Dear Colleagues and Friends,

I begin my term as GFOAT President by saying “thank you” to the membership for allowing me to serve as your president for 2010/11, and to all the dedicated professionals who have served before me.  It is truly an honor to follow in the footsteps of so many talented individuals who are committed to this profession and who have given so much to this organization. I promise to do my best to uphold this tradition.

I want to personally thank Kent Pfiel for his service as President last year and to thank Beverly Queen as she concludes her service on the Board.  Kent will continue his service as Immediate Past President.  Kent has provided critical leadership as we begin the implementation of the GFOAT Strategic Plan.  Under his guidance, the GFOAT Board has revised and updated our membership fee schedule and worked to enhance and expand training opportunities throughout the organization.  This is an initiative I intend to continue in the upcoming year. 

The training survey that was recently completed showed that “training needs” vary throughout the state and there is no “one-size” fits all answer.  Looking to the future, our organization needs to “think outside the box” and embrace new forms of training and communication.  The Board is considering Webinars and other types of targeted training.  In addition, potential changes to the standard conference format may be recommended.  A special task force to review options and training materials is also in the works.  GFOAT is a resource of individuals who have gained experience and knowledge throughout their careers and are willing to share those experiences with the next generation of finance professionals.  There is the potential to lose much of this organizational knowledge and experience as baby boomers (of which I am one) see “the light at the end of the tunnel” and retirement on the horizon, thus leaving the way for the next generation to lead the organization.  I believe it is critical for GFOAT to encourage membership expansion and organizational involvement to prepare for this change. Membership expansion is always a challenge, but we must actively recruit the next generation of organizational leaders.  In addition, our membership is ever changing, as younger, less experienced people enter the profession. GFOAT must change to meet their needs.  Reaching out to this new generation of government finance professionals will be a challenge for the upcoming year.  New forms of social and professional communication, such as LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter can be opportunities to provide added value to our membership.

I want to encourage you to get involved, be on committee or participate as a Regional Director.  Also, reach out to the finance professionals in your surrounding cities and encourage them to join GFOAT and become part of this great organization.  I also want to thank Karen Rhodes-Whitley as she concludes her term as Immediate Past President.  I have no doubt; she like so many other past presidents will still be actively involved in the organization.  
In closing, I want to thank you again for allowing me to service as your president and I look forward to continuing the tradition of helping this organization meet the challenges ahead.

Until next month,

Micki Rundell
President

 

GFOAT
Job Postings and Resource Directory

City of Goliad-City Administrator
Job Posted on: 7/28/2010
Closing Date: 8/18/2010
Salary: DOQ


City of Cedar Park-Assistant Director of Finance
Job Posted on: 7/22/2010
Closing Date: 9/20/2010
Salary: Starting monthly salary $5,660.00 + DOQ


Town of Little Elm-Assistant Finance Director
Job Posted on: 7/19/2010
Closing Date: 7/30/2010
Salary: DOQ


City of Kyle-City Manager
Job Posted on: 7/13/2010
Closing Date: 9/11/2010
Salary: $116,000 starting


More Jobs | Post a Job

GFOAT
Committees and Regions

 

Professional Development - CGFO:   Contact suzette@gfoat.org Next testing dates:  August 12 Georgetown; November 17 Galveston

 

Regional 8 & 13 News (DFW): Contact Alan at adickerson@littleelm.org.  Welcome Linda Bantz and Monika Arris!

Next date: September 17.  Renewal forms coming out for next year.   

 

Regional 14 News (Gulf Coast):  Generally the Gulf Coast chapter meets the third Thursday of each month.  Contact Rhonda Daugherty, West University Place rdaugherty@westu.org

 

Regional 16 News (Deep East):  Welcomes Cheryl Dowden, Nederland as new regional co-chair.

 

GFOAT

 

 

Training Calendar/News

GFOAT CURRENT NEWS TO USE......

2010-2011 MEMBERSHIP RENEWALS are Ready!!!!!  Renew online now!!    Hard copies will be mailed in a couple of weeks if you do not renew online.  Please note that TML can no longer take faxed credit card information.

 

FDIC announces insurance coverage permanently increased to $250,000 per Depositor! July 21, 2010

 

GFOA news from national ...

Macklem releases Generational Change Task Force Report Read more here...

SAVE THE DATE for GFOA National Conference in SAN ANTONIO May 22-25, 2011 - For budgeting purposes early bird registration is expected to be $370.  Housing and registration will be open in the fall! Don't forget that there will be pre-conference options, as well as a single-day option. There is also a call for session topics at their website www.gfoa.org

GASB news ...

  • News Release Deadline for comment on codification of 13/34 due July 31
  • Preliminary Views on Pension Accounting see related article from FRRR committee.  Committee Meeting on August 13, Richardson; GASB Hearing on October 13th, DFW Hyatt
  • Statement 59 Released  Financial Instruments Omnibus

The Institute of Government Finance at Texas Tech offers training for the non-finance professions. Contact hours: 36; certificate provided! Fall Session/Dallas-Ft. Worth - October 4 - 9, 2010; Spring Session/Austin - February 7 - 12, 2011; Summer Session/Houston-San Antonio - June 6 - 11, 2011 Get this info out to your operational department colleagues!! Download brochure here or go-online to Texas Tech... 

For your tool box ...

Need justification and explanation for why those financial reports need to be completed in a timely manner??? Check out GASB's Chairman Attmore and AICPA's Melancon in "Trust in Timing" in Governing Magazine, July 15, 2010

GFOAT
Articles

Enhancing the Value of GFOAT Training and Continuing Education
Report on the Results of the 2010 Training Survey
By Randy Moravec


Perhaps the greatest benefit the Government Finance Officers Association of Texas can provide its members is effective and efficient training. Effective training provides members with knowledge and skills that improve their ability to serve their organizations and communities. Efficient training recognizes the limited time and financial resources of members and is structured to communicate valuable information within a reasonable amount of time and with minimum investment of scarce training dollars, in other words, the most “bang for the buck.”
MORE

GASB issues its Preliminary Views on Pensions
Bob Scott, Chair, GFOAT FRRR Committee

On June 18, 2010, the Governmental Accounting Standards Board issued their Preliminary Views (PV) on Pension Accounting and Financial Reporting for Employers. This document is available on the GASB website at www.gasb.org and has a comment deadline of September 17, 2010. A Public hearing on the subject will also be held by GASB at the DFW Hyatt at DFW airport on October 12, 2010. GFOAT’s Financial Reporting and Regulatory Requirements (FRRR) committee will be preparing a response on behalf of it membership based on a meeting/ conference call hosted by the City of Richardson City Hall/Convention Center on Friday, August 13, 2010 9:00‐11:00 a.m.. Members are encouraged to participate in GFOAT’s response.
MORE

 

GFOAT
Chart of the Month


VIEW THE PDF

Text Box: Getting Your Act Together

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