HAPPY 50^TH. ANNIVERSARY to AGA’S NEW ORLEANS CHAPTER!!!

I am so very proud to announce that our chapter celebrates its 50^th anniversary on

June 29, 2003!  At our April joint meeting with the Baton Rouge Chapter, AGA’s National President, Bill Anderson, presented our chapter with a certificate honoring the New Orleans Chapter’s 50 years of excellence.  Thanks Bill!

It’s overwhelming to reflect on the number of chapter members, and executive committees it took for our chapter to successfully excel for 50 years.  To honor our chapter’s achievement, we will celebrate our 50 years at the upcoming Chapter Crawfish Boil on Friday, May 9^th. 

Thanks to our 50 years of chapter leaders, executive committees, and most of all 50 years of chapter members that sustained us!  Join me in  honoring a half century of New Orleans Chapter Presidents who successfully lead our chapter:

New Orleans Chapter President  

What a fitting end to a very successful year!  I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to very hardworking and committed chapter officers and members who supported the chapter in our 50^th  year.  Your contributions have made my year as president a memorable and successful one!  Good luck to our 2003-04 president, Ron Parent, and the incoming officers.  I hope to see you at the May “Crawfish Boil” and June “Tailgate Party”.

Happy 50^th!

Pam Lincoln

The April AGA meeting was a joint meeting with the Association of Government Accountants Baton Rouge Chapter.  Chapter President, Pam Lincoln called the meeting to order and welcomed everyone from the Baton Rouge and New Orleans chapters.  She then introduced AGA’s National President, Bill Anderson, and our own AGA National

President-Elect, Jullin Renthrope.  Pam then introduced AGA Baton Rouge Chapter President, Karen Andrews, and Baton Rouge President-Elect, Michelle Louviere.  Karen made several announcements for her chapter and Pam Lincoln then made several announced for the New Orleans chapter. The May meeting for the chapter will be our annual crawfish boil at Green Acres Country Club.  Anyone willing to bring a dessert for the dessert table that evening is encourage to do so.  Pam also announced that AGA New Orleans chapter representatives are meeting with the Federal Executive Board (FEB) and FEB’s Education Sub-Committee to partner with FEB in hosting annual training sessions.  This partnership should  result in positive effects for our chapter treasury.  

The joint meeting broke for dinner.

Pam introduced the evening’s speaker, Bill Anderson, AGA’s National President.  Bill spoke on AGA’s past and hopeful future.  Bill discussed AGA’s Mission of Advancing Government Accountability.  He believes AGA should serve its members by providing quality education, fostering professional development and certification and to support the governmental accounting standards and research.  He believes more is needed to promote the CGFM Certification Program and membership needs to expand beyond just government accountants…to include other financial disciplines.  He strongly believes in the importance of community service and sited former AGA National and New Orleans Chapter President, Clyde Mc Shan, as AGA’s success story where public service is concerned.

At the conclusion of  National President Anderson’s speech, he surprised the New Orleans Chapter by presenting New Orleans Chapter President, Pam Lincoln, with a plaque honoring the New Orleans Chapter’s 50^th Anniversary on June 29, 2003.  He then announced to the New Orleans Chapter that New Orleans will be the host site for the 2009 AGA Professional Development Conference (PDC).

At the conclusion of President Anderson’s presentations, Pam Lincoln thanked Bill Anderson and Jullin Renthrope for honoring our chapter's 50 years and for selecting

New Orleans for the 2009 PDC.  Baton Rouge and New Orleans Chapter Presidents presented Bill Anderson with a gift.  Barbara Smith won the 50/50 raffle.

The meeting was adjourned at 8:50pm.

Dawn Wagener, Secretary

WYES-TV SHOWBOAT AUCTION

Our date for participation in WYES-TV’s 37^th Showboat Auction is May 16^th from 3:30 p.m. until 8:00 p.m.  We need 10+ AGA members to volunteer for various job positions such as bid taker and lugger/tugger. This is a high energy and fun event…and as always WYES supplies plenty of food and snacks.  Please put this date on your calendar and plan to join us in this worthwhile cause.  Please R.S.V.P. to Gerry Knepp at 504-255-4602.

AGA MEMBER SHARES GENEROUS DONATION

Melissa Rumsey donated seven very large bags full of children’s clothes, accessories, and toys.  Betty Salisbury sorted these goodies into sizes since the Pregnancy Crisis Center only accepted clothes for newborns through 2 years old.  The contributions were in excellent condition and benefited two organizations.  The Pregnancy Crisis Center in Slidell was in need of the clothes and was very grateful.  The remainder of the clothes was donated to St. Vincent’s DePaul in Hammond for families experiencing difficulties.  Thank you Melissa for making life a little easier for many families in South Louisiana.  Thanks Melissa and Betty!

ON-GOING COMMUNITY SERVICE COLLECTIONS

We would like to wrap up the on-going portion of our community service collections by the end of

May. Therefore, if you have any donations or you are thinking of donating any of the items listed below, please make arrangements with Betty Salisbury (504-255-2344) or Gerry Knepp (504-255-4602) for delivery prior to May 30^th.

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

(2)   Books and magazines for the local Senior Citizens Centers;

(3)   New or used maternity and baby clothing, baby toys, and diapers for the Pregnancy Crisis Center; and

(4)   Toiletries for the homeless.

THANK YOU!!!!

In wrapping up for the year, Betty and I would like to thank everyone for their participation and support of the many and varied community service activities we had this year.  We were able to build on the New Orleans Chapter’s long history of community service and meet our lofty goals in addition to doing a lot of good things for the community.  Your generosity and support was nothing short of astounding.  Give yourselves a round of applause.

You donated 300+ hours of your time participating in WYES’ Showboat Auction, WYES’ Summer Showcase Membership Drive, Rebuilding Together’s Low Income Home Renovation Project, WYES’ Art Auction Twelve, WYES’ Italian Cooking Celebration, and AARP’s VITA Tax Assistance Program.

In addition, you provided 200+ pounds of food for St. Philip Center Food Bank, 50 books and 6+ linear feet of magazines for Seniors, clothing and other baby items for Pregnancy Crisis Center, clothing to St. Vincent’s DePaul, 59 Toys for Tots, 50 Teddy Bears for Children’s Hospital, Thanksgiving meals for 47 needy families, toiletries for nursing homes and troops overseas, and 10 cell phones for battered women.  THANKS AGAIN NEW ORLEANS CHAPTER!!!!!

Betty Salisbury and Gerry Knepp

Our Chapter of AGA wishes to extend a warm welcome to the following new member:
LaKenya Collins
Sponsored by Jullin Renthrope

The following list includes sponsors from May 2002 through April 2003:

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

Member’s Only Site

Use your member ID number and password (your first initial and last name with no spaces) to access this exclusive site for members only.  If you need member ID number, contact Linda Lewis at 504-255-5902.

Congratulations to Loyce Bradshaw, Associate Director of the Thrift Savings Plan Division.  She is the recipient of the 2003 Outstanding Federal Manager Award, awarded by the Federal Executive Board on May 7th.

Congratulations to Wayne Morlier, on his recent promotion to Associate Director, Reconciliation, for Controller Operations Division.  We wish you much continued success in the coming years!

Congratulations to the following graduates and achievers listed below our AGA New Orleans Chapter members:         

Monique Banks
Jeremie Brown, nephew, HS graduation, Warren Easton High School, New Orleans, LA

Marcia Curole
Eric Curole, son, HS graduation, Jesuit, member National Honor Society, will attend University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL

John Haslauer
Matthew Patrick Haslauer, son, BS Electrical Engineering and BS Computer Engineering, LSU, Baton Rouge, LA

Ida Mae Holmes
Daniel K. Holmes, son, Freshman, Award: Air Force ROTC “Commander’s Most Improved Award,” LSU, Baton Rouge, LA

Peggy Javery
Amanda Rose, daughter, HS graduation, Edna Karr Secondary School, will attend  Xavier or Clark Atlanta University to study Mass Comm/Broadcasting Technology

Gerry Knepp
Tad Whitenight, nephew, HS graduation, Valedictorian, Middleburg Joint High School, PA, full scholarship to Schreyer’s Honor’s College-Pennsylvania State University

Trina Merridy
Tarell James Bilbo, son, HS graduation, McDonogh 35 High School, New Orleans, LA

Tracey Rollins, member
MBA, University of Phoenix, New Orleans, LA

Ava Roussell
Andre Wilson, brother-in-law, BS Business Administration, Southern University, NO, LA

Betty Salisbury
Matt Salisbury, grandson, 8^th Grade Graduation, St. Stanislaus Award: St Stanislaus College “Character Award”

Barbara Smith
Michelle Alaina Perkins, daughter, M.D. degree, LSU School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA

AGA’S 52^nd  ANNUAL PROFESSIONAL  DEVELOPMENT CONFERENCE

AGA's Upcoming PDC Focuses on Accountability.  AGA presents it 52nd Annual Professional Development Conference & Exposition, June 29-July 2 at the Sheraton Chicago Hotel and Towers. We realize training and travel dollars are tight this year. If you can only attend one professional development event-make AGA's PDC your top choice. We offer the most diverse and comprehensive meeting tracks as well as twenty-six Continuing Professional Education (CPE) hours.

Hear from the government's top accountability official, Comptroller General of the United States David M. Walker, CPA, a popular AGA speaker who will cover the accountability issues facing corporations and governments in the post-Enron environment. Following his keynote address, Walker will participate on a panel that will continue the Corporate Governance and Accountability discussion. His co-presenters include John R. Miller, Vice Chairman, Health Care & Public Sector, KPMG LLP and Nell Minnow, Co-Founder, The Corporate Library.  Jeffrey C. Steinhoff, CGFM, CPA, Managing Director, Financial Management and Assurance, GAO will convene the session.

Major accountability breakdowns in recent years have contributed to the decline in investor confidence in U.S. capital markets. This session focuses on strengthening the four interrelated areas of corporate governance, the financial reporting model, the accounting profession, and regulation and enforcement to effectively

reflects this. Also, as with the Community Service Award, the Chapter Education Award covers the current chapter recognition program year, i.e. May 1 - April 30. As you proceed through the awards nominations process, we're happy to field any questions you may have.

NATIONAL OFFICERS

AGA's National Bylaws and Procedures Committee has ratified the National Nominating Committee slate of 2003-2004 National Officers! We are pleased to announce that effective July 1, 2003, Bobby Derrick, CGFM, a member of AGA's Indianapolis Chapter, will serve as National President-Elect and Jeanne Erwin, a member of AGA's North Carolina Triangle Chapter, will serve as National Treasurer-Elect. Please visit www.agacgfm.org for the full list of officers, including Senior Vice Presidents for Regional Services for Sections I and IV and Regional Vice Presidents-Elect.

NATIONAL CALENDAR OF EVENTS

June 28 • National Executive Committee Meeting, Chicago, IL.
June 29 • National Board of Directors Meeting, Chicago, IL.
June 29 – July 2 • AGA’s 52nd Annual Professional Development Conference & Exposition, Chicago, IL.
Sept. 19 • NEC Meeting, AGA National Office, Alexandria, VA.
Dec. 5  • NEC Meeting, AGA National Office, Alexandria, VA.
Feb. 19 – 20, 2004 • 2nd Annual National Leadership Conference, Washington, D.C.

Exciting News from the CGFM Department

(1) Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA) recognizes CGFM designation.

We received the good news just recently! The Institute of Internal Auditors' (IIA) Board of Regents has recognized the Certified Government Financial Manager (CGFM). It has been accepted as a designation for the CIA exam's part IV Professional Recognition Credit. Effective immediately, currently registered and new CIA candidates who have successfully completed the requirements for the CGFM designation are eligible to receive Professional Recognition Credit for part IV of the CIA exam.

We have, in fact, one CGFM candidate who has decided to complete her CGFM exams before moving on to the CIA.  It is a collaborative arrangement that certainly will benefit individuals who are thinking of earning their CGFM -- and then moving on to their CIA.  Twenty-five percent (25%) of the CIA is already complete for CGFM members!

(2) Sweet Smell of Success for Missouri.
Let's give "three cheers and three cheers more..." to the leadership of the AGA Mid Missouri Chapter, for succeeding in having the Missouri State Division of Personnel recognize the CGFM as equal to a bachelors degree and two years of professional experience!  The CGFM recognition applies to the Auditor Classification series of the Missouri Merit System that was under revision. This is just the beginning of the reclassification of financial related positions within the Missouri Merit System.   The state controller's request for CGFM recognition was for application to all the job positions in the financial area.  There are high hopes that the Auditor series recognition will serve as a benchmark for the other upcoming reviews.

CGFM Helps Professionals Compete in Cost-Cutting Times

Preliminary results of a recent survey conducted by the National Certification Commission indicates that there is a healthy increase in Certification categories in the first three years of the 21st century. If the projected 6-7 percent increase for just the first three years of the decade continues, this decade will see the largest increase ever recorded.

But this is only one indicator of the growth of certification credentials. The demand is also reflected in the professional certification policies developed by federal agencies following passage of legislation in 2001 authorizing the use of appropriated funds to pay for professional certification exams. Four federal agencies-EPA, DFAS, GAO, DOD-have provided AGA copies of their policy. At AGA we are seeing an increased interest from federal employees in the CGFM designation.

Acceptance of the CGFM certification continues to grow at the state and local level as well. The CGFM designation is now formally recognized in at least seven states, one county (Contra Costa, CA) and one city (Topeka, KS).

Because of budget problems, the demand for greater productivity and accountability-with fewer resources-with continue. Qualified, skilled and knowledgeable employees are at a premium. For example, to attract more qualified applicants to state accounting positions, Maine increased its entry-level requirements for state accounting positions, according to State Controller Edward A. Karass. Shaun Bridge, a recent CGFM holder, earned promotions in the Everett, WA engineering department and the parks department because of his commitment to earning his CGFM. Dozens of examples of CGFM success can be found in "CGFM Profiles" on AGA's website at www.agacgfm.org/cgfm/cgfm_profiles.htm.

It's never too late and there is no better time to begin your journey to earning your CGFM credential than now! Once the self-study books are available, you can take the book to the beach this summer and begin your journey.

Joan Schwartz
Deputy Executive Director, Professional Certification jschwartz@agacgfm.org

ACCOUNTING AND FRAUD SEMINAR
"Who Can You Trust" 6 CPE HOURS

Lockheed Martin/NASA-Michoud Site
Bldg 351, Executive Dining Room

7:30 am - 8:30 am - Registration

8:45 am - 10:00 am - Accounting Fraud
What's Next - Gary Millet, CPA,CGFM

10:00 am - 10:15 am - Break

10:15 am - 11:30 am - "Statement on Auditing
Standards '99 (SAS-'99)" Jullin Renthrope CPA,
CFE, CGFO, CGFM, National President of AGA

11:30 am - 12:30 pm - Luncheon & Keynote
Speaker - Colonel Terry Ebert, Homeland
Security, City of New Orleans

12:45 pm - 1:30 pm - Lagniappe Session
Ready, Set, Go CGFM - Shelda Melancon, CPA,
CGFM

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

TIME VALUE MATERIAL
PLEASE EXPEDITE

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