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Highlights
Upcoming Audio Conferences
Sept. 29—Improving
Program Performance & Accountability Through Cooperative Audit Resolution
Oct. 20—Was
It Fraud or Just Poor Audit Quality?
2010-2011 Audio Conference Schedule
Recovery Board Presents an
Intergovernmental Dialogue on ARRA in Sacramento
The Recovery Accountability and Transparency Board (Recovery Board) is
hosting a one-day training and outreach session for individuals and entities
with oversight responsibilities over the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act
(ARRA) of 2009. The session will include federal, state and local government
officials involved with ARRA.
Featured speakers include Recovery Board Executive Director
H. Glen Walker and representatives from the U.S. Office of Management
and Budget and the U.S. Government Accountability Office. State and local
officials, including Nevada Controller Kim Wallin, CMA, CFM, CPA,
and other spokespeople from the region, are slated to speak. In addition,
representatives of the U.S. Departments of Transportation, Education, and
Housing and Urban Development will host breakout sessions to discuss issues of
particular relevance to their departments.
The discussion will take place from 9 a.m. to 3:45 p.m.,
Monday, Aug. 30, 2010 at the Doubletree Hotel Sacramento, 2001 Point
West Way, Sacramento, CA 95815.
Registration is free and open to federal, state, or local
government employees involved with ARRA implementation, oversight, reporting or
compliance. Lunch will be provided.
Training Opportunities
Looking for a Job
Member News
Dale Sopper, CGFM-Retired, former
Chief Financial Officer of the Social Security Administration (SSA), passed away
on Aug 5. He championed the efforts of the CFO community to ensure excellence in
financial stewardship and was primarily responsible for SSA achieving
unqualified audits every year since it became an independent agency in 1995 as
well as SSA’s receipt of 12 consecutive Certificate for Excellence in
Accountability Reporting awards from AGA. A member of AGA's Baltimore Chapter,
he had been a member of AGA since 1998. Cards or notes of condolence may be sent
to his family at 21085 Cardinal Pond Terrace, Ashburn, VA 20147.
David Von Moll, CGFM, a member of AGA's
Richmond Chapter, has been reappointed as the State Comptoller of Virginia. Von
Moll has served in various positions in the Department of Accounts over the past
24 years, and was first appointed to the comptroller position in 2001.
Risk Management Summit Scheduled for September
The Third Annual Federal Enterprise Risk
Management Summit, offering insights from nationally recognized Enterprise Risk
Management leaders, is scheduled for Sept. 22–23 at the Crystal Gateway Marriott
in Arlington, VA.
The summit, worth 16 CPE hours, combines keynote
presentations with breakout sessions covering real-world examples from industry
and government. The theme is, “Transforming Government Through Enterprise Risk
Management.”
Keynote speakers include Acting Comptroller General
Gene Dodaro, CGFM, U.S. Government Accountability Office;
Christine Schwab, vice president and chief risk officer, Dominion
Resources Services Co.; and Stacy Carlson, speech writer to
former Secretary of the Treasury Henry M. Paulson Jr. and author, You, Me
and the U.S. Economy.
The summit is jointly sponsored by George Mason University’s
School of Management, the Government Accountability Office, the Federal
Executives Risk Management Steering Group and FederalERM.com. For more details
and registration information, visit the summit
website.
Call for National Awards
Nominations
Who do you know that deserves special recognition for contributions to
our field? Please help us acknowledge financial professionals at the federal,
state and local level and private sector who are leading the way. You might even
consider nominating yourself. Nominees do not have to be members of AGA.
Due date is Oct. 29, 2010. These awards will be presented at
AGA’s Eighth Annual National Leadership Conference, Feb. 17–18, 2011 in
Washington, D.C.
View the complete list of awards here.
By Popular Demand: An
Archival Listing of Past Award Recipients
You asked for it! We have set up a special page on the AGA website that
lists the past recipients of AGA Awards.
Check it out here.
AGA Extends a BIG ‘Thank
You’ to Its PDC 2010 Volunteers
AGA thanks everyone who
participated in our 59th Annual Professional Development Conference &
Exposition. Record attendance, nice weather and an outstanding technical
education program made this a very successful event. We hope your experience was
a good one and hope to see you at next year's PDC in Atlanta.
We thank and gratefully acknowledge the significant contributions all of our
PDC 2010 Technical Committee and Orlando Host Committee volunteers who gave
their time, talent and enthusiasm to add to the success of the conference. The
conference would not have been possible without the many contributions from our
volunteers. Congratulations on a job well done!
See the complete list of Technical Committee and Host Committee Volunteers.
Future PDC Dates
2011: July 10–13
Atlanta, GA
Theme: Celebrating our Past, Embracing the Future
2012: July 28–Aug. 1
San Diego, CA
Theme: Navigating the Winds of Change, Sailing into the Future
2013: TBD
2014: July 13–16
Orlando, FL
Theme: TBD
Network with AGA Online Anytime
 Become
a Fan of AGA on Facebook
 Create
a Linkedin Profile
 Follow
AGA on Twitter
 Visit
AGA on GovLoop
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Volume 50: Issue 15, August 23, 2010
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.
Early Registration Deadline Extended to Aug. 30 for
Fraud Conference
 It's
not too late to receive early registration rates for AGA’s
Fifth Annual Internal Control & Fraud Conference, which will be held
Sept. 15–16 at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade
Center in Washington, D.C. Fees are $500 for AGA members and $675 for nonmembers
until Aug. 30, when they increase by $100.
Worth 14 CPE hours, the conference will focus on
management’s responsibility for ensuring a good system of internal controls and
the role of all accountability professionals in minimizing the risk of fraud,
waste and abuse.
Hear leaders in government and private industry discuss the
latest discovery techniques and lessons learned from various schemes. Learn how
poor internal controls can lead to fraud, waste and abuse. Discover how
different levels of government are cooperating to improve services to citizens.
The conference will also cover such interesting topics as cyber crime, using
suspension and debarment actions for poorly performing contractors, war against
improper payments, municipal market enforcement and regulatory reforms, mortgage
and bank fraud, Medicaid investigations, managing construction project risks,
and oversight activities of the Recovery Accountability and Transparency Board
and the U.S. Government Accountability Office. The
agenda is available online.
Speakers include:
- Peter Budetti, JD, MD, Deputy
Administrator for Public Integrity, U.S. Department of Health and Human
Services
- Kenneth Donohue, Inspector General, U.S.
Department of Housing and Urban Development
- Jeanette M. Franzel, CGFM, CPA, Managing
Director, Financial Management and Assurance, U.S. Government Accountability
Office
- Erin Haney, Director of Internal
Controls, State of Oregon
- Arthur A. Hayes, JD, CGFM, CPA, Director
of State Audit, Comptroller of the Treasury, State of Tennessee
- Laura Hirst, Deputy State Auditor,
Auditor General’s Office, State of Michigan
- David Kotz, Inspector General, U.S.
Securities and Exchange Commission
- Steve Linick, JD, Deputy Chief, Fraud
Section, Criminal Division and Task Force Director, U.S Department of
Justice
- Patrick P. O’Carroll Jr., Inspector
General, U.S. Social Security Administration
- Raquel Rutledge, Investigative Reporter,
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Winner of the 2010 Pulitzer Prize for
Local Reporting
- Jon Rymer, Inspector General, Federal
Insurance Deposit Corporation
- James Sheehan, JD, Medicaid Inspector
General, Office of the Medicaid Inspector General, State of New York
- Richard L. Skinner, Inspector General,
U.S. Department of Homeland Security
- Daniel I. Werfel, JD, MBA, Controller,
Office of Federal Financial Management, U.S. Office of Management and Budget
(Invited)
Register online or
download the registration form.
Hotel Accommodations
Four Points by Sheraton
1201 K Street, NW
Washington, D.C. 20005
PH: 202.289.7600
Reservations: 888.627.8681
AGA has reserved a block of rooms at the Four Points by Sheraton in downtown
Washington, D.C. to accommodate Fraud Conference attendees. This newly renovated
hotel offers convenient access to some of the city's best monuments, museums,
restaurants and cultural venues. The hotel is located a few blocks from the
McPherson Square Metro Station, and is just a short walk (about seven blocks) or
cab ride to the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center.
The room rate is $229 (plus tax) for single and double
occupancy. Rates are guaranteed until Friday, Sept. 3, 2010, or
until the block is sold out. We encourage you to make your hotel reservations
early, for the best price and availability.
To make a reservation, please call the hotel at 202.289.7600 or 888.627.8681
and mention you are attending the “AGA Fraud Conference” to ensure you receive
the discounted rate.
Read more travel information.
TOPICS is Brought to You by
Thomson Reuters
 Announcing
PPC's SMART Practice Aids
™ - Single Audit from Thomson Reuters. Whether you
are the agency grantee or grantor, this interactive tool will automate
compliance processes and provide quick access to the most recent regulation
data, fully integrated in one convenient location. To learn more contact
Ruth Apelt at 800-868-1296.
Members Are Invited to Accept the Challenge of AGA
National and Regional Leadership
AGA’s National Nominating Committee is currently
seeking members for volunteer leadership positions as:
- National President-Elect
- National Treasurer-Elect
- Senior Vice President for Regional Services – Section III
- Senior Vice President At-Large
- Fifteen Regional Vice Presidents (RVP)-Elect
Term
The three-year terms begin July 1, 2011.
Qualifications and Eligibility
To serve in any of these positions, candidates must be AGA members in good
standing and have professional backgrounds for each position. Persons serving as
National President, National President-Elect, National Treasurer, National
Treasurer-Elect, Senior Vice President, and Regional Vice President may not
serve concurrently in any other elective Association office, except the National
Executive Committee. Other qualifications apply.
Submissions
All submissions will be forwarded to the National Nominating Committee, which
will choose the slate of candidates. Nominations are due Friday, Oct.
29, 2010.
Please note that since the committee often receives more
than one nomination per position, not every nominee will be selected. Candidates
for elective office are reminded that the National Bylaws do not permit
campaigning for elective office. Additionally, only ONE nomination per
candidate is necessary and candidates should not solicit additional nominations.
Also, the committee will not recognize endorsements of candidates.
For More Information
If you are interested in serving or know of potential leaders, please
click here for a Nominations Brochure that contains information about
position terms, qualifications and eligibility, a list of
Sections/Regions/Chapters, and National Officer Nomination Form. Or, contact
Louise Kapelewski, Nominating Committee staff liaison, at the National
Office at 800.AGA.7211, ext. 321.
Take advantage of this opportunity to shape the future of
your Association!
AGA Awards Member for Sharing the
Magic of Membership at the PDC
An AGA member is celebrating after sponsoring a nonmember into AGA. AGA
congratulates Chasity Crawley, CGFM, of AGA's Dallas Chapter
for winning the drawing for an Apple iPad. Like all members who sponsor new
members into AGA, Chasity earned an AGA sponsor lapel pin and is on her way to
earning complimentary membership upon recruiting six members into the
Association.
By recruiting during the Professional Development
Conference, members were offered an additional incentive. The 2010 PDC offered
members a chance to win an Apple iPad just for recruiting nonmembers to join.
Want an opportunity to earn prizes for recruiting new
members into AGA? Participate in the 2010-11
“What Drives You” Membership Campaign. Incentives include AGA dollars,
complimentary membership dues, conference registration a netbook and more.
AGA Membership Manager
Rodneikka Scott said: “Member Get a Member Campaigns and conference
incentives are a key part of the AGA recruitment program, where we encourage our
members to introduce their friends and colleagues to AGA.”
TOPICS is Brought to You by AGA Corporate Partner Real Asset Management
International
 Learn
the benefits of physical audits & a step by step process for performing one.
Request your FREE copy of Real Asset Management’s newest whitepaper, The Why &
How of Physical Audits. Real Asset Management specializes in fixed asset
management software for US government agencies & organizations. Contact us today
at solution@realassetmgt.com or
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Audio Conference Sept. 29 On Cooperative Audit
Resolution
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
audio conference, worth 2 CPE hours, on the impact of cooperative audit
resolution. The audio conference is set for 2 – 3:50 p.m. EDT, Sept. 29.
During this audio conference, you will learn about a proven
process to prevent and resolve audit and oversight findings. AGA recently
released the
Cooperative Audit Resolution and Oversight Initiative (CAROI) Guide. The
guide explains how to use the CAROI process to identify the underlying cause of
findings and to chart a course for program improvement.
Learn how Pennsylvania used the process in the mid-1990s to
resolve more than 100 audit findings, including some that were already in
litigation. CAROI focuses on improving communication and on developing a sense
of trust among government officials, rather than depending on an impersonal
letter-writing process. It can be implemented during any phase of the grants
cycle and can be initiated by officials at any level of government. It includes
government officials from many disciplines, including program officials,
financial managers, legal staff and other officials who are knowledgeable about
a specific program. This session will review the CAROI process and explain how
the tools provided in AGA’s guide can be used to improve program performance and
accountability.
Audio conference speakers are John Childs, MPA,
chief financial officer, Ohio Department of Education; Charles Laster,
deputy director of School Support and Technology Programs, Office of Elementary
and Secondary Education, U.S. Department of Education; Rich Rasa, CGFM,
director, Local Advisory and Assistance, Office of Inspector General, U.S.
Education Department; and Helena Sims, director of
Intergovernmental Relations, AGA.
Cost is $249 per site (UNLIMITED ATTENDANCE) if you register
on or before Friday, Sept. 24, 2010 and $299 thereafter.
SPECIAL PROMOTION: Government agencies and AGA Corporate Partner
members who register five or more offices will receive a 20 percent discount
($200 per site)
To Register: 1)
Register
online 2)
Print the registration form or Special
Promotion Registration 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, CGFM, at ext. 339.
Audio Conference Fall Schedule Has
Been Changed
The audio conference “Achieving Transparency—The Next Step to
Integrating Your Data,” originally scheduled for Oct. 20, has been moved to Nov.
17 to accommodate the speakers and audience dealing with Recovery Act reporting.
The audio conference
“Was It Fraud or Just Poor Audit Quality?” has been moved to the Oct. 20
slot. It was originally scheduled for Nov. 10. All audio conferences are held
from 2 to 3:50 p.m. Eastern time.
If your group cannot accommodate the changes, you can
request a credit toward a future audio conference. Please direct such requests
to Maria Lucas at mlucas@agacgfm.org or
800.AGA.7211, ext. 308. Questions regarding all audio conferences should be
directed to Raymond Harris at
rharris@agacgfm.org or 800.AGA.7211, ext. 339.
Read the entire 2010–2011 schedule.
AGA's Guam Chapter Presents
Scholarships to College Students
Three students at Guam Community College will receive $500 scholarships for
spring semester 2011, thanks to AGA's Annual 5K Run/Walk, sponsored by the Guam
Chapter. AGA members presented a check to college officials on July 30.
Read more.
 The
Guam Chapter also recently held its Emerging Issues Conference. Rachel Field,
George Bardwil, CGFM-Retired, and Jose Guevara, CGFM, attended the biennial
Pacific Emerging Issues Conference Aug. 10–12, sponsored by AGA's Guam Chapter
and the Guam Society of Certified Public Accountants. Attendees earned up to 24
CPE hours.
Resources for Chapter Communicators
Attention newsletter editors and webmasters: Here’s a quick roundup of
resources that can make your jobs easier.
• Make use of our Corporate Identity program. Find free, downloadable chapter
logos and templates for chapter letterhead, envelopes, mailing labels, business
cards, name badges, flyers, signs, brochures and more.
Visit AGA’s corporate identify site.
• Find handbooks for newsletter editors and webmasters, an editorial style
manual, rating criteria for the annual newsletter and website contests, and a
downloadable photo and bio of our new National President Lisa Casias, CPA.
Visit AGA’s Editor Tool Kit page
• Consider joining your fellow AGA chapter communicators in a
Yahoo group, designed to help you exchange ideas, brainstorm common problems
and swap newsletter articles.
•
Check out other chapter newsletters and websites.
• Poll your members using Survey
Monkey. Take advantage of this resource by contacting
Jennifer Curtin.
• Tell us about your achievements. Proud of one of your chapter member’s
accomplishments? Simply send Chris Camara
an e-mail with the information and we’ll promote it in TOPICS. Has your chapter
done something outstanding? Jennifer Curtin
can help you with a press release for submission to local newspapers.
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 Pardoe.
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