Category: President’s Message

Mary Laufenberg, CGFM, CPA

We are at the cusp of a new year and I hope everybody is looking forward to it. I know I am. Our Annual Symposium is scheduled on May 10, 2017; we are almost done finalizing this agenda. It is going to be a great list of speakers so stay tuned to our website for this information. Our next luncheon is scheduled on January 26, 2017; our speaker will be Ryan Mooney from Baker Tilly discussing the latest tax updates. We are looking for your thoughts on topics for our luncheons. If you have any suggestions, please drop me a note. I hope to see everybody at these future events; take care…

Mary Laufenberg
2016-17 Co-President
Southern Wisconsin Chapter of the
Association of Government Accountants

Mary Laufenberg, CGFM, CPA

Hello everybody.

The trees are changing colors and the weather is cooling down but I believe that I have a hot topic for 1.0 CPE this month. Dave Schmiedicke, the Finance Director for the City of Madison will be speaking about the Budget and Borrowing for the City of Madison’s Broadbanding and, if time permits, the contingent fund for the Madison Metro system. The date for this meeting is October 20; registration will begin at 11:30 as usual. We will be meeting at Rigby’s at 119 East Main Street. Registration and menu items to preorder to be on the website shortly for this luncheon. Also I am working on the agenda for the May 2017 symposium and if you have a topic that you feel would be appropriate for this event, please let me know. I have included my cell phone below for your convenience. It would be much appreciated on any suggestions that you may have.

I am sure that everybody is busy with their current workload but please take the time and catch some our monthly meetings or webinars. We are truly trying to choose a topic that would be of interest to all individuals.

Take care and hope to see you at a meeting.

Mary E. Laufenberg, CPA, CGFM
2016-17 Education Chair & Co-President
Southern Wisconsin AGA Chapter
608-438-8338

Inside this issue: September 2016 Footnotes

• Chapter Webinar
• Webinar Information
• President Message
• Chapter News
• National News
• CGFM Information
• Calendar of Events
• Chapter Contacts

 

Greetings everyone:

We are almost in the month of September and many of the CAFR accountants are still involved in reporting and looking back at the months in the previous fiscal year; however, we, as a group, need to look forward to a new fiscal year and the opportunities that it presents.

So far for education topics, the Southern Wisconsin AGA Chapter will be hosting a webinar titled Internal Controls and Assessing Risks on September 14th at the State Office Building at e201 W. Washington Avenue, Madison from 1 to 2:50 p.m.

We are currently reaching out to Madison Metro for a speaker regarding their contingent reserve fund for the October 20th luncheon. The potential speaker has not yet confirmed but stay tuned to the updates on our website. We will be taking donations at this time for the Salvation Army. The list, they gave me of needed items are: diapers (larger sizes 4-6), tampons, women’s panties (all larger sizes), gently used suitcases with wheels, and backpacks. I feel that their mission statement, reaching out and assisting individuals and families who don’t qualify for other assistance, is very important.

Ryan Mooney from Baker Tilly has confirmed his speaking engagement to us on January 26, 2017 regarding the latest tax updates.

If you read about a topic that you think will be interesting to hear about at a luncheon or our symposium, please let me know. Well, that is all I have so far. As the weather is cooling down, I hope you get a chance to get out and enjoy it.

Take care,

Mary Laufenberg

President
Southern Wisconsin AGA Chapter
608/438-8338

Mary Laufenbeg, CGFM, CPA
2015-16 President, Southern Wisconsin AGA Chapter

Hello everybody:

The weather is starting to heat up a little as well as our educational events. Don’t miss the April AGA luncheon scheduled on April 21st; the topic will be on lead pipe replacement in Madison. Since the March webinar had to be cancelled, we will be honoring CGFM month at this luncheon also, bringing the proclamations signed by both the governor and the mayor at this time. All CGFMs can attend the lunch for free!!!

We have a great group of speakers scheduled for the May AGA Symposium scheduled on May 11; check our website for more details.

I hope to see you all at both of these upcoming events.

Mary

Mary Laufenberg
2016 President

Mary Laufenbeg, CGFM, CPA
2015-16 President, Southern Wisconsin AGA Chapter

Winter is back with a blast.  Just like the line up of education topics we have coming up for you.

First of all, on March 23 we have an audio conference regarding internal control.  We have a great lineup of speakers planned for our 2016 Symposium. On April 21 we have a luncheon scheduled regarding the City of Madison’s budget on lead pipe replacement.

Stay tuned to our website for more details on all these events.

A special announcement for CGFM Month! Carol Herwig, Department of Revenue, has passed the final exam and is our newest Certified Government Financial Manager. Our congratulations to her for completing this comprehensive certification process.

Mary

 

Mary Laufenbeg, CGFM, CPA
2015-16 President, Southern Wisconsin AGA Chapter

A new year is almost upon us and we have great AGA trainings set up for you as well as anniversaries to celebrate. Those dates are as follows:

• January 13 audio conference titled “Evidence Based Policy Making – Making the Right Decisions to Improve Programs” at a location to be determined.
• January 28 luncheon with our speaker, Andrew Justl from Baker Tilly Virchow Krause, LLP on the annual tax updates at the Old Country Buffet
• February 3 members only webinar titled “Managing in a Multi-Generational Workplace”

We will be celebrating the National AGA’s 50th anniversary at an upcoming luncheon. Our historian is looking at ideas from the Southern Wisconsin AGA Chapter’s 25th anniversary. If you have any ideas to celebrate our chapter’s anniversary, please get back to me ([email protected]) or David Mellem ([email protected]).

Did You Miss It?!?!

Do More with Current Funding: Blending and Braiding Funds

AGA National offers 4 free webinars for members each year. Each is work 1 CPE. The first session was held August 12. If you missed it, you can catch the presentation slides on-line. The recording will be posted later (sorry, CPE during live event only). Log in at https://www.agacgfm.org/My-AGA/Sign-In.aspx. Click on Member Resources in the left panel. The information is in the center column.

While there, check out past webinar materials (some include the recording). Sample titles are:

• Introductory Level Approach to Turning the “Super Circular” into a User Friendly Tool
• Prevent, Detect and Mitigate Fraud in Your Organization
• The Federal Budget Process: How It Works from Conception to Programs”

 

President’s Message
Mary Laufenberg, CGFM, CPA

Hello everybody:

As the weather is cooling down and furnaces are being turned on, we also are heating up our continuing education. Don’t miss the education luncheon scheduled on November 12; the speaker is Scott Thornton and he will be speaking about OpenBook. This will be held at Vintage Brewing Company on Whitney Way. If you missed the last webinar, we have another webinar scheduled on December 2nd titled “Ethics in the WorkPlace” in the WHEDA
Conference Room at 201 W Washington Avenue. This session is free.

Hope you can make one of these education topics. If you have any questions on this message, feel free to contact me at 608/438-8338.

Take care and stay warm….

Mary Laufenberg, CGFM, CPA

Cooler weather is here with us now but hopefully we get a last crack at summer before winter arrives. I hope this newsletter finds you well and not too busy to consider attending one of our future luncheon meetings and/or webinars.

• “Fraud Prevention” scheduled on October 21 from 1 – 2:50 at the WHEDA 1st floor conference room, 201 W Washington Avenue
• November 12 is the next luncheon meeting. The topic meeting is “OpenBook Wisconsin” presented by Scott Thornton, DOA Division of Executive Budget and Finance, location yet to be determined.
• “Ethics in the Work Place” scheduled on December 2nd from 1 – 2:50 at the WHEDA 1st floor conference room, 201 W Washington Avenue

Also, it is the 50th anniversary for our Southern Wisconsin AGA Chapter. We are considering a special luncheon but we are open to suggestions.

If you have any suggestions for future topics for a luncheon meeting, please let me know at [email protected]

Thank you

Mary Laufenberg, CGFM, CPA

Welcome to the new program year!

In May we held our annual AGA symposium which had a great panel of speakers and had a great turnout of attendees. The chapter board has gone through the comments from this event to see what we can do to improve it as well as doing the planning for next year’s educational events.

Did you know AGA offers members 4 free CPE events each year? Check out the article on page 7 of the newsletter September 2015 Footnotes and calendar of events to see when the next dates are. Be sure to take advantage of the membership value.

Enjoy the rest of summer….

Mary