Message from the National President.

AS you will see this issue concentrates on the impact of the Chief Financial Officers (CFO) Act. Although the act addresses various aspects of financial discipline, the central feature is the requirement for audited financial statements from all agencies of government. In this issue you will read a variety of progress reports from the departments and agencies outlining the progress we are making toward that goal. Several themes run throughout the articles.

The first is commitment. You clearly see a desire to overcome the challenges, achieve the goal, and realize the increase n public confidence that audited statements will provide.

The second is recognition of the enormity of the task. The feeder systems and accounting systems were legitimately designed for other purposes. Redesigning is a difficult task.

Finally, there is a spirit of cooperation and teamwork. Teamwork will be required within and among agencies. The race to audible statements is not an individual sprint It is a distance relay with many opportunities to drop the baton or step into the wrong lane. Working together, we can achieve the goal and everyone will cross the finish line a winner.

The Hon. Helen T. McCoy

U.S. Army