Passport to the North and South

By Joan Michaels Aguilar, 2019 CSMFO President

Welcome to the new online CSMFO News!  This is an exciting time for our organization as we embark on this platform to reach our members with messages including updates from our President Elect on plans for the 2020 conference, highlights from past magazine issues, and new articles.  While it is budget season for many, I know that there are authors that would love to contribute and share their agency’s story.  Please contact news@csmfo.org.

As you may know from our annual conference, we have many VIP’s in attendance from various organizations, and throughout the year, the CSMFO President, which is lucky me this year, has the opportunity to attend each conference.  First up, a visit up north to the 2019 OGFOA (Oregon GFOA) Spring Conference in March.

Exploring the Northwest’s Financial & Cultural Diversity – OGFOA

Since the OGFOA started on Sunday, I had decided to fly up a day early in the hopes of exploring nearby Bend, as the conference location was the Sunriver Resort in you guessed in Sunriver, OR.  Imagine my surprise to find out that it was a winter wonderland with snow forecast for part of the conference.  Not wanting to drive in those conditions, my exploration was kept to the resort with some near misses navigating the black ice just making it to the gym!  Sunday evening kicked off with a welcome reception followed by an intimate VIP dinner hosted by Lisa Young to recognize the past presidents and current Board, as well as Craig (Washington President), Joan (Alaska President) and myself representing California.  Monday’s schedule offered a full-day of sessions, opening with a keynote “The Economy of Kindness” by Linda Cohen which was well-received by the group.  I really liked the title and content of an afternoon session “Rocking Chair Panel – What I Wish I Knew When I Started in Government”.  The panelists, including one recently retired Portlandian, shared their insights and observations with some humor thrown in for good measure.  The evening ended with a group dinner and entertainment (some pics included of the Native American group.)

A rep from GFOA was in the house with John Fishbein, the keynote on Tuesday speaking to the group about best practices on a variety of finance topics.  Needless to say, I was taking mental notes, and wondering when I would have the time to implement some needed changes.  The fraud session (a breakout session) had those in attendance just shaking our collective heads with the creative methods used to gain access in the public sector these days. One helpful hint on a personal level such as to never store your credit card information on websites such as Amazon or other frequently used platforms.  While it may be convenient, the opportunity for fraud can be exploited.  Lisa and her team did a great job of planning the conference and now the torch has been passed to President Kathleen Leader.

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CMTA  – Skillful Sailing Ensures a Safe and Prosperous Voyage

In mid-April, I had the pleasure to represent CSMFO at the annual California Municipal Treasurers Association or CMTA conference held at the Sheraton Harbor Island in beautiful San Diego in Southern California.  It was my first time to attend the CMTA conference, and probably my only time at the conference, since Dixon has the investment portfolio purchases managed.  While my career did include a stint in the City Treasurer’s Office in Burbank, my position wouldn’t have had me budgeted to attend a conference of this nature to learn about managing what was then Burbank’s $200 million+ investment portfolio.  As I work for a smaller city, we have our investment portfolio managed, and it doesn’t approach the dollar value mentioned by the panelists at the conference.  I know there were many representing county treasurer offices and larger agencies among the 250 or so on hand to hear first hand from the array of speakers.

What’s Next?

Next up on the travel horizon – GFOA in Los Angeles where I hope are California contingent will join us for a reception on Sunday evening for a reception at The Nest at The Ritz-Carlton.  Info has gone out via e-mail to RSVP for this fun get together.