The Lincoln chapter of the Association of Government Accountants (AGA) received four individual awards and a chapter award for the 2010-2011 chapter year at the association’s annual convention July 11-13 in Atlanta. This was the fourth year in a row that the chapter was named a Platinum Chapter for overall excellence, the association’s highest honor.

Accepting on behalf of the chapter were Amy Wilson, president of the Lincoln chapter, and Ralene Cheng, the chapter’s co-director of education. Both work for the State Accounting Division of Nebraska Administrative Services. While the chapter has been recognized in the past, Wilson said this was the first time that the Lincoln chapter received so many individual awards.

The Lincoln AGA chapter is made up of financial and accounting professionals in city, county, state, and federal government, the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, and private industry. The immediate past president is Cindy Miserez, budget management analyst for Nebraska Administrative Services Budget Division. The chapter, formed in 1978, has 107 members.

“This is great for our chapter, members of our chapter, and the citizens of our state,” Wilson said. “AGA promotes accountability and transparency and provides a good way to get financial information to our citizens with a Citizen Centric Report.” A Citizen Centric Report is a means of communicating between governments and their constituents about the government’s finances in a visually appealing, clear, and understandable document.

Michelle Raphael, director of the Treasury Management Division of the Nebraska Treasurer’s Office and one of the award winners, said AGA offers collegiality and excellent continuing education programs for members. Ethics, fraud detection, and internal controls are among the topics presented in recent training programs.

The association “has been instrumental in developing accounting and auditing standards and in generating new concepts for the effective organization and administration of financial management functions,” according to the chapter website, http://www.lincolnneaga.org. AGA is an advocate “for improving the quality and effectiveness of government fiscal administration and program performance and accountability,” the website said.

The national awards presented to the Lincoln chapter in Group C, mid-size chapters with 100 to 149 members, are:

• Chapter Service Award - Amy Wilson, State Accounting, Nebraska Administrative Services. Wilson was recognized for her positive attitude, her efforts to recruit and retain members, and her active leadership.
• Certified Government Financial Manager Award – Michelle Raphael, Director of Treasury Management, State Treasurer’s Office. Raphael was recognized for her efforts to promote Certified Government Financial Managers licenses. Also, she arranged for official proclamations from the State of Nebraska and the cities of Lincoln and Columbus to promote the association and its professional certification.
• Education Award – Frank Faughn, federal grant administrator, Nebraska Department of Roads. Faughn was recognized for his role in planning, promoting, and coordinating professional development conferences for members and the public.
• Community Service Award – Brenda Ladd, director of financial accounting, University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Ladd was recognized for developing community service activities that have become annual chapter traditions including the Downs Syndrome Walk, Salvation Army bell ringing, Junior Achievement Bowl-a-Thon, and Adopt-a-Family at Christmas.