New Orleans Chapter
Le Journal de
Nouvelle Orleans

Don Carroum gave a very interesting and informative talk at Doug’s Restaurant last month.  He told us almost everything we wanted and needed to know about our Social Security benefits and how they are impacted by our retirement plan(s).  His presentation was particularly helpful to us older AGA members (smile).

Mardi Gras has come and gone and spring is in the air.  The flowers are beginning to bloom and nature’s whole re-birth thing is about to get into gear. AGA is about to do its “Spring Thing” also.  March is membership renewal time for many of us.  It is also the time to start selecting the new officers that will move the organization forward next year.

Peggy Javery, our President-Elect, will be talking to members who may be interested in services as officers during the 2004 – 2005 fiscal year.  We need your talents. The jobs are not as difficult as they may appear and prior officers are more than willing to lend a hand or offer assistance.  So if she comes to you, please give serious consideration to serving as an officer next year.

Along those same lines, if there is some change you would like to see the organization make,  a new policy you would like to see implemented, or a different format followed, please let us know.  We are here to serve you, the members, and to do that to the best of our ability, we need input/feedback from you.  If you like a particular format or procedure, let us know.  And conversely, if you don’t like something, let us know that also.  We want to hear from you, the membership.

As you know by know, Gary Millet, our Treasurer is ill.  He has had several blood platelets transfusion at East Jefferson General Hospital and now the hospital is requesting blood donations replacements.  However, if you interested, you don’t have to travel to East Jefferson.  You can participate in NFC’s blood

drive March 24th and 25th and have East Jefferson General Hospital credited on behalf of Gary Millet. I will be in that number and I hope many of you will join me.

I hope many of you will also join me at Five Happiness Restaurant, Wednesday, March 24, 2004, to hear Special Agent Michael Gordon talk about a growing problem in this age of high technology, "Identity Theft." I think you will find his talk interesting, informative, but very frightening.

Oh, by the way, you'll love the food !

Ronald J. Parent, CPA, CGFM

Ronald J. Parent, CPA, CGFM, President, called the meeting of the New Orleans Chapter of the Association of Government Accountants to order at 6:15 p.m. at Doug's Restaurant in Slidell, Louisiana. He introduced Peggy Javery, President-Elect, who gave the invocation after which Mr. Parent led the Pledge of Allegiance.

Mr. Parent introduced the head table and gave a status report on the market earnings. He then introduced Jill Byrd, one of the Public Service Chairs. She announced that VITA, Volunteer Income Tax Assistance, would be held at the Clearview Mall on March 3, 2004 and March 9, 2004 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m and requested Volunteers to perform this service.

After a delicious dinner, Mr. Parent introduced Vincent Parenti, Programs Chair, who presented the speaker for the evening, Don Carroum, Public Affairs/Annual Wage Reporting Specialist for the Social Security Administration. Mr. Carroum provided statistics on the numbers and types of people receiving assistance, and addressed the continuing theories of Social Security going broke. He ended by explaining Medicare plans A and B.

After Mr. Carroum’s informative lecture, Mr. Parent thanked him and presented him with a gift of appreciation.  Mr. Carroum pulled the winner of the 50/50 raffle, Lydia Boutte who won $24.00. 

Having no further business, Mr. Parent adjourned the meeting at 8:40 p.m.

SUBMITTED BY/s/ Mary E. Herbert, CPA, CGFM, Secretary

AGA Scholarship Award Recipient

Congratulations to our 2004 Scholarship Award Recipient, Patricia Ann Small.  Ms. Small is an accounting major at Our Lady of Holy Cross College.  Her anticipated graduation date is December 2005.  She has maintained a 3.571 overall grade point average and a 3.7 grade point average in accounting.

Ms. Small is President of Delta Sigma Pi Business Fraternity as well as a member of Kappa Gamma Pi Honor Society and Sigma Beta Delta Business Honor Society.  She was also the recipient of St. Catherine's Medal for Service.  

The scholarship award will be presented to Ms. Small at the March meeting. 

Volunteers Needed

AARP and AGA are partnering with the Internal Revenue Service to provide free tax assistance for individuals and families.  We need volunteers to assist taxpayers on Wednesday, March 3^rd. and Tuesday, March 9^th. at Clearview Mall.  The hours are from 6:30 – 8:30.  We will use the AARP site and will have access to their

computers, software, and copiers.  Anyone who has experience preparing tax returns is welcome to volunteer.  Please email or call Jill Byrd at 426-5465 and Gerry Knepp at 426-5463 to volunteer.

Michael Byrd Video Program Needs Movies

In 2000, a video program was established at Ochsner Hospital to honor Michael Byrd, (Jill Byrd’s  husband) who died from cancer.  Televisions, video players, and movies were donated at that time.  The movies and video players can be used by the patients and their families free of charge, while they are in the hospital.  Each year, the program solicits new movies to keep the selection up to date and interesting.  If you have any movies on VHS video tape that were purchased, copies are not accepted due to Copyright laws; and would like to donate them to the program, please call or email Jill to pick up.    Jill Byrd 426-5465 jill.byrd@usda.gov.

Continuing Community Service Collections

Old Cell Phones to be reprogrammed and distributed to battered women to be used in emergency situations;

Books and magazines for the Senior Citizens Center; and

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 or Gerry Knepp for additional information.

AGA New Orleans Chapter thanks the following members who have sponsored new members from September 2003 to January 2004.

START RECRUITING TODAY

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

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 provided.  See website for full details.

AGA members can renew membership online via the Members Only section of the AGA website.  To renew online, just access the Members Only site, login, then press the “Billing” button.  Finish up by adding to basket.  Your information is updated immediately into the AGA database.

The following is an appeal from our President, Ron Parent  for our Treasurer Gary Millet, a long-time New Orleans Chapter member.

As you may or may not know, our treasurer, Gary Millet has been undergoing treatment at East Jefferson General Hospital (EJGH) for a rare blood disorder.  As part of his treatments, Gary is required to undergo blood platelet transfusions.

He has had 2 so far, but will probably need to have more transfusions very soon.   As a result, EJGH is asking him to replace the blood.  Here is where we get a chance to help. If anyone is able to donate, please contact the EJGH blood bank at 454-5691.

Gary has held many positions in the New Orleans Chapter, including President, President-Elect, Treasurer, etc.  He has always been willing to serve and to help wherever he could.  We could always count on Gary.  Now he is counting on us!  Our chapter has a long history of helping those in need.  If you can, please donate!  Any donation you can make will be greatly appreciated by Gary and his family.

Thank you!

Ronald J. Parent

(504) 426-5020

The National Finance Center will have a Blood Drive on March 24th and 25th in both TANO and Bldg. 350.  Any donations of blood by employees can be earmarked for Gary Millet at East Jefferson Hospital.  He will receive credits against what he has used.   This will really be a lot of support for Gary at this time.  A memo stating that appointments can be made to donate blood will be circulated soon.  Please be on the look-out for it.

If you have news to share, contact Linda Lewis at 504-426-0288 or at Linda.lewis2@usda.gov.

Training for Government Financial Managers

You are aware of the courses that have been developed for the CGFM training program.  However, did you know that the same courses could be used for training government financial managers?

The courses would be of considerable benefit to the following professionals:

- Individuals who are just beginning their career in government.

- Program managers, budgeters, accountants, auditors, and controllers.

- Government consultants.

Course 1 - Governmental Environment - provides education on the environment in which they will work, including how governments are structured and organized, the legal aspects of governments, the management cycle and how the components are related and interrelated, how governments are financed, public accountability, ethics, and various financial management responsibilities and skills.

Course 2 - Governmental Accounting, Financial Reporting and Budgeting - provides education on governmental accounting, financial reporting, and budgeting including influences, objectives, and standards setting; general principles of accounting; cost accounting and performance reporting; budgeting; accounting and reporting for state and local governments; and federal budgeting and financial reporting.

Course 3 - Governmental Financial Management and Control - provides education on government financial management and controls, including internal controls, auditing, performance management and reporting, financial and managerial analysis techniques, cash

management, investment management, credit management, procurement management, inventory and supply management, and financial management systems.

Naturally, we would like to see attendees pursue the CGFM certification after they have completed the courses. It could be a very beneficial step for their career and a great way to apply the knowledge learned in class!

AGA can arrange to bring the training to your Chapter. Contact Pete Rose, AGA Director of Professional Certification to get more details on sponsoring a training program. Send an e-mail to prose@agacgfm.org.

Katya Silver
Director of Professional Certification Administration
AGA - Advancing Government Accountability
2208 Mount Vernon Avenue
Alexandria, VA 22301-1314
Phone: 703.684.6931, ext. 313

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

TIME VALUE MATERIAL
PLEASE EXPEDITE

Please contact Linda Lewis (504-255-5902) with address corrections.

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