A focus on training, the basics, and relationships.

• Position: Goals of new Government Finance Officers Association president Linda R. Savitsky

You have elected me to serve as your president for the current year. This is the highest honor of my professional career in government. I will represent you, the members, during the coming year as we travel from Fort Lauderdale, where I accepted the gavel of leadership, to San Francisco, where the GFOA will meet for its 1998 annual conference. I have been asked to provide you with a brief glimpse of my goals as we travel on this journey.

Before turning to GFOA's future directions, I must take a few steps back and reflect upon those individuals who had a profound effect upon my 23-year career in government; they have mentored me, inspired me, and taught me not to accept anything but the best: Frank Kelley, Don Miklus, Bill Reynolds, and the late John Walsh. All have served GFOA, the Connecticut GFOA, and the citizens of their municipalities within the State of Connecticut with distinction.

The members of the Connecticut GFOA have been a source of invaluable support as I progressed from tax collector to finance director of three municipalities and to the state as the director of municipal finance services. They have also taught me how to balance work with play.

My employers and the various members of my staff over the years have all supported my activities in the GFOA. I thank the current and past Executive Board members with whom I have served these past four years, the current and past members of the Committee on Retirement and Benefits Administration, and the members of the Strategic Training Task Force. I particularly thank Betty Jo Harker, Virginia Rutledge, and Bonnie Kraft who, having paved the way for women in the organization, have truly inspired me with their leadership. All of these individuals have helped me to achieve this honor.

In representing you as president, of the GFOA, I have three primary goals.

* The continuation and strengthening of our work in the five core areas of GFOA. In order to prepare for the significant changes that will occur over the next few years, which affect all facets of our industry, GFOA must continue its leadership role in the area of government finance. In the area of accounting, auditing, and financial reporting, the Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB) has issued its exposure draft on proposed changes to the reporting model and is currently holding hearings throughout the country to solicit input. GFOA has been a strong supporter of the independent standards-setting body; however, our...