Washington, DC–The American Society for Public Administration pleased to announce the recipients of several of the Society's major awards. All of the awards will be presented at the Award Ceremony during the Society's National Conference in Las Vegas, March 2-6, 2012.

ASPA's extensive award program advances excellence in public administration in the simplest and most effective way.

It identifies and illuminates government that works and government employees who work well. Today, it is more important than ever that effective and efficient government be recognized, reinforced, and, whenever possible, imitated with the hope of providing better service to the public.

Likewise, ASPA's awards recognize those researchers and professors who have made outstanding contributions to public administration literature and in the classroom.

Claire Mostel

At the 2010 ASPA Conference in San Jose, CA, Erik Bergrud and I engaged in a conversation we have had many times: whether ASPA was truely the inclusive organization it claimed to be. Erik asked me to help take the first steps towards forming the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Advocacy Alliance Section (LGBT). I agreed and we talked and e-mailed over the next few months formulating how to set the wheels in motion. Thanks to the efforts of Joe Luis Irizarry and other ASPA members, the required number of signatures was collected at the 2011 ASPA Conference in Baltimore. The core group met during the conference to create the proposed section’s mission and we were on our way. Steven Bobes completed the section application process, and National Council approved the ASPA LGBT Section application on December 7, 2011.

Washington, DC–Each year, the Section for Women in Public Administration (SWPA) National Awards breakfast is one of the best attended ASPA section events. The 2012 breakfast— scheduled for Monday, March 5, 2012, 7:30 a.m. at the Flamingo Hotel in Las Vegas—should continue that trend. Deborah Frett, an advocate for women veterans, green job development and redefining the workplace to meet the needs of the 21st century, is confirmed to speak.

Washington, DC–Allan Rosenbaum, a professor at Florida International University, has been elected vice president of the American Society for Public Administration (ASPA) and will become the Society's president in 2014. Rosenbaum will officially assume the office of vice president at ASPA’s Annual Conference in Las Vegas, NV, March 2-6, 2012.

At that time, Kuotsai “Tom” Liou, a professor at the University of Central Florida, will become president replacing Erik Bergrud, senior director, community and government relations for Park University, who will become immediate past president. Steve Condrey, chairman of the Federal Salary Council, will become president-elect.

Washington, DC–The PA TIMES, print newspaper of the American Society for Public Administration (ASPA), has released its 2012 editorial calendar and is currently seeking quality articles for upcoming print issues.

Intended as a thought starter for potential authors, the calendar hits many of the hottest topics currently being discussed. Authors are encouraged to review the list of topics, however article submissions need not conform to these topics, particularly if they are addressing a timely news topic.

Washington, DC–New in 2012, PA TIMES Online now posts twice per week. Every Monday and Thursday PA TIMES Online will publish new original articles. The publication has also released its first ever editorial calendar to further its goal of publishing high quality articles. Intended as a thought starter for potential authors, the calendar hits many of the hottest topics currently being discussed. Authors are encouraged to review the list of topics, however article submissions need not conform to these topics, particularly if they are addressing a timely news topic.

This article was originally published in the November/December 2011 print issue of the PA TIMES. For more information on how to be published in PA TIMES print or online contact Editor Christine Jewett McCrehin at cjewett@aspanet.org.
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Allan Rosenbaum

In keeping with ASPA’s initiative to both enhance its role in the shaping of public policy and increase the Society’s public visibility, two meetings have recently been held with Controller of the U.S. Office of Management and Budget Danny Werfel, one of the top ranking officials at the U.S. Office of Management and Budget (OMB). Werfel oversees numerous aspects of OMB’s management and inter-governmental relations activities.

A FEDERAL HOLIDAY POEM
A Federal Holiday Poem
Twas the night before Christmas, and all 'cross the Web
Not a surfer was surfing, except for some feds…


STATE AGENCIES
Five Lessons from Overwhelmed Agencies
Last week, Stateline took an in-depth look at what’s causing growing backlogs of work at state agencies across the country. Here are five lessons gleaned from dozens of interviews with state officials, including those who are currently struggling with a backlog and some who have successfully cleared one up.

Terry Newell

On December 9, 2011, the Senate unanimously passed the Civilian Service Recognition Act of 2011. The legislation, which had previously passed the House on a unanimous 425-0 vote on November 2, 2011, authorizes federal agencies to give an American flag to families of federal civilian employees killed on the job as a result of a criminal act, terrorism, a natural disaster, or an extraordinary event as determined by the President.