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Highlights Last Week to Register Early for FASAB, GASB Emerging Issues March 26 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 pleased to announce its fast approaching audio conference, "Emerging Issues at FASAB and GASB: The Landscape is Changing." The audio conference, worth 2 CPE hours, is set for 2 – 3:50 p.m. EDT, March 26. 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. View the entire audio conference schedule.
Audio Conference on Citizen-Centric
Reporting Set for April 23 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, provide understandable information to citizens about the performance and financial condition of the government, as well as demographics and future challenges. Hear what tools are available from AGA to produce such a report and listen to three practitioners who have recently published such reports: Mary Lechner, CGFM, CPA, Chief, Internal Control Branch, U.S. Coast Guard; Sam McCall, CGFM, CPA, City Auditor, Tallahassee, FL; Kim Wallin, CPA, CMA, Controller, State of Nevada; and Relmond Van Daniker, DBA, CPA, AGA Executive Director. Cost is $249 per site (UNLIMITED ATTENDANCE) if you register on or before Friday, April 18, 2008 and $299 thereafter. Government agencies and AGA Corporate Partner members who register five or more offices will receive a 20 percent discount. Also, AGA chapters can register for $200 per site. Register online, or print the regular registration form, or the special promotion registration form and fax it to 703.684.6933.
Coming Soon! AGA's Web Blog Starts April 1 Member News Lee Jones, CGFM, a member of the Washington, D.C. Chapter, has been appointed deputy CFO at U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Like all CFO offices, ICE faces many challenges but also presents many opportunities, both of which attracted Lee to return to government after retirement. Bill Oliver, CGFM, a member of AGA's Baltimore Chapter, has been named assistant managing partner of Clifton Gunderson's Mid-Atlantic Client Service Center. He will continue to serve as the firm-wide director of Federal Government Services and chairman of the board of directors. D. James (Jim) Sturgill, CGFM, a member of AGA's Washington, D.C. Chapter, assistant commissioner, Government-wide Accounting, Financial Management Service, U.S. Department of the Treasury, received the Donald L. Scantlebury Memorial Award for distinguished leadership in financial management in the public sector. Mary Wisley, CGFM, a member of AGA's Baton Rouge Chapter, recently retired from the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals after 32 years of state service.
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Volume 48: Issue 5, March 17, 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 Certified Government Financial Manager designation is quickly becoming the preferred certification for those of us who work in or for governments. More than 14,000 individuals have received the CGFM and the number is growing annually. Many government employers and contractors have recognized the importance of the CGFM. The CGFM is the first certification broad enough to cover the whole field of government financial management—federal, state and local. It deals not with testing a person in a specific area, but with measuring a wide range of knowledge and skills that a professional needs to succeed in the federal government financial environment, or to meet the unique challenges faced by state and local government financial managers. This designation is already recognized as a
professional standard. Since the 2001, federal legislation authorizing
federal government agencies to use appropriated funds to pay for
expenses to obtain professional credentials, three agencies including
the U.S. Department of Defense and twelve of its components, have issued
formal professional certification policies, with other agencies soon to
follow suit. The CGFM designation is listed as one of the
certifications. The challenge facing today's government financial managers is to keep up with the changing times. New innovations, new developments and new methods of implementation are creating a new environment in which government financial managers must function. The government financial management field will be far different tomorrow from what it is today. Having a broad knowledge and a recognized professional designation will be the way to distinguish yourself from the crowd. March is CGFM Month so there’s no time like the present for joining the thousands of other leaders in government financial management who already have discovered the unique value and benefit of the CGFM designation. Please join me in congratulating all of our CGFMs. Rick TOPICS is Brought to You by AGA Corporate Partner
American Appraisal Associates Renewal Time is Flying By! Plus it is so easy to renew! You can either send in your renewal invoice with payment or save yourself a stamp and click here to go to the Members Only section of the AGA website. Login using your membership ID number and password and press the gray ‘billing’ button at the top right hand corner of the screen. It’s that simple. Need assistance? We are happy to help. Contact the AGA Customer Satisfaction Center at 800.AGA.7211. So don’t let renewal time pass you by. You career—and your pocketbook—will thank you! Massachusetts Agency Produces Citizen-Centric
Report, Learns Valuable Lessons That’s why Executive Director Dan Shannon embraced the idea of producing a four-page, Citizen-Centric Report, a concept that has been championed by AGA and adopted by about 30 governments across the country. “Describing to people who we are and what we do is extremely difficult.” The developmental disabilities council is one of 55 in the nation that is funded primarily by Congress to improve independence and inclusion for people with developmental disabilities. They are required by law to produce five-year plans with annual progress reports. So while there’s no shortage of reports available, they aren’t particularly readable for the public. Even the public version of the federal report didn’t go far enough in simplifying the Massachusetts council’s work, Shannon said. Read more. Why Wait? Make Your Hotel Reservations for PDC
2008 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! Take the CGFM Examinations Before
the PDC More information and a registration form for this event are available on the AGA website. If you have any questions, please contact Crystal Vanison at 800.AGA.7211, ext. 316. March is CGFM Month Anatomy of Ethical Slips in Government Topic of
May 14 Audio Conference During this audio conference, the presenter will recount some recent ethical lapses in government and examine the causes and effects. By examining a series of ethical lapses, we find that a pattern emerges. That pattern allows us to think about this question: What is it in the culture of an agency that allows obvious ethical breaches to occur and continue? Once we understand the culture, we can think about putting the detection methods, as well as antidotes, in place. In our outrage over misconduct, we often fail to look deeply enough to see the causes and fall short of taking meaningful steps that would go further than just correction. Thinking more deeply about nurturing a culture of ethics is the key to prevention of ethical lapses, at all levels. To share her expertise in ethical behavior and its ramifications is Marianne M. Jennings, JD, Professor in the Department of Management in the W.P. Carey School of Business at Arizona State University (ASU). At ASU, Marianne teaches graduate courses in the MBA program in business ethics and the legal environment of business. Professor Jennings has authored hundreds of articles and has six textbooks and monographs in circulation. She has conducted more than 300 workshops and seminars in the areas of business, personal, government, legal, academic and professional ethics. Among her many awards and honors, Marianne was inducted into the AGA Speakers’ Hall of Fame and also received a writers’ award for best article in AGA’s Journal of Government Financial Management. Please join us for two hours of lively discussion that includes 20 minutes for Q & A. Cost: $249 per site (UNLIMITED ATTENDANCE) if you register by May 9 and $299 thereafter. SPECIAL PROMOTION: Register five or more offices from your government agency or CPAG firm and receive a 20 percent discount. Register online, print the registration form and fax it to 703.684.6933 or print the Special Promotion Registration form and fax it to 703.684.6933. The Council for Excellence in Government Announces
the Government Financial Fellows and the Spring 2008 Excellence in
Government Fellows Programs 2008 Performance Management
Conference Update
The Performance Management Conference will be held in Seattle, WA, on Oct. 27 – 28, 2008. Check the AGA website for upcoming details. Still interested in participating as a reviewer for AGA's Service Efforts and Accomplishments Performance Reporting Program? Contact Evie Barry for details.
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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. |
For
those of you with the Certified Government Financial Manager 
The
March 31 deadline for 2008–2009 AGA membership renewals is rapidly
approaching. Not only does renewing your AGA membership show your
dedication to furthering your career and the profession, but did you
know that renewal practically pays for itself? Through your AGA
membership you can save as much as $200 on AGA conference and meeting
registrations! When you renew, you will also ensure that you continue to
receive other great career-boosting benefits, like the Journal of
Government Financial Management and the benefits of countless peer
networking opportunities. 
Reserve
your room today for AGA’s 57th Annual Professional Development
Conference & Exposition to be held July 27 – 30, 2008 in Atlanta.
AGA
is once again offering a great opportunity to take the CGFM Examinations
and earn your CGFM before the 57th Annual Professional Development
Conference (PDC) in Atlanta, GA. We are offering a two-day Intensive
Review Course on Thursday, July 24, and Friday, July 25, 2008, and an
opportunity to take the CGFM Examinations on July 26-27, 2008. The cost
of the course is only $249 for qualified participants, and it offers 18
CPE hours. Special Bonus: The CGFM Examinations are offered at no cost
to course attendees.