#IAMGFOA.

• Author: Firestine, Timothy L.
• Position: President's message - Government Finance Officers Association - Column

If I were to ask you why you're involved with the Government Finance Officers Association, you'd probably say it is to network and to learn. Most likely you're a government finance professional and you've been entrusted with managing your share of the $2.1 trillion of state and local government finances. And you have these responsibilities during one of the most challenging fiscal times in history.

The GFOA is the right place to go to get help with managing these responsibilities. I know, because it has done a lot to help me. And my job as president is to keep it that way.

In 1992, at my first GFOA national conference in Orlando, Florida, I sat in the audience and listened to the new president of the association, John Pickard, address the membership and present his goals for the following year. Never in my wildest dreams did I ever imagine that 21 years later, 1 would be doing the same thing. It is certainly humbling, and an incredible honor to have the opportunity to lead such an impressive organization.

I certainly didn't reach this position alone; it would be impossible to thank all of the individuals who helped me reach this milestone. Nevertheless, I do want to recognize my wife, Deborah, and my three wonderful sons, Alexander, Michael, and Nicholas, for their understanding, support, and encouragement throughout my professional career. I also want to acknowledge my colleagues at Montgomery County, Maryland, and express to them my sincere appreciation for the support they provide "back home" so I am able to actively participate in the GFOA. And, I'd like to thank the amazing staff at the GFOA.

In 1992, I knew something about public finance, but certainly not what I know today. I credit much of the knowledge I have gained to the GFOA and the wonderful ways this organization teaches us: through its conferences, publications, periodicals, newsletters, standing committees, classes, and most importantly, its members. The willingness of GFOA members to discuss and share ideas and experiences is a tremendous asset of this organization.

As president, I will focus on protecting the GFOA's past recipe for success and targeting new energy to the next generation of finance professionals.

Based on a recent membership survey, more than half of you have worked in the public sector for more than 15 years. You're older, come from smaller organizations, are highly educated and experienced, and hold senior level positions in your organizations. The GFOA's...