A Bit of AGFOA History

Submitted by Tammy Clayton with the assistance of Norman Levesque

The idea for the organization we now know as the Alaska Government Finance Officer's Association, was born one afternoon in the late 1960's at the then Anchorage Westward Hotel. Carl Hille, former finance director from Kenai, and Norman Levesque, then former finance director for the City of Anchorage, were at a meeting at the Anchorage Westward when the discussions began. Having been members of the national Government Finance Officer's Association, they felt it was time to form an Alaskan association. Obviously, when forming an association, one has to establish the officers. Carl Hille became the first President of the association after winning a coin toss. The loser of the coin toss, Norm Levesque, became the first Vice-President. And, according to Norm, Carl was a very good President - he continually kept the Vice-President working!

Since the association was newly formed, it was decided that two-year terms would be more beneficial to the continuity of the organization. Carl served a two-year term starting in 1970 followed by Norm in 1972. Richard Swarner and Ronald McNeese also served two-year terms. In 1978, Lu Persons was the first president to serve a one-year term.

 Both the national GFOA and the Alaska Municipal League assisted with the early development of the association. However, it was evident early on that in order for the association to be viable, the association would not just be for finance directors. Rather, it included municipal clerks, who then often did the work of finance directors, as well as many administrators. According to Norm, the clerks were very powerful and provided a lot of the support to the organization. They created the first die of our logo and the first pins. The logo we have today with the emblem in the middle of the state is the one designed twenty years ago. Eventually the clerks and the administrators formed their own associations. Our association was then reorganized to be primarily for finance officers. Like today, the association also included associate members.

 One of the initial reasons for forming the association was that it provided a good opportunity to bring everyone together. The intent was to provide classes and beneficial programs. An early contributor who helped out extensively with the accounting classes was Vern Johnson. Besides the classes, another goal was to establish standards in accounting and financial reporting that would be followed by all communities, whether large or small or rural or urban. Additionally, the organization was involved in some state legislative matters. In fact, it assisted in developing the State Shared Revenue Program, including having input on the establishment of the formulas.

 The practice of holding two meetings a year began when the organization was formed. It was felt that for professional development, social interaction and political reasons, meeting twice a year was necessary. The first meeting was held in Anchorage. However, according to Norm, meetings could be held all over the state since the organization was smaller. One memorable early meeting was held in Cordova. Another practice that is still followed today is that one meeting each year was held in conjunction with the Alaska Municipal League.

 I think we owe thanks to Carl Hille and Norm Levesque for sitting down that day at the Westward. What two people started as an idea thirty years ago has now developed into the existing Alaska Government Finance Officer's Association with its 173 members.

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