Flash back to the GovLoop retro archives:
President’s SAVE Award – Sounds Wicked Cool
That was my blog post one year ago when I heard about President Obama’s new project that invites Federal employees to share money-saving ideas.
Then this week, the White House sent me an email asking if GovLoop would help to promote the 2010 SAVE Award Contest (DEADLINE: July 22!). Of course, I said, “Yes, We Can!”
But don’t just take my word for it. Here’s President Obama’s message to you:
Turns out the project has saved taxpayers millions of dollars.
SUBMIT AND/OR VOTE ON IDEAS HERE!
Of course, the coolest part as a Federal employee is that you get to shake hands and share your idea with the President. Here’s the firsthand account of last year’s winner, the VA’s Nancy Fichtner:
“My invitation to the White House became the adventure of my life.
First we arrived at the VA to meet with Secretary Shinseki. What a joy it was to meet him. We took our pictures with him, and he sat down and talked to us. He talked to my son about the military (my son Alex had his ROTC uniform on) and my daughter sang Amazing Grace for him. He was moved. So on to the White House, and meeting the President.
What a moment in time! I came into where the President was and he came and shook my hand. I was not nervous, just amazed that this was really happening. He just started talking to me about my family, the VA, my children and elk hunting. I had to tell him about Kasey Ann skinning and gutting her own elk and how on her last hunt she wore flip flops. He laughed. He was so very easy to talk to.
We then went into a room filled with TV cameras and reporters. What an experience! The President talked about health care, the VA, my idea, and wanted to know where my children were in the room. He talked about my children being avid hunters. Afterwards, we then went into another room where the President met my children. He was very appreciative that Alex, my son, is going into the military.
I still think it was a lot for a little idea, but it really will save a lot of money and I am so glad to be a part of it. I can’t wait to see my idea come full circle. Thank you to all the people that made this experience a reality for me and my family. Lasting memory: Kasey Ann is still talking about his handshake. She said he really knew how to shake your hand and hold onto it like he truly was interested in you and what you had to say.
Nancy Fichtner is a Fiscal Program Support Clerk at the Grand Junction, Colorado Veterans Affairs Medical Center. She was the winner of the first annual SAVE Award
Here’s a video of Nancy sharing her idea with the President:
Don’t wait too long to submit or vote on ideas – the deadline is next Thursday, July 22!