AGA TOPICS Newsletter

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

For those of you that attended this year’s Annual Professional Development Conference in Orlando, I hope that you enjoyed the Conference as much as I did. There were timely and relevant topics for everyone. On my return to Tallahassee, I asked staff which keynote speaker that they enjoyed the most. Interestingly, we each had a different favorite. I believe this speaks to the quality of the program.

In the weeks that have followed, I have also had the opportunity to speak to members from across the country about the PDC. They commented favorably on the conference and facility, Importantly, many also mentioned the change they sense within AGA, which is being viewed more and more as the leader in the government accountability arena. We now see AGA members coming together from federal, state and local government, as well as the private sector to discuss accountability issues facing all governments. This is a positive step for our organization when one considers the diversity of our members.

As accountability professionals, we have a responsibility to citizens to ensure transparency in government. In that light, AGA has embraced not only accountability from a financial statement approach, but also as it relates to government performance measures.

In September, AGA will recognize 11 federal agencies that have earned the Certificate of Excellence in Accountability Reporting at the CEAR Awards Program in Washington D.C. In November, AGA is sponsoring its First National Performance Measurement Conference in Portland, OR. At that Conference, AGA will recognize states, counties and cities for excellence in Service Efforts and Accomplishment Reporting. Also, the fall issue of the Journal of Government Financial Management focuses on performance measurement reporting.

AGA is all about “Advancing Government Accountability.” I encourage each chapter and member to reach out in your community and encourage other professionals to be part of this movement.