Upcoming GFOAz Events October 24, 2008 GFOAz Annual Budget Forum Tempe Center for the Arts Tempe, AZ January 9, 2009 GFOAz January Training February 18-20, 2009 GFOAz Annual Conference Prescott Resort Prescott, AZ View all upcoming events Job Postings City of Chandler Senior Tax Auditor/Tax Auditor City of Tolleson Accountant Pinal County Accountant IV View all job postings Sponsors GFOAz Newsletter Advertising Contact Marisa Hoskins at (602) 258-5786 or mhoskins@azleague.org GFOAz News is published by the Government Finance Officers Association of Arizona. Forward your comments or suggestions to the League of Arizona Cities and Towns, Attn: Liisa Laikko, 1820 W. Washington Street, Phoenix, Arizona 85007, Phone: 602-258-5786, Fax: 602-253-3874, email: llaikko@azleague.org 2008 Summer GFOAz Conference a Success Over 150 members from across the state met at The Hilton El Conquistador Resort in Oro Valley for the GFOAz Summer Conference. Overall, the conference sessions were well received and enjoyed by all of those that attended. Read more   Motivational Quote "A good leader is not the person who does things right, but the person who finds the right things to do." --Anthony T. Dadovano Fall GFOAz Training: Annual Budget Forum The 2008 GFOAz Annual Budget Forum will take place on October 24, 2008. The event will be held at the new Tempe Center for the Arts. The Forum will feature presentations by Tempe Mayor Hugh Hallman, Tim Everill, Assistant Director of the State Joint Legislative Budget Committee and Jim Rounds, Senior Vice President, Elliot D. Pollack & Co. The event will also feature a roundtable discussion that will allow attendees to talk about current budget issues with members from other parts of the State. Be sure to join us in Tempe for this exciting and informative event. Point your browser here for more information   Professional Development Scholarships Available The GFOAz Board established a professional development fund to assist members with financial support to attend educational courses, programs, and conferences sponsored by GFOAz or GFOA. Read more   This Little Light of Mine By Ellen Perlman Reprinted with permission from the August 2008 issue of Governing magazine. www.governing.com Sam Palmer is not a choreographer, but he plays one at the public library in Fayetteville, Arkansas. From his basement office, Palmer has created a dance for the building's interior lights on his computer system, giving each a role for different times of day. Some dim on bright days. Others turn on as staff members arrive. In the late afternoon, half of the lights turn off. Read more   Handling Tough Questions from Tough Audiences By Marnie E. Green All the preparation and knowledge in the world cannot prepare you for an audience who does not like or believe you. Many of my clients face public audiences who are hostile or who do not want to hear the message that is being delivered. However, even in the most tenuous scenarios, some presenters seem to develop rapport and build the trust of their audience. Here are a few of the things these experts do to win over their tough audiences: Read more   GFOAz Members on the Move Do you have a recent promotion or transition that you would like to announce? This new section of the newsletter recognizes members who have recently been promoted or have recently transitioned. If you would like your name to be featured in this section of the newsletter, please contact Liisa Laikko at 602-258-5786 or email: llaikko@azleague.org.   GFOAz Welcomes New Members Active Members Diane Archer, City of Casa Grande Rhonda Cheetham, AZ Dept. of Public Safety Peter Christensen, City of Peoria Aja DeZeeuw, Town of Superior Dawn Haddock, Bank of America Jeanne Jones, City of Scottsdale Glen Law, Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community Ana Lugo, City of Yuma Winona Medina, City of Peoria Eileen Moe, Coconino County Sheri Morgan, Town of Marana Suzanna Sombrero, Town of Sahuarita Sandy Sutton, WIFA Commercial Members Corey Arvizu, Heinfeld, Meech & Co., P.C. Scott Hoppa, Scott Hoppa Insurance Agency, Inc. Scott Kies, Heinfeld, Meech & Co., P.C. Cherie Roberts, Heinfeld, Meech & Co., P.C. Jennifer Shields, Heinfeld, Meech & Co., P.C.   Member Profile: Tom Duensing Deputy Financial Services Manager City of Tempe Where are you originally from? I was born and raised in the small town of Liberal, Kansas until I was 12 years old. Liberal is located in the high plains/oil country of southwest Kansas. The next stop was Yuma where I finished middle school and high school. Then it was off to college at Arizona State University, and I have lived in Tempe for the most of the last 25 years. Why did you decide to pursue a career in local government? Working at the local government level gives me the opportunity to work on so many different types of projects from software implementations to light rail financing to retiree health plan structuring. Local government serves a critical need and financing is such an important factor in effective government. Read more   Government Finance Officers Association of Arizona Executive Board James Menlove President Finance Director Navajo County Vicki Rios President-Elect Revenue Manager City of Peoria Stacey Lemos Immediate Past President Finance Director Town of Oro Valley Jeanine Jones Secretary/Treasurer Senior Accountant City of Peoria Steven J. Baumgardt Member At-Large Finance Director City of Tolleson Scott Holt Member At-Large Director-Financial Services Yuma County Roger Kolman Member At-Large Finance Director City of Maricopa Mindy Russell Education Committee Chair Management Assistant City of Peoria Government Finance Officers Association of Arizona 1820 W. Washington Street Phoenix, AZ 85007 Phone: (602) 258-5786 Fax: (602) 253-3874 www.gfoaz.org