A Virtual Success.

• Position: 2020 ANNUAL CONFERENCE

GFOA's 2020 conference was something of a triumph over unforeseen difficulties. We'd planned an impressive event in New Orleans, Louisiana, in May, but of course the COVID-19 pandemic made that impossible. We immediately decided, however, that just because we couldn't hold the conference in person didn't mean we couldn't hold the conference. And thus, GFOA's 2020 Virtual Conference was born! The event was held from May 18 to June 25 and was virtually attended by more than 2,800 participants.

Here's the rundown.

The Annual Business Meeting

GFOA Executive Director/CEO Chris Morrill welcomed online attendees on May 18 and introduced GFOA President Terry S. Stone, assistant superintendent for business and operations, Hanover County Public Schools, Ashland, Virginia.

The president's address. Stone acknowledged that we're in a very different place than we were last year, when she began her service as president. She went on to discuss that "beyond the personal toll the pandemic has taken on all of us, COVID-19 has had a devastating effect on state/provincial and local government revenue and impacted expenditures at a time when our jurisdictions need to provide resources and support to our front line workers who are making a heroic effort to keep our communities safe."

She also noted that like our members, GFOA has adapted to these challenging times by establishing the Coronavirus Resource Center (gfoa.org/coronavirus) and Fiscal First Aid Resource Center (gfoa.org/ffa), which provide research papers, complimentary webinars, news updates, podcasts, resources from partner organizations, and other tools to assist the issues the GFOA community is facing in responding to COVID-19.

She concluded with a message of support: "I want you to know that the entire GFOA staff is committed to serving you--so that you can better serve your communities--particularly in a time of crisis like you currently face."

Policy Statement. Members voted and approved the policy statement, The Financial Accounting Foundation Board of Trustees Should Provide Governmental

Trustees and State and Local Government Associations with Meaningful Input on GASB Appointments. Read a description at gfoa.org/materials.

New Executive Board Members. The association's members elected a new GFOA president-elect and five new members-at-large, who will each serve a three-year term beginning immediately. The president-elect is Michael A. Bryant, assistant county manager for the County of Mecklenburg, North Carolina. The members-at-large are: Laurie M. Brewer, assistant city manager for the City of Georgetown, Texas; Tanya Garost, chief financial officer for the District of Lake Country, British Columbia, Canada; Rafiu 0. Ighile, CPA, director of finance for the City of Gaithersburg, Maryland; Brandon Kauffman, finance director for the City of Lincoln, Nebraska; and Margaret Moggia, executive manager of finance, West Basin Municipal Water District, California.

In case you skipped ahead, you can go back and read their profiles on page 10.

Passing of the presidential gavel.

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