Volume 14, Number 11. Chapter Events. Executive Board Meeting: 7 February Sparkman Center, Bldg 5300, Room 5140, Time: 11:00 a.m.

Transcription

1 E3 Excellence in Efficiency and Effectiveness What s Inside President s Message 1 Local Chapter News 3 National News 6 Community Projects 9 Did You Know 10 Article 11 Useful Information 15 Chapter Events Executive Board Meeting: 7 February 2008 Sparkman Center, Bldg 5300, Room 5140, Time: 11:00 a.m. There will be no General Luncheon Meeting due to the Mini PDI: Event: MINI-PDI A Comptroller s Career Cradle to Grave When: March 5 & Where: Trinity Personal Growth Center, Airport Road Volume 14, Number 11 A MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT The Redstone/Huntsville Chapter ASMC Mini- Professional Development (PDI) is next month, with 2 one-day sessions on 5 and 6 March This Mini- PDI promises to offer timely and relevant information to federal careerist, whether in the Comptroller Career Field or other Federal Career Fields. We have been able to obtain the services of exceptional personnel who have presented workshops at the National PDI and are considered to be leaders in their fields. The theme of the Mini-PDI is A Comptroller s Career from the Cradle to the Grave.. Featured facilitators are Dr. Gary Huckabee, to address Comptroller Issues; COL (Ret) Kathryn Sommerkamp, Fiscal Law; and Mr. Mike Ryan to enlighten us on making smart choices concerning Federal Benefits and Retirement Strategies. The Mini-PDI will be held at the Trinity United Methodist Church Auditorium on Airport Road with registration from and seminar time from , same session each day with excellent accommodations and lunch included. Cost is only $100 for ASMC members and $125 for non-members. Registration is open until 29 February 2008 and you may enter the training Catalog # F82MPDI into the Training Information Program (TIP) system for registration. Call in reservations may be made with IMPAC credit card to Mr. Cody Swinford, , or Ms. Dana Wilbanks, Don t miss this extraordinary training opportunity and invite your coworkers and friends to attend and obtain information that will be of benefit to all Federal employees. Additional information may be found on our local ASMC website: The nomination period for Redstone/Huntsville ASMC Officers is now open. Nominations for President, 1st Vice President, 2nd Vice President, 3rd Vice President, Corresponding Secretary, Recording Secretary, Treasurer, and Assistant Treasurer should be submitted to Christina Ridgeway (christina.ridgeway@us.army.mil), Debbie O'Neal (debbie.oneal@us.army.mil), or any other Nominating Committee member NLT 30 March 08. FIVE STAR CHAPTER 1

2 President s Message (continued) Assistant Instructor (AI) Volunteer opportunities for National PDI are available. To qualify as an AI, candidates must be an ASMC member in good standing, volunteer a minimum of 20 hours prior to and/or at the PDI, and have attended at least one PDI in the past five years. Confirmed AIs receive a registration rate of $260 and the volunteer s chapter will receive a portion of PDI revenue for chapter programs. AIs also receive a PDI volunteer shirt, an invitation to the volunteer party and access to the volunteer lounge. If you are interested in participating, complete the application by March 1, The Program Support Coordinator will review the applications and select the required number of AIs. Selected applicants will be contacted by March 7, Once PDI attendance is confirmed, workshop assignments will be made. Only submit the form if you have been approved and funded to attend PDI. For additional information contact Ms. Debbie O Neal, ASMC, along with Grant Thornton LLP, is conducting an online survey of defense financial managers. The short survey (should take only a few minutes to complete) asks members to identify the top financial issues and concerns going into a new Administration. ASMC will present a cash award to the three chapters with the highest percentage response rate to this survey. The award will be based on the number of responses received per chapter divided by the total paid membership of a chapter as of March 31, Please be sure to enter Redstone/Huntsville chapter s name when you fill out the survey. To access the survey, visit the before February 28 th. Aggregated results will be published and available on the ASMC website. February s luncheon had a Valentine s theme and our Second Annual ASMC Fashion Show featuring Stein Mart's Spring Line being modeled by some of our ASMC members. The models put on a fantastic show and a good time was enjoyed by all. Thanks to Stein Mart s Ms. Debbie Millitello and Ms. Pat Lorenz, and our good spirited models for their participation in another memorable ASMC luncheon event. Mark you calendars for our April luncheon which is changed from our normal 2nd Thursday to Monday, 7 April, 1130, Trinity United Methodist Church s Personal Growth Center, 607 Airport Road, Huntsville, AL We will be honored with U.S. Representative Arthur Davis, Alabama s 7 th Congressional District, and member of the U.S. House Ways and Means and the Judicial Committees. Make reservations early and invite your friends and co-workers to be a part of this momentous event. Bob Nichols President REMINDER: April s Luncheon will be held on Monday 7 April 2008 Mark your calendars MEMBERSHIP The Redstone/Huntsville Chapter would like to welcome all new members and those who have transferred from other chapters. We are looking forward to seeing all of you at our monthly luncheons, our numerous chapter events, and your participation in our committees. If you know would like to join ASMC, or know someone who would like to become a member of our Chapter, please contact Jessica Dunaway at Page 2

3 OUR CHAPTER NEWS Lucky winners of January s Door Prizes were Amanda Cole, Darlene Haynes Briggs, Sandy Balog and Rob Archer Photo by Bill Richardson Got something to say to fellow members about your ASMC experiences, community projects you are working on, advice or comments that you think would be helpful, etc..well let us know. Send your comments to felicia.williams@redstone.army.mil and we ll tell them..you said it! Huntsville Chapter Officers for President: Bob Nichols, CDFM 1 st Vice President: Becky Lake 2 nd Vice President: Lisa White 3 rd Vice President: Cody Swinford Corresponding Secretary: Kim Jean Recording Secretary: Lisa Lowry Treasurer: John Ogles Assistant Treasure: Susan Zimmerly Page 3

4 ASMC EXECUTIVE BOARD MEETING MINUTES The monthly ASMC Board of Directors meeting was held in Building 5300, Room 5140 on 3 Jan 2008 The meeting was called to order at 11:00 by Bob Nichols. The following Committee Reports were given: Old Business: None. President (Bob Nichols, CDFM): need to talk to Don Clingerman about the corporate member award. Would like the Community Projects to look into doing care packages for deployed soldiers and maybe do something at the Feb luncheon. 1 st Vice President (Becky Lake): No Report 2 nd Vice President (Lisa White): No Report. 3 rd Vice President (Cody Swinford): No Report. Attendance (Marlene Clemons): No Report Audit (Virginia Moore): No Report. Awards (Debbie O Neal): Awards are due to National as follows: Individual Achievement and Team - 31 Jan; member essay - 28 Feb; Neil Ginetti, Cooperate Member, and Chapter Leadership 10 Apr CDFM (Robert Archer, CDFM): EDFM training is scheduled for 4-8 Feb. Audio training for Module 3 will be Jan Chapter Competition (Kim Jean): Working on the Chapter Competition book and will be contacting people for required information. Requested info from the 2007 Mini-PDI. Chapter Fair (Vickie Compton): There will not be a chapter fair at the National PDI this year. They are wanting chapters to provide items for some type of auction, details are still being worked out. Idea was suggested to do a local chapter fair but feeling is that we already ask for too much at the luncheons and for community projects. Constitution & Bylaws (Jackie Shaw): No Report. Corporate Membership (Don Clingerman): No Report. Facilities (Michelle Cobb): Will have warming centerpieces for the Jan luncheon Membership (Jessica Dunaway): Becky Lake will be handling the Fashion Show for Feb luncheon. Have had a lot of interest from people wanting to model. Page 4

5 Newsletter (Dr. Felicia Williams): No Report. Nominating: Christina Ridgeway was unable to attend meeting and wanted to give an report. I do plan to schedule a Nominating Committee meeting next week to kick off the planning for new officer selection. I will hold the meeting this month and report out at the Feb BOD. Programs (Bill Matthews): April luncheon speaker will be Congressman Art Davis. April luncheon tentatively set for Mon 7 Apr to accommodate Mr. Davis schedule. Will confirm with his office. Publicity (Becky Lake) Need more pictures for website/publicity. Due to Rocket closing for the holidays did not have an ad for Dec. Scholarships (Judy Smith) - Lot of interest being shown in our scholarship program for this year. Special Events (Lisa White): No Report Training and Education (Cody Swinford): Working to get registration for Mini-PDI opened by Feb. Event will be totally at Trinity United Methodist Church in the auditorium on 5 & 6 Mar. Speakers will be Dr. Gary Huckabee, Katheryn Sommercamp, and Mike Ryan. Lunchtime entertainment will be the Lee High School Show Choir. Treasurer (John Ogles): Financial report given and approved Ways & Means (Lisa Lowry): Will have fabulous door prizes Web Master (Becky Lake): Website has been updated Meeting adjourned at 11:50 Lisa E. Lowry, Recording Secretary 2008 Redstone Huntsville Chapter Mini-PDI The Redstone Huntsville Chapter of ASMC is sponsoring a two-day Mini-PDI on March 5 th and 6 th. The Mini-PDI will focus on a strategy that will optimize education and learning. The Theme for this year is, A Comptroller s Career from the Cradle to the Grave. We proudly announce that our keynote speakers are Dr. Gary Huckaby, Kathryn Sommerkamp, and Mike Ryan. The location is at Trinity United Methodist Church Auditorium on Airport Road. Registration both days is from 7:30-8:25 with the seminar time is 8:30-4:30 (lunch included). The cost is $100 for ASMC members and $125 for nonmembers. To register, the TIP Number is F82MPDI. To register with the with the IMPAC credit card call Cody Swinford, , Dana Wilbanks, , Debbie O Neal, , Sandy Balog, , Frieda Waits, or Theresa McBride, Page 5

6 National News The ASMC Scholarship Program is to provide financial assistance to aid ASMC members and/or their immediate family in continuing their educational endeavors. REQUIREMENTS FOR SUBMISSION: Applicants must be a current ASMC member or a high school senior, undergraduate, or those working on graduate programs (immediately related to an ASMC member). Applicants must have maintained a 3.0 GPA Application showing extracurricular school activities, community service Letter(s) of Recommendation For ASMC Members: Complete the Members Continuing Education Program Application Form. FOR HIGH SCHOOL AND COLLEGE STUDENTS: Use the National Scholarship Program Application at However, local only scholarships do not require the applicant to be a Business and/or Financial major. Therefore, Submission Requirements numbers 1, 5, and 6 are applicable (with only 2 letters of recommendation). Applications should be received by February 28, Applications may be submitted to the following: Judy Smith, Chairperson, Scholarship Committee, Bldg 5300 (3rd floor), Michelle Cobb, Bldg 5300, Jackie Shaw, Bldg 5300, Debbie O Neal, Bldg 5400, Dee Kowallik, Bldg 5681, Jessica Dunaway, Bldg 5308, Connie Atchley, Bldg 5220, Candice Willard, Bldg 5678, Cody Swinford, Bldg 5309, Kathy McMurry, Bldg 5309, Visit the National Website at Page 6

7 ATTN: ASMC Members-Awards Time It s that time of year, for the annual ASMC Awards Program. The Awards are designed to recognize outstanding achievements and contributions to the Society. The Awards will be presented at the annual ASMC Professional Development Institute (PDI). For detail information visit Please be mindful of the deadline and where to submit your nomination forms. ESSAY AWARD Three monetary awards are given for outstanding essays on a specific topic. This year s topic is, With a large percentage of the government s civilian workforce reaching retirement age, what steps should the Military Forces take to attract newer civilian professionals into the Comptroller career field and to retain them?. Winning entries are published in the Armed Forces Comptroller. Deadline: 2008 February 28 Visit the following website for the Essay Award Rules, Forms, and Place of Submission: ASMC NATIONAL PDI Registration and hotel accommodations for the 2008 National PDI is open. More information will be posted on the ASMC and Chapter website and in the Newsletter as the information comes available. This year the PDI will be held at the Orlando Marriott World Center in Florida, May 27-May 30. Page 7

8 Deployed Comptroller Shares His Experiences Photo by Bill Richardson ASMC President Bob Nichols presents Mr. Halstead Green of the AMCOM G8 the chapter coin after he spoke with members at the January General Luncheon Meeting held 10 January at the Trinity Personal Growth Center. Mr. Green shared his experiences of his recent civilian deployment in Iraq. Mr. Green was detailed to the State Department as a member of the 21 Provincial Reconstruction Teams (PRTs) now operating in Iraq. He engaged with the fledging Iraqi municipal governments to instruct and assist on Municipal Financial Planning, Budgeting and Execution of available funds. In the second photo, he is seen with the Mayors and City Council Presidents of all Western Anbar Province cities at the first ever Budget Workshop. Nomination Time The nomination period for Redstone/Hunstville ASMC Officers is now open. Nominations for President, 1st Vice President, 2nd Vice President, 3rd Vice President, Corresponding Secretary, Recording Secretary, Treasurer, and Assistant Treasurer should be submitted to Christina Ridgeway (christina.ridgeway@us.army.mil), Debbie O'Neal (debbie.oneal@us.army.mil), or any other Nominating Committee member NLT 30 March 08 Page 8

9 Community Projects The Community Projects Committee is currently working the list of what projects they will be working this year. If you are interested in working on the Community Projects Committee or want to volunteer for upcoming events please contact Anthony McAdory at Members Donate to Salvation Army ASMC members banded together to collect donations of socks, hats, gloves, underwear, and thermal tops and bottoms to The Salvation Army Emergency Shelter. Their donation helps the shelter provide warm clothing that is essential during the cold winter months to the homeless people that stay at the shelter in the Huntsville area. Shown here is Anthony McAdory who coordinated the effort. Help Still Needed ASMC will work with the Salvation Army Thrift Store on Saturday, March 8th sorting, tagging, and organizing merchandise donated after the holidays. They are swamped with clothes, books, and similar items and need help getting everything out of the receiving area and into the store. Volunteers are needed from 9:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. but you do not have to stay the entire time. Everyone is welcome even if you can only give an hour or two. Friends, family members, and neighbors are welcome too. The thrift store is located at 2112 Oakwood Avenue. Take N. Memorial Parkway to the Oakwood Avenue exit. Go underneath the parkway and head west on Oakwood. The thrift store is on the right hand side of the street next to the Kroger's supermarket. Larry Bowlin is the point of contact for this project. He can be reached at or by ing Page 9

10 Did You Know... Valentine was A Roman Priest. Valentine was a Roman priest during the time of Claudis around AD269, who was martyred, then buried on the Flamian Way. He helped Christians during a time of persecution. Valentine was caught, put in jail for helping Christians escape was clubbed to death for on February 14th, 269. While in prison, legend has it that he sent messages to friends saying Remember your Valentine and I love you. Wearing of the Wedding Ring originated from Egypt. Wearing a wedding ring on the fourth finger of the left hand dates back to ancient Egypt, where the Egyptians believed that the vein of love ran from this finger directly to the heart. The ring was the symbol of a never-ending band of eternal love. To Write or Not to Write!! Support your Chapter Newsletter by Letting the News Out. For one human being to love another that is perhaps the most difficult of our tasks; the ultimate, the last test and proof; the work for which all other work is but preparation. Rainer Maria Rilke Submit your articles, announcements, or news from your organizations Deadlines for Submission is NLT the 15 th of the month to Dr. Felicia Williams felicia.williams@us.army.mil Forward the Newsletter to all your friends, to Let The News Out about the Redstone/Huntsville Chapter! Page 10

11 Is Free Trade and Fair Trade Synonymous? By Larry Bowlin, CDFM targets NAFTA but says supports free trade. The above headline was taken from a recent news article. I removed the name of the presidential hopeful who made the comment because I didn t want anyone to think I m making a political statement. The question of free trade versus fair trade has been around for a number of years and it seems a number of our Congressional leaders don t know the difference between the two terms. The United States was the unchallenged superpower in the post-world war II era but this status was short lived. The Cold War became institionalized as soon as the Soviet Union successfully exploded a nuclear weapon, with China following suit a short time thereafter. It soon became apparent that the difficulties of post-war reconstruction had been underestimated and attention shifted from the goal of a global multilateral trading system to the immediate distress of Western Europe and containing the spread of international Communism. The end to ambitious trade planning was underscored by the refusal of Congress to ratify the International Trade Organization (ITO) treaty in However, the failure to establish an ITO was partially offset by the growth of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT). GATT was an almost casual offshoot of the conference called to consider a draft charter for the ITO. The United States had initiated six months of continual negotiations with 22 other countries to create a framework for binding or lowering 45,000 tariff rates. However, GATT was viewed as a permanent structure. Contrary to popular belief, GATT is not an organization. It was considered a provisional agreement that would lapse when the ITO was established and took over its functions. GATT does not have members, only contracting parties. GATT is founded on the fundamental principle that open markets are the most efficient and impediments to trade create distortions in markets. Therefore, trade impediments should be eliminated. GATT obligates each contracting party to accord non-discriminatory, most-favored-nation (MFN) status to all contracting parties with respect to import and export duties, customs regulations, and internal taxation statutes. Contracting parties are committed to observing negotiated tariff concessions. Contracting parties are prohibited from using quantitative restrictions on exports and imports except if the following areas are negatively impacted: agriculture, balance of payments, economic development, and national security. GATT does recognize special provisions to promote the trade of developing countries. Developing countries may use nondiscriminatory import quotas to encourage infant industrial development. Page 11

12 Article continued The Uruguay Round commenced in September 1986 and continued until April The Round, based on the GATT ministerial meeting in Geneva (1982), was launched in Punta del Este in Uruguay (hence the name), followed by negotiations in Montreal, Geneva, Brussels, Washington, D.C., and Tokyo, with the 20 agreements finally being signed in Marrakech - the Marrakesh Agreement. The Round transformed the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) into the World Trade Organization (WTO). The main objectives of the Uruguay Round were: --to reduce agricultural subsidies --to put restrictions on foreign investment, and --to begin the process of opening trade in services like banking and insurance. The 1982 Ministerial Declaration identified problems including structural deficiencies, spill-over impacts of certain countries' policies on world trade GATT could not manage. To address these issues, the eighth GATT round (known as the Uruguay Round) was launched in September 1986, in Punta del Este, Uruguay. [1] It was the biggest negotiating mandate on trade ever agreed: the talks were going to extend the trading system into several new areas, notably trade in services and intellectual property, and to reform trade in the sensitive sectors of agriculture and textiles; all the original GATT articles were up for review. The round was supposed to end in December 1990, but the US and EU disagreed on how to reform agricultural trade and decided to extend the talks. Finally, In November 1992, the US and EU settled most of their differences in a deal known informally as "the Blair House accord", and on April 15, 1994, the deal was signed by ministers from most of the 123 participating governments at a meeting in Marrakesh, Morocco. Participants at the Uruguay Round had the opportunity to address fundamental issues affecting global economic growth reaching into the 21 st century. Agreements negotiated at the round were expected to increase global GDP by $510 billion between 1995 and The round put a support structure in place to develop market economies in Eastern Europe which, in hindsight, was remarkably successful. The Uruguay Round provided a basis for global competition and competitiveness by not only binding and reducing tariffs but also by addressing the problem of non-tariff barriers. Still, even after considering its successes particularly the agreements forged at the Uruguay Round GATT is an effective but imperfect instrument for fair and free global trade. GATT s weakness lies in the fact that it was primarily tailored to suit manufacturing economies. GATT has compromised its drive for freer trade by accepting managed trade for textiles... however the Uruguay Round did provide for a gradual reduction in the subsidies for agricultural products and the phase-out of textile quotas both demands of developing countries. Quantitative controls on exports and imports are still common. Resistance has been the greatest in the agricultural sector where barriers have been erected in otherwise liberal trading countries. Page 12

13 Article continued The debate over protection or open markets reflects the point to which GATT and harmonization has evolved the US straddles both side of the fence. There are those who want protection such as textile and steel industries and those who oppose it such as financial services and telecommunication industries. There is also the complication caused by the United States attitude towards China. The Chinese trade situation is a manifestation of macroeconomic policies which creates a continuing political problem for successive administrations. Free trade still has a long way to go. In my opinion, harmonization may be the best bridge between free trade and fair trade. Nevertheless, free trade presupposes perfect market conditions exist. Perfect conditions would consist of a large number of buyers and sellers of a non-differentiated product entry and exit from the market is nearly costless information is freely available to all market participants and there is no collusion between buyers and sellers. However, don t confuse free trade with regional trade associations as some of our politicians seem to do. NAFTA is neither fair trade nor free trade it is regional in scope and creates preferential treatment for its trilateral members. NAFTA is in direct conflict with GATT principles. So the next time you hear a politician claiming to support free and fair trade be sure to ask who the trading partners are and what is the impact on our economy. Both are vital questions affecting our national security. Here s an invitation especially for you. ASMC Luncheons wouldn t be the same, If you don t join in too! The Second Thursday of Each Month Trinity Personal Growth Center, Airport Road RSVP marlene.clemons@us.army.mil If you haven t been attending, consider doing so and remember to please Bring A Friend! Page 13

14 Corporate Sponsors Need to join or renew your membership? MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE CHAIR: Jessica Dunaway, Patsy Pilgrim, Sandy Brock, Darlene Fowler, Vera Alexander, Photo by Bill Richardson Members seated at the head table of January s General Luncheon Meeting discuss interesting topics. Join us each month and see what the buzz is all about! Seated left to right: Mr. and Mrs. Halstead Green, Chapter President Bob Nichols, 1 st VP Becky Lake and last year s President Bill Matthews Debbie O Neal, debbie.oneal@us.army.mil Virginia Moore, virginia.more@us.army.mil Page 14

15 USEFUL INFORMTION Committee Chair Telephone Attendance Marlene Clemons Audit Virginia Moore Awards Debbie O Neal debbie.oneal@us.army.mil CDFM Certification Ron Archer, CDFM Rob.archer@us.army.mil Chapter Competition Kim Jean kim.jean@us.army.mil Chapter Fair Vickie Compton vickie.compton@us.army.mil Corporate Membership Don Clingerman donald.clingerman@us.army.mil Community Projects Anthony McAdory anthony.mcadory@us.army.mil Constitution/Bylaws Jackie Shaw jackie.shaw@us.army.mil Facilities Michelle Cobb michelle.cob@us.army.mil Membership Jessica Dunaway jessica.dunaway@msl.army.mil Newsletter Dr. Felicia Williams felicia.williams@us.army.mil Christina Ridgeway, Nominating CDFM christina.ridgeway@us.army.mil Programs Bill Matthews bill.matthews@us.army.mil Publicity/Photo Becky Lake becky.lake@us.army.mil Scholarship Judy Smith judith.smith@us.army.mil Special Events Lisa White lisa.white@amrdec.army.mil Training & Education Cody Swinford cody.swinford@amrdec.army.mil Ways & Means Lisa Lowry lisa.lowry@amrdec.army.mil Webmaster Becky Lake becky.lake@us.army.mil The Troller Team Chair Dr. Felicia Williams, felicia.williams@redstone.army.mil Members Jan Smith, jan.smith@us.army.mil Visit Redstone Huntsville Chapter Website at: Becky Lake, becky.lake@us.army.mil American Society of Military Comptrollers P.O. Box 8154 ATTN: Newsletter Redstone Arsenal, AL Page 15