The GFOAC Mentoring Program

At its April 2005 meeting, The GFOA Executive Board adopted a GFOA Mentoring Program. The purpose of the Program is to "provide one to one professional assistance to new or veteran government finance employees (active members) on a voluntary basis." Upon completion of the initial membership application, new members will be given the opportunity to indicate their interest in the Program. Should they desire, current GFOA members also have the opportunity to request a mentor.

The Mentor is to provide the new member with professional support. This support could take the form of introduction of the new member to peers at a GFOA quarterly meeting, discussion of available professional financial services providers , and a resource for discussion of professional issues. Each Mentor/ Mentored relationship will be different and will be defined by the participants.

What is being described in this Program is an effort we current members have extended to a new member at some time or another. What this proposal seeks to do is formalize those relationship opportunities and match participants in areas of concern. While this may sound like an eHarmony.com advertisement ( and all you patent attorneys mea culpa for the probable trademark violation), I believe it makes a lot of sense.

As I mentioned before the Program also applies to current members. If there are areas of expertise that you seek guidance, you can request a mentor on that topic only. Personally, I might have been able to benefit from a mentor on Clean Water Fund issues when I arrived in Manchester twelve years ago.

So please consider being a mentor. You can volunteer for either new or existing members or both. The choice is yours. My hope to have a full complement of participants in order to be able select the best match for the mentored member. If you are interested in either becoming a mentor or being mentored please contact Alan Desmarais at 860-647-3101, or by email.

View our current applications