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ASPA's Massachusetts and Rhode Island Chapters Host Events for Public Managers and High School Students

No Author — Mon, 14 May 2012 08:08:00 EST

State Auditor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Addresses MassASPA Chapter
Suzanne Bump, state auditor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts (SAO) spoke to the ASPA Massachusetts Chapter (MassASPA) saying, �Accountability is what motivates me in government. As you know, I was a legislator and a cabinet secretary. What I liked most about my service was the opportunity to fix systems that had gone off track and improve their service to the people of the Commonwealth.�

Speaking before an audience of public servants, consultants and academics, Auditor Bump stressed the value of transparency in her office. She noted that disclosing information from SAO agency audits provides valuable information to similar agencies. For example her office recently shared findings from an audit of a Massachusetts Housing Authority, giving constructive information to all state-wide Housing Agencies.

ASPA Chapters Celebrate Public Service Recognition Week

No Author — Thu, 10 May 2012 07:43:00 EST

Washington, DC�In celebration of Public Service Recognition Week, ASPA chapters have been instrumental in shifting the conversation about public servants�at least for a week.

Across the country, chapters like the Greater Cincinnati Chapter, Evergreen Chapter, Greater Chicago Chapter, CenTex and many more distributed awards, solicited proclamations and held special events in honor of public servants.

As we close out another successful Public Service Recognition Week, here are some highlights of a few of events and honorees recognized by ASPA chapters.

ASPA Announces 2013 Conference Dates, Venue and Tracks

No Author — Mon, 07 May 2012 08:11:00 EST

Washington, DC�Join ASPA in New Orleans, LA, for the Society's 2013 Annual Conference, March 15-19. The conference theme will be Governance & Sustainability: Local Concerns, Global Challenges.

The capacity to responsibly sustain our global community has long term environmental, economic, social, and governance implications. The 2013 ASPA conference will address the myriad issues associated with the responsible management and stewardship of our diverse, yet interrelated resources. Management of these resources is a complex social challenge involving consideration of leadership, ethics, economics, planning, social equity, collaboration and technology, amongst other issues. This conference will consider whether we have reached or exceeded the limits of our democratic state, the governance implications of these challenges and the implications for public management and public policy.

Nomination Period for ASPA Awards Is Open!

No Author — Thu, 03 May 2012 06:31:00 EST

Washington, DC�The nominations period for ASPA awards is now open. The Society would like to encourage members and non-members to nominate deserving individuals or organizations to receive one of ASPA�s awards. How fitting that the announcement comes so close to Public Service Recognition Week.

ASPA's awards program, just like its promotion of Public Service Recognition Week, is integral to our efforts to raise the profile of public service and to encourage recognition of those who commit themselves daily to the service of the public. We don't often get to say a public thank you to these individuals. The awards program and PSRW are our chance to do so.

ASPA Webinar on Social Media and Government

No Author — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 08:03:00 EST

Washington, DC�Does your local government use social media? Or have you been hearing a lot about social media and still not sure how useful it is for governments?

Then join ASPA on Wednesday, April 18, 2012, for a webinar on 'The Use and Utility of Social Media in Government.' Presenters will focus on the application of social media in local government and its efficacy on operations.

The webinar will present practices from the upcoming report, �The Rise of Social Government�, which is based on a survey of 108 cities and in-depth interviews with government administrators. Revealed will be social media technologies that local governments are using, how social media is managed, monitored and measured by city government staff and concrete examples of how social media is impacting government administration.

ASPA Posts National Conference Lectures Online

No Author — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 08:11:00 EST

Washington, DC�The American Society for Public Administration (ASPA) has released video of the key lectures from their recent national conference in Las Vegas, NV.

Those lectures and links to the video are:

Opening Plenary�Justin Johnson, deputy chief of staff for the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) delivered the keynote address in place of John Berry, director of OPM who was unable to attend due to illness. Johnson currently coordinates the implementation of the Results-Only Work Environment (ROWE) pilot project at OPM. He is also responsible for OPM's High Priority Performance Goal on telework. Justin is actively involved in improving labor-management relations at OPM and across the government. He plays an ongoing role in most of Director Berry's policy initiatives.

Justin R. Johnson provided the keynote address at the 2012 Annual Conference. Johnson is deputy chief of staff in the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM). He spoke openly about OPM's efforts to reform hiring within the federal government and improve the process for new professionals and students to access federal jobs and opportunities.

ASPA Welcomes New Leadership

No Author — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 08:41:00 EST

Washington, DC�The American Society for Public Administration (ASPA/Society) welcomed their new volunteer leadership during the Society's recent national conference in Las Vegas.

Kuotsai Tom Liou, a professor at the University of Central Florida, assumed the ASPA presidency, replacing Erik Bergrud, senior director, community and government relations for Park University, who then became immediate past president. Steve Condrey, chairman of the Federal Salary Council and president of Condrey and Associates, Inc., became president-elect and Allan Rosenbaum, a professor at Florida International University, assumed his role as vice president.

ASPA Executive Director One of Five Association Leaders Named to ASAE�s 2012 Class of Fellows

No Author — Mon, 26 Mar 2012 08:54:00 EST

Washington, DC�Five association leaders, including Antoinette Samuel, executive director of the American Society for Public Administration (ASPA), have been named to ASAE's 2012 Class of Fellows. The Fellows program recognizes individual accomplishments and contributions to ASAE and the association community, and is a call to service for the profession.

�The Fellows program asks leaders to continue and seek out service as authors, mentors, leaders, and speakers,� said Stacy Tetschner, CEO, National Speakers Association, and chair of ASAE�s Fellows Selection Committee. �The ASAE Fellows program is an honorary recognition bestowed upon less than one percent of ASAE�s membership representing the best of the association community. The 2012 Class of Fellows is made up of committed association leaders, and it is my pleasure to welcome them to the Fellows community.�

Bergrud Jumps from Stratosphere Tower to Raise Money for Scholarship

No Author — Mon, 19 Mar 2012 09:04:00 EST

Washington, DC�Then-ASPA President Erik Bergrud promised to soar 855 feet from the top of the Las Vegas Stratosphere Tower during the 2012 Annual Conference in response to a challenge to create a new ASPA endowed graduate student scholarship fund. More than $1,400 was pledged prior to the conference, and members pledged additional funds during the conference.

The Looming Nexus of Water, Energy and Telecommunications

No Author — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 07:54:00 EST

Washington, DC�ASPA is pleased to announce that Black & Veatch is making available, for a limited time, the recording of their supersession, 'The Looming Nexus of Water, Energy and Telecommunications,' given during ASPA's recent National Conference in Las Vegas. Both conference and non-conference attendees will have a special opportunity to view one of the most dynamic sessions in recent conference history.

ASPA Presents Multiple Awards on Day Four of National Conference

No Author — Mon, 05 Mar 2012 08:56:00 EST

See today's photo montage for coverage of yesterday's events.

Las Vegas�Monday marks the fourth day of learning and networking hosted by the American Society for Public Administration (ASPA) at its national conference.

The day begins with the Society's Donald C. Stone Lecture, established in 1995 by ASPA's Endowment to honor memory of this public administration legend, charter member and past president of ASPA. The event is sponsored this year by The Endowment, as well as the University of Pittsburgh-Graduate School of Public and International Affairs.

Day Three of ASPA's National Conference Offers Career Events for Attendees

No Author — Sun, 04 Mar 2012 09:40:00 EST

See today's photo montage for coverage of yesterday's events.

Las Vegas�Sunday opens with Public Service Career Sessions for those just starting a career in public service or looking to make a change. Topics for these sessions include:

Innovative Approaches to a Career in Public Service
10:45am�12:15pm
The paths to a career in public service are unlimited and by their nature, unique to each practitioner or member of the academic community. Attendees will hear different approaches to gaining practical experience and meaningful public sector participation to help address issues and gain a realistic picture about public sector work. Civic engagement and inclusion and internships will be presented as opportunities to fill perceived gaps in political science and civic education at the undergraduate level. Time will be provided to exchange comments with the presenters.

ASPA National Conference Begins Today in the Flamingo Hotel, Las Vegas

No Author — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 11:53:00 EST

Las Vegas � the Entertainment Capital of the world and host to the 2012 ASPA Annual Conference. While your first thoughts may include visions of gambling and casinos, look a little deeper and you will find an assortment of reasons to visit this destination and its nonstop excitement. This once sleepy frontier town came alive in 1939 when gambling was legalized. A lot has changed since then but you can still see Freemont Street where it all began. For an historic look at early Vegas, visit some of the first establishments along the strip�Binions, the Golden Nugget and the Four Queens.

Redefining Public Service Through Civic Engagement

No Author — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 09:01:00 EST

ASPA 2012 National Conference Invite from ASPA National on Vimeo.

ASPA's Annual Conference Kicks-Off this Friday, March 2, 2012
Businesses, nonprofits, and citizen groups have become essential partners in government, contributing resources to community problem solving and public service delivery. Recently, the rapid expansion of technology and the development of social media has informed and empowered individuals and is changing the relationships between governments and citizens. The 2012 conference will bring together government and nonprofit professionals, scholars, students, and citizen groups to learn what is happening in various areas and obtain skills that they can implement in their communities, states and countries. Over 400 public service experts will be on hand to address concerns encountered in the work place and offer creative solutions. Through keynote presentations, SuperSessions, workshops, panels roundtable discussions and poster presentations attendees will experience first-hand leadership skills to elevate the public service profession.

Plan now to be a part of the most comprehensive public administration conference of the year!

Special Events at the 2012 ASPA Annual Conference

ASPA's Southeastern Conference on Public Administration (SECoPA) Releases Call for Proposals

No Author — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 08:05:00 EST

Washington, DC�ASPA's Southeastern Conference on Public Administration (SECoPA) is held once a year and  rotates between locations in the Southeast. It is hosted by chapters in ASPA's Southeast region, also known as ASPA's Region III.

SECoPA's mission is to enhance the public service field in the Southeast by providing opportunities for:

Scholarly & practice-based exchanges
Professional development & networking
Nurturing students, new practitioners & academics
Developing leaders in the profession

Please see below the Call for Proposals for their upcoming conference.

Springer Wins 2011 PA TIMES Best Article Award

No Author — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 10:07:00 EST

To read Springer's winning article, click the link in the Related Articles box below this piece.

Washington, DC�The PA TIMES is pleased to announce that Christine Gibbs Springer has won the 2011 H. George Frederickson PA TIMES Best Article Award for her January 2011 online article titled �Unleashing Innovation in Public Agencies.� Springer is director of the executive master of science in crisis and emergency management (ECEM) at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV), School of Environmental and Public Affairs, Greenspun College of Urban Affairs, as well as a consultant with Red Tape Limited in Las Vegas and a former national president of ASPA.

ASPA�s 2012 Founders� Forum Fellowship Program Needs Your Help

No Author — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 10:07:00 EST

Jose Luis Irizarry

As ASPA�s Student Representative I have worked very hard with ASPA�s Staff, National Council, Sections, SIGS and members to help facilitate student (and new professional) programming for our ASPA members. The goal has been to create opportunities for more student involvement and to help ASPA better meet the needs of their student members.

One of the programs that we have been working to further are the Founders Forum Fellowship (FFF) Program. One of the key benefits of the FFF program is that it provides students with an opportunity to participate in our conference and engage our members. In this economy where support to attend such conferences is dwindling, the FFF Program can be as a shining light of honor and assistance.

ASPA, NAPA Announce National Public Service Award Winners

No Author — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 10:33:00 EST

Washington, DC�ASPA and the National Academy of Public Administration (NAPA) established the National Public Service Award (NPSA) program in 1983 to pay tribute to exemplary public managers. For the past 20 years, the award has reflected our pride in the public service by communicating professionalism, encouraging excellence and promoting positive awareness of public administration.

Awards are presented annually to those individuals who have made substantial contributions as practitioners who have dedicated their careers to government service. Selected from all levels of government�local, state, federal and international�the recipients are public servants who have made outstanding contributions on a sustained basis.

ASPA Sections Announce Upcoming Scholarship and Educational Opportunities

No Author — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 10:24:00 EST

The following announcements are provided by ASPA's sections.

The John A. Rohr Scholarship in Public Administration and Law
The Section on Public Law and Administration is pleased to announce the 2012 competition for the John A. Rohr Scholarship in Public Administration and Law. Rohr�s work contributed to the field of both public administration and political science, leading scholars and practitioners to a greater understanding of how law affects public administration and the responsibilities of public administrators in their jobs as implementers of the Constitution. Each year, the scholarship enables one student to pursue development of practice and research in the field of public administration and law by attending the national conference of the America Society for Public Administration.

The Section of Public Law and Administration seeks to advance recognition of the importance of law and courts in governance. We believe that it is important to encourage active scholarship and discussion in these areas.

ASPA Announces Several Major Award Winners

No Author — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 09:12:00 EST

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.