As 2017 comes to a close, we want to wish each of you a joyous holiday season!
Thank you so much for your membership in ASMC and for your contributions to our defense financial management profession and to our nation.
Government organizations continue to strengthen firewalls, so it is imperative that our members designate their personal email address in their member profile, to ensure timely receipt of ASMC communications. Change your contact info today via www.asmconline.org/membership/edit-profile/ to reflect your personal email address!
The HQ staff and I are looking forward to a busy 2018 and we cannot wait to share it with you! There is so much planned for our members and our financial management community in the coming year. I’ve listed some of these exciting items below and we’ll be sure to share more after the holidays!
MEMBERSHIP RENEWAL PROGRAM
We launched our monthly "RENEW" YEAR's Resolution program and we thank those of you who renewed your membership early or on-time in November! Big congratulations to our November winners: Tracy Wolfgram of our Chesapeake Chapter and Steven Holekamp of our Alamo City Chapter each won $50 gift cards. The $150 gift card went to Philip Clausen of our West Central Louisiana Chapter!
You too can have the chance to be rewarded for your timely membership renewal… Each month, starting with December 2017, we will enter all members who renew on time or early into a random drawing to award two $50 gift certificates and one $150 gift certificate, respectively for those renewing on-time or early for one or three years. In addition to contacting the members who win the drawings, we will announce the winners on our website and social media. Want to be included in the drawing among those who renew on time or early during December, renew your membership here: https://www.asmconline.org/membership/renew/?utm_source=informz&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=email+tracking.
You can renew your membership at any time. For example, if your current membership expiration date is 30 June 2020, you can renew now for three more years, thus extending your membership to 30 June 2023 and be included in the drawing for the December $150 gift card. Only 61 individuals (those whom renewed on time or early for three years during November) were included in the drawing for the November $150 card. Much better odds than playing the lottery!
ASMC NATIONAL ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS
As a reminder, ASMC National Achievement Award Nominations are due 31 January 2018. Nominate colleagues who deserve recognition for excellence in financial management and those selected by our Awards committees will be honored at PDI 2018 in Denver, Colorado.
ASMC annually recognizes the outstanding accomplishments of its chapters and members of the defense financial management community through its national awards program. This program encompasses individual and team achievement awards, scholarships, educational grants, an essay contest, chapter recognition, and a variety of other individual based awards. ASMC achievement awards are presented annually to individuals and teams who have been nominated for outstanding accomplishment within one of the functional fields of comptrollership. By the way, award recipients for ASMC National Awards pay no registration fee to attend National PDI.
Nomination information and award details can be found here: https://asmc.secure-platform.com/a/organizations/main/home.
ASMC NEEDS CDFM and CDFM-A PILOT TESTERS
ASMC is in the final stages of updating the CDFM exams. To date, subject matter experts have helped us update the exam blueprints, weigh the competency areas, review existing exam items (questions), write many new exam items, and finalize pilot exams.
We need active CDFMs and CDFM-As to field test the pilot exams, so we can determine which questions to include on the updated exam!
Who can take the pilot exams?
Active CDFMs and CDFM-As can take the Module 1, 2, and 3 pilot exams. Only CDFM-As can take the Module 4 Pilot Exam.
What can testers expect?
There is a paper-and-pencil pilot exam for each module (Module 1-Resource Management Environment, Module 2-Budget and Cost Analysis, Module 3-Accounting and Finance, Module 4-Acquisition Business Management). Each pilot exam has 100 multiple-choice items and typically takes 1-1.5 hours to complete. No study preparation is necessary–we are asking all pilot testers to take the exams cold turkey. To finish the process, complete an emailed post-test survey to provide feedback on the exam(s) you decided to take. Pilot testing has no impact on certification status.
What will testers receive in return?
After the emailed post-test survey is completed, testers will receive an electronic certificate with 3 CPE for each qualifying pilot exam completed. Additionally, testers will have the satisfaction of actively supporting ASMC's Certification Program in keeping the CDFM exams current and relevant.
When and where will the pilot testing take place?
For groups of more than 10 test takers, a proctor can be made available on a date and location that is suitable for ASMC and the testers. For individual testers in the DC metro area, pilot exams can be taken at the ASMC Office in Old Town, Alexandria.
When will the new exams roll out?
We do not yet have a solid timeline. However, with the support of our Certified Defense Financial Managers, we project that new exams could be published around March 2018. We are currently updating the Enhanced Defense Financial Management Training course textbook, as well, which will be released before the updated exams. The update of Module 4 – Acquisition exam and textbook will follow on a later timeline to be determined after the Department issues the update to its DODI 5000.02 regulation. ASMC HQ will officially announce the effective dates for use of the updated exams at least 60 days in advance.
2018 EDFMT COURSES ONLINE
The FY18 centrally-funded EDFMT Course schedule is on the ASMC website! Check out the schedule (and other CDFM training opportunities!) at https://www.asmconline.org/educationtraining/classroom-training/?utm_source=informz&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=email+tracking.
PDI 2018 KICKS OFF IN MAY 2018!
May 2018 might feel far away, but here at ASMC, we’re already preparing for National PDI!
PDI 2018 will take place at the Colorado Convention Center in Denver, CO. The event kicks off on May 30 and continues through June 1. We are continually thankful for our wonderful host chapter, Pikes Peak supporting chapters Mile High and Utah, and our dedicated PDI Chair, Laura Sandy. Their hard work ensures that PDI 2018 will not only be a great training opportunity but a great experience overall. We cannot wait to share this event with you!
Registration for PDI 2018 will be open in late February. A dedicated message regarding registration will be delivered in the near future. We’re looking forward to seeing you in Denver!
Have questions? Contact Kathryn Grandstaff-Bradford, our Associate Director of Communications and Public Affairs at grandstaff@asmconline.org.
We thank you for your dedicated service to our nation and for your ASMC membership.
Al
Al Runnels, CDFM-A
Executive Director
American Society of Military Comptrollers
