New Orleans Chapter
Le Journal de
Nouvelle Orleans

I would like to take this opportunity to wish everyone a happy and prosperous new year.
In the year 2003, we had our ups and our downs, but in retrospect it was a good year overall. If you consider the war in Iraq in March a low point, the rebound of the stock market (C Fund) was certainly one of the high points of 2003.

As an AGA member, the Holiday season is always a special time of year, and 2003 was no different. The year ended on a good note, with many AGA members playing Santa by donating over 100 teddy bears and toys to Children's Hospital and the Marine's Toys for Tots program. Also, a great time was had by all who attended this year's Christmas Party at Eastover Country Club. The atmosphere was festive, the food and drink were tasty and plentiful, and the dancing was non-stop. If you missed it, you missed a good one.

Now it's time to turn our attention to more taxing matters. Our January meeting will feature Mr. Henry Padeletti, a Senior Tax Specialist with the Internal Revenue Service. He will give us an update on the new tax law changes for 2003/2004, and how they will impact you. This is always a very informative meeting and is usually well attended, since it affects everyone and is held at NFC. So, don't forget to call or e-mail Gary Millet early to make your reservations.

A new year is always a good time to evaluate the year that just ended and make resolutions to improve in the coming year. My AGA new year's resolutions are to recruit one new member and host a successful education seminar. I challenge all members to make an AGA new year's resolution as well as a personal resolution. AGA involvement is a lot like church to me, "You only get out of it what you put in". I encourage everyone to make a commitment to get more involved with your chapter. You may be surprised what you get out of it.

I hope to see all of you at the January luncheon meeting.

HELP NEEDED AT WYES-TV'S FAMILY FUN FEST

WYES-TV has asked for 5 to 8 AGA members to help set up signs and supplies for their FAMILY FUN FEST on Saturday, January 17th from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Kiefer UNO Lakefront Arena. AGA volunteers will be able to attend the fun fest free of charge. However, if you bring your child, the fee is $10.00 per child.

The Family Fun Fest will begin at 1:00 p.m. and run thru 4:00 p.m. Activities for children include two performances by the Imagination Movers, face painting, games, clowns, arts & crafts, appearances by Clifford the Big Red Dog, Discovery Toys play area, numerous exhibits, etc. If you are interested in volunteering, please call Jill Byrd (504-255-5749) or Gerry Knepp (504-255-4602).

December 2003 Community Service Kudos

First, we would like to thank all the AGA members and other interested parties to numerous to mention whose donations made the Toys For Tots and Teddy Bears for Children's Hospital campaigns possible. "You all" deserve a round of applause. Thank you for your generosity to those less fortunate than us!!!

Toys For Tots

Thank you so very much to everyone who so generously donated toys. Your generosity made Christmas brighter for those children that are less fortunate. On December 18, 2003, we were able to donate 29 toys, books, games, dolls, etc. to the Toys for Tots program.

Pictured above from left to right are: Margaret Prell, 2003 NFC Toys For Tots Coordinator; Juanita Daniels, 2004 NFC Toys For Tots Co-Coordinator; Gerry Knepp, AGA Co-Chair Community Service; Cyrus Lohfink, NFC Director; Susan Reggio, 2004 NFC Toys For Tots Co-Coordinator; and Jill Byrd, AGA Co-Chair Community Service.

Teddy Bears For Children

We would like to thank all the AGA members and other interested parties that donated Teddy Bears to this campaign. Your thoughtfulness is greatly appreciated. We especially want to thank Marcia Curole and committee members Linda Lewis and Monique Banks for their hugely successful efforts in collecting 86 bears for Children's Hospital this year. The Bears were delivered on December 21.

Marcia received a very nice letter from Children's Hospital acknowledging AGA's generous donation and our efforts to brighten the lives and Holidays of children that are less fortunate. Thank "you all".

Pictured above are just a few of the Teddy Bears that were donated to Children's Hospital during the Holiday Season. Pictured are Monique Banks, Ron Parent, Marcia Curole and Linda Lewis

WYES-TV Winter Showcase Membership Drive

AGA members participated in WYES's Membership Pledge Drive on December 13, 2003, by answering telephones and taking pledges. YANNI was featured and interviewed during the pledge drive and he personally thanked our members for their efforts to help public television. Thank you's go to members Amanda Green, Gary Millet, Gerry Knepp, and Diane Trice.

Continuing Community Service Collections

(1) Old Cell Phones to be reprogrammed and distributed to battered women to be used in emergency situations;
(2) Books and magazines for La Fon's Senior Citizen Center; and
(3) New or used maternity and baby clothing, baby toys, and diapers for the Crisis Pregnancy Center.

Please consider supporting one of more of the above mentioned community service opportunities. Thank you in advance for your support and consideration. Contact Jill Byrd (504-255-5749) or Gerry Knepp (504-255-4602) for additional information.

Our Chapter of AGA wishes to extend a warm welcome to the following new members:

Theresa Vo
Sponsored by Jessica Vo
C.B. Wolcott
Sponsored by Jullin Renthrope

We would like to welcome you to AGA. Once your application has been processed, a member ID and password will be sent to you for you to begin using AGA's Member's Only website. Again, welcome and feel free to contact the New Orleans Chapter Officers with your questions or concerns.

To all of our sponsors, we appreciate your efforts with the growth of the New Orleans Chapter of AGA. Continue to keep up the good work!!

AGA New Orleans Chapter thanks the following members who have sponsored new members from September 2003 to December 2003.

CONGRATULATIONS to all Sponsors!!! You have all qualified to earn AGA Dollars.

For the campaign period, May 1, 2003 -April 30, 2004, each time you recruit a new AGA Member,

your sponsorship will be tracked, and you will be in the running to win exciting prizes.

Recruit two members and earn 10 AGA Dollars, after that, earn 5 AGA Dollars on every member recruited.

Grand Prize---sponsor three or more new members and be entered into a drawing to win a three-night, four-day stay at a four-star hotel. Airfare and hotel for two will be provided.

If you interested in joining this distinguished list of sponsors,

START RECRUITING TODAY!

A Chapter-Sponsored CGFM Study Group

Although we currently do not have any of our members sitting for the CGFM certification, following is some important information to keep in mind. If anyone in our Chapter is thinking of preparing to take these examinations and is interested in a study group, please contact Marcia Curole at 504-255-6232.

Preparing to take the CGFM examinations can be a little intimidating. Have I studied the right material? Have I studied enough? Sometimes it can be helpful to share this experience with others. Chapters can sponsor study groups to lessen the apprehension of the future CGFMs.

All it takes is a person willing to be a facilitator. It is necessary for someone to be the point of contact person and take the lead in scheduling a meeting place and time. The study group can be created in several ways:

A group can meet regularly for several weeks and have outside leaders or different individuals within the group assigned to lead the discussion over the main points in the technical requirements (found on the CGFM section of AGA's website at

www.agacgfm.org/cgfm/exams/) for one or more of the examinations.

Individuals can purchase the self-study guide for Examination 2 (www.agacgfm.org/cgfm/prepare/studyguide.aspx) and then meet together to go over the sections of the book. A self-study guide will soon be published for Examination 3. The AGA chapter may provide participants with a refund of all or part of the cost for the books. Self-study guides are $85 each; there are discounts for multiple book purchases - please contact the AGA national office for more information.

Individuals can purchase Course 1 presented on the internet (www.agacgfm.org/cgfm/prepare/onlinecourses.aspx). Participants could review the material presented in the online course for each of the main points in the technical requirements for Examination 1 and then convene to discuss any issues. The cost of the online course is $195 per individual. The chapter might offer a refund or a scholarship for the course.

The chapter can put on a one- or two-day course for each of the examinations. The facilitator, in this case, needs to have in-depth knowledge of the subject matter in order to lead the group through the material. Several chapters have prepared their own courses. The chapter can contact the national office for additional information.

The chapter can arrange for Management Concepts to put on in-depth courses on the material covered by all three examinations. The national office can provide more information on this alternative.

If you are interested in learning more about these options, please contact Katya Silver at the AGA national office at 800.AGA.7211, ext. 313 or ksilver@agacgfm.org.

The chosen method must fit the needs of the individuals and the resources of the chapter. While this discussion has been about preparing for the examinations, the study groups for the books, internet course, and classroom courses also provide

valuable CPE for the participants. Putting together study groups does take some time and effort by the chapter, but the chapter provides an extraordinary service to members and the government financial management community.

February 19 - 20, 2004 - Second Annual National Leadership Conference, Washington D.C.

March 1, 2004 - Deadline for CEAR Program Submissions.

March 4-5, 2004 - NEC Meeting, AGA National Office, Alexandria, VA.

March 6-7, 2004 - NEC Meeting, AGA National Office, Alexandria, VA

June 27-30, 2004 - 53rd Annual Professional Development Conference & Exposition, Wardman Park Hotel, Washington, D.C.

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

TIME VALUE MATERIAL
PLEASE EXPEDITE

Please contact Linda Lewis (255-5902)
with address corrections.