The GFOAA Board of Directors meeting was held May 18th at the Capitol Hill Golf Course Clubhouse. There were 12 members in attendance.

Business conducted included approval of the Minutes of February 25, 2001.

The year-to-date financial report as of April 30, 2001 for the fiscal year beginning April 1, 2001 through March 21, 2002 was provided and reviewed by Tracy Croom (contact Steve Boone, Treasurer, for copies of financial reports).

Membership Committee (Ronnie Burlison – Chair) Travis Hulsey reported that the new member goal for the 2001-2002 fiscal year was to achieve a 10% increase. The web site has been modified to allow prospective members to fill out an application on–line. Since this modification, 6 individuals have submitted applications on-line.

Education (Judy Kamnikar – Chair)

Judy Kamnikar reported that GFOAA would be receiving an additional $1,000 for our share of last year’s receipts received for the 2000 GAAF. The Governmental Accounting and Auditing Forum dates have been set for December 11-12, 2001.

Judy Kamnikar further reported that the Account Clerk Certification Task Force would begin work and a complete report would be finished by December 2001.

Certification Board (Mike Wright – Chair)

Mike Wright will serve as chairman and Fran Copeland will serve as Coordinator for the Certification Board.

Public Information (Sherry Gurganus – Chair)

Travis Hulsey reported that the GFOAA newsletter has changed its name to Money Talk and the distribution of 317 spring edition newsletters--156 by email and 161 by regular mail.

Scholarships and Services (Sarah Williams – Chair)

Sarah reported that the committee is working hard to increase the number of future scholarship applications received. Currently only two scholarship applications have been received.

The Committee is in the process of contacting members for nominations for the Innovations Awards, the Kamnikar Award, and the Research Grant Project.

The committee is also in the process of developing a Speakers Bureau/Help Desk through list service. Marilyn Dozier and Charles Clack have agreed to chair this project.

Strategic Planning (Ed Kamnikar – Chair)

Ed Kamnikar gave a brief update on the progress of the Strategic Planning Committee. He announced that the next meeting would be held on Friday, June 15^th at 10:00 a.m. to review the basic mission, SWATS, goals and objectives of GFOAA.

Other business discussed included the 2001 Annual Conference, the Summer Workshop, the 2001 GFOA National Conference, the 2002 Annual Conference and the Strategic Planning Goals.

To receive a copy of the Board of Directors Meeting Minutes for May 18, 2001, please contact:

Tracy Croom, CGFO

Office: 205-349-0112/Fax: 205-349-0197

tcroom@ci.tuscaloosa.al.us

The next Board of Directors Meeting is Sunday, August 12, 2001, 3:00 – 5:00 p.m. in Orange Beach, Alabama. See page 4 for details.

Our new fiscal year is well under way and I am excited about the projects and training opportunities that will be made available to all GFOAA members during the coming year.

During the month of May we had a very successful Site Visit to the Robert Trent Jones Capitol Hill Golf Course. Our generous hosts also allowed us to utilize the Clubhouse Conference Room for our GFOAA Board Meeting immediately following the Site Visit. I would like to thank the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail organization for their hospitality and continued support of GFOAA and urge our membership to utilize their facilities where practical.

On June 15^th Jefferson County was pleased to host the annual "Committees in Action Meetings" (CAM). The CAM sessions are designed to bring representatives from the various committees together to formulate goals and objectives for the coming year and to update GFOAA’s long-term Strategic Planning Framework. The meetings were very productive and resulted in a number of great recommendations; i.e.:

1. implement membership drive contest with prizes for members with most referrals.
2. provide new member orientation package with certificate of membership, code of ethics, pins, etc.
3. host National GFOA satellite teleconference at various locations.
4. reduce CGFO eligibility experience requirements from 6 years to 3 years.
5. establish "retiree" and "inactive" status for CGFO participants.

Thanks to all committee members who participated in this endeavor.

The Summer Workshop will be held August 13-14, in Orange Beach and I know that Joan Ensley has been working hard to provide you with a great conference. Please register at your earliest convenience to help us in our preparations for the Summer Workshop.

I hope to see each of you in Orange Beach.

The third quarterly luncheon meeting of the GFOAA Regional group was held on June 14, 2001. Mr. Preston Bolt, attorney with the firm of Hand Arendall, LC, gave an interesting and informative presentation on the topic of Bond Issues—What you Need to Know.

The meeting was held at Skyline Country Club in Mobile. There were approximately 27 participants from 13 local government-related organizations, including a CPA firm and an engineering firm.

The next meeting is planned for the first half of September, 2001. For information, contact Linda Steele, Comptroller, City of Mobile at 334-208-7167.

As members of GFOAA, each of you are aware of the tremendous benefits of being a member of this great organization. GFOAA provides inexpensive continuing professional education opportunities, certification programs, leadership skills development, peer group resources and networking opportunities—all for the low cost of a $25 annual membership fee (which is waived for those attending the annual conference).

We know that there are many prospective members who would enjoy the benefits of GFOAA membership if invited. As an incentive to recruit new members, GFOAA will be offering a prize drawing for a color television set at the next annual conference for all members who refer a new member during the current fiscal year. Each new member referral will garner an additional chance to win the grand prize.

Thank you in advance for your participation in the membership drive which will keep our organization thriving as well as provide your referral with a very rewarding experience. Membership applications are available on the web site at www.gfoaa.org. GFOAA brochures are available from Janet Mularz at Office Automation Specialist, phone (334) 409-9136, e-mail: j.mularz@worldnet.att.net.

Certified Government Finance Officer examinations will be offered at the Summer Workshop and Annual Conference. There are five examination subject areas and candidates may take one or more examination on each scheduled examination date. Each examination subject area has a $75 examination fee. The Certification Board has recently recommended a reduction in the government financial management experience eligibility requirement from a minimum of six (6) years to a minimum of three (3) years. For additional information please visit our web site at www.gfoaa.org.

The CGFO is a program of professional education and development which awards special recognition to individuals who possess a high level of expertise in governmental financial management and is awarded only to individuals possessing an established level of competency and proficiency in governmental financial management.

GFOAA encourages all recipients of the CGFO designation to use the designation in all their correspondence, business cards, etc. Display the CGFO designation proudly.

The conference has been approved for sixteen hours of continuing education credit by the Alabama State Board of Accountancy.

Topics will include GASB Updates, GASB 34 Implementation, Cash Management and Investments, Debt Administration, Continuing Disclosure Requirements, Advances in Technology and many other relevant topics.

Conference fees are only $125 for the full two day sessions approved for 16 hours of CPE. Registration fees include continental breakfast, lunch and a reception on Monday evening. Please return registration form and payment no later than August 3, 2001.

To make a room reservation at Windemere Condos & Conference Center & Hampton Inn Hotel in Orange Beach, Alabama, please call Group Reservations at 1-888-974-1120, Extension 1012, Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Please ask for the GFOAA special rates when making your reservations.

The room block for GFOAA will be held until

July 19, 2001. In order to ensure a room and/or the group discount, you must make your reservation before this date. All reservations must be guaranteed with a credit card or by cash deposit.

On a first-come, first-served basis, you will have your choice of the following room types (add 11% tax):

More than 7,000 attendees gathered for GFOA’s 2001 Annual Conference, on June 3-6, 2001 in Philadelphia.

GFOAA is pleased to announce the winners of the GFOAA Scholarship Awards for the 2001-2002 school year.

Congratulations to Melinda James (Auburn University) and Amanda Pierce (Auburn-Montgomery) who were selected as the recipients of this year’s scholarship awards.

E-mail: j.mularz@worldnet.att.net