Association of Government Accountants
March 2009

March 2009 is CGFM Month!

 Governor David A. Paterson has proclaimed March as CGFM Month! The Certified Government Financial Manager designation (CGFM) is the first certification broad enough to cover the whole field of government financial management - federal, state and local. It has become the standard by which government financial management professionals are measured. Its education, experience and ethics requirements have served to elevate the most seasoned financial professionals. To learn more about the CGFM designation and how to become a CGFM, click here or email Thalia Melendez at [email protected]

Upcoming Events
- TCTC 2009
- Audio Conference: SEA: Taking Accountability and Transparency to the Next Level
- Voluntary Income Tax Assistance (VITA)
Event
Event
- Outstanding Achievements in Government Accountability Award
- Audio Conference: Using Internal Controls to Better Manage and Monitor Programs

 

LINKS

 
 
Please visit our sponsors:
Newsletter Now Available!
 The current issue of the chapter's award winning newsletter, "Capital Ideas," is now available on the website.  Click here to download your copy!
AGA, IIA and ISACA Present: The Conference That Counts 2009!!
 
TCTC 2009The New York Capital Chapter of the Association of Government Accountants, the Albany Chapter of The Institute of Internal Auditors, and the Hudson Valley Chapter of ISACA remind you that The Conference That Counts 2009, Remembering 1969, is being held at the Holiday Inn Albany on March 16 - 18, 2009.
 
PEF's Voucher Alternative Program (VALT)  and M/C (Tuition
Assistance) reimbursement is available to State employees for the TCTC and other educational events.  Click
here for information on the PEF and MC tuition reimbursement programs.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION AND TO REGISTER!
AGA National Audio Conference: SEA: Taking Accountability and Transparency to the Next Level
 
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER
When:  Wednesday,  March 25th
Where:  NYS Office of the State Comptroller, 110 State Street, Albany or
NYS Department of Transportation, 50 Wolf Rd., Albany
Time: 2:00 PM to 3:50 PM
Cost: Free for AGA Members (please register); $15 for others
CPE: 2 credits

SEA, Performance Reporting, Performance Based Budgeting - Did you ever wonder when and why this aspect of government operations began? Sam McCall, CGFM, CPA, CIA, Tallahassee City Auditor and Past National AGA President, is finishing his Ph.D. in Public Administration, and his dissertation discusses the history of performance initiatives by governments, the AGA Service Efforts and Accomplishments Report Review Program and the impact that the GASB 16 Suggested Criteria has had on the quality of performance reports submitted.  Soon to be "Dr. McCall" will be joined by Ken Smith, PhD., CPA, Professor at Willamette University in Oregon, and AGA's Academic Advisor for the SEA Program, who has been instrumental in creating a website that explains, with examples, each of the 16 suggested criteria. Governments looking to prepare performance reports as well as those entities recently having their report reviewed by AGA will benefit from our new Performance Reporting 2.0!
 

VITA - Volunteer Income Tax Assistance
For the past several years, the New York Capital Chapter of the AGA has proudly supported the United Way in helping those citizens who are unable to prepare or pay for their annual tax preparation. 
 
To be a volunteer, all you need to do is pass a tax preparation test, and you can volunteer as much or as little time as you would like and whenever you would like, to prepare easy tax returns to those less fortunate from the end of January until mid April.  There are multiple locations to volunteer from within the Capital District.  All publications, user guides and software training are available and provided to volunteers.  Prior tax preparation is not needed! 
 
To volunteer or to obtain more information, please call or email Wally Donnelly at [email protected] or (518)437-1897 or call Beth Levine from the United Way at (518)456-2200, extension 131.
 
Bowl for Kids' Sake
When: Sunday, March 22nd
Where: Spare Time Bowling, Latham
Time:  2pm
 
Join the AGA team to sharpen your bowling skills as a sponsored bowler!  The Capital Region AGA is looking to recruit 8-10 bowlers to have a great time, network and help raise money for the Big Brothers/Big Sisters organization. 
 
Big Brothers/Big Sisters (BBBS) matches children ages 6-18 with volunteers in one-on-one mentoring relationships.  For 43 years, the Capital Region BBBS has orchestrated thousands of life changing relationships between volunteers and children.  
 
You can register to bowl with us or sponsor an AGA bowler on-line by clicking here.  To bowl, click "Join an existing team" and select the Association of Government Accountants.
 
Please contact Nicole Van Hoesen (Bowling Team Captain) via email at [email protected] for more information.
Ronald McDonald House
When:  March 27th, 2009
Where:  139 South Lake Avenue, Albany
Time:  3:00pm to 6:00pm
Please join us in preparing dinner for approximately 25 guests staying at the Ronald McDonald House.  There are many ways you can participate.  Some ways include making dishes ahead of time or joining other AGA members at the RMH to prepare the main course.  This truly is a heart-warming event that comforts and consoles families staying at the RMH while their children are being treated at one of the near-by hospitals.  
 
If interested in participating, please contact Ann Marsh at [email protected] or 473-2020.
 

Outstanding Achievements in Government Accountability Award

Deadline Extended! 
Our chapter is seeking candidates for this very special award.  This award is to formally recognize government employees who have demonstrated sustained outstanding leadership and notable contributions to financial management, and to encourage increased interest, growth, development and distinctive leadership in the field of financial management.

The deadline is March 27, 2009.

Click here to see purpose, overview, criteria and evaluation and the nomination form.

 
I.O.U.S.A. :  Luncheon and Movie about the National Debt
REGISTRATION WILL OPEN SOON
When:  Thursday,  April 2nd
Where:  Jack's Oyster House, 42 State Street, Albany (validated parking at Maiden Lane Garage - Green & Hudson Streets)
Time: Registration begins at 11:30 AM; Lunch 12:00 PM to 12:40 PM; movie and commentary 12:40 PM to 1:30 PM.
Cost:  $25 - AGA Members; $30 for others
CPE: 1 credit
 
The national debt is at an all time high. And we are in the midst of a significant economic crisis. What to do? It is time to go to the movies! Join your fellow government financial professionals, whether accountants, auditors or other accountability position, for lunch at Jack's Oyster House. After lunch, we will watch the 30-minute version of the documentary I.O.U.S.A: One Nation. Under Stress. In Debt.
 
Following the movie, our own local and national economic guru, Hugh Johnson, Chair of  Johnson Illington Advisors, LLC., will comment on the documentary and provide his insights to how we can right our economic ship that is teetering on disaster.