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Highlights Last Week to Register Early for April 23 Citizen-Centric Audio Conference 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: Treasurer-Elect Designate Mary Lechner, CGFM, CPA, Chief, Internal Control Branch, U.S. Coast Guard; AGA Past National President 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. Saco, Maine Receives AGA Recognition Anatomy of Ethical Slips in Government Topic of May 14 Audio Conference During this audio conference, the presenter will recount 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. 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, Jennings teaches graduate courses in the MBA program in business ethics and the legal environment of business. 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 Member News Lisa R. Parker, CPA, a member of AGA's Maine Chapter and former finance office director of Saco, Maine, recently took a position as project manager at the Governmental Accounting Standards Board. She will primarily be working with the Service Efforts and Accomplishments program. Under Lisa's direction, Saco, Maine released the first Citizen-Centric Report in conjunction with AGA's program in March 2007. Saco has also received its fourth Certificate of Achievement in Service Efforts and Accomplishments Reporting. NOTE TO TOPICS READERS: 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. |
Volume 48: Issue 7, April 14, 2008 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. 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 The Graduate School, USDA This Week on the AGA Blog Monday: Sheila Weinberg, CEO, Institute for Truth in Accounting on “What Can You Do About Our $53 Trillion Hole?” Tuesday: William Morehead, Ph.D., CGFM, chair of Accountancy, Computer Information Systems and Finance at Delta State University in Cleveland, MS, and AGA’s National President-Elect Designate, on “Education: The Proof is in the Numbers.” Wednesday: Martin Benison, CGFM, comptroller, Commonwealth of Massachusetts, on “AGA’s Partnership for Intergovernmental Management and Accountability.” Thursday: Jayaraman Vijayakumar, professor, Virginia Commonwealth University, on “Municipal Bonds.” Friday: Lynda Dennis, Ph.D, CPA, CGFO, faculty, University of Central Florida, asking, “Is the Sky Really Falling or is the United States Financially Sound?” Questions about how to post a comment or how to subscribe to the feed that sends blog entries straight to your e-mail address? Find out more here. Want to spend a day as our guest on the blog? Contact Marie Force, communications director. TOPICS is Brought to You by AGA Corporate Partner MorganFranklin Members Dream Big as the ‘We Have a Dream’ Recruitment Campaign Enters its Final Stretch Our members are also dreaming big when it comes to recruiting the future of the government financial management field—our early career members. The AGA member who recruits the most early career members will be awarded with a fabulous BOSE Wave Music System (valued at $499). Paschel is in the lead for that prize, having recruited 31 early career members. More than 2,300 individuals have joined AGA this past year. The Association’s net growth in membership is the result of many factors and many people. Remember, all new member applications must be received at the National Office by April 30, 2008. Keep recruiting! Find out more about the campaign. TOPICS is Brought to You by Keller Graduate School of Management AGA Brings Southern Hospitality and Sizzle to your Summer…Get Ready for PDC 2008 AGA has been a leader in providing the best training for nearly 58 years, and this is the place where it all comes together. With the theme "Building on the Dream: Creating a Culture of Accountability,” and offering valuable CPE hours, timely topics and an impressive lineup of speakers, PDC 2008 promises to be one of the Association's best. AGA’s PDC is the authoritative source for the knowledge and contacts you need to succeed in today’s constantly changing environment. Learn about the newest research in the field. Discover tools and techniques that have advanced the profession. Meet the top leaders from federal agencies and state and local governments. Take part in small-group discussions. From the practical to the theoretical, sessions will help you hone your skills to bring greater efficiency and effectiveness to government operations. It’s all here! 24 CPE Hours, Hot Topics and Outstanding Speakers
PDC Exhibit Hall Showcases the Latest Innovations and Financial Management Solutions The Exhibit Hall is a hub of activity and offers an environment dedicated to networking and the sharing of ideas. This is the perfect place to mix and mingle with colleagues and friends. Some companies will conduct raffles—stop by and you may become a winner! Register Before June 27 and Save Build on the dream… show your commitment a more accountable future—register today! More than 40 Governments Declare March CGFM Month AGA Advertising Opportunities! |
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Other AGA Links Bring New AGA-Sponsored Training Courses to Your Organization
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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 March 31 deadline for 2008–2009 membership renewals may have passed, but if it passed you by—don’t worry. You can still renew! You can make sure that you receive all your valuable AGA membership benefits without interruption by renewing online today.
Activity-Based Costing. 
Stephanie K. Paschel, a member of AGA’s Cleveland Chapter, has recruited her 50th member and is in the lead for Recruiter of the Year. Right behind her is Lori L. Hendon, a member of AGA’s Idaho Centennial Chapter, with 49 recruits. Who will become the No. 1 recruiter is anyone’s guess with a little less than three weeks left in the 2007–2008 We Have a Dream member-get-a-member campaign.
Join us in “Hotlanta” for AGA’s Professional Development Conference & Exposition (PDC)—the government financial management education and networking event of the year.