Ohio GFOA’s 36th Annual Conference & Membership Meeting
Hello there, fellow travelers of the business world! Today, I’m here to regale you with the hilarious and somewhat surreal tale of my two-day work trip to the gem of Ohio, Cleveland. Yes, you heard it right, Cleveland – the land of rock ‘n’ roll, government finance officials, and more GASB-related acronyms than you can shake a business card at.
Our mission? To venture into the heart of Ohio and mingle with government finance officials, all while promoting our business – the guardians of the elusive GASB compliance requirements (GASB 34, GASB 87, and GASB 96). Get ready for a rollercoaster ride through the world of finance, mingling, and even some unexpected laughs.
Day 1: The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame
Our adventure began at the Ohio GFOA conference, a meeting of financial minds that was promising to be more exciting than a spreadsheet full of equations. We were there as vendors, poised to introduce our services to the state officials. A necessary evil in the world of business, you might say.
But first, the fun part. We kicked things off with a networking event at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, because who says work trips have to be all work and no play? As it turns out, finance folks can rock out just as hard as any rockstar, although perhaps with fewer leather jackets.
Dinner and drinks flowed, and I swear I saw one accountant headbanging to the sweet sounds of Jimi Hendrix. We had full access to the museum, and between bites of appetizers and sips of cocktails, we explored the world of rock history. Our team debated the merits of various rock legends, leading to heated discussions that were arguably more intense than the annual budget meetings.
And if you’ve never seen a group of finance professionals try to dance to “Bohemian Rhapsody,” let me tell you, it’s a sight to behold.
Day 2: The Tradeshow Tango
The next morning, we dusted off our hangovers, put on our best suits, and marched to the Hilton Hotel Downtown, where our tradeshow booth awaited us. Along the lakefront, no less! With a picturesque view and enough caffeine to wake a hibernating bear, we were ready to tackle the day.
Our booth was resplendent with brochures, charts, and a highly enthusiastic team, eager to explain the intricacies of GASB compliance to anyone who would listen. A few attendees mistook GASB for gibberish, but we’re in the business of simplifying the complex, so we didn’t mind.
We talked, we pitched, we handed out more business cards than confetti at a New Year’s Eve party. The state officials were genuinely interested, or at least, they did an excellent job of pretending. The world of finance can be a riveting place if you squint hard enough!
Dinner with a Side of Buffalo
With the tradeshow over, we congregated at the Harry Buffalo East 4th restaurant for a final networking dinner. It turns out that finance folks, like buffalos, appreciate a good meal. And boy, did we feast!
Between bites of delicious buffalo wings, we continued our discussions about GASB requirements, budgets, and how much cooler government accounting would be if it involved electric guitars and leather pants. At some point, someone suggested we start a rock band for accountants – “The Debit Rockers” – but the idea was quickly squashed when we realized we had zero musical talent.
As the night came to a close, we left Cleveland with memories of rock legends, numbers, and networking events that left us both inspired and bewildered. Who knew that finance professionals could be so, well, fun?
And that, my friends, is the tale of my two-day work trip to Cleveland – a journey filled with GASB compliance, rock ‘n’ roll, and a whole lot of networking. If you ever find yourself in the heart of Ohio, make sure you explore the city beyond the spreadsheets. You might just discover that even accountants know how to let their hair down – or at least loosen their ties – once in a while.