Local Chapter News

South Florida Chapter
Emilie Smith, Chapter President

The South Florida Chapter has been very busy over the last couple of months! We held a half-day Ethics training for CPA’s on December 1st, which had 41 attendees.  This training offered 4 CPE credits towards ethics for CPA’s.  It was coordinated through the FICPA and held at the City of Sunrise Civic Center.  We also had a very successful January networking event that had 81 participants.  This was an evening event, held in downtown Fort Lauderdale.  The event included dinner, dancing, and a cruise along the Intracoastal Waterway. 

We are gearing up for our annual half-day Economic and Investment Seminar, which will be held on March 9th from noon until 4 pm. This training will be worth 3 CPE’s and attendees will enjoy a wonderful lunch buffet with three engaging speakers:

•         David Jang, Partner, Client Affairs - Wertz York Capital Management Group - Economic Update

•         Richard Pengelly, Director - PFM - Investments - New Strategies for the New Market

•         Brendan Connelly, Vice President - Index Fund Advisors - Evidence-Based Investing for Institutions

Following this training, we will have our Annual Meeting in April, which will include dinner and one speaker, along with Board nominations.  We presently have 214 members to date and growing!  We are an active group and always looking for more ways to educate our members and encourage opportunities for information sharing and networking.


Palm Beach Chapter
Rebecca Pine, Chapter President

I hope everyone is having a great winter.  Below is an updating on what's been happening with the chapter over the past several months, and our plans for future events this year.  Our revised bylaws have been reviewed by FGFOA and will be ready for a vote at our annual meeting on April 12, 2017, we’re asking all PBC FGFOA members to attend so that we can have quorum.  

• Past Events:
  • The Chapter's Annual Investment Seminar was held on Thursday, February 16, 2017 at the West Boynton Recreation Center.  Speakers included David Jang and Brian McMillin from Wertz York Capital; Joel Knopp from Moore, Stephens, Lovelace; Eileen Roberts from JP Morgan Chase, and Sharon Stark from InCapital.  The seminar had over 40 people in attendance and included topics such as: Short Term Investment Strategies, Economic Update and Impact on Interest Rates, GASB Update on Investments, Public Sector Bank and Banking RFPs, Cyber Security for Electronic Payments, and Long Term Investment Strategies.  The speakers were wonderful and the staff at the Palm Beach County Parks and Recreation Department's West Boynton Recreation Center were exceptional.  We hope to see you at next year's seminar!  
    
    
  • On Thursday, January 26, 2017, the Chapter held its first GASB 75 Seminar Moderated by Jeff DeLisle, Senior Consultant and Presented by Kevin Binder, OPEB Practice Leader from Bolton Partners, Inc.   Topics included: Similarity to Pension Accounting, Comparing the GASB45 (current) Standard, New GASB75 Standard, What is GASB74, how is it different than GASB75?, GASB74 and GASB75 calendars, Selecting a Measurement Date, Selecting the Discount Rate, Disclosure Requirement, the Annual Expense, and Deferred Inflows and Outflows.  Members from the Treasure Coast Chapter were in attendance at this mini seminar and a total of 39 people registered.       

·        Upcoming Events:

• Palm Beach County Government Bee:   The Palm Beach County Chapter of the FGFOA has chosen to co-sponsor the Palm Beach County Government Bee to be held on April 6, 2017 at Santaluces High School.   The government bee was started last year by the Masonic High Twelve Lake Worth Club and the Palm Beach County School Board to encourage high school students to learn more about government.  The Chapter’s support should help double the number of schools participating and provide additional awards for the winners of the event.  It is hoped that the event will be able to grow to include all high schools in Palm Beach County.  In addition to providing financial support, the Chapter will be encouraging members to volunteer at the event to help with logistics. 
  
  
• Annual Business Meeting
  Topic: Public Fraud/Corruption presentation/panel discussion
  Tentative Speakers: Special Agent from the FBI, PBC Inspector General, Municipal Internal Auditor, Ethics Commission Member
  Date: April 12, 2017
  Cost: TBD
  Location: TBD
  Note: We will be voting on bylaws and board members, we need a quorum so please be sure to attend this meeting.
  
  
• Summer Business Meeting
  Topic:  Palm Beach County Property Appraiser Office Update
  Speaker: Dorothy Jacks, Palm Beach County Property Appraiser
  Date: Thursday, June 15, 2017 
  Cost: TBD
  Location: TBD

Committee Update: Please contact one of the board members if you are interested in joining one of our committees.

We are looking for members for the following committees:     

· Program/Continuing Professional Education Committee: Responsible for recommending and preparing the Chapter programs, obtaining speakers for the programs and maintaining a library of program topics and speakers.     

· Social Committee:  responsible for planning the networking events and activities for the Chapter and encouraging the participation of its members.

· Media & Publications:  Responsible for providing timely information concerning the organization, members and other relevant topics affecting membership. This information is currently distributed via the Web site, newsletters and e-mails.

Thanks for being part of the Palm Beach Chapter of FGFOA!

PB Chapter Website:  http://www.pbcfgfoa.org/

FGFOA Website:  http://www.fgfoa.org/     

GFOA Website:  http://www.gfoa.org/