President’s Message – March 2013

Carrie Ferguson
Southern Wisconsin Chapter President Carrie Ferguson

Spring is fast approaching we are told. After all, the clocks are moving back and the sound of bouncing basketballs fills the air. Unfortunately, signs of spring aren’t quite as visible in nature, given the recent snowstorm. Although, perhaps that is just a sign that Mother Nature is taking “March Madness” to heart, too.

March also brings another event – AGA membership and CGFM renewal time! For all AGA members and CGFMs, please try to get your renewals in by March 31! If you are not currently an AGA member, this is a great time to join. Remember, you are only responsible for dues as the national level as our chapter does not charge any additional chapter dues. If you have questions about membership, please check out the Membership page or contact our membership chair (see Contacts). If you are not a CGFM, this is a great time to consider looking over the requirements and to start studying for the exam. Check out our CGFM corner in the March newsletter (see page 9) and the CGFM section of our website for additional information. Also, feel free to contact either of our CGFM co-chairs with any additional questions you might have (see Contacts).

In fact, March also marks AGA’s CGFM month. Congratulations to all Southern Wisconsin Chapter CGFMs! We hope to see many of you at our upcoming March luncheon! In recognition of CGFM month, Madison’s mayor and Wisconsin’s governor have issued proclamations to recognize this event. See the March Newsletter for copies of these proclamations. Also, good luck to those of you who are still working to complete your remaining parts of the exam!

If March sports are not your cup of tea, or if you have some free time between games, perhaps you might be “mad about art.” If so, you should consider entering the Chapter Citizen Centric Reporting (CCR) Program Logo Contest. More information about the rules for this contest can be found on page 7 of the newsletter. There are some great prizes if your design receives the most votes (or even if your design is the runner-up). Not only that, the winning design will impact the CCR program for years to come! All members are welcome to enter, since chapters may submit more than one design for the contest, so be sure to submit your entry by March 29, 2013.

Finally, March is also a time when many of us our thinking taxes (if we aren’t fortunate enough to have them completed yet). After all, April 15th is fast approaching. Hopefully, you were fortunate enough to attend the January luncheon meeting to pick up some additional tax preparation tips from the presentation provided by Andrew Justl, Manager at Baker Tilly Virchow Krause, LLP.

Happy CGFM Month! And Happy Spring (whenever it gets here)!