AGA TOPICS Newsletter

Yankees, White Sox and the AGA Japan Chapter?
Sue Muzzy, DFAS Japan

In 1953, the Yankees won the World Series and the Tokyo “Federal Government Accountants Association” (FGAA) was formed. With a name change in 1975 to the now familiar “Association of Government Accountants” (AGA) the Tokyo Chapter continued on until 1979 when the chapter, driven by loss of both military and civilian billets, became dormant. In 1998, our current Vice President, Mike Martin, spearheaded the reemergence of the Japan AGA Chapter for the next several years until personnel reassignments once again resulted in the chapter being placed in “caretaker” status.

In 2005, the White Sox are the World Series champions and the Japan Chapter is back in full force. In August, CAPT Reed Eckstrom, Commander, NAF Atsugi, inducted the new chapter officers for 2005-2006: President Mr. Wayne Ingle, DFAS Japan; Vice President,  Michael Martin, FISC Yokosuka; Treasurer, Catherine Prario, DFAS Japan; and Secretary, Stephen Westhoven, SRF Yokosuka. With 33 members comprised of finance and accounting personnel located throughout Japan and Korea representing the Army, Navy, Air Force, DFAS and the State Department, the chapter has made a strong beginning.

The chapter’s focus this year is to provide training opportunities for our members that will be informative while allowing members to earn continuing education units. As President, Wayne Ingle, stated, “In order to build a strong and lasting chapter, chapter leadership must be committed to providing a quality product that will benefit the members while encouraging others to join.”

Although the Japan Chapter may have only just started their game, like the Yankees and the White Sox, we are expecting great achievements.