Celeste Gotell is a Senior Auditor with Internal Audit and Review.

So you think auditors are "little green-skinned creatures with long noses who view life through a magnifying glass." As an auditor myself, I can attest to not having green skin or a long nose, nor have I ever come across one matching this description. Those who believe we view life through a magnifying glass might have a point, but as far as personal traits go, that could be good thing.

There’s lots that could be said about this "up close and personal" perspective including coming across many innovative practices at CF locations across Canada during our routine audits. Many of these "good news" stories deserve recognition and serve as examples we can all learn from.

• Recently, Internal Audit and Review (IA&R) staff audited the water sports club at 22 Wing North Bay and found that thanks to an impressive level of enthusiasm and dedication, volunteers resurrected the failing club by refurbishing the docks and clubhouse.
• The Edmonton Golf and Curling Club solicited the help a team of business administration students from the local university to develop a business plan. Students gained practical experience while the club received some helpful expertise for free.
• The Wainwright MFRC succeeded in receiving a grant from the province of Alberta to build a much-needed playground structure.
• The Winnipeg MFRC has developed a relationship with the local Safeway grocery store employees who donate time fundraising for MFRC programs.
• The Edmonton Community Recreation Association has been successful in securing provincial, municipal and agency grants to supplement funding for the operations of recreational activities and programs.

Policy and procedures manuals go a long way in streamlining operations for all NPF organizations. A well thought out manual serves as an excellent employee orientation tool and helps identify service standards. During a review of PSP operations at CFB Halifax, an audit team came across an excellent example of such a document at the Hartlen Point Forces Golf Club. The manual covers such issues as job descriptions, daily procedures, member information, club policies and course rules. This manual is a "living document" in that it will be expanded to include customer service issues such as dealing with customer complaints.

There are lots of good ideas out there. Evaluating operations and providing constructive feedback from a review and audit perspective is designed to deliver value-added service. Sharing good news and best practices keeps us all in the loop of how we can do business better.