New Orleans Chapter
Le Journal de
Nouvelle Orleans

Holiday Season to Tax Season

Our AGA Chapter Holiday celebration at Sclafani's was grand! The members and guests enjoyed music, food, and fun! It was a time of good cheer and the door prizes were fantastic gifts of which there were eighteen. All the dancing from the "electric slide", "bunny hop" to any line dance you can name was a part of the fun. It was the beginning of wishing everyone all the joy, peace, and love during the holiday season. Pamela Lincoln is commended for coordinating this marvelous event and acquiring many of the door prizes through our members.

We are now preparing for our annual tax season update during our January luncheon meeting scheduled for Thursday, January 20, at the National Finance Center location. If you want to know what's new, your rights, do's and don'ts to apply to your 2004 tax forms, plan to attend. The information is invaluable. Time is set aside for questions and answers, too.

"Opportunity is a chance to: advance talent, knowledge, skills, abilities, gain valuable personal/professional experiences through organizations or people; and exercise self fulfillment." I am a firm believer in not foregoing opportunity, because the meaning is one I have defined for myself. As a member, my and your New Year Resolution should be to seize opportunities. Don't miss the January meeting. You will gain timely information from this presentation. The 2004 tax season is here. Pledge to attend your AGA January and remaining meetings this year!

Our opportunity to service our community was appreciated with our participation in the 2004 Toys for Tot and the Children Hospital's Teddy Bear programs. This year Monique Price and Linda Lewis took center stage for the "Toys for Tots" donations sponsored by the U.S. Marine's. Read more about this great outpour of love in this newsletter and the upcoming issue of the NFC newsletter. Marty Curole coordinated the collection of teddy bears and our

donations were abundant to children who will spend their holidays in the hospital. Many thanks to these members for their time and ensuring our "giving" made the holiday a lot brighter for numerous of needy children. AGA members, I applaud your generosity and compassion.

REMINDERS: AGA Goals

1) Increase membership - recruit, encourage, and support new members
2) Provide Continuing Professional Education - offer educational opportunities through chapter meetings and training
3) Outreach - Impact the community positively by participating and supporting community projects

May all of you enjoy a happy and prosperous new year! Please take time to meditate for the families, friends, and all who have lost love ones due to Tsunami and our members who are combating health related illnesses.

Peggy Javery, President, CGFM

CGFM DESIGNATION - IT'S NOT JUST FOR ACCOUNTANTS

Government financial management is broad in scope. Consider the diversity of AGA's membership: while many are accountants and auditors, AGA members are also budget analysts, program analysts, internal auditors and other financial management professionals. The common goal of our membership is interest in government financial management and advancing government accountability.

The Certified Government Financial Manager (CGFM) Program reflects the diverse range of knowledge required of government financial managers. Look at the content specifications of CGFM Examinations [http://www.agacgfm.org/cgfm/exams/]. A CGFM needs to have knowledge about how the

One of the strengths of the CGFM certification is the combination of the detailed knowledge of governmental accounting coupled with a general understanding of other government financial management practices, such as budgetary accounting and cost accounting. A CGFM has to know about the requirements at all levels - federal, state and local. Much of the knowledge required by a CGFM involves theory - why things are done the way they are done. Only a small portion is devoted to practice - the actual entries that are needed for specific transactions.

The CGFM designation demonstrates a person's knowledge, skills and abilities about government in general. If you are in any type of position in government financial management, the CGFM should be at the top of your list as a preferred certification.

On occasion, we are asked how the CGFM compares to the CPA. In a sense, there is no comparison. The CPA is more than a certification - it can also lead to obtaining a license. If your goal is to practice public accounting - the review and audit of financial statements in order to render an opinion - then you must have a license from a state board of accountancy. To get a license, you have to pass the CPA examinations. That is why the CPA is unique among certification programs.

The CGFM designation, coupled with a CPA, can be a powerful tool in your arsenal. Not only do you possess the knowledge, skills and abilities to practice public accounting, you also have knowledge, skills and abilities about the unique aspects of government.

If you are in a profession that does not require a CPA, then you need to consider obtaining a certification that sets you apart from your peers. If you are in government, as a budget analyst,

Pete Rose, AGA

SPONSOR'S HONOR ROLL

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

The following list includes sponsors from September 2004 - January 2005:

If you interested in joining this distinguished list of sponsors, START RECRUITING TODAY!

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 Babette Haines at 426-5443 or e-mail to babette.haines@usda.gov

AGA SCHOLARSHIP

The AGA New Orleans chapter has selected Dillard University as the college that the chapter will grant a $500 scholarship to a deserving accounting student. The scholarship will be awarded at the March 24th, meeting.

RECOGNITION POINTS

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

TOYS FOR TOTS

Once again, the New Orleans Chapter of AGA members is proud of the outpouring of love shown to the disadvantaged in the New Orleans and surrounding community. This year, over 50 toys were presented to Susan Reggio, Points of Light Coordinator with the National Finance Center at the NASA Michoud Assembly Facility worksite. The toys were presented to the U.S. Marines for their Toys for Tots program. The Marine representative wished to thank all involved for their generosity.

During the holiday season, toys were collected from various AGA members and brought to the designated container at NFC. This included lots of dolls, stuffed animals, games, arts and crafts, trucks, and a little bit of everything. Not only did this help the community but also it's great to know that it brought smiles to needy children.

We express a heartfelt thanks to all of our members who participated with this community service and best wishes for a successful New Year!

Monique Banks
Co-chair Community Service

WYES WINTER 2004 SHOWCASE MEMBERSHIP DRIVE.

On Wednesday, December 8, six AGA volunteers acted as bid takers during WYES-TV's Winter Showcase Membership Drive. AGA volunteers included: Amanda Green, Ida Holmes, Peggy Javery, Gerry Knepp, Gary Millet, and Marcie Tureaud. The membership drive was a fun event and WYES-TV personnel expressed their appreciation for AGA's continued support through its dedicated volunteers. AGA volunteers were seen on the air and helped raise significant funds to keep WYES-TV's quality programming on the air.

Gerry Knepp

A "thank you" from New Orleans Mission

Feb. 7-8, 2005 - Third Annual National Leadership Conference & Exposition- Washington, D. C.

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

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 by BOB Tuesday, January 18th with Pam Lincoln at pamela.lincoln@usda.gov or (504-255-4664).

Please pay in advance to Gary Millet (504-426-0162). To mail a payment, send to:
Attention - Gary Millet, National Finance Center/Building 350; P.O. Box 60000; New Orleans, LA 70160

>>>>>>>>>>>>>> SPECIAL SECURITY PROCEDURES <<<<<<<<<<<<<<

Note: Due to security procedures, please arrive no later than 11:15 a.m.

Your pre-registration will ensure that a security badge is prepared in advance of the meeting date and is available when you arrive at the main security desk in Bldg 350 of the Michoud Assembly Facility. For those local, state and federal government employees, please ensure you have a picture ID to present at the security desk; a picture ID is required for access.