OBSERVATIONS AGA CHICAGO CHAPTER CHAPTER NEWS! SPECIAL POINTS OF INTEREST: Community Service Event. CEC Meeting Minutes

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1 AGA CHICAGO CHAPTER DECEMBER 2014 OBSERVATIONS ISSUE 5 OBSERVATIONS CHAPTER NEWS! INSIDE THIS ISSUE: CHAPTER NEWS PRESIDENT S MESSAGE CONTINUING EDUCATION SEMINARS COMMUNITY SERVICE SUM- MARY MEMBER NEWS! Please update us with current member news and events within your respective offices. We would love to feature our members and share their news with the membership! CEC MEETING MINUTES AGA NATION- AL NEWS CEC CONTACT INFORMATION SPECIAL POINTS OF INTEREST: Community Service Event CEC Meeting Minutes Upcoming Continuing Education Seminars

2 President s Message Advancing Government Accountability December 2014 Greetings, Association of Government Accountants Chicago Chapter P. O. Box 1744 Chicago, IL Good news! The board welcomed Hugh Smith as its president-elect for at the November executive committee meeting. Hugh has over thirty years of public accounting experience and is a welcome addition to the AGA Chicago Chapter leadership team. Hugh has already helped streamline meetings and accomplish the review of the 2014 financial statements. He is also an excellent trainer and provided a session on Risk Assessment in November where participants earned 2 CPEs. We are honored to have Hugh serve our Chapter as incoming president. On Saturday, November 8th, I had the pleasure of participating in the Chapter s community service event held at Hilda s Place Shelter. This affiliate of Connections for the Homeless is located in Evanston, IL. We sorted and folded clothes and helped organize food and other types of donations. We thank Eddie Jones and Elaine Igleman for putting this together and also thank all of the members and their relatives who came out to represent AGA Chicago s Chapter for this worthy cause. I am looking forward to the next community service event, which will take place sometime next year. We had a nice turnout for the Webinar on December 10, 2014 on Ethics presented by AGA's national office. We are looking forward to a team leadership course on Collaboration, related to building effective teams, to be presented by Dale Carnegie on January 14, We hope you will attend the January event! I wish you all a wonderful holiday season and hope the New Year finds you healthy and happy. Thanks for all you do to further government accountability. The Wrigley Building, Chicago

3 The only journey is the journey within. Rainer Maria Rilke In learning to know other things, and other minds, we become more intimately acquainted with ourselves, and are to ourselves better worth knowing. Philip Gilbert Hamilton It is not easy to find happiness in ourselves, and it is not possible to find it elsewhere Agnes Repplier Sincerely, Deborah Kinsey, President Chicago Chapter of the Association of Government Accountants New to AGA? Here are the highlights of our last year! Year-End Review

4 OBSERVATIONS ISSUE 5 January 2015 Continuing Education Seminar Dale Carnegie Workshop 1+1=3 Collaboration: Because Two Heads are Better than One Description: We are all different. An effective team is made up of a variety of different individuals that each uniquely contributes to the final result. Collaboration is not easy. Instead of collaborating and appreciating each other's differences, we can become irritated by each other's differences. It is when we collaborate that we leverage the very best of what each person has to offer. When collaboration is used effectively, the result can be higher than the sum of the literal equation (1+1=3). Attend this event to: Understand what collaboration looks like when it is truly going well Explore what makes collaboration tricky in today s business environment Learn a model for improving collaboration About Your Presenter: Dan Conrod, Manager of Delivery Dan brings a Generation Y perspective and approach to the Dale Carnegie-Chicago team, which is consistently ranked in the top 10 in the Dale Carnegie global network. With a background in collegiate non-profit leadership, Dan has delivered keynote addresses to audiences as large as 10,000 people, and in 2007 was one of the organization's youngest trainers in North America. Dan now manages the training team in Chicago and has responsibilities in developing business in the Chicago market place, creating partnerships with other industry leaders, and instructing programs focused on networking, human relations skills, public speaking and sales. Speaker: Dan Conrod, Manager of Delivery Format: Live Speaker When: Wednesday, January 14th Presentation 12:00 PM 2:00 PM (doors open / lunch 11:30 AM) Location: Metcalfe Federal Building GSA Conference Room W. Jackson Blvd., Chicago, IL Cost: Members: $10 /Non-Members: $20 (Includes Complimentary Box Lunch) CPEs Provided: 2 CPEs Space is limited!!! To attend this event, you must RSVP by Monday January 12 th at noon to: Matt Matczynski at mailto:mmatczynski@hudoig.gov

5 AGA NOVEMBER COMMUNITY SERVICE EVENT SUMMARY The AGA Chicago Chapter held its first charity event of the year on Saturday,November 8 th at Hilda s Place Transitional Shelter in Evanston, IL, which is part of Connections for the Homeless. Hilda s Place is a transitional shelter for qualified single men and women for whom permanent housing is not yet available. Hilda s Place has room for 20 participants, who typically remain there for 3 months before moving into their own housing. Food and clothing is also provided. AGA members Mark Knudson (accompanied by his daughter), Frank Moy, Elaine Engleman, Eddie Jones (with his 2 sons), and Deborah Kinsley spent a few hours assisting with cleaning walls and floors, stocking and organizing food pantry items, sorting recently donated Halloween candy, and sorting, stocking, and re-organizing donated shoes and clothes. The event was indeed a success, and Lisa Todd, Hilda s Place Community Relations Manager, thanked the AGA for our support and welcomed us back in the future. Thanks to all the AGA members who took time out of their schedules to participate. A special thanks to Lisa Todd for having us, providing an orientation, and for the tour of the facility. And a very special thanks to Elaine Eigleman for suggesting this wonderful charity. This was indeed an awesome experience for my kids and myself, one we will forever cherish. I can t wait until the next one and hope more of you can make it out to join us in giving back to our local community organizations. -Eddie Jones Please contact the AGA Community Service Director Eddie Jones at eddie.jones@oig.dhs.gov or with any questions or suggestions for future community service events.

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7 Season s Greetings ~~~~~~ Wishing you a wonderful holiday season and all the best in the New Year! Warmest Regards AGA Chicago Chapter Executive Committee

8 AGA Chicago Chapter Executive Meeting October 9, :30 AM to 12:30 PM Quorum was present. See attendee list at end. Meeting minutes Minutes for August 21 and September 9 meetings were approved with no changes. Budget Budget was presented. A question was raised regarding the $295 cost for the PDT. It was explained that it was approved last month. Budget was passed and approved. In the future it was suggested to include the previous year s budget. Form 990 Question was raised about whether we need to file a form 990. That will be looked in to. Audit Hugh clarified that they are not doing an audit but an agreed upon procedures review. Hugh will provide Debra with a letter to sign on the agreed upon procedures. Citizen Centric Report The report was included in the last newsletter. It will be discussed at the next board meeting. Awards committee Letters regarding scholarships will be sent out in October with a due date of November for applications. Communication committee Olga is posting information on the internet site. The committee is still looking for a volunteer for the newsletter. Education There is an opportunity to get a team building class from Dale Carnegie. It would be done in the January meeting. Cost is $400 and it would be NASBA 2 CPES. Cost will be $20 for non-members and $10 for members. Motion was passed and approved to hold the class. By Laws and Procedures Hugh made the suggestion to cut back on the number of committees. There would be an executive board and 5 to 6 committees. This would cut down on the number of committees that would need to report out at meetings. The executive board would meet during the month and present a proposal at the next meeting.

9 Attendance List: Name Title Present Absent Deborah Kinsey President X Elaine Igelman Immediate Past President X Janet Kasper Secretary X Thomas DiLisio Treasurer X William Kresse By-laws and procedures, Education Chair, Board Counsel X Hugh Smith By-laws and procedures Co-Director X Frank Moy Education Chair X Cynthia Carter Program Director X Matt Matczynski Meetings Director X Nancy Taylor Membership Director X Alexandria Hayden Newsletter Editor X Olga Gesell Historian, Website Director X Raul Nieto CGFM X Rick Urbanowski Recognition Director X Chanel Castaneda Awards Director X Eddie Jones Community Service Director and Early Careers X Andy Masiewicz Early Careers Assistant Director X Lorraine Jamison PR/Marketing Director X Robert Cherney Early Careers X

10 AGA, Chicago Chapter Chapter Executive Committee Meeting Thursday, November 6, :30 AM to 12:30 PM Minutes from October meeting were approved with no changes. Board Committee Restructuring Restructuring proposal was discussed. There were no significant concerns about the proposal. An would be sent to board members to verify that they are (a) ok with the workgroup they have been assigned to, and (b) understand their role. A next step will be to create an initial template for each committee to complete that covers how they will operate and areas they will cover. Motion was approved to move forward with the board restructuring. Finance issues Treasurer s report was shared with board. Verified that the chapter is up-to-date on tax filings Finance committee will look into whether we need to issue any 990s from the PDC in April. Cash balance was discussed and it was suggested the board should consider how much cash it needs on hand and whether some could be invested. CEC member recognition Suggestion was made to offer repayment of due to board members. Issue was discussed and tabled to next month. Discussion was held on whether to recognize the board with a dinner or lunch. Issue was discussed with no resolution. There will be membership recruitment activities in December and May. Still looking for someone to be newsletter editor.

11 AGA Chicago Chapter Executive Committee Meeting Attendance List Meeting Date: 11/6/14 Name Title Present Absent Deborah Kinsey President X Elaine Igelman Immediate Past President X Janet Kasper Secretary, Accountability X Thomas DiLisio Treasurer X Hugh Smith President elect X Frank Moy Education Chair X Cynthia Carter Program Director X Matt Matczynski Meetings Director X Nancy Taylor Membership Director X Alexandria Hayden Newsletter Editor X Olga Gesell Historian, Website Director X Raul Nieto CGFM Director X Rick Urbanowski Recognition Director X Chanel Castaneda Awards Director X Eddie Jones Community Service Director and Early Careers X Andy Masiewicz Early Careers Assistant Director X Lorraine Jamison PR/Marketing Director X Robert Cherney Membership Assistant Director X

12 OBSERVATIONS ISSUE 5 CGFM The Certified Government Financial Manager (CGFM ) CGFM is a professional certification recognizing the unique skills and special knowledge required of today s government financial managers. It covers governmental accounting, auditing, financial reporting, internal controls and budgeting at the federal, state and local levels. Want more information? Contact the Chapter s CGFM Director, Raul Nieto, at 312/ UPCOMING CONTINUING EDUCATION SEMINARS Wednesday, January 14 th, 2015 Speaker: Dan Conrod, Manager of Delivery Format: Live Speaker Presentation 12:00 PM 2:00 PM (doors open / lunch 11:30 AM) Location: Metcalfe Federal Building GSA Conference Room W. Jackson Blvd., Chicago, IL Cost: Members: $10 /Non-Members: $20 (Includes Complimentary Box Lunch) CPEs Provided: 2 CPEs Space is limited!!! To attend this event, you must RSVP by Monday January 12th at noon to: Matt Matczynski at mailto:mmatczynski@hudoig.gov Wednesday February 11, 2015 Speaker: Stuart G. Berman, GSA-OIG Special Agent In Charge Topic: Contract Fraud Location: Metcalfe Federal Building (GSA Room 328) Time: Doors Open / Lunch: 11:30 AM; Presentation 12:00 PM 1:00 PM CPEs: 1.0 "If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader." -- John Quincy Adams agachicago.org Post Office Box 1744 Chicago, IL

13 NATIONAL AGA NEWS CGFM Intensive Review Course (IRC) The CGFM IRC is a two-day concentrated review of the topics covered on the three CGFM Examinations. The next IRC will take place in Washington on Feb Learn more FASAB Seeks Input on an Exposure Draft The Federal Accounting Standards Advisory Board (FASAB) seeks comments on an exposure draft titled, 'Public-Private Partnerships: Disclosure Requirements.' Due: Jan. 21. Read more Winter Journal Focuses on Health Care Read about challenges facing hospitals, identifying Medicaid fraud, advantages of electronic medical records and more! Need 3 CPEs? Read more Where Will Financial Management Systems Be in 20 Years? Jan. 8 Washington 6 CPEs Complimentary for Gov. Employees Discuss the future prospects of federal financial management systems in a budget-constrained environment at FSS Read more CGFM Examinations Promotion Get a $20 discount on CGFM examinations taken in December. Read more

14 The Chicago Chapter earned the following Chapter Recognition Program credits during November: Chapter Leadership, Planning & Participation 25 credits Education and Professional Development 400 credits CGFM 200 credits Communications 591 credits Membership and Early Careers 100 credits Community Service 550 credits Total 1,866 credits

15 CHAPTER CEC CONTACT INFORMATION President Deborah Kinsey SSA/OIG 877/ ext President-Elect Hugh Smith BrookWeiner. LLC 312/ Past President Elaine Ingelman Formerly DCAA 847/ Secretary Janet Kasper EPA 312/ Treasurer Thomas DiLisio DOL 312/ Program Director Cynthia CJ Carter RRB (312) Membership Director Nancy Taylor DOL/ETA 312/ Meetings Director Matthew Matczynski HUD/ OIG 312/ Community Service/ Early Careers Director Eddie Jones DHS/OIG 312/ Newsletter Editor Vacant Education Director Frank Moy GSA/OIG 312/ ext. 112 Website Director/ Historian Olga Gesell HHS/OIG 312/ Recognition Director Rick Urbanowski HUD/ OIG 312/ CGFM Director Raul Nieto ED/OIG 312/ By-laws & Procedures Co-Director Hugh Smith BrookWeiner. LLC 312/ Awards Director Chanel Castaneda DOL-ETA 312/ Job Referral Director Vacant Coordinator/ Accountability Director Vacant Early Careers Assistant Director Andy Masiewicz Becker 773/ Marketing Director Lorraine Jamison DOL-ETA 312/

16 Check us out on the web! AGA CHICAGO CHAPTER agachicago.org Interested in becoming a sponsor? Please contact us! Post Office Box 1744 Chicago, IL AGA supports the careers and professional development of government finance professionals working in federal, state and local governments as well as the private sector and academia. Founded in 1950, AGA enjoys a long history as the thought leader for the government accountability profession. Through education, research, publications, certification and conferences, AGA reaches thousands of professionals and offers more than 100,000 continuing professional education (CPE) hours annually. Pictures used throughout the newsletter are courtesy of: CHICAGO CHAPTER MISSION STATEMENT The mission of the AGA Chicago Chapter is to carry out an educational responsibility of enhancing public financial management and accountability. The chapter provides an opportunity for accountants and auditors to meet on a regular basis for training and networking. AGA through its chapters is a leading advocate for improving the quality and effectiveness of financial managers and auditors from local, state and federal governments from the Chicago area.