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Grants Management: Are States Ready to Manage More Federal Grant Funds? |
Where: KPMG, 515 Broadway, Albany, NY 12207
Time: 2:00 PM to 3:50 PM
Cost: FREE for AGA & KPMG Members; $15 for Non-Members
CPEs: 2 Credits
The AGA New York Capital Chapter and KPMG are pleased to offer the following webinar to AGA members and KPMG staff.
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) has presented unprecedented opportunities for state governments to compete for federal grant dollars. And, the use of competitive grants to distribute federal dollars is unlikely to go away. Since its introduction, ARRA has uncovered intriguing insights, including the intricacies of how grant funds are managed and reported across our governments. Some governments manage grants centrally, but most operate in a very decentralized manner. Gathering information on grants from the various agencies to comply with the quarterly reporting requirements under ARRA section 1512 has been challenging, to say the least.
The National Association of State Auditors, Comptrollers, and Treasurers (NASACT) and its corporate associate Accenture teamed up recently to survey state comptrollers to examine the current state of grants management. This webinar will highlight six specific findings from that study. In addition, the Nevada State Controller will share her experiences in improving her State's grant management capabilities. Oracle and Vertical Solutions Strategy & Center of Excellence will also provide demonstrations of some of the key capabilities of leading grants-management software. To share their experience are Mark Howard, Management Consulting Lead, Accenture; Kim Wallin, State Controller, Nevada; Cindy Schwimer, Executive Director, Public Sector Solutions, Oracle; and Lisamarie Manso, Director, Vertical Solutions Strategy & Center of Excellence.
Join us for this informative and thought-provoking session as we explore how you can improve grants management and reporting practices in your state. Specifically, this webinar will address:
1) What improvements can be made to gain efficiencies in grants management and reporting?
2) Are states prepared to put their best foot forward to both win and execute the grants that the federal government is offering?
3) Are states managing federal grants in an effective manner, whether on a centralized or decentralized basis, that will allow them to compete for these awards?
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Community Service Event: Ronald McDonald House |
Where: Ronald McDonald House, 139 South Lake Ave., Albany
Time: 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM
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.
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Audio Conference: The War Against Fraud and Abuse: Are We Winning? |
When: Wednesday, March 3rd
Where: 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; $15 for non-members
Is it reasonable to expect auditors to find fraud? Since fraud is characterized by trickery, deceit and deception, and because auditors are very visible and have limited tools at their disposal, maybe it's just too easy for the bad guys to fool the auditors. But, if not auditors, then who can organizations rely on to deter, prevent and detect fraud? Should it be management? Those charged with governance? How about the government? Maybe we need to add more auditing standards? This session will reveal the answer to winning the war on fraud, waste and abuse and introduce a recently published set of protocols that organizations committed to combating fraud can implement and follow.
To share his practical experience in auditing and investigating fraud, waste and abuse is David L. Cotton, CGFM, CPA, CFE, chairman, Cotton & Company LLP.The firm was founded in 1981 and has a practice concentration in assisting federal and state government agencies, inspectors general and government grantees and contractors with a variety of government program-related assurance and advisory services. Cotton & Company has performed grant and contract, indirect cost rate, financial statement, financial related, and performance audits for more than two dozen federal inspectors general, including the Government Accountability Office, Department of State, the Department of Justice, Department of Education, Drug Enforcement Administration and Department of Homeland Security.
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| January/February Newsletter Now Available! |
The January/February issue of the Chapter's award winner newsletter, "Capital Ideas" is now available for download!
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Community Service Event: Bowl for Kids Sake |
When: Saturday, March 13th
Where: Spare Time Bowling, 375 Troy-Schenectady Rd., Latham
Time: 2:00 PM
The AGA Capital Chapter is looking to recruit bowlers to have a great time and enjoy free bowling, networking, and raise at least $300 for Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Capital Region (BBBSCR). This impressive organization matches children ages 6-18 with volunteers in one-to-one mentoring relationships. For 44 years, the BBBSCR has orchestrated thousands of life-changing relationships between children and adults.
You can both register and bowl with us, or sponsor an AGA bowler on-line at: http://www.bowlforkidssake2010.com. To bowl, click "Join Us", and then select the "Join and Existing Team" option on the following page, and then select the Association of Government Accountants.
Please contact Taryn Davila-Webster (Team Captain) at tdavila-webster@osc.state.ny.us or tarynwebster@aol.com to get a Sponsor Sheet, and/or if you have any questions.
Please tell you friends, we are going to have a great time for a worthy cause!
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TCTC 2010 |
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER
When: Monday, March 15th through Wednesday, March 17th
Where: Holiday Inn, 205 Wolf Rd., Albany
CPEs: Up to 21 credits
**See website for time and cost information
The 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 invite you to participate in an outstanding three-day continuing education event offering challenging, informative and exciting sessions designed to help participants keep pace with changes in information technology, auditing, fraud and leadership skills. These exciting sessions at TCTC 2010 are ideal for both new and experienced accountability professionals.
Up to 21 CPE hours can be earned by attending all three days.
This is the fifeenth TCTC, and it has gotten so popular over the years that you must register early to ensure you get in. Also, keep in mind that registering early can mean big savings for your agency or firm's training budget.
Business casual attire is appropriate for the conference.
See the exciting new TCTC website where you can see this year's outstanding program as well as read about the history of TCTC. You can also register through the TCTC website. |
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Audio Conference: Suggested Guidelines for Voluntary Reporting - SEA Performance Information |
When: Wednesday, March 24th
Where: 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; $15 for non-members
CPEs: 2
GASB has tentatively set a date of June 30, 2010 to issue the final document on Suggested Guidelines for Voluntary Reporting of SEA Performance Information. Listen as the GASB project manager explains the project history, the due process procedure and why general purpose external financial reporting needs to include service efforts and accomplishments information. This audio conference will also include the components and the qualitative characteristics of the Suggested Guidelines and provide real life examples for explanations.
To share her knowledge with us is Lisa Parker, CPA, Lead Project Manager for the Governmental Accounting Standards Board's SEA and Economic Condition Reporting/Fiscal Sustainability initiatives; and Evie Barry, MS, AGA Director of Performance Reporting who will briefly describe the Certificate of Achievement in SEA Report Review Program at AGA.
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Community Service: Voluntary Income Tax Assistance (VITA) |
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When: Saturdays - now until mid-April
Where: Albany Public Library and other locations
Time: 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM
'Tis the season of Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA)!
For the past several years, the New York Capital Chapter of the AGA has proudly supported the Albany Public Library 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 (open book), 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.
Currently, tax preparation at the Albany Public Library is on Saturdays from 9am-3pm; However, 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 Linda Cioffi at moonlady14@hotmail.com or (518) 437-8444.
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Reimbursement Opportunities for NYS Employees |
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New York State and its public employee unions recognize the importance of continuous learning by providing assistance for tuition expenses. The New York State Governor's Office of Employee Relations (GOER) has developed a number of tuition reimbursement programs that NYS employees can utilize for a variety of training opportunities.
Please visit the GOER website to find out more about the tuition assistance programs for PEF, CSEA, and M/C employees. | |
