AGA Recap program year 2009-2010

 

AGA September Recap

September 17, 2009 Luncheon: Speaker Bob Fick from the Department of Labor presented "Economy's Balance on Unemployment Insurance" with CPE Credit of 1 hour.

The Fall Professional Development Conference was held on September 29-30, 2009 in Boise. Instructor Paul Glick of Glick Consulting Group presented Advanced Governmental Accounting with CPE Credit of 16 hours. During the conference our Community Service held a raffle with proceeds totaling $284.00 to be used toward the purchase of school supplies for a selected school next year.

Winners were:
Fall basket - Liz Yturralde
Dragonfly basket - Claudia Clark
Afghan - Claudia Clark
Wine & Fall basket - Marion Gibson
Movie basket - Jerry Higgins
BBQ basket - Catherine Mumm
Yen Ching - Doug Fisher

Change for Change! This is our chapter's new monthly community service fund-raiser where attendees at the luncheon meetings can contribute a donation to a charitable organization. In September the American Red Cross was chosen to receive a donation totaling $13.45 from our members.



AGA October Recap

Audio Conference October 7, 2009 David R. Hancox, CGFM, CIA, Audit Director, Office of the State Comptroller, State of New York and Mary Peck, CIA, CCSA, CGAP, Director of Internal Controls, New York State Office of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities.“Internal Controls for Auditors, Management and Staff: Making Government Organizations More Effective”.

October 15, 2009 Luncheon: Speakers Donna Jones, Idaho State Controller and David Groeschl from the Department of Lands presented "Endowment Lands and Forest Asset Management Plan". Donna Jones, State Controller, is responsible for the State of Idaho payroll, expenditures, financial reports, and the State database. In addition, the State Controller serves on the Idaho Board of Land Commissioners, the topic for today’s presentation. David Groeschl from the Department of Lands will speak about the “Forest Asset Management Plan – Sustainable Forests Supporting Public Education.” The Founding Fathers recognized the importance of education and recognized there were limited dollars in the State coffers. Idaho was “land rich” but needed a way to contribute to public education. They included a long term steward component in land management to ensure an ongoing source of revenue. Of the 2.4 million acres of land, one million acres are forests. The mission of the Department of Lands is: (1) the endowment mission; and (2) to assist citizens of Idaho to use, protect, and sustain natural resources.

In October the Alzheimer's Association was chosen to receive a donation from chapter members who contributed to the "Change for Change!" community service fund-raiser held during the luncheon.



AGA November Recap

November 19, 2009 Luncheon: Speaker: Les Lake, CICA, CREI, CL, Manager, Forensic Accounting at Eide Bailly, LLP, spoke on “Government Under Siege, Fraud Perspectives 2009.” Forensic accounting utilizes accounting, auditing, and investigative skills to conduct an examination into a company’s financial statements, thus providing an accounting analysis that is suitable for court. The difference between an audit and forensic accounting was likened to the difference between a doctor and a surgical team looking at the health of the financial statements.

In November the Multiple Sclerosis Society was chosen to receive a donation from chapter members who contributed to the "Change for Change!" community service fund-raiser held during the luncheon.



AGA December Recap

December 3, 2009 NASACT Training Webinar on ARRA Reporting. Speakers invited include: U.S. Government Accountability Office, the U.S. Office of Management and Budget, the Recovery Transparency and Accountability Board, and a representative from state government. Training will address the key issues and lessons learned from the first round of reporting required by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Challenges and responsibilities facing accountability professionals moving forward will also be discussed.

December 16, 2009 Audio Conference, “Latest Trends in Occupational Fraud”. Speakers William A. Morehead, Ph.D., CGFM, CPA, Chair of Accountancy, CIS and Finance, Delta State University, AGA National President, AGA Past National Treasurer, and Chair, AGA National Executive Committee

December 17, 2009 Luncheon: peaker Michael Ferguson, "An Idaho & US Economic Update." The coincident indicator measures the state of the economy of a nation. It is based on employment, demand, or income levels that move up or down directly with the change in the economy. Using a national map with regular economic updates, the date–adjusted maps showed Idaho still expanding in November, 2007, and contracting by the next time frame. In February of 2009 all states were in decline for the first time since the start of the report in 1979. Following three months of all states declining, some improvement showed during the summer of 2009. Idaho has experienced 26 months of decline since August, 2007. Idaho has been in decline longer, and the decline was sharper, than most states.

In December the Idaho Foodbank received donations of canned goods and the proceeds from the "Change for Change!" community service fund-raiser held during the luncheon.



AGA January Recap

January 13, 2010 Audio Conference "Sudden Impact or Long-Term process? Impact of the Stimulus plan on Internal Controls"

January 21, 2010 Luncheon: Speaker: Carmen Achabal, State Efficiency Officer, Division of Financial Management. Topic: “Idaho State Efficiency Update. Ms. Achabal talked about Process Improvement. Using the collective genius of those involved in a process as well as those new to the process can improve the process. People want to contribute their ideas. The objective is to promote efficiency in the workplace. Efficiency requirements include a genuine willingness to reform and change, and open and honest communication. Responsibility, risk and reward are the three Rs of process improvement.

In January the Idaho Make a Wish Foundation was chosen to receive a donation from chapter members who contributed to the "Change for Change!" community service fund-raiser held during the luncheon.



AGA February Recap

February 10, 2010 Audio Conference "Understanding IT Audits for Program Managers and Auditors." To share his expertise in IT auditing is Jack Heyman, CGFM, CISA, CPA, who has nearly 15 years of technical and leadership experience providing internal controls, systems auditing, consulting, financial auditing and accounting services to Fortune 500 companies, accounting and consulting firms, and government agencies. He offers hands-on experience leading and managing multiple engagements of varying scope and team composition. Jack is a solution provider with extensive experience assessing, planning, staffing and managing engagements for a diverse range of clients.

February 18, 2010 Luncheon: Speaker: Monte Stiles - Assistant US Attorney. Topic: “Government service during difficult economic times. Putting your best foot forward every day, an overview of how Monte has overcome the difficulties of public service in a difficult political climate. The human side of being the best government employee you can be.”

In February the Idaho Humane Society was chosen to receive a donation from chapter members who contributed to the "Change for Change!" community service fund-raiser held during the luncheon.



AGA March Recap

March 3, 2010 Audio Conference "The War Against Fraud and Abuse: Are We Winning?" To share his practical experience in auditing and nvestigating fraud, waste and abuse is David L. Cotton, CGFM, CPA, CFE, chairman, PRIVATE Cotton & Company LLP. The firm was founded in 1981 and has a practice concentration in assisting federal and state government agencies, inspectors general and government grantees and contractors with a variety of government program-related assurance and advisory services. Cotton & Company has performed grant and contract, indirect cost rate, financial statement, financial related, and performance audits for more than two dozen federal inspectors general, including the Government Accountability Office, Department of State, the Department of Justice, Department of Education, Drug Enforcement Administration and Department of Homeland Security.

March 18, 2010 Luncheon: Speaker Neal Custer is a Certified Fraud Examiner with experience in both private and public service. He currently is the owner of Custer Agency, a private security firm. Neal is a professor teaching special topics for BSU's Criminal Justice program. Professional experience includes corporate security with Boise Cascade and governmental service as an Investigator with the Idaho Attorney General's Office. Topic: "What's in Your Background? Information sources and tools: A detailed look at what you can find out about who and the how to."

In March the Idaho Ronald McDonald House was chosen to receive a donation from chapter members who contributed to the "Change for Change!" community service fund-raiser held during the luncheon.



AGA April Recap

April 21, 2010 Audio Conference "The Latest Tools and Techniques for Auditors." To share their practical experiences in information technology audits and the use of audit analytics are Steve Biskie, CPA, CITP, CISA, director of services product management, ACL Services, Ltd. who has more than15 years of experience in information technology audit for public accounting (as a former Deloitte manager), private industry and with specialized risk management consulting firms; and Cliff Cole, computer audit specialist, Office of Inspector General, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

April 28-29, 2010 The Idaho Centennial Chapter of AGA Spring Rocky Mountain Region Professional Development Conference

The Auditor General of Illinois, William Holland will present the key note speech regarding his role in the impeachment of Governor Rod G. Blagojevich. AGA President Billy Morehead will present and discuss the costs associated with Occupational Fraud.
Conference Topics on the Agenda:
An in-depth discussion about American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) requirements An in-depth discussion about Indirect Costs and how to determine when to have a rate vs. a plan Internal Controls for Management where managers and staff will gain an understanding of how to build internal controls into an organization GASB update Zero Based Budgeting Panel Discussion Ethics



AGA May Recap

May 19, 2010 Audio Conference "Those Faint Signals: Learning to Catch Ethical Slippage Before It's Too Late" To share her expertise in ethical behavior and its ramifications is Marianne M. Jennings, JD, Professor in the Department of Management in the W.P. Carey School of Business at Arizona State University (ASU). At ASU, Marianne teaches graduate courses in the MBA program in business ethics and the legal environment of business. Professor Jennings has authored hundreds of articles and has six textbooks and monographs in circulation. Marianne’s latest book, The Seven Signs of Ethical Collapse, was published by St. Martin’s Press in July 2006. She has conducted more than 300 workshops and seminars in the areas of business, personal, government, legal, academic and professional ethics. Among her many awards and honors, Marianne was inducted into the AGA Speakers’ Hall of Fame and also received a Writers’ Award for best article in AGA’s Journal of Government Financial Management.

May 20, 2010 AGA Luncheon Speaker Dale Dixon, Better Business Bureau will speak on the topic "Crisis of Trust."

In May the Idaho Youth Ranch was chosen to receive a donation from chapter members who contributed to the "Change for Change!" community service fund-raiser held during the luncheon.