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Highlights
Ethical Issues Focus
of Next Audio Conference View the audio conference schedule. NEW! Take the CFO Survey!
Get to Know Your AGA Corporate
Partner Chapter News— Chapter Recognition
Washington, D.C.
Chapter Plans 50th Anniversary Gala Member Happenings Richard J. Dowd, CGFM, a member of AGA's Chicago Chapter, has announced his retirement from federal service effective June 3. He serves as the regional inspector general for audit, Region V/VII (Chicago, IL), U.S. Department of Education, Office of Inspector General. Dowd has also received numerous awards and has been an active AGA member, serving as Chicago Chapter president and the North Central Regional Vice President. Mark Funkhouser, a member of AGA's Kansas City Chapter, and the former city auditor of Kansas City, MO, was recently elected Kansas City mayor. Funkhouser is a member of AGA's Journal Editorial Board. Jeffrey A. Long, CGFM, CPA, a member of AGA's Montgomery/PG County Chapter, was recently elected to partner with Cotton & Company LLP, an AGA Corporate Partner firm. Dale W. Sopper, CGFM, a member of AGA's Baltimore Chapter, is retiring in August after 42 years of federal service. Sopper serves as the Social Security Administration’s (SSA) Deputy Commissioner for Budget, Finance and Management, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Acquisition Officer, overseeing the agency's $630 billion budget among many other duties. His federal service began in 1965 as a Social Security claims insurance specialist in Kansas City, MO, and spanned four decades at SSA and the U.S. Health and Human Services Department. He has received numerous honors throughout his distinguished career; most recently he was awarded the Presidential Rank Award for Distinguished Executive. In July 2005, he received the AGA’s Frank Greathouse Distinguished Leadership Award.
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Volume 47: Issue 7, April 9, 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 We just completed the first of four Sectional Leadership Meetings (SLMs) and received rave reviews from the AGA leaders in Section IV! For the first time, we brought together chapter, regional and national volunteer AGA leaders and key members of our National Office staff to meet over two days in beautiful Lexington, KY. This first SLM was held March 30–31 immediately preceding the equally successful Southeastern Regional PDC led by RVP Phil Nally, CGFM, and Central Kentucky Chapter President Mary Hudson. Phil and Mary showered us all with their wonderful Blue Grass hospitality, including an exciting trip to the Kentucky Horse Park where I experienced my first polo match, an excellent meal and entertainment by a local dance troupe of cloggers. We will hold a SLM in each of the other three sections later this spring. It is our goal to use these new annual meetings to enhance the ability of all AGA leaders to lead our Association and our profession into the future. When I wrote my last column, I was on my way to New Orleans. While I had hoped that I might bring an inspirational AGA message to the chapters, what actually happened was that I have been inspired by the dedication and commitment of our members and what they do for AGA and our profession day in and day out. Nowhere was this more true than in my visit to a joint meeting of the New Orleans and Baton Rouge Chapters. Read more from President Hart. It’s Not Too Late to Renew! How? It’s easy and quick! Simply login to the Members Only section of the website using your membership ID number and password (your first initial followed by your last name—no spaces), click on the gray ‘billing’ icon in the top right hand corner of the screen. Your dues renewal fees will automatically appear (this will include your CGFM renewal if applicable). All you have to do is input your credit card information and hit ‘Submit.’ The transaction will process via our secure server and the updated renewal information will be updated in AGA’s in-house membership system. You may still submit payment by mail or by calling the National Office. If you have any questions, please contact the AGA Customer Satisfaction Center at 800.AGA.7211. We will be happy to help. It’s not too late—renew today! TOPICS is Brought to You by AGA Corporate Partner Graduate School, USDA
For more information on the MSM-PSA program and our other courses and services, call (888) 744-GRAD or visit us at www.grad.usda.gov/gati. Join Us in Nashville for PDC 2007: You'll Have
a Swinging Good Time!
As you can see by perusing the program, AGA’s PDC promises to be a tremendous learning experience. While you’re here, we invite you to take time to enjoy some of the sights, sounds and history that Nashville has to offer. Whether you’re a first-time visitor or a returning friend, there are many ways to experience Music City and all of its attractions. Nashville is a one-stop meeting and take-a-break destination, where after the day's work is done, it's time to live and play. Combining the excitement of a large city with the warmth and hospitality of a small town, Nashville offers a wide range of activities and attractions. Read more about all the things to do in Music City USA! Download the PDC Registration Brochure.
The Race to Recruiter of the Year Heats
Up! The focus of this year’s campaign is the ‘stars’—we call them early career and tomorrow’s professionals—individuals just starting out in their careers, with less than three years of experience. The AGA member who recruits the most early career members will be awarded a $500 American Express gift card. Kennedy is in the lead for that prize, having recruited 25 early career members! More than 2,100 individuals have joined AGA this past year. The Association’s net growth in membership is the result of many factors and many people. We are doing the right thing for the right reason and we are doing it now! Remember, to count in this year’s recruitment campaign, all new member applications must be received at the National Office by April 30, 2007. Keep recruiting! Find out more about the campaign! TOPICS is Brought to You by the
University of Alabama-Huntsville KPMG Makes Huge Commitment to
Certification “It was a very exciting day,” said Cindi O'Connor, director of KPMG LLP’s Public Sector Government Practice. “As the day progressed and we discovered a high number of people were continually passing the exams, an impromptu champagne reception was scheduled for everyone following the third exam.” March 1 was the culmination of a significant effort by KPMG to further credential its audit staff in the intricacies of government financial management. O’Connor distributed AGA’s CGFM study materials to the group of audit partners, managers and senior staff several weeks before bringing the customized two-day intensive review course to KPMG’s Washington, D.C., office. The day after the course ended, the three CGFM examinations were offered at 8 a.m., noon and 3:30 p.m. In addition to this effort, KPMG held a six-day Government Financial Manager training program for its advisory staff. Read the full story. City of
Saco, Maine Holds Successful Press Conference Unveiling its Four-Page
Citizen Centric Report The Citizen Centric initiative asks municipal, county and state governments to publish honest and straightforward reports about their fiscal condition—and, most important, to keep them short and easy to understand. These fiscal snapshots would provide a clear answer to the question “Are we better off today than we were last year?” The Saco report measures the city’s performance in Fiscal Year 2006, as well as the challenges and objectives facing the city in the coming years. “We know that governments have a reputation for being good at collecting taxes but not necessarily as good at being accountable for how those tax dollars are spent, Saco wants to change that,” said Saco Mayor Mark Johnston. “This report has both the good and the bad. And while I’m glad to say there’s more ‘good’ to report in Saco these days, this report is chock full of challenges coming down the pike. We’re hoping to inform a thoughtful debate on these issues.” The next national briefing will occur May 17 when the State of Oregon and the City of Portland, Oregon unveil their four-page reports at a press conference. Complete information on this initiative is found here. Attention Chapter
Communicators! Newsletter contest—Send copies of your chapter’s November 2006, December 2006 and February 2007 newsletters to Chris Camara this Friday, April 13. When all entries are in, we will pick ONE month out of a hat and all entries from that month will be judged. Once again, we are inviting last year’s award recipients to be our judges for other chapter groups. (For example, Group A would judge Group B, Group C would judge Group D, etc.) If you received a Chapter Newsletter Award last year and would like to be a judge this year, contact Chris Camara. Website contest—Judges will review all working websites during the week of April 16 using the chapter listing found online. Please be sure to check your chapter’s information, and inform Jennifer Curtin of any changes. Jenn will contact last year’s website winners about judging. View a listing of the 2005–2006 contest winners, and read the award criteria. (Log in required.) Award recipients will be announced in May, but the formal presentations will take place during the 56th Annual Professional Development Conference & Exposition, set for June 24–27 in Nashville. All award recipients must be members of AGA. Stay tuned. More details to come! NEW Research Report Available
from AGA—Request Your Copy Today! Comment by
Monday on Social Insurance
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Other AGA Links CGFM Certification—Take the CGFM Exams today!
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© Association of Government Accountants 2007 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. |
Federal Contract Management Essentials &
Federal Contract Management Specialization Certificate
Programs—in hybrid CD-ROM/web-based, distance learning—next
courses begin May 2! Receive the same high level presentations
and expert instructors that on-site classes offer. Participants can
review the audio/video of live classroom instruction on CD as often as
wanted and with no bandwidth concerns. The course learning management
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instructors and other participants, and tools to assess personal
progress. For a sample video or detailed certificate program
information visit 
Tom Allen,
chairman of the Federal Accounting Standards Advisory Board (FASAB), is
seeking comments on Accounting for Social Insurance. He notes that
“programs such as Social Security and Medicare present the most
challenging governmental accounting questions most of us will face in
our lifetimes. This topic has been considered by many illustrious
bodies over the past several decades and should only be resolved by
FASAB after consideration of a broad base of responses. It is
critically important that we hear both from our usual respondents and
those ‘outside the beltway.’ ” FASAB's Preliminary
Views document presents two perspectives regarding appropriate
liability recognition for obligations arising in social insurance
programs, which are key programs such as Social Security and Medicare.
In addition, the Preliminary Views document includes an alternative
view proposing to require a Statement of Fiscal Sustainability for the
government's consolidated financial report that would provide
projections for the entire government, including information necessary
to assess the sustainability of social insurance programs and
information on intergenerational equity. Comments are due April
16, 2007. In addition, the board plans to hold a public
hearing on the