2013 annual conference recap: bridges to financial sustainability.

• Position: Conference notes

The GFOA held its 107th annual conference, Bridges to Financial Sustainability, in San Francisco, California, on June 2-5, 2013. Almost 7,000 delegates, exhibitors, and guests participated, making this the GFOA's largest conference in several years.

GENERAL SESSIONS

Edwin M. Lee, Mayor of San Francisco, welcomed delegates. He spoke about the city's infrastructure plans, budget, pension reform, health care, and technology, encouraging the audience to "reserve, reserve, reserve," and to value the "fiscal and social responsibilities" that go along with being government finance officers.

GFOA President Christopher P. Morrill thanked attendees for coming to the conference to enhance their leadership skills. Morrill discussed three exciting new GFOA programs: Lean training; a two-year grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to identify and promote best budgeting practices for schools and community colleges; and the GFOA's new Certificate of Conformance Program for Small Government Annual Financial Reports. He urged the audience to stay involved with the GFOA, not only by attending conference sessions, but throughout the year by serving on standing committees, participating in state association activities, and taking advantage of the GFOA's training opportunities. "We need each other's wisdom, ideas, and support now more than ever," Morrill said. (You can watch the video at www.gfoa.org.)

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Ben Stein, economist, author, and commentator, addressed GFOA delegates with humor and personal anecdotes in his keynote speech, "America: the Real Heroes," during the June 3 general session. He discussed his past work experience in the public sector and how he witnessed all of the hard work and long hours put in by government workers, with "little pay." Stein told the audience that they should be proud to be government employees and that the "real stars" of America are military employees, firefighters, police officers, judges, and government employees.

On Tuesday, California Lieutenant Governor Gavin Newsom spoke to GFOA delegates about his new book, Citizenville, which explores the many ways in which technology can transform government and empower citizens to take a more active role in all facets of governing. Newsom is the former mayor of San Francisco, and he has a long history of public service. He discussed his optimism in the power of government "to do good" and his "frustration" with current government technology. Newsom...