
Congratulations to our winning team and many thanks to the 12
universities that participated in AGA's first competition. Student teams
were asked to collaboratively analyze and offer a written response to
a case centered on how a US city government implements a performance management
system. Two finalist teams from the University of Nebraska at Omaha and
the University of Texas at Dallas were invited to AGA’s National
Leadership Conference, Feb. 21 – 22, to offer a presentation about
their case response. Details about the 2008 – 2009 competition will
be announced shortly. 
In January, AGA commissioned a study to conduct the first in a series of annual surveys of public attitudes toward government transparency and accountability. The objective of this first survey was to establish a baseline understanding of public attitudes concerning transparency and accountability progress—or the lack of it—which could be tracked annually.
The nation’s #1 path to accounting careers Get on the fast track now. Save 2 years, 7 courses, and more than $10,000 in tuition! DeVry, Keller and Becker: Onsite. Online. On target. Find out more at 
AGA's CGFM Program was specifically designed to help meet the critical need for greatly increased emphasis on the professional qualifications and stature of government financial managers. This professional designation recognizes the unique skills and special knowledge required of professionals who specialize in government financial management.