Highlights


Audio Conference on Ethics Set for Wednesday
AGA, in conjunction with NASACT and ALGA, is pleased to announce a new and increasingly important topic to our audio conference schedule—cases of
ethical lapses.

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.

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).

Please join us for two hours of lively discussion, from 2 - 3:50 p.m., that includes 20 minutes for Q & A. Cost: $299. 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.


Training Opportunities


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Integrating Cost and Performance in Financial Reporting Topic of June 18
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 an increasingly important topic to our audio conference schedule—using process based reports to improve managerial decision-making.

To share their expertise and experiences in process based accounting and improving financial reporting are Clifton A. Williams, CGFM, CPA, partner, Grant Thornton LLP, and James Brimson, MS, founder of Activity Based Management Institute.

Please join us for two hours of lively discussion, from 2 - 3:50 p.m., that includes 20 minutes for Q & A. Cost: $249 per site (UNLIMITED ATTENDANCE) if you register by June 13 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.

If you have any questions regarding registration, please contact Maria Lucas at 800.AGA.7211, ext. 308. Questions regarding the program should be directed to Raymond Harris at ext. 339.


Save the Dates for Upcoming AGA Conferences
Professional Development Conference
July 27–30, 2008

"Building on the Dream: Shaping a Culture of Accountability,"
Marriott Atlanta Marquis, Atlanta, GA

National Internal Control and Fraud Conference
Sept. 22–23, 2008
Wyndham Phoenix Hotel,  AZ

National Performance Management Conference
Oct. 27–28, 2008
Seattle, WA

National Leadership Conference
Feb. 19–20, 2009  
Ronald Reagan Building, Washington, D.C.

Professional Development Conference
June 21–24, 2009
New Orleans Marriott, New Orleans, LA

July 11–14, 2010
Orlando World Center Marriott, Orlando, FL

 

Volume 48: Issue 9, May 12, 2008


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.


AGA PDC Agenda Now Available
PDC 2008 is bigger and better than ever! This event is packed with dynamic speakers and informative sessions and unparalleled opportunities to network. And now, everything you need to know about the technical education program is available online.

Click on the dates below to view the conference agenda with detailed session descriptions, complete list of speakers and a schedule of events.

Saturday, July 26 and Sunday, July 27

Monday, July 28

Tuesday, July 29

Wednesday, July 30

Don’t miss this outstanding educational and networking event. Pick a peach of a conference! Register online today. Or print the registration form and fax or mail it to AGA.


TOPICS is Brought to You by AGA Corporate Partner MorganFranklin

MorganFranklin puts the word “value” back into agency compliance efforts.  Visit morganfranklin.com/federal for more information. 

 


This Week on the AGA Blog
Bookmark the AGA Blog at http://aga.typepad.com/aga/. This week’s guests are:

Monday: Kelly Stefanko, CPA, Deputy City Auditor, City of Norfolk, VA, on "Changing the Face of AGA to Appeal to Generations X and Y"

Tuesday: Jesse Hughes, Ph.D., CGFM, International Consultant, on "Adoption by the U.S. of the International Public Sector Accounting Standards"

Wednesday: Robert Maitner Jr., CGFM, Senior Managing Consultant, IBM Public Sector Financial Management, on "OMB Circular A-123 Appendix A: A Fresh Look Three Years In"

Thursday: Joseph Kull, CGFM,
Director, Washington Federal Practice, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLC, on "Can We Contract Out the Human Capital Issue?"

Friday: Patricia E. Healy, CGFM, Executive Consultant, CGI Federal; recently retired as Deputy CFO of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, on "Too Many Chiefs? Do We Need to Change the Way We Govern Our Federal Government Support Operations?"

Visit the blog to read the essays and engage in some lively conversation on the issues. Wish to be our guest for a day on the blog? Contact Marie Force to get on the schedule.


TOPICS is Brought to You by the Villa Julie College Accelerated Forensic Studies Masters Degree Programs.
Villa Julie College offers one of the country's first and leading Forensic Studies masters programs with onsite or online degrees in five distinctive tracks of focus: Accounting, IT, Legal, Investigation & Interdisciplinary. Visit www. forensicstudiesonline.org to learn more. Finish in as few as 18 months, part time.


Talk on Improving Federal Financial Management Produces Flurry of Ideas
Five experts in federal government finance gathered Tuesday to discuss priorities for the next presidential administration, sparking a lively debate that covered reviewing the CFO Act, avoiding “one-size-fits-all” solutions and improving the ability to track how taxpayer dollars are spent.

Moderator Samuel T. Mok, CGFM, CIA, the former CFO of the U.S. Department of Labor and AGA President-Elect, reminded the panelists and the audience that the first 180 days of a new administration are typically characterized by “chaos, confusion, missteps and disconnects.” Read more.

AGA Partners with Norwich University to Promote CGFM
A new partnership with Norwich University gives AGA members the opportunity to earn 12 graduate credits and prepare for the CGFM designation at the same time.

AGA’s three government financial management courses that are the basis for preparing for the CGFM Examinations are being expanded by the Northfield, VT-based University for its online Master of Public Administration program.

“We are excited about incorporating the CGFM course materials into our curriculum. It fits our mission to work with professionals, and will be an important step forward in adding value to our program”, said Donal F. Hartman Jr., J.D., LLM, director of the MPA program. He added, “Our curriculum opens the door for AGA members to learn more about management and leadership via the online classroom, which is asynchronous, interactive and capable of bringing a world of online resources to the student. It offers a balanced and proven learning experience that includes case studies, research proposals, written assignments and online discussions.” Read more.


Topics is Brought to You by Keller Graduate School of Management

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Second Annual AGA National Community Service Project in New Orleans Was Another Rousing Success
By Jeffrey S. Hart, CGFM, CFE, AGA Immediate Past National President
Twenty AGA members, family and friends representing 13 chapters spread from Washington, D.C. to Washington state and Northern Michigan to the Mississippi Delta, recently returned from our Second Annual National Community Service Project in New Orleans. We were joined by a dozen local chapter members and represented various federal, state and local agencies throughout the local area.

Some participants joined us for a day, and some for the whole week April 28–May 2. Some came a day early for the AGA Sectional Leadership Meeting (SLM) held May 2–3. And some came early or stayed late to enjoy the New Orleans Jazz Festival the weekend before and after our project. Read more.

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 Force Pardoe.

   

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Register for AGA's 57th Annual Professional Development Conference & Exposition, July 27–30, 2008, Atlanta, GA

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