Highlights
Training
Opportunities
Looking for a Job?
Procurement Cards Audio Conference
Set For Wednesday
AGA, in conjunction with NASACT and ALGA, is sponsoring an audio
conference, worth 2 CPE hours, addressing the "Successes and
Challenges" and evolution of government procurement cards.
Speakers include Glen B. Gainer III, state auditor,
State of West Virginia; Thomas J. Sadowski, CGFM, CPA,
director of Accounting, State of Missouri, and Current AGA National
Treasurer as well as Past AGA National President and Past National
Treasurer; and Bruce E. Sullivan, Vice President,
Government Services, Visa USA. Join us from 2 - 3:50 p.m. EST, Dec. 6
for a lively, open discussion. Cost is $299.
Register online.
Get to Know Your AGA Corporate Partner
Delta Solutions & Technologies, Inc.
(Delta) is a Small Business Administration (SBA) certified small business, management and technology consulting firm, dedicated to helping clients define strategies, implement solutions and develop continuous improvement programs that address today’s dynamic business challenges. Since its founding in 1997, Delta has provided value-added services across the full spectrum of systems integration and management consulting services. Delta maintains a solid reputation of providing quality service, and exceptional value, which consistently produces results ahead of schedule and below budget.
Delta’s core competency is providing professional services in support of the development, implementation, integration, operations, and maintenance of Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), Business Intelligence (BI), and federal financial management systems.
Doug Davidson
Vice President, Marketing and Business Development
Delta Solutions & Technologies, Inc.
11501 Sunset Hills Rd., Suite 400
Reston, VA 20190
703.889.8084
www.deltasolutions.com
Publisher:
www.FedCFO.com
Member Happenings
Tom L. Allen,
a member of AGA's Northern Utah Chapter, becomes chairman of the Federal Accounting Standards Advisory Board (FASAB) starting Jan. 1 upon the retirement of David Mosso. Allen is a member of FASAB and serves on the accounting department faculty at Weber State University. He retired in 2004 as chairman of the Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB).
Kizmet Alonzo, a member of AGA's Richmond Chapter, has accepted a new position as the financial control unit manager, Virginia Department of Social Services.
J.P. D'Amato, a member of AGA's Richmond Chapter, is the new fiscal director for the Virginia State Police.
Norwood J. "Woody" Jackson Jr., a member of AGA's Northern Virginia Chapter, has been appointed to a five-year term on the Federal Accounting Standards Advisory Board (FASAB) starting Jan. 1. He is managing vice president at AOC Solutions, Inc., and previously served as deputy controller of the Office of Federal Financial Management at the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) as well as a partner with KPMG LLP. He has been active in standard-setting boards, including a term as OMB's representative on the FASAB.
William H. Oliver, CGFM, CPA, CFE, a member of AGA's Baltimore Chapter, was elected chairman of Clifton Gunderson's Peoria-based partnership board to serve a one-year term. Oliver will oversee the nine-member board of Clifton Gunderson partners from around the U.S. He will chair meetings, address partners at the firm's annual meeting, set goals for the CEO and assist the CEO and COO. He is partner in charge of Clifton Gunderson's Washington, D.C. office and leads the firm's federal government practice.
Timothy Scotton, a member of AGA's Nashville Chapter, has passed the three CGFM Examinations. Scotton works for the Division of County Audit, Comptroller of the Treasury, State of Tennessee. Congratulations!
Harold I. Steinberg, CGFM, CPA, a member of AGA's Northern Virginia chapter and the technical director for AGA's CEAR and SEA Programs, has been elected a Fellow of the National Academy of Public Administration.
More information about the Academy can be obtained from
www.napawash.org.
Free Research Reports Available from AGA
The AGA Corporate Partner Advisory Group (CPAG) continues to produce research studies of great value to governments, industry and the entire AGA membership. The CPAG has six published studies and upwards of nine are in the works. Download the reports.
Contact
Susan Fritzlen for hard copies.
AGA Advertising Opportunities!
Advertise in AGA's electronic newsletters—TOPICS and AGA Today! Get maximum exposure and build your brand. Contact AGA's Director of Communications,
Marie Force. |
Volume 46: Issue 23, December 4, 2006
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.
From the National President, Jeffrey S. Hart, CGFM, CFE
I was fortunate to spend three days last week with Comptroller General of the United States David Walker and the other esteemed panelists of the Fiscal Wake-Up Tour in Denver and Seattle. The Concord Coalition sponsors the tour, and AGA co-sponsored the stops in Denver and Seattle. We were shadowed in both cities by a crew from 60 Minutes. Between the two cites, AGA and its programs were publicized to more than 600 top government, business and university leaders, as well as many other citizens. For example, in Denver, we met with the current and a former governor, and at least 30 of Colorado’s top CEOs. In Washington, we met with two former governors and a variety of business leaders.
For those of you that may not know, the Fiscal Wake-Up Tour is a series of public forums around the country designed to help educate the public on our nation’s daunting long-term fiscal challenges. We want to draw attention to the simple fact that, according to analysts of diverse political views, current fiscal policy is unsustainable and hard choices must be made to set things right. (See story below, which details the Denver stop.)
Read more from President Hart.
Fiscal Wake-Up Tour Takes Message to Denver
The financial condition of the federal government is worse than advertised. Thus began each of the
multiple presentations made by Comptroller General of the United States David M. Walker on the Fiscal Wake-Up Tour stop in Denver, CO last week. The tour, featuring Walker and other experts on the federal fiscal situation, is traveling around the country to spread the word about the unsustainable course the government is on and to tell the public that something has to be done—now.
Read more about the Fiscal Wake-Up Tour's Denver stop.
NLC Registration Brochure Now
Available
 The Registration Brochure for AGA’s 2007 NLC is available online. The brochure includes a list of the featured
speakers, education sessions and events. You can also get information
about registration, hotel accommodations, travel discounts and
more!
Take Advantage of Free Hotel Offer by Friday
Once again, AGA is pleased to offer the NLC Hotel Scholarship. Every AGA chapter has been offered
one scholarship covering two nights stay at the Marriott at Metro
Center. Details and RSVP forms were mailed to all chapter presidents;
the deadline to RSVP for the hotel scholarship is Friday, December 8.
Questions? Contact
Jessica
Jones.
Take the CGFM Examinations Before the NLC
 AGA is once again offering CGFM candidates the chance to take the CGFM Examinations before the annual National Leadership Conference (NLC) in Washington D.C. AGA is offering a two-day Intensive Review Course on Thursday, February 8, and Friday, February 9, 2007 and an opportunity to take CGFM Examinations on February 10-11, 2007. The cost of the course is only $249 for qualified participants, and it offers 18 CPE hours. Special Bonus: the CGFM Examinations are offered at no cost to course attendees.
This course is designed as a supplement to previous preparation for the CGFM Examinations, so this is a perfect opportunity for those individuals who have already attended GFM training courses or have been preparing by using the CGFM Study Guides. Enrollment is limited and participants must first apply and be accepted into the CGFM Program, so don't delay.
More information and a registration form for this event are available on AGA's website. If you have any questions, contact
Katya Silver at 800.AGA.7211, ext. 305.
AGA's Citizen-Centric Government Initiative:
Read About It in the Winter Journal
The Winter issue of the Journal of Government Financial Management, which arrived at members' homes last week, focuses on Citizen-Centric Government. AGA is encouraging governments to describe their fiscal state of affairs in an easy-to-read, four-page report. AGA’s Citizen-Centric Government Task Force developed a draft prototype that was used to produce a mock report for the City of Virginia Beach, VA. The report is included in the magazine and was inserted into the Journal mailer. Please let us know what you think about the report. Contact
Susan Fritzlen at 800.AGA.7211 with your comments. Over the next six months, AGA will be working with four other governments to produce similar reports. Why not be on the cutting edge and add your government to the list?
FAF Rules on SEA Reporting
The Financial Accounting Foundation has determined that the issue of Service Efforts and Accomplishments (SEA) reporting is within the mission of the Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB). Last week GASB met and discussed the issue and is moving forward but has no specific project on its agenda at this time. AGA's Certificate of Excellence in SEA Reporting Program, a key part of the Association's performance reporting objective, is continuing using GASB-suggested criteria. Please contact
Evie Barry
with any questions.
AGA CPAG Breakfast: Executives Agree that Teamwork is Key
 Chief information officers, chief financial officers and inspectors general often spin in different orbits, but representatives from the Transportation, Commerce, and Health and Human Services departments came together at a recent panel discussion to tell their colleagues that collaboration—however difficult—is key.
“We haven’t had a knife fight with our IG yet. That’s indicative of a solid and growing relationship,” said Health and Human Service’s CIO Charles Havekost. “Blood stains on the carpet are hard to get past,” he added, setting off thunderous laughter from a knowing audience.
“To the extent that people understand that IG folks aren’t bad people is helpful,” Commerce’s IG Johnnie Frazier responded.
The breakfast event, held last week at the National Press Club in Washington, is part of an ongoing series of panel discussions sponsored by AGA. —By: Aimee Curl, Federal Times.
Read the full story.
Registration Now Open
for PDC 2007
Saddle up, dust off your best pair of boots and get
ready for PDC 2007.
Download your registration form and make your plans
now to join us in Music City, USA for AGA’s 56th Annual
Professional Development Conference & Exposition.
Location: Nashville Convention
Center
Conference: June 24-27, 2007
EXPO: June 24-26, 2007
Register today and secure your place at the government financial
management education event of the year.
Make PDC Hotel
Arrangements Early
Make your hotel reservation today for AGA’s 56th Annual
Professional Development Conference & Exposition. We have reserved
a block of rooms at several hotels in the heart of downtown Nashville.
Room rates are $99 (plus tax) for single occupancy and $119 for double
occupancy.
The Renaissance Nashville Hotel
is
adjacent and connected to the Nashville Convention Center and will
serve as the headquarters hotel. Our overflow hotels are conveniently
located within three or four blocks of the Nashville
Convention Center. More information about specific hotel features and
amenities will be provided on our website next month.
Make your reservations as quickly as possible by calling the hotels directly. Be sure to mention that you are attending
the “AGA PDC” to ensure you receive the discounted rate. After June 4, 2007,
AGA’s room blocks will be released—and the hotels may
charge significantly higher rates. We look
forward
to seeing you!
- Courtyard by Marriott Nashville Downtown: 888.687.9377 or 615.256.0900
- Doubletree Hotel Nashville: 800.222.TREE or 615.244.8200
- Renaissance Nashville Hotel (Headquarters): 800.327.6618 or 615.255.8400
- Sheraton Nashville Downtown Hotel: 800.447.9825 or 615.259.2000
Share the Gift of Career Advancement
Through AGA Membership This Holiday Season
 What better time than the holiday season to share some good fortune with colleagues and friends by sharing with them the value of AGA membership? You might receive some good fortune in return. In fact, these members have already shared the gift of membership and will be rewarded with a gift as well—free 2007–2008 membership dues.
- Nauri Ahmed, CGFM, Richmond Chapter—9 recruits
- Sheila A. Arrington, Virginia Peninsula Chapter—24 recruits
- Janet M. Brooks, CGFM, Northern Virginia Chapter—13 recruits
- Thalia J. Davis, New York Capital Chapter—10 recruits
- James J. Kennedy, CGFM, Central Ohio Chapter—23 recruits
- Stephanie Kay Paschel, Cleveland Chapter—13 recruits
- Brenda Ryan, New York Chapter—8 recruits
- Kenrick A. Sifontes, New York Chapter—10 recruits
- Christopher R. Wolseley, Guam Chapter—8 recruits
Join this list of AGA member sponsors by recruiting six new AGA members before December 31, 2006. It is so easy to give this gift. Print a membership application, and hand it to a colleague. It's even faster to forward the link by e-mail. Shop right at your desktop.
Check out the member-get-a-member
campaign details, including incentives and prizes. Be sure to add your colleagues and friends to your holiday list and share the gift of AGA membership—start recruiting today!
Interested in Reviewing a
Service Efforts and Accomplishments (SEA) Report?
AGA has scheduled an audio conference
on Tuesday, December 19, 2006, from 2 – 4 p.m.(EST). This audio
conference is free and will offer 2 CPE hours. Stay tuned to the AGA
website in early December for more information or contact
Evie Barry.
CGFM Profile: Second Career Prompts Dave Swindell to Find ‘Right’ Certification
 Like many career military officers, Dave Swindell needed to make a big transition after his retirement. Unlike many of his peers, he did not shift to consulting work, contracting for the Department of Defense or maintaining close ties to his Army past.
He made a big break, moving to an area with no military presence and taking on something completely new: a job in local government.
“When you change careers, everything’s open. I considered the private sector, but in the end I was fairly pleased with the ethics and purpose of government," he said. "I don’t know if I could work that hard to make someone else money.”
Swindell ended his 22-year military career, and moved from Oklahoma to Pocatello, Idaho, where he has served as the city’s chief financial officer for the past five years. One of his first priorities was to become certified, and the CGFM turned out to be the broad-based governmental accounting certification that he was looking for.
Read the entire article.
|
