New Orleans Chapter
Le Journal de
Nouvelle Orleans

He is the Dean of the Division of Business at Dillard University. His areas of research interests are executive decision making and communications, business law, leadership and economic development, financial planning, and investments and risk management.

Mr. Chase serves or has served on numerous boards and commissions within Louisiana, often as Chairman of the Board, some of which are: The Louisiana State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education, The Louisiana Economic Development Corporation, Bishop Perry Middle School, The Greater New Orleans Foundation, The New Orleans Museum of Art, the Millennium Port Authority, The Board of Commissioners of the Port of New Orleans, The Bureau of Governmental Research, The Preservation Resource Center, The Council for a Better Louisiana, and The Committee for a Better New Orleans.

Presentation will qualify for one hour of professional education credit.

Warming Trends with Upcoming Symposium

The 2005 New Year has taken off and we have been on a fast track to bring continuing professional education credits (CPE) to you. Your board members know the value of ensuring that we work together to plan and implement these programs. If you have been active this year, you have earned five CPEs from our monthly meetings. The annual tax update meeting held last month, topped attendance with more than

60 participants. Thanks to all of you who took time to join us and learn what is new this year. You are ahead of the pack when preparing 2004 tax returns.

During our January meeting, I announced the March 9, 2005, Second Annual Shared Government Management Symposium at the Sheraton New Orleans Hotel. This event has presentations that will highlight best practices in government, Sarbanes Oxley A-123, a special award for the USDA Acting Chief Financial Officer - Patricia Healy, and continues in the afternoon with the newly elected New Orleans Criminal Sheriff, Marlin Gusman and much, much more. The Federal Executive Board (FEB) of New Orleans and AGA New Orleans Chapter have teamed up to offer a convenient, inexpensive educational opportunity with Federal, State, and City financial managers in the spotlight. AGA and FEB have a shared focus on accountability for performance and results that is warming up this winter's cold trends. Mark your calendars and encourage others to attend across government. The registration fee is only $99. Visit the website at http://www.nfc.usda.gov/feb to view the full agenda and complete the registration form. A copy of the agenda and registration forms are attached as separate files on the e-mail that contains this newsletter.

Now is the time to belong and support AGA. We expect your loyalty and commitment by demonstrating your talents and creativity. Don't just belong as a member on the rolls, but take action: communicate AGA's purpose, speak positively about our programs, network, bring a co-worker or guest to meetings and attend training to expand and improve government financial accountability and operations. Compatible with being an active member is to be compelled to perpetually face new challenges and scale new heights. As professionals, it is important to stay current through continuing professional education and always be on the leading edge of new business techniques and technology.

See you at the February meeting and at the March 9th Symposium.

I am seeking feedback on the programs we offer; please email comments or concerns to Peggy.Javery@usda.gov.

Peggy V. Javery, MBA, CGFM, President

AGA welcomes Peter V. Aliferis, CGFM, as its new director of Professional Certification.

An AGA member for more than 20 years and one of the earliest supporters of the CGFM credential, Aliferis is looking forward to spreading the word to professionals and their employers about the benefits of certification.

"I've been a proponent of a specialized certification for government financial managers from the get-go and now I'm getting to walk the walk since I've been talking the talk."

Aliferis joins the AGA National Office after a long career at the Government Accountability Office (GAO), holding several management positions, including directing the Special Projects Office and Director of Operations at the Accounting and Information Management Division. While he served as director of the Office of International Audit Organization Liaison, GAO colleague Jeff Steinhoff, CGFM, who was then AGA's National President, introduced the CGFM Program. "I was one of those people that went to Jeff behind the scenes all the time and said it was a wonderful thing." In fact, Aliferis was one of AGA's first CGFMs, with certificate No. 151.

As the CGFM Program starts its second decade, Aliferis would like to see the CGFM held in as high regard in the government sector as the CPA is in the public sector.

"What I would like to do is shine more light, make it more visible so that people will truly understand its value." Professionals who pass the three examinations feel a tremendous sense of accomplishment, he said, adding that the "CGFM" acronym identifies financial managers as having a broad base of knowledge in local, state and federal financial management. The credential also gives financial managers a leg up when it comes time for promotions. "A supervisor would be hard-pressed to choose a non-CGFM over a CGFM all other things being equal," he said.

Join us in welcoming Pete to the AGA staff.

AGA SCHOLARSHIP

We have our 2004-2005 AGA Scholarship recipient. Her name is Tanika Casson. She is a junior at Dillard University. She has a 3.8 GPA and is currently taking 21 credits this semester. She is involved in several organizations.

She was nominated by Professor Richard Perry Baucom, the Chairperson of Accounting at Dillard University. We have received the completed application for scholarship, as well as verification of her course curriculum and college transcript.

Member information can be updated directly into the National AGA database by logging in with your Name and Member ID number. Log into AGA's website at https://www.agacgfm/to renew membership, update personal information such as phone and address changes.

Please share news about yourself or other AGA members. Contact Warren Wilson at 426-1095 or e-mail to warren.wilson@usda.gov

Sponsorship Opportunities

The types of sponsorships available are meal/break functions. The first involves sponsoring the Symposium breakfast that will be provided for the morning opening of the Symposium. The second involves sponsorship of the breaks that will occur in the morning and afternoon for all participants. The third sponsorship involves a luncheon meal function during the Symposium. Details on the prices and times for each sponsorship opportunity are reflected below. You may also partner with other companies to cosponsor the program or any of the functions.

Please note: The breakfast, breaks or luncheon meal function sponsors are needed as soon as possible so that appropriate recognition signs or flyers can be printed and available for the conference.

Meal Function Sponsorships (The sponsoring company's logo and information will be provided in a flyer in the Symposium attendee's registration package and on signs displayed at the meal and/or break functions.)

Wednesday, March 9, 2005
Breakfast $400 this will be a continental breakfast during registration beginning at 7:00 a.m. through 8:30 a.m. preceding the welcome and opening remarks. The plenary session will follow with Mr. Jerry Lohfink, Director, USDA, National Finance Center.

Morning coffee break $200 this will be the morning break, which will be held in the Hall area after the first two plenary speakers.

Lunch $3,000 This will be a sit-down luncheon function with the keynote speakers, Mr. Paul Trotter, Meteorologist In Charge, New Orleans and Baton Rouge, and Jesse Amant, Director, Plaquemines Parish Homeland Security and

Afternoon coffee break $200 this will be the afternoon break which will be held in the Hall area after speaker, Mr. Marlin Gusman, New Orleans Criminal Sheriff.

We need your help!! WYES-TV has asked us to help with their March 2005 Membership Drive on Wednesday night, March 16, from 6:45 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. We need approximately 10 members to help with this event. Volunteers will function on the telephone bank taking pledges from home viewers.

This event will be relaxed, fun, and WYES provides meals, snacks, drinks, and door prizes. Please participate in this event and help keep WYES-TV's quality programming on the air. If you want to participate, please contact Gerry Knepp (504-426-5463).

March 9,2005 - 2nd Annual Shared Government Management Symposium (New Orleans)

July 10-13, 2005 - 54th Annual Professional Development Conference & Exposition (Orlando)

RECOGNITION POINTS

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

P.O. Box 29186
New Orleans, LA 70189-0186

PLEASE EXPEDITE Please contact Babette
Haines (504-426-5443) with address corrections.
TIME VALUE MATERIAL

Please pre register with Pam Lincoln, pamela.lincoln@nfc.usda.gov, 255-4664, and pre-pay Gary Millet, gary.millet@usda.gov, 426-0162, no later than COB on Monday, February 14, 2005.

To mail a payment, send to: Attention Gary Millet, National Finance Center/Building 350; P.O. Box 60000; New Orleans, LA 70160