Get to Know GFOA's Standing Committees.

• Author: Brock, Emily Swenson

Welcome to our new column on GFOA's standing committees. This is a way for us to share their work throughout the year, so please stay tuned. And if what we are doing excites you, please consider throwing in your hat when applications open at the annual conference!

A VITAL ROLE

Standing committees are integral to GFOA. As you may already know, the association is advised by standing committees in seven areas of government finance: debt, treasury management, capital planning, accounting and auditing, budgeting, retirement and benefits, and Canadian issues. Each committee consists of 25 active GFOA members and 5 associate members, all from diverse jurisdictions and with varied backgrounds and experiences. GFOA's president designates committee membership through a selection process each year, beginning at GFOA's annual conference. Each standing committee member serves a three-year term.

The committees, which are active throughout the year, provide key links between the changes happening in government finance offices and the services the association provides. In short, committee members share the practices that have helped their communities, in order to help our members successfully manage changes in our world today. The committees help provide direction for GFOA's services by formulating new policies and raising professional standards via best practices. GFOA's standing committees meet in person twice per year, once the day before GFOA's annual conference begins and again at GFOA's Federal Liaison Center in Washington, D.C. Meeting in person not only allows committee members to share stories about the successes and challenges their jurisdictions have faced, but also provides a setting that fosters collaboration and learning. Committees often commit substantial time and effort throughout the year creating and reviewing the best practice statements and educational documents presented at the meeting, making sure the information is cutting-edge.

In addition to creating policies and best practices, standing committee members are also advocates--for best practices in their own governments, or with other professional associations to increase their reach. It also means using GFOA best practices to inform our federal partners about the good work that's being done in local communities across the country. This is, in fact, the reason why the standing committees meet in Washington D.C. every year--it provides opportunities to conduct meetings with...