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May/June 2009

Volume 31, Number 10

President’s Message By Kathy Anderson, CGFM, CPA

That’s a wrap! The awards luncheon was held May 7th at the Wildhorse Saloon. For those of you unable to be present, I‘d like to give a little recap. After the regular business, Jeff Hughes presented the scholarship winners with their scholarship checks. Nu Nguyen and Regina Dobbins accepted the scholarship awards.

Karen Hale presented the retiree awards. She presented Charles Harrison with an award for his many years of service to AGA, both at the local and the national level. He has previously been awarded some of the highest honors in the AGA organization. Charles in turn talked about his experience with AGA and the opportunities our organization provides for leadership and for

What’s Inside… President’s Message 1

SLM Meeting 5

Congratulations 6

Meeting Minutes 7

Committee News 8

Leadership Listing 9

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networking. Retirees Ron Anderson and Charles Bilbrey were unable to attend, but will receive tokens of our appreciation for their service separately.

Drawings were held for individuals who recruited other members, who participated in community service activities, and who were early career members. Several incentive prizes were given to the drawing winners. Jeff Hughes received an award for being the most active early career member and for writing newsletter articles. Jeff also received the award for the financial article of the year. Suzanne Sawyers accepted the award for the nonfinancial article of the year.

Teresa Kennedy presented the Members of the Year awards to Jeff Hughes and Tammy Fruscione. Jeff Hughes had an incredible amount of points for all his participation in activities this year, and Tammy was very devoted to the community service activities of the chapter, as well as having a lot of points.

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I presented the president’s awards to Chas Taplin, Chapter Treasurer, for his hard work both with the regular chapter business and with the financial needs for the Regional Professional Development Conference, and to Michelle Earhart for the incredible program she pulled together for the chapter meetings and for the program development of the Professional Development Conference. She also organized the social and networking events. Their activities were both crucial to the chapter this year and were handled flawlessly. Corey tester won the drawing for the National Professional Development Conference in New Orleans.

After installing the new officers and directors, I then encouraged others to serve in the chapter leadership in future years. The fulfillment of a job completed for a valuable organization outweighs any of the trials and tribulations encountered while volunteering. I recognized the work of the directors, chairs, and co-chairs, as they are the ones who pulled everything together all year. And from my prospective, they each did an excellent job.

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I’ll add my exact notes about the upcoming year. “I’m leaving this role excited about the new year. Karen will be an excellent leader. I know this because I’ve served with her in AGA over the years and also while she led the Tennessee Government Executive’s Institute. She’s thoughtful, forward-thinking, thorough, organized. The committee and the chapter will benefit from her skills. I think the chapter could continue to be challenged with membership issues. We are one of the larger chapters but need to ensure we always maintain our current membership rates and try to increase. We all need to continue to do our part and assist Karen by bringing in new members and guests and continuing to participate on committees and in chapter events. But overall, I think Karen will find a strong, dedicated chapter and, in Karen, the chapter will find a true leader. If anyone can strengthen the chapter, she can.” I then passed on the gavel. Go get’em, Karen!

Karen discussed the prior year and presented a beautiful bamboo plaque to me (come by and see it!) She expressed her honor at being chosen to lead the chapter next year and encouraged members to be involved on committees in the upcoming year. You’ll be hearing more from her in the newsletters soon!! Thanks for a fantastic year! Kathy

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Sectional Leadership Meeting held in Baltimore

Four members of the Nashville AGA Chapter attended the National Sectional Leadership Meeting (SLM) in Baltimore, Maryland, April 24-25. Those attending were Karen Hale, regional coordinator for education and incoming chapter president, Rusty Lacy, incoming education committee chair, Jeff Hughes, incoming chapter early careers chair, and Ron Queen, regional coordinator for certification and chapter CGFM chair.

This was the first time the SLM included more than one section at the same meeting. Two sections were represented at this SLM. Section 1 which includes chapters from these regions: New England, North Central, Northeast, and Ohio-Michigan and Section 1 which includes chapters from the Capital, Mid-Atlantic, and Southeastern regions. The one and a half day event included presentations by members of the AGA National staff, Ron Cox, Senior VP for Region 1, Relmond Van Daniker, Executive Director of AGA, and president-elect Billy Moorehead. The first day included workshops for regional vice president and chapter presidents; education chairs and coordinators; certification chairs and coordinators; membership chairs and one of chapter development and assistance. There also were breakout sessions by region, which were led by the incoming regional vice presidents. These sessions gave each chapter an opportunity to share successes and ideas as education, membership, programs, early careers, media relations, etc.

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Congratulations!

Retirees

The Nashville Chapter would like to offer our congratulations and say thank you to

our members who have retired from government service over the past year.

Ron Anderson – State of Tennessee – State Audit Charles Bilbrey – State of Tennessee – Office of the Comptroller of the Treasury Charles Harrison – State of Tennessee – Office of the Comptroller of the Treasury The valuable contributions of each member have led to the current success of our

Chapter. Thank you and enjoy your retirement!

Emerging Leader Award of Excellence

Congratulations to Michelle Earhart for being selected for the Emerging Leader

Award of Excellence!

This NATIONAL award recognizes younger government financial managers for notable contributions toward excellence in financial managerment. It will be awarded to Michelle at the National Professional Development Conference in New Orleans in recognition of her leadership in providing transparency and accountability for the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds available to the State of Tennessee through her leadership in enterprise risk management and implementation of front-end controls and processes to mitigate fraud waste and abuse of stimulus funds.

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Platinum Chapter Recognition Award

The Nashville Chapter will again be receiving the AGA Platinum level Chapter Recognition award at the PDC in New Orleans. Kathy Anderson will accept the award on behalf of the chapter.

Chapter Recognition Points

Chapter Recognition Annual

Points National

Maximum

Points

2008-2009

Through May 8, 2009

Leadership 4,650 3,000 Education 11,900 4,000 Certification 10,825 4,000 Communication 10,473 3,000 Membership 2,075 3,000 Early Careers 2,175 2,000 Community Service 4,650 2,000 Awards 11,100 1,000 _________________________________ Total Points YTD 57,848 33,000

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Meeting Minutes

Chapter Executive Committee Meeting

The Chapter Executive Committee (CEC) met on May 21, 2009, in conjunction with the AGA Committee Appreciation Luncheon, at the Spaghetti Factory. Minutes http://nashvilleaga.org/monthly_meetings.htm

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Committee News Get Involved!

Education Provides professional training, education, and development opportunities to the government professional community. Finance Ensures the chapter meets its IRS reporting requirements; prepares the chapter history reports, and consults on financial matters as needed. The chapter leadership is looking to expand the scope to include corporate sponsorships, which will enhance specific programs and activities of the chapter. Meetings and Attendance Promotes and coordinates chapter meetings including meeting logistics and reservations.

Membership/Member Services Works to attract new chapter members and retain current members. Provides assistance to members.

Newsletter Provides timely information to the chapter on upcoming events, recaps of past events, articles, and job opportunities.

Program Coordinates speakers for chapter luncheon meetings and develops a chapter social event for members.

Public Relations Promotes the chapter’s accomplishments and activities through notices, press releases, and other means of communication.

Website Provides a mechanism for communication of chapter and national AGA information

The Nashville Chapter of AGA is full of smart and energetic members with ideas on speakers, social events, newsletter articles,

website savvy, etc.! Be a volunteer!

The following is a list of chapter committees. Remember, the more you put into an

organization, the more you get out of it! Contact Karen Hale at Karen.B.Hale@tn.gov or call 741-0198 for more information and to volunteer. Committees will be working over the summer months, so volunteer today!

Awards Acknowledges participation and contributions of chapter members; participants in the National awards program that acknowledges chapter committee work, and by nominating individuals in the government financial community for leadership awards. Coordinates scholarship program.

Government Financial Manager Promotes the CGFM designation by marketing the program and by assisting potential candidates in attaining the certification and supports current CGFM’s.

Community Service Promotes and conducts community service activities that enhance the chapter and AGA’s image and reputation. Provides a means for chapter members to give back to the community.

Early Career Promotes AGA participation and government to students and individuals early in their government careers.

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Nashville Chapter

2008-2009 Leadership

Officers

President Kathy Anderson, CGFM, CPA (615) 747-5241 Kathy.Anderson@tn.gov

President-elect Melvin Jones, CGFM, CPA (615) 532-6165 Melvin.Jones@tn.gov

Immediate Past President, Ann Collett, CGFM, CPA (615) 253-2159 Ann.Collett@tn.gov

Secretary Amy Czerwinski, CGFM, CPA (615) 401-7743 Amy.Czerwinski@tn.gov

Treasurer Chas Taplin, CPA, CFE (615) 747-5287 Chas.Taplin@statetn.gov

One-year Directors Ed Burr, CPA, CGFM Membership Co-Chair (615) 747-5275 Ed.Burr@tn.gov Michelle Earhart, CPA Program Chair (615) 253-6057 Michelle.Earhart@tn.gov Teresa Kennedy, CPA Awards Co-Chair (615747-5260 Teresa.Kennedy@tn.gov

Joe Kimery, CPA, CGFM, CFE Meetings and Attendance Co-Chair (615) 401-7841 Joe.Kimery@tn.gov Beth Pugh Community Service Co-Chair (615) 532-8770 bpugh@thda.org

Two-year Directors Patricia Finney Finance Chair (615) 862-6100 Pat.Finney@nashville.gov Rusty Lacy Education Chair (615) 401-7764 Rusty.Lacy@tn.gov Jennifer Lewis, CFE Membership Co-Chair (615) 253-6400 Jennifer.Lewis@tn.gov Tommie Pendergrass Meetings and Attendance Co-Chair (615) 532-1013 Tommie.Pendergrass@tn.gov Suzanne Sawyers, CFE

Community Service Co-Chair

(615) 401-7948

Suzanne.Sawyers@tn.gov

Committee Chairs and Co-Chairs Nathan Abbott, CISA, CFE Webmaster Co-Chair (615) 401-7842 Nathan.Abbott@tn.gov

Gerry Boaz, CGFM, CPA CGFM Co-Chair (615) 747-5262 Gerry.Boaz@tn.gov Nichole Curtiss, CFE CGFM Co-Chair (615) 401-7947 Nichole.Curtiss@tn.gov Karen Hale, CGFM Public Relations Chair (615) 401-7742 Karen.B.Hale@tn.gov Jeff Hughes Awards Co-Chair (615) 401-7897 Jeff.Hughes@tn.gov

Hellens Kruszynski, CPA, CFE Program Co-Chair (615) 401-7909 Hellens.Kruszynski@tn.gov Robyn Probus, CPA. CGFM, CFE Early Careers Chair (615) 401-7960 Robyn.Probus@tn.gov Rhonda Williams Newsletter Editor (615) 532-2608 Rhonda.D.Williams@tn.gov Dan Willis, CPA, CISA, CGFM Webmaster Co-Chair (615) 747-5247 Daniel.Willis@tn.gov

Visit the Nashville Chapter

website at:

www.nashvilleaga.org