Yearly Archives: 2011

Daily Dose: Federal employees urge Congress to cut wisely

A collection of federal workers’ groups has sent letters to Congress, asking members to carefully considercertain aspects of Obama’s deficit reduction plan. The groups represent about 4.6 million Federal employees. “We appreciate the Administration’s call for ‘some sacrifice from all of us,’ ” the letter continues. “However, federal employees are being disproportionately targeted in theRead… Read more »

Would you order your birth certificate online?

Last week, Government Technology featured an article about Ottawa County, Mich., which announced a service that is rarely seen in local, state or federal government. Citizens can now “order and instantly print out certified copies of vital records from the county clerk’s office” through their website. This means that citizens don’t need to visit theRead… Read more »

GovLaunch: Marines Release Social Media Handbook

Amazing how quickly things change, two years ago, the Marines banned personnel from using social media and last week the Marines released a social media handbook detailing ways to use social media for improved communications. Throughout the Marine Corps’ history, people have discussed, debated and embraced the United States Marine Corps and our Marines. TheseRead… Read more »

GovBytes: Robot Technology to Improve Public Safety

According to an article on Government Technology, new automated devices and robots are changing law enforcement as we know it. The invention of these new devices is widening the range of public safety efforts, while simultaneously making these efforts significantly less dangerous. A variety of devices have been created in order to aid police inRead… Read more »

SharePoint Salon: I.T. and SharePoint Governace

Last night friends and colleagues gathered at the Hilton during the SharePoint 2011 conference in Anaheim for 2nd SharePoint Salon. During the event several topics were brought to the table to discuss. It was, as the last Salon, exhilarating to engage in exchanges of ideas and opinions. Many of the participants were just as passionateRead… Read more »

Dirty Dozen Decision Process

When faced with a decision, young organizations tend to pick the least worst of two options. A better way is to enforce creating a list of a dozen alternatives. That can be done in a couple of hours. The process creates a better definition of the problem and also of the choices. The last choicesRead… Read more »

Good news snapshot: All-state IT budget projections (2010 – 2020)

Deltek Sr. Analyst Chris Cotner reports. Previous Deltek analyses and projections have demonstrated several key points with regard to state budgets. First, from FY 2009-2011, state budgets (all-funds, overall budgets) increased at an abnormal rate. Second, FY 2012 is the first projected overall state budget loss since Deltek began tracking in FY 1987. Third, andRead… Read more »

Open states: Transparency for state governments using open data

Where do you start to standardize legislative information for all 50 United States? Blazing an open data trail for one state government isn’t easy, so shifting 50 must be nearly impossible. Or is it? The Open State Project is making progress towards the impossible—and closing in on the goal. When I first heard about thisRead… Read more »

Countdown signs coming to CTA bus shelters

The Chicago Transit Authority (IL) has started to install electronic countdown signs at its busiest bus shelters. The agency expects to have 150 LED signs in place by March 2012; signs should be available at 400 shelters by the following September. Project costs were shared by the Regional Transportation Authority ($1.8 million), CTA ($1.4 million),Read… Read more »