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CAJPA JOURNAL

Winter 2011

In This Issue
President's Letter
Legislative Update: Governor's Budget
Master Your Meetings: Robert's Rules in Real Life
The Accreditation Manual is a Resource For You Year-Round
Earn Your ARPM Designation
No More Chasing Unicorns: Seven Realities for a JPA Solution
2010 Fall Conference
President's Letter 
By Martin Brady, Executive Director, Schools Insurance Authority

Martin Brady

 

 For many of us, the dawn of a New Year brings opportunities for reflection and renewal.    This is true not only on the personal level but can apply to our pooling community and the members we serve.

 

We are keenly aware of the many challenges facing our members as they struggle with declining budgets amid continued demands for services and other obligations.   As we reflect on our experiences over the past year and anticipate the future, I am mindful of the resilience and creativity inherent in the pooling community; in fact, it was in response to an insurance crisis in the mid-70s that the concept of pooling was born.

 

These tough times call for us to find new ways of doing things and new ways of thinking that might reveal new opportunities for growth and development.  I welcome your engagement and activism within CAJPA and within our respective communities at large.

 

On behalf of the CAJPA Board, best wishes to all for continued success in the coming year.

Legislative Update: Governor's Budget 2011-2012 and Bill Introduction Season Begins 

By Julianne Broyles, CAJPA Legislative Advocate, California Advocates

 

Juli Broyles photo

Governor Edmund "Jerry" Brown, Jr. has proposed his 2011-2012 state budget.  While stating that smoke and Major Revenue Proposalsmirror budgets were hallmarks of prior administrations, not his, this proposed budget has a few notable gimmicks of its own.   

 

 The main components of the Governor's proposal are $12.5 billion in spending cuts, $13.8 billion in new taxes - including a five-year extension of several taxes that were increased temporarily in 2009 - and a "realignment" of responsibility and spending back to local governments.

 

Governor Brown's Finance Department estimates the deficit will reach $25.4 billion in 2011-12, with $8.2 billion carrying in from 2010-11; $19.2 billion in 2012-13; $17.4 billion in 2013-14 and $21.5 billion in 2014-15.  The proposed budget maintains K-12 education funding for 2011-12 at close to the same level as 2010-11.

 

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Master Your Meetings: Robert's Rules in Real Life

By Ann G. Macfarlane, Professional Registered Parliamentarian, Jurassic Parliament

 

Ann Macfarlane

Last year's headlines about the abuses committed by the officials of the City of Bell are likely to result in greater oversight for JPA boards and other public governing bodies. The New Year is always a good time to take stock and review how well we are fulfilling our mandate of public trust. In that spirit, we'd like to ask our CAJPA readers a simple question: which parliamentary authority do you use for your meetings?  

 

Please take this 60-second survey and answer two questions for us - check your bylaws if you're not sure. Upon completing the survey you will be directed to a website where you can download these articles:

 

Why should we adopt a parliamentary authority for our meetings?

 

Which parliamentary authority should we choose?

 

It is estimated that 90 percent of the voluntary associations in the United States - of which joint powers authorities are an example - use Robert's Rules of Order. We are curious as to what the percentage will be in CAJPA. Beyond curiosity, we also believe that CAJPA members will benefit from asking themselves this question. Perhaps you'll find that you don't have any adopted authority - a situation which presents certain risks in itself.

 

Take our survey, read the articles, and learn how adopting a parliamentary authority can reduce your risk in the arena of pool board meetings.

The Accreditation Manual is a Resource For You Year-Round

By James P. Marta CPA, ARPM, Financial Auditor, Consultant and CAJPA Accreditation Manager


The foundation of the accreditation program is:

 

� To promote professional management and fiscally sound practices of California JPAs.

 

� To provide industry standards that can be used by member entities, Board members, and the public in evaluating levels of performance and compliance with State required and commonly accepted practices.

 

� To develop a self-regulating process that is more thorough, responsive and less expensive to the taxpaying public than State or Federal Regulations.

 

Following is a summary of valuable resources available to your organization in the accreditation manual.


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Earn Your ARPM Designation

Earn your Associates in Risk Pool Management (ARPM) designation.  Just complete the following two programs and wrap it up with ARPM 602, also available through IEA.

 

Essentials in Risk Pool Management: A One-Course Certificate Program offered by IEA

 

The management and staff of a risk pool must have a multitude of tools available to them in order to be effective in the risk pool environment. The Essentials in Risk Pool Management curriculum offers the theoretical and practical knowledge necessary to successfully work within or manage the risk pool.  Topics include:

  • Understanding the Pool Manager's role
  • Financial stability of a pool
  • Underwriting and rating considerations
  • Understanding financial reporting
  • How to use GASB claim schedules
  • Claim audits
  • This course also leads to the ARPM designation

Offered in a convenient online instructor-led format beginning February 3rd, 2011.  One course only to earn the certificate.  Learn more and register here.

 

Associate in Risk Management (ARM)

All three components of the ARM designation program are offered this Spring.  Available in classroom as well as online instructor-led formats, courses start early February.  Sign up now!

 

Questions?  Contact IEA at www.ieatraining.com.

No More Chasing Unicorns: Seven Realities for a JPA Solution

By Lee Masore, Vice President of IT, CHSI Technologies

Traditionally, JPAs have relied on multiple information systems, databases, and spreadsheets-as well as manual, paper-based processes-to collect and manage JPA member information. This made administration time consuming, labor intensive, and costly-not to mention fraught with data accuracy issues.

 

"Traditionally, available solutions were either designed for insurance companies and extremely expensive, or they required a lot of customization to meet JPA needs," said Rick Krepelka, Director of Finance & Technology at Golden State Risk Management Authority (GSRMA), a California JPA with more than 190 member agencies.

 

For years, JPAs have tried to search for a technology solution that would meet their data management needs. For many JPAs, looking for such a solution was akin to searching for a unicorn-one simply didn't exist. Today, solutions specifically designed for JPAs are available, and administrators must be aware of the seven key capabilities to look for in a new system.


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The Journal is a publication of the California Association of Joint Powers Authorities, a nonprofit trade association formed in 1981 to serve as a communication and educational resource to California Joint Powers Authorities.

Editor: 
Jan DeGracia, Executive Director, North Bay Schools Insurance Authority

Executive Director:
Catherine Smith, CAE
California Association of Joint Powers Authorities (CAJPA)
1215 K Street, Suite 2290 � Sacramento, CA  95814
Phone: 916-231-2139
Fax: 916-231-2141
E-mail: [email protected]
CAJPA's New Contact Information

As of January 1, 2011, Smith Moore & Associates was hired to serve CAJPA in the capacity of association management and event planning services. 

 

As a result of the transition, CAJPA now has new contact information.  

 

Address:

1215 K Street, Suite 2290

Sacramento, CA 95814

 

Phone: 916-231-2139

Fax: 916-231-2141

E-mail: [email protected] 


Meet the New Staff

Executive Director:  

Catherine A. Smith, CAE

[email protected] 

 

Executive Assistant:

Fiona Young

[email protected]

 

Meetings & Membership Specialist:

Simone Smith  

[email protected]

 

Meetings & Membership Assistant:

Andrea Posadas

[email protected]

 

Director of Technology:

Justin Lewis

[email protected]

 

Bookkeeper:

Kevin Goree

[email protected]

 

Communications Specialist:

Ashley Bradley

[email protected]

 

Conference Coordination:

Teri Anticevich, CMP

[email protected]

 

Feel free to contact the CAJPA office at anytime. We are excited to have the opportunity to work with CAJPA, and look forward to meeting each of you!  


Save the Date!  

Don't forget to the save the date for the CAJPA Finance & Technology Spring Technical Workshop!

 

The Spring Technical Workshop will be held at the CSAC Excess Insurance Authority office located at 75 Iron Point Way, Suite 200, Folsom, CA. Stay tuned for more information.