GFOA and the Blue Book.

• Position: Review

The focus of this issue of Government Finance Review is the release of the latest version of GFOA's classic Governmental Accounting, Auditing, and Financial Reporting (GAAFR), known to many simply as the "Blue Book." As described elsewhere in this issue, the new Blue Book is actually the seventh publication in a series of publications that extends all the way back to 1936.

The new GAAFR is the capstone of a comprehensive GFOA effort to equip members to meet the challenge of implementing the new governmental financial reporting model established by the Governmental Accounting Standards Board's (GASB) Statement No. 34, Basic Financial Statements--and Management's Discussion and Analysis--for State and Local Governments. Other elements of this initiative include:

* the companion GAAFR Study Guide;

* the companion GAAFR Self-Study Course;

* An Elected Official's Guide to the New Governmental Financial Reporting Model;

* companion slides for An Elected Official's Guide to the New Governmental Financial Reporting Model (available on GFOA's Web site);

* a GFOA Technical Bulletin providing a brief overview of the new model (available on GFOA's Web site);

* a one-day seminar on The New Blue Book (see national training calendar);

* a one-day seminar on The New Financial Reporting Model (see national training calendar);

* a complete revision of Intermediate Governmental Accounting. Advanced Governmental Accounting, and Advanced Financial Reporting national training seminars to incorporate the new reporting model;

* an interactive Internet training session on Preparing Government-wide Financial Statements (offered in June 2000, slides available on GFOA's Web site);

* an interactive Internet training session on The New Blue Book (to be offered this fall);

* bulletin boards devoted to various reporting-model implementation issues (available on GFOA's Web site);

* a four-hour videotape overview of the new reporting model (1999 Governmental GAAP Update);

* a four-hour videotape on implementation issues arising in connection with the new reporting model (2000 Governmental GAAP Update); and

* numerous concurrent sessions focused on reporting-model-related topics at GFOA's annual conferences.

Naturally, GFOA's Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting Program also will be assisting governments in their implementation efforts through the publication of a new Reviewer Checklist as well by means of the Technical Services Center's technical...