AGA TOPICS Newsletter

From the National President
Sam M. McCall, MPA, CGFM, CPA, CIA, CGAP

Since last month’s TOPICS column, many things have happened. Hurricanes Katrina and Rita have inflicted damage and destruction to communities along the Gulf Coast from Alabama to Texas. Our thoughts and prayers go out to those communities, to those providing relief efforts and assisting in restoring critical services.

AGA is especially concerned about our many members and their families affected by these hurricanes. In response, AGA chapters and members around the nation are contributing to a special fund established at the AGA National Office. Collections will be sent to chapters in the affected areas for distribution to AGA members. In addition, some of our chapters have made donations directly to organizations such as the American Red Cross to assist in relief efforts.

I will be visiting the Jackson, Mississippi Chapter on October 19 to speak on AGA national initiatives, provide CPE training and meet our members. This chapter was affected by Hurricane Katrina and seems focused on getting things back to normal considering the circumstances. As a nation, we are survivors and I continue to admire our spirit.

On September 13, I attended an AGA Corporate Partners Advisory Group (CPAG) dinner with AGA Executive Director Relmond Van Daniker, DBA, CPA. Dr. Linda M. Combs, controller, U.S. Office of Management and Budget, graciously and thoughtfully responded to a series of questions by those in attendance. Interestingly, she told us that federal assistance funds for Hurricane Katrina exceed $60 billion, which is more that the budget of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Federal CFOs provide twice weekly updates to OMB on their efforts to provide assistance and to establish controls and accountability for money spent. Dr. Combs’ comments were made prior to Hurricane Rita and the $60 billion number has most likely increased.

On the national level, the National Executive Committee (NEC) has been very busy. On September 14, the NEC attended the Certificate of Excellence in Accountability Reporting (CEAR) Awards Dinner held at the National Press Club. The black tie event was attended by nearly 200 government financial management professionals. Clay Johnson III, deputy director for Management with OMB, provided a keynote address. AGA was honored to recognize the 10 federal agencies that received CEAR Awards for their 2004 Performance and Accountability Reports. A special thank you is in order for John Hummel, CGFM, the CEAR Program Board chair, the CEAR Board, the 21 teams of CEAR Program Reviewers as well as AGA’s technical and administrative directors for their effort to review and evaluate submissions for award consideration.

Earlier in the day, the AGA National Executive Committee attended a daylong session to review AGA’s governance process. The focus was on how to work better as a committee, how to best serve our chapters, and how to operate as the thought leader organization in the government financial management (GFM) profession.

On September 15, the NEC met in regular session and authorized Dr. Van Daniker and me to move forward with an AGA Academy for Government Accountability. This Academy, headed by a Board and assisted by an Advisory Committee, will initiate empirical research on government financial management topics and will provide scholarships to students pursuing doctoral degrees in the field. Through the Academy, AGA will further its goal of being “the organization” to look to for professional GFM research publications.

I conclude this month’s comments by restating my theme for this year: “Accountability Reporting with a Citizen Focus.” The CEAR Awards given out in September reflect federal agency efforts to be accountable to our citizens. At the CEAR Awards Dinner, Clay Johnson spoke on the need for government to be transparent to the citizens. Transparency keeps governments accountable and better positioned to meet citizen needs.