An Exciting Month at CSMFO!
Welcome to the final month of 2020. In December, CSMFO News shall continue to deliver articles on relevant and technical topics such as prioritizing mental health while working from home, 2020 election results, a summary of CSMFO’s strategic planning session, and the CalPERS ALM process current underway.
To inspire us, we shall continue to share member spotlights focused on CSMFO Committee and local Chapter Chairs. Let’s not forget the 2021 Virtual CSMFO CONFERENCE!!! Look for updates on sessions, keynote speakers, the conference format, engaging experiences, and much more. Yes, register today, it’s going to be fabulous, as it always is.
This year has been accompanied by many challenges and has given us multiple opportunities to rise and defeat them all. Many of us have learned we are extremely resilient and flexible beyond what might have been normal just a year ago. As we inevitably approach the end of another year, we are likely reflecting on what has occurred in 2020 and what is in store for 2021.
Years from now we will be sharing our 2020 experiences and the next generation will wonder how much we are exaggerating about the toilet paper, alcohol, hand sanitizer, and Clorox products running out. Others will be imagining how parents taught children school, while also trying to work, meet deadlines, and inspire teams.
I can assure you, Zoom meeting blooper stories will resurrect themselves in a dinner or cocktail party. I know I have a few of my own. My favorite one just happened during a live Finance Commission meeting. My five-year old son tried to whisper, “Mommy, I really have to poop right now!!”, as I was going over the City’s 10-year revenue projections. I could see him starting at me with his big eyes as I kept talking and then started frantically typing asking our Finance Analyst to take over the presentation, all while trying not to panic.
Yes, these things really happened to us in 2020 and we still have a few more weeks to go. As we end 2020, let’s remember all the miracles that we have accomplished, congratulate those who reached retirement, welcome those who are new to our teams and government finance, remember those we lost, and look forward to 2021.
May you all enjoy your holidays safely. With love and appreciation from your CSMFO family. Happy Holidays everyone.
And be sure to register for our CSMFO Holiday Happy Hour on ZOOM.
Click the image below for more details.
Karla Romero, City of La Quinta Finance Director/City Treasurer and is honored to serve CSMFO’s Communications Committee Chair. Karla was also CSMFO’s 2017 Volunteer of the Year, Coachella Valley’s Chapter Chair from 2016 to 2019, has been a Communications Committee member since 2017, and a proud CSMFO member since 2007.
She has earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Business Administration and has over 20 years of progressive private and public finance experience. She enjoys seeing others succeed, thus her passion for mentoring, sharing knowledge, and empowering others.
On her free time, she enjoys “trying” to garden (getting better), reliving her childhood with a very active son (Titus), and staying connected with family and friends.
