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Highlights

Make Plans to Attend AGA’s Performance Management Conference
AGA’s Third Annual National Performance Management Conference (PMC), set for Sept. 24 – 25 in Phoenix, brings together state and local government leaders to help you get the most from your entity’s Service Efforts and Accomplishments (SEA) Reports. Take this opportunity to earn 14 CPE hours and share best practices with industry experts and peers. Conference speakers include:

Robert H. Attmore, CGFM, CPA, Chairman, Governmental Accounting Standards Board
State Rep. Mark Miloscia, House of Representatives, State of Washington
D. Clark Partridge, CGFM, State Comptroller, Department of Administration, General Accounting Office, State of Arizona
David R. Smith, County Manager, Maricopa County, AZ
Jonathan Walters, Staff Correspondent, Governing Magazine, Author, Measuring Up

Join us at the Embassy Suites Phoenix/ Scottsdale Golf Resort to share in educational sessions, networking opportunities and recognition of state and local government entities honored with AGA’s Certificate of Achievement in SEA Reporting. We look forward to hosting you in Phoenix!

Special Offer for AGA Members to Attend the PMC
Are you interested in learning more about performance reporting for your entity? If you are an AGA member who has a desire to implement performance reporting, AGA is offering 10 complimentary registrations to the Performance Management Conference in Phoenix, Arizona on Sept. 24-25, 2007. Registrations are available on a first- come, first-served basis. One per office/ government entity please. Offer is for registration only. Please indicate on your registration form that you are applying for the complimentary registration. You must be an AGA member to receive the complimentary registration. Download the registration form.

Training Opportunities

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AGA’s Certificate of Excellence in Accountability Reporting (CEAR)® Program Presents the Annual Performance and Accountability Report Preparer's Workshop on Aug. 7
This intermediate-level training provides information and tools to teach you how to prepare a Performance and Accountability Report (PAR). Learn the types of recommendations to make to improve the quality of your PAR and become familiar with the guidelines as you assist in improving your own federal agency PAR. Instructions on how to prepare your report under the pilot project will also be discussed. Speakers include Jonathan D. Breul, Executive Director, IBM Center for Business of Government; John Hummel, CGFM, Chair, CEAR Board; and Harold I. Steinberg, CGFM, AGA Technical Consultant. Learn more.

League of Women Voters Promote Transparency in Government—Support AGA’s Citizen-Centric Reporting Initiative
The League has a new publication titled Observing Your Government in Action: Protecting Your Right to Know—which includes AGA’s Citizen-Centric Reporting Initiative. This resource guide, part of the League’s Citizen Initiative on Transparency, provides useful best practices and tips for observing government activities and promoting transparency. It includes success stories from local League chapters as well as information about how government watchdog programs can contribute to the vitality of community organizations.

The League has been very supportive of AGA’s Citizen-Centric Reporting Initiative that asks governments to publish honest and straightforward reports about their performance and fiscal condition—and, most important, to keep them short (no more than four pages) and easy to understand. These reports seek to honestly and succinctly answer the question “Are we better off today than we were last year?” Most of all, the Citizen-Centric project aims to give citizens and activists a better understanding of their local government and provide a more meaningful debate.

See the listing of governments that have produced a report and/or get started on yours today!

Partnership Formed; Friendships Gained
A talk with an old friend, an attachment to the city of New Orleans and a desire to help the hurricane-ravaged area spurred members of AGA’s Southern Wisconsin Chapter to donate supplies to John McDonogh High School. Eric Busse tells TOPICS how it came about.

Member News
Douglas E. Blum, CGFM, CPA, a member of AGA's Richmond Chapter, was named 2007 CFO of the Year for Large Nonprofit Organizations. Congratulations. Read more.

Chapter News
The 2007-2008 Chapter Recognition Program (CRP) is now available. To access the online entry form, sign into Members Only and click on the CRP link. The first quarter deadline is August 14. Questions? Contact Jessica Jones.

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.

Volume 47: Issue 13, July 23, 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.

Don’t Miss AGA’s Internal Control & Fraud Conference–Register Today!
Enhance your existing skills and gain a deeper understanding of fraud, ethics and internal controls by attending AGA’s Second Internal Control & Fraud Conference, to be held Sept. 10-11, 2007 at the Hyatt Regency Atlanta.

With the theme, “Combating Fraud & Minimizing Risk: Strategies for Success,” this event focuses on management's responsibility for ensuring a good system of internal controls and the role of accountability professionals in minimizing the risk of fraud, waste and abuse.

The Internal Control & Fraud Conference features leaders from all levels of government, the private sector and academia and offers outstanding sessions and ample opportunities to network. Join us in Atlanta to discuss the latest discovery techniques, learn how different levels of government are cooperating, exchange ideas and share best practices with colleagues and friends.

AGA has brought together the best in the business:

William Hamel, Assistant Inspector General for Investigations, U.S. Department of Education;
David R. Hancox, CGFM, CIA, Director of State Audits, Office of the Comptroller, State of New York;
Arthur A. Hayes Jr., MBA, CGFM, CPA, CFE, Director, State Audit, Comptroller of the Treasury, State of Tennessee;
Dana James, Office of Federal Financial Management, U.S. Office of Management and Budget;
Marianne M. Jennings, JD, Professor of Legal and Ethical Studies, Arizona State University;
Patrick Meehan, U.S. Attorney, Eastern District of Pennsylvania;
Richard Skinner, Inspector General, U.S. Department of Homeland Security;
and many more!
View the current agenda for the complete list of sessions and speakers.

In addition to an outstanding technical program, this event offers unparalleled opportunities to network, learn new ideas, discover effective strategies and share best practices with colleagues and friends.

You’ll meet hundreds of government financial managers and private sector professionals from across the country. Don’t miss this opportunity to recharge professionally, gain useful information and expand your network of colleagues.

TOPICS is Brought to You by AGA Corporate Partner MorganFranklin
A-123 Invigorated! You’ve relied on it for years. Yet today’s stewards of fiscal accountability are forced to accomplish more with less. A fresh perspective on A-123 is required. Consider this: achieving A-123 compliance while reducing costs and increasing program effectiveness must become your standard for success. A-123 Invigorated—Think MorganFranklin. For information on our Federal solutions call 703.564.7525, ext. 262, or e-mail bill.hughes@morganfranklin.com.

Last Week to Register for Discounted Audio Conference Package
July 27 is the deadline to purchase three, four or five AGA audio conferences as a package and receive a 10 percent discount on the early registration price offered by AGA. Purchase six or seven AGA audio conferences for a 15 percent discount. Purchase all eight audio conferences for a whopping 20 percent discount. This offer is only available to AGA chapters and ADVANTAGE group membership partners until July 27. Contact Maria Lucas at 800.AGA.7211, ext. 308, or to register.

Download the registration form. If you have any questions about any of the audio conferences, contact Raymond Harris, Director of Chapter Operations, at 800.AGA.7211, ext. 339.

Learn more about becoming an ADVANTAGE group membership agency.

Speakers Set for Aug. 8 Audio Conference on Performance Management and Reporting
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 and increasingly important topic to our audio conference participants - Performance Management and Reporting. This audio conference, set for 2 - 3:50 p.m. EDT and worth 2 CPE hours, will explore why performance management and reporting allows government officials to improve service delivery and resource allocation by disclosing strengths and weaknesses to citizens and management and making changes based on those disclosures.

To share their practical experiences in performance management and reporting and to learn the latest in the GASB Service Efforts and Accomplishments Project will be Jay Fountain, CGFM, CPA, CMA, GASB Consultant; Michael Lawson, Director, ICMA Center for Performance Measurement; and Michael Matthes, MPA, Assistant City Manager, Des Moines, Iowa. Cost is $249 per site (unlimited attendance) if you register on or before Friday, Aug. 3, 2007, and $299 thereafter.

TOPICS Brought to You by AGA Corporate Partner The Graduate School, USDA
Improving your performance to improve your organization’s results. The Graduate School, USDA provides professional training and educational services to auditors and financial managers in all levels of government. We offer a wide range of studies in accounting, budgeting, financial management and performance auditing, as well as customized development services to help you create training that meets your organization’s unique needs. For more information on our Financial Management curriculum, the Government Audit Training Institute, and our other courses and services, call (888) 744-GRAD or visit us at www.grad.usda.gov.

Corporate Partner Research Update
Late spring was very busy for the Corporate Partner Advisory Group (CPAG) Research Program. Seven CPAG Research Reports were issued and we had nine research project presentations at the 2007 PDC in Nashville, highlighting just how the program has grown.

The State Purchase Card: Uses, Policies and Best Practices, sponsored by VISA
Federal Real Property Asset Management, sponsored by American Appraisal Associates
Should State and Local Governments Strengthen Internal Controls by Applying SOX-Like Requirements? A Study of State and Local Government Internal Controls and Related Management Responsibilities, sponsored by KPMG LLP
Process-Based Financial Reporting, sponsored by Grant Thornton LLP
The State Travel Card: Uses, Policies and Best Practices, sponsored by VISA.
Trends in Technology—2007 Review, sponsored by CSC.
The Federal Travel Card: Benefits and Best Practices, sponsored by VISA.

These reports are available on the AGA website. If you would like a printed copy of any report, please contact Susan Fritzlen.

AGA has 68 Corporate Partners, that include public accounting firms, major system integrators, IT companies, management consulting firms, financial services organizations and education & training companies. These organizations all have long-term commitments to advancing government accountability and choose to partner with and help AGA to move forward as the thought leader for government accountability.

Fourteenth Biennial Pacific Emerging Issues Conference/RPDI
The 14th Biennial Pacific Emerging Issues Conference/ RPDI, set for Aug. 22 – 24, in Honolulu, Hawaii, is bringing professionals together with the theme “Management for the 21st Century.”

The conference will be jointly sponsored by AGA’s Hawaii Chapter, the American Society of Military Comptrollers (ASMC) and the Western Intergovernmental Audit Forum (WIAF). ASMC, which joined the conference as a joint sponsor in 2003, will again make this their regional conference (Regional Professional Development Institute) for the Pacific. The conference will be preceded by the WIAF meeting, which will be held from August 20 to 21.

A highlight of the conference program will be the keynote address to be presented by U.S. Comptroller General David M. Walker, CPA on “Transforming Government, Management and Accountability.” Hawaii Governor Linda Lingle has been invited to present the opening address on “Managing and Evaluating Public Service.”

Visit AGA's Hawaii Chapter's website for more information or to view the conference program.

AGA PDC Silent Auction—More Than $39,000 Raised By: Renee Gilman, CGFM
Who would’ve thought that we could top last year’s raffle proceeds of $22,000? Honestly? Not me. I really thought our goal of $25,000 was untouchable. Well, obviously each and every one of you disagreed. This year, we raised more than $39,000 in just over three days in Nashville, TN.

Thank you so much for your continued support of our community service project. More than 60 AGA chapters donated prizes to the raffle—everything from gift cards to time shares—and 19 participated in the Chapter Challenge. In addition to donating prizes, those chapters added more than $7,000 to our total. We simply cannot conduct these raffles without the support of the chapters. In addition, we had contributions from more than 20 of our great sponsors and exhibitors.

The money will be divided among the following charities: Habitat for Humanity, 31 percent; Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, 23 percent; American Heart Association, 19 percent; American Cancer Society, 17 percent; and Ronald McDonald House, 10 percent.

Read the list of contributing chapters, sponsors and exhibitors.

From the National Office
The AGA National Office welcomes Brian Watkins as the CGFM Program’s new Certification Manager. Brian comes to AGA from the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools (ACICS) in Washington, D.C., where he worked as Manager of Institutional Review.

ACICS accredits more than 680 institutions, such as the ITT Technical Institute and various business colleges. Brian’s main responsibility was to review the colleges’ audited financial statements to ensure their financial stability.

Brian is assisting Katya Silver, director of Professional Certification Administration, with oversight of the CGFM Program. “I think that accreditation and certification assures quality within the industry, and that’s something I enjoy being a part of,” Brian said.

He began work at AGA on July 9. “One thing I’ve noticed is it’s a small staff, so everyone has a lot on their plate and everyone is working hard, but it’s a relaxed and comfortable atmosphere. It makes you want to be here.”

Brian is married and lives in Prince Georges County with his wife and two daughters, ages 1 and 4. Brian can be reached at bwatkins@agacgfm.org or 800.AGA.7211, ext. 341. Welcome Brian!

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