President's Message

Sarah Koser, FGFOA President

Spring is in the air, the flowers are blooming, budgets are being prepared for next fiscal year, we are all getting our CAFRs behind us, and time is flying by at break-neck speed.  Former Presidents had all warned me that the year would go fast but it is going by much quicker than I anticipated. 

It has been a very busy year for FGFOA.  February we held the first of the Divergent Series in Altamonte Springs.  Donna Wright and her Ad Hoc Divergent Committee put together a great program which was attended by 38 of our members.  Stay tuned for more of this type seminars in the near future. 

Our first stand-alone Boot Camp will be held on March 15 and 16 in Altamonte Springs.  As always, this event filled up in short notice.  While this event is full, watch for information on the Boot Camp to be held in in conjunction with the conference in Hollywood.  This year the Boot Camp will be held on Saturday and Sunday, June 24 – 25, 2017.  We were able to secure Dr. Lynda Dennis to conduct this offering of the Boot Camp so watch your e-mail for the conference Boot Camp registration to open very soon.

Applications are being accepted for the third annual ACE Award.  If your government has adopted an innovative or exceptional practice that has had a significant impact on the organization, then submit your application for the award by the March 31st deadline.  Information and the link to the application are on the FGFOA website.

Also on March 31st will be the CGFO spring exams.  Registration for the exams is underway with a deadline to register of March 17th, Happy St. Patrick’s Day!!!!  On-line review classes were conducted over the last couple of months to help prepare those in the program for the exams.   

The second Leadership FGFOA program will be the week of April 3rd in Orlando.  The class of 20 has been selected and we are looking forward to another successful program.   

The Nominating Committee is accepting applications to serve on the Board.  The application deadline is March 6th and the committee will meet on March 16th to put together your slate of candidates.  Online voting for the Secretary-Treasurer and Board of Director positions will be available from April 13 thru April 26, 2017.  Please, Please, Please cast your ballot for the future leaders of this great organization.  Historically a very small percentage of our members actually vote.  Don’t let this opportunity to help select your future leaders pass you by.

The Lifetime Achievement Award Committee has posted a call for nominations for the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award for 2017. If you know a member deserving of this honor, please submit a nomination packet to the committee by the deadline of April 28, 2017.

Mark your calendars for the 2017 Annual Conference to be held in Hollywood June 24 through June 28. The Conference Program and Conference Host committees have put together an educational event with networking opportunities second to none. Please register early, as it helps us in planning a successful event, filled with lots of networking, education, and social activities.  The Tuesday night event is planned to be on-site at the Diplomat and the theme will be Old Hollywood.  So put on your Hollywood Glam or come as you are but watch out for the paparazzi!

Planning for next year has already begun and President-Elect Linda Howard has started the important task of selecting chairs and members for all the committees. An email asking you to volunteer for a committee has been sent.  If you didn’t receive the e-mail, just go to www.fgfoa.org for the application.  So consider this your personal invitation to get involved and be a part of this great organization.  The FGFOA would not exist without all of our great volunteers.  Please join the ranks of those great members!!!

A couple of things we are looking forward to in the next few months are the revitalization of the Mentoring Program as a new “Coaching Program” which will be kicked off at the Annual Conference in June.  We are also looking forward to increasing our presence on social media with the launch of our redesigned website in the next few months.  Very shortly an updated Basic Government Resource Manual will be posted to the website.

Continuing with my effort to attend as many local chapter meetings as possible, on February 23rd, I had the privilege to attend the Central Florida Chapter meeting in Orlando.  The chapter had good participation and continues to offer good quality CPE to their members.  Local chapters are a great place to meet your peers from the same geographical area.  Not only is it a good place to get continuing education, but the networking opportunities are great.  So join a local chapter and if there is not one in your area, contact me and I’ll be happy to help you get one started.

Happy Spring and I hope to see you all in Hollywood this summer!

 
Sarah C. Koser, CPA, CGFO, CPFO
FGFOA President