The Philadelphia Penn

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1 The Philadelphia Penn Volume 31, Issue 3 October 2002 Energy Star Program Financial Power of the Energy Star Program Ms. Mindee Osno, Regional Program Manager Environmental Protection Agency The guest speaker for our luncheon was Ms. Mindee Osno, Regional Program Manager for the Energy Star Program. Ms. Osno s topic was the Environmental Protection Agency s ENERGY STAR program. The U.S. EPA has recently created the ENERGY STAR label for buildings to recognize and promote excellence in strategic energy management. The owners and managers of over 2 million square feet of office space have already become partners with ENERGY STAR making their properties more competitive, profitable, and valuable. Energy is the largest operating expense for commercial office buildings, making up nearly one third of its operating expenses. By improving the energy performance of a building, owners can 2002 TAX SEMINAR The Tax Seminar is scheduled for Friday, December 13 th in room 415, of the Public Ledger Building, 6 th and Chestnut Streets, Philadelphia. We will soon place a registration site on our web page AGA AWARDS For the latest AGA awards go to National AGA web page, by accessing our Chapter s web page at IMPORTANT NEWSLETTER NEWS We realize that not everyone has access to, or the preference of, using for the newsletter. To accommodate this situation we are offering three options: 1) If you want to have your copy of the newsletter mailed to you, fill out the coupon below and return it 2) Send your address to Bob Peterson at Bob.Peterson@dcaa.mil to have your copy ed or 3) Download a copy of the newsletter from our web page at If you are still receiving your newsletter by mail you do not need to fill out the coupon below. I NSIDE T HIS I SSUE Continued on page 2 1 Energy Star Program, Mindee Osno 2 Awards Information, CGFM, National AGA News 4 Chapter Activities 5 Chapter Officers Mail to: Association of Government Accountants, Philadelphia Chapter Attn: Newsletter Editor P.O. Box Philadelphia PA NAME: AGENCY: ADDRESS:

2 Continued from page 1 experience: lower operating costs, increased net operating income, increased funds from operations, and enhanced assets and shareholder value. The EPA provides, at no cost, the Portfolio Manager, an internet-based energy performance and tracking tool. It provides insight to property owners and managers on how they can optimize the energy and financial performance of their office portfolios. Also available to ENERGY STAR participants is QuickScope, a CD-ROM based software tool that helps owners and managers assess the costs and benefits of energy performance improvements in leased space. QuickScope allocates the costs and benefits of energy-efficiency upgrades between tenants and owners, models a variety of leasing scenarios, and uses proven industry-accepted strategies such as tenant cost recovery, future rent increases, and higher occupancy to help building managers increase asset and shareholder value. We thank Ms. Osno for taking time out of her busy schedule to offer her presentation at our luncheon. We wish her well in all her endeavors. CGFM NEWS Anyone who is interested in participating in a review course of the CGFM exam may contact John Carlucci at (215) , or at Jcarlucci@oig.hhs.gov. To keep up to date on the CGFM program, subscribe to CGFM Topics. To subscribe, go to the AGA National Home Page and select Free E- mail Newsletter under the CGFM link and follow the instructions. You can access the AGA National Home Page through our web site at You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to read the newsletter. NATIONAL AGA NEWS For the latest National AGA News visit our web site at and link into the National site. AGA PHILADELPHIA CHAPTER NEWS AGA Philadelphia Chapter Committee Members Needed The Philadelphia Chapter still has Committee member positions available. If you are interested contact Vince Gallo at (215) or at Gallo.Vince@epa.gov. Government Services Manager Wanted Tandy, Morrison & LaTour, LLC. Executive Search Consultants have a client who is looking for a Government Services Manager for the Camp Hill area. For position description, candidate qualifications, and education requirements contact Mr. Charles W. Tandy or Catherine J. Morrison Tandy, Morrison & LaTour, LLC Quarry Lane, Lancaster PA or call (717) or at ctandy@tmlsearch.com or cmorrison@tmlsearch.com Auditor Needed Our chapter is looking for a volunteer to perform a review of the financial statements. If you are interested please contact Vince Gallo at Gallo.Vince@epa.gov.

3 PRESIDENT S MESSAGE I just came back from Washington D.C. where I completed the CGFM course titled, Governmental Accounting, Financial Reporting and Budgeting. It was a really intense and comprehensive study in Federal, State and Local accounting and related subjects. I recommend that everyone in the governmental accounting/auditing field take this course. Although I am already a CGFM, I am going to take the other two CGFM preparation courses and take the written exam to test my skill. I encourage all AGA members to take these or similar courses and obtain certification, if you have not already done so. At last month=s meeting, we welcomed Mindee Osno from EPA. She gave a very informative presentation on how businesses and governmental agencies can save money and energy, as well as protect our environment by participating in the Energy Star program. My observation is that this is an important topic for many of us who are charged with the efficient use of our agencies financial and other resources. Next month=s speaker is Kathleen O=Donnell of the Pennsylvania s Office of the Auditor General. She will speak to us on IT Vulnerabilities. It should be a very interesting and enlightening presentation. I can=t wait!! Kathleen is the AGA Vice President for the Mid-Atlantic Region. I invited her to our November Executive Committee meeting to fill us in on AGA National current events. Please mark your calendars for our annual Tax Seminar on December 13 th to be held in the DHHS OIG conference room in the Public Ledger Building, which incidentally is a stone=s throw from our monthly meeting location in the First Union Center. Once again, we will have the IRS TEC Team give a presentation. Actually, it is more appropriate to state that they are back by popular demand because of the overwhelming favorable response our members have given to them. We still need one more speaker to complete our roster. Anyone out there want to show us what you know about taxes and related subjects? If so, please call me at (215) or e mail me at gallo.vince@epa.gov. Otherwise, you may get stuck listening to me for part of the seminar. This organization is not totally about what any of us on the Executive Committee think. We need your ideas to improve our chapter. Right now, in addition to the Tax Seminar, we need speakers at our regular monthly meetings and the PDC. Please let us know who you want and we will do our best to book them. I look forward to seeing all of you at our next meeting on November 20th at the usual place, First Union Center, 5 th & Market Sts. Please sign-up on our website or call me at (215) Of course, you can also e mail me at Gallo.Vince@epa.gov. See you at the October meeting. Thank you. Vince Gallo, President

4 NOTICE OF LUNCHEON UPDATED SCHEDULE OF NEXT LUNCHEON MEETING LOCATION: First Union Building DATE: November 20, th and Market Streets COST: $15 non-members Second Floor Dining Room $10 AGA Members Philadelphia PA TIME: Executive Meeting begins at 11:15 A.M. Lunch begins at 12 Noon SPEAKER: Kathleen O Donnell, Pennsylvania s Office of the Auditor General TOPIC: IT Vulnerabilities For details please visit our web site at REGISTRATION: On-line at or call John Bocelli (215) or Mike Walsh at (215) ext Please leave your name, agency, and daytime telephone number. If you need to cancel your luncheon reservation please call John or Mike, this will help ensure that the appropriate amount of food is prepared for those who do attend. Thank you for your cooperation. The Philadelphia Penn 4

5 CHAPTER ACTIVITIES An executive meeting was held October 16 th, 9 committee members in attendance. Potential guest speakers, presentation topics, social activities, and professional activities for next year were discussed. The Board also discussed: the National Awards and the number of individuals nominated, tax seminar, and speakers and topics for the PDC. Dennis T. Zawacki, Treasurer, reported the chapter finances as of October 15, 2002 as follows: Balance Sheet As of October 15, 2002 Total Current Assets $16, Liabilities & Equity Equity Opening BAL Equity 8, Retained Earnings Net Income 6, Total Liabilities & Equity $16, Lisa McCowan, Director of the Recognition Committee, reported our chapter total recognition points earned as of October 11, 2002 were as follows: CATEGORY YTD MAX POINTS Administration 375 2,000 Awards 700 1,000 Community Service 0 2,000 Education Events 1,650 3,000 Meetings 847 2,000 Membership 0 2,000 Newsletter 0 2,000 Chapter CGFM 100 2,000 Total 3,672 16,000 Goal 10,000 Percentage of Goal 36.72% The Philadelphia Penn 5

6 John Carlucci, Director of the CGFM Committee, stated that there is detailed information about the CGFM program listed on the National AGA web site. You can access this web site through our address at Anyone who is interested in participating in a review course of the CGFM exam may contact John Carlucci at (215) or Jcarlucci@oig.hhs.gov. Mike Walsh reported that, due to increased security concerns, it has become necessary for us to show a picture ID at the security desk when entering the First Union Building for our monthly meetings. In the past, we have always provided a list of names of those expecting to attend, and all we had to do was identify ourselves to the guard and be admitted after the guard confirmed that our names were on the list. The new procedures will mean that advance registration should be used whenever possible. Walk-ins can be accommodated, but it may require an escort from the front desk to the dining area. CHAPTER OFFICERS Office Officer Phone Number President Vincent G. Gallo, EPA st Vice President Paul Sager, City of Philadelphia nd Vice President Vacant Treasurer Dennis T. Zawacki, U.S. Attorney Secretary Lorraine Fleury, EPA Past President Willard Weikel, DCAA (Ret) COMMITTEE DIRECTORS Committee Director Phone Number CGFM John Carlucci, HHS Research By Laws Lorraine Fleury, EPA Historian Charles Hoeger, DoD (Ret) Newsletter Paul C. Teti, HHS x 2027 Public Service Vacant Recognition Lisa McCowan, EPA Membership Vacant Webmaster Bob Peterson, DCAA Education Phil Burg, HHS Awards Lisa Ferraro, HHS x 2006 Veterans Day, Monday November 11, 2002 Thanksgiving Day, Thursday November 28, 2002 UPCOMING FEDERAL HOLIDAYS The Philadelphia Penn 6

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North Central Region Newsletter November 2015 Issue III The #1 Rated Newsletter In The North Central Region Message From The RVP: Greetings! I hope everyone is having a great chapter year. Given comments