Now that I have been in Government service for nearly thirty years I can comment with authority on trends I have seen. And they come and go. Remember Total Quality Management (TQM)? Remember ISO 9000? Various Government Departments embraced these systems like couch potatoes embrace the latest fad on the Home Shopping Network. They loveRead… Read more »
Our office had planned on holding this conference for more than a couple of years. Even as we settled on the location and other planning, we weren’t planning on sudden shift in focus. Then again, is it really a shift. The main theme of the conference is, and has always been, effective and continuing grantsRead… Read more »
Talk about a minor technicality! President Obama issued a signing statement yesterday objecting to one minor item in the monster Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009. At issue is whether Interior Secretary Ken Salazar has to consult with lawmakers when making appointments to an obscure commission. The omnibus comprises more than 150 individual billsRead… Read more »
I’m spending time at our Agency’s National Grant and Interagency Agreement Conference. Today is a day of early meetings. The conference actually kicks off tomorrow– and I am the lead on five 90 minute breakout sessions. It should be an interesting time this week. I am responsible for sessions on Post-Award Monitoring and Cost Review.Read… Read more »
In his first official act as commerce secretary, Gary Locke urged the leaders of groups volunteering with the U.S. Census Bureau to increase their outreach efforts among the nation’s minority groups, noting the government has simplified the process in an effort to boost overall participation. “It’s our job to let Americans know that taking partRead… Read more »
Jonathan Walters’ report chronicles the Department of Veterans Affairs’ (VA) efforts to realign and centralize its information technology activities. Describing it as an “ambitious, audacious and arduous crusade,” Walters makes it very clear that this is still very much a work in progress. There are significant hurdles ahead and certain significant adjustments will no doubtRead… Read more »
Good morning Govloopers, Fargo Flood Update The Grand Forks Air Force Base will serve as the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s disaster relief efforts for the Fargo flood. Reunion Music Update Let the Hokie Guru take you back to the hair daize!! The 20-year reunion music is still on tap!! Have a glass!! The Hokie GuruRead… Read more »
Fargo Flood That’s what it looks along the banks of the Red River; the Hokie Guru is glad that his sister, brother-in-law, and their children evacuated the city of Fargo. As you might know, the Red River (which is along the Minnesota and North Dakota border), was orginally expected to crest to on Saturday, butRead… Read more »
Republished from eGovAU. Information held by the Government is a national resource and should be managed in the public interest. Access to government information increases public participation, and leads to increased scrutiny, discussion, comment and review of government activity. It would be great to hear an Australian government make a statement like the above, acknowledgingRead… Read more »
As a vestige of my Foreign Service years, I am a member of the American Foreign Service Association (AFSA). AFSA elections are coming up. I confess I don’t usually pay much attention to these things, but this year I am. For one thing, many of the candidates on the “establishment” slate for AFSA office areRead… Read more »