Membership

Benefits of Membership

Conference/Meetings – GFOAT meets regularly three times each year: during its annual Spring Institute, at the Fall Conference, and in conjunction with the TML Annual Conference Affiliates Day. Developments and current trends in financial management and related fields are discussed.

Regional Meetings – Periodically, the President or Regional Directors call regional meetings for the purpose of training schools or other business of the Association that may require action of the membership.

Publications – Members receive a monthly newsletter featuring articles on changes and innovations in public finance, current topics, new members, career opportunities, and GFOAT activities. It also provides a medium for members to present their ideas. Resource materials are also made available throughout the year in the form

of timely reference listings of books, periodicals, and reports that provide valuable information on the public finance profession.

The Directory of the Government Finance Officers Association of Texas is available on the organization’s Web site at www.gfoat.org.

Professional Development – Through its activities and services, GFOAT officers and staff encourage and help all members to enhance, expand, and cultivate their professional skills and abilities.

Discounted TML Publications – GFOAT membership provides each member with an opportunity to receive, at significantly reduced prices, one subscription to the Texas Municipal League’s monthly magazine, Texas Town and City (Regular price $30; Affiliate price $15) and/or one annual TML Directory of City Officials (Regular price $60; Affiliate price $30).

Eligibility and Dues

GFOAT membership is available in five categories: Active, Associate, Faculty/Student, Retiree, and Honorary.

Eligibility

Active Members – Any governmental officials, whether elected or appointed, in public jurisdictions of the United States government, state government, local city or a special district in Texas.

Associate Members – Any persons not eligible for active membership but who are interested in the furtherance and enhancement of the practice of governmental finance.

Faculty/Student Members – Individuals employed in higher education or full-time students enrolled in a college or university.

Retiree Members – May be held in the Association by a person who was a member of GFOAT upon retiring from the profession and desires to maintain a relationship with the Association.

Honorary Members – Bestowed by the active membership on any individual whose record of professional accomplishment in the public finance field makes him/her an outstanding example for all finance officers, and whose contributions to the profession qualifies him/her for such designation.

Dues

Annual dues are assessed each July according to the following

membership classification and tier structure:

Active Members

City population of 5,000 and under

City population of 5,001-25,000

City population of 25,001-75,000

City population of over 75,000

Other governments

Associate Members

Faculty

Student

Retiree Members

Dues for new members joining GFOAT from January – June will www.gfoat.org be assessed at one-half the annual rate.

Committee Membership – Most committees have spaces available to assist in the work of GFOAT. If you have an interest in getting involved with GFOAT, even as a new member, please check for the mission of each committee and contact information for committee chairs at www.gfoat.org or on the back cover of the monthly newsletter you will receive.

• Ethics

• Financial Reporting & Regulatory Response

• Legislative

• Membership

• Newsletter & Website

• Professional Development

•Professional Awareness (administratively combined with Scholarship)

• Program Development

• Scholarship, Fellowship & Foundation

• Woman’s Professional Network

Regional Leadership & Participation – Check the GFOAT Web site and back cover of the monthly GFOAT newsletter to identify the Regional Directors. Let them know if you are available and interested in helping to coordinate regional meetings and/or to conduct regional training meetings. The regions and major service areas are:

• Region 2 – Amarillo area

• Region 3 – Caprock-Lubbock area

• Region 4 – Permian Basin area

• Region 5 – Red River area

• Region 6 – Hub of Texas area

• Region 7 – Alamo area

• Region 8 – Fort Worth area

• Region 9 – Heart of Texas area

• Region 10 – Highland Lakes area

• Region 11 – Coastal Bend area

• Region 12 – Rio Grande area

• Region 13 – North Central Texas area

• Region 14 – San Jacinto area

• Region 15 – Tyler-Longview area

• Region 16 – Beaumont-Lufkin area

Certification Program – The GFOAT program of professional education and development leads to the designation of qualified persons as Certified Government Finance Officers (CGFO). For more information about this important program, see our Web site or contact: Becky Brooks at blbrooks@gfoat.org.