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How Did You Celebrate Public Service Recognition Week?
 Public administrators across the country are celebrating Public Service Recognition Week (PSRW) this month. From Pennsylvania to California, Texas to Chicago, events are being held to honor the work public servants perform each day. Events held during the official week (May 1-7) included:
- Central VA Chapter Flying Squirrels Minor League Baseball Game
- Central PA Chapter Awards Ceremony
- Delaware Association for Public Administration Celebration Lecture and Networking Event
- Rhode Island Chapter 7th Annual Public Service and Leadership Conference
- Sacramento Chapter 34th Annual Awards Dinner
- Hampton Roads, VA, Chapter 2016 Public Service Awards Luncheon
- Greater Chicago Chapter Annual Awards Reception
Other Chapters are still planning events taking place throughout the rest of the month, including:
If your Chapter is celebrating PSRW this month and has not yet alerted us, please do so. We want to make sure to include your events in our coverage of this year's celebration!
To honor public servants across the country, all 15 federal department secretaries signed a statement of support, President Obama issued a proclamation recognizing the week and the U.S. House and Senate each issued resolutions.
"Throughout this week, we recognize the tireless efforts of the women and men who strive to make sure ours is a government that stays true to its founding ideals,” noted the presidential proclamation. "Serving the public is not just about a paycheck—it's about contributing to the steady effort to perfect our Union over time so our democracy works for everyone. This week, let us embrace the hopeful spirit that embodies the extraordinary work of our civil servants. It is the same spirit that built America, and because of the hard work of compassionate and determined public servants, it will continue to build us up for generations to come."
Twitter also lit up with information about PSRW all week long. Search #PSRW to view the traffic and get a glimpse of the widespread recognition public servants have enjoyed in honor of this year's event.
Events are not over! The Washington Nationals will host government employees in the Washington, D.C., area on May 24 when the Nationals take on the New York Mets, offering discounted tickets to those with appropriate ID. (Government employees can also take advantage of discounted tickets all season at most home games.)
We at ASPA again thank the thousands of current and future public administrators who are members of our Society for your hard work and dedication to this country. We recognize and celebrate your efforts and the impact they have on lives in the U.S. and around the world.
Have photos capturing your event? Post them to Twitter using #ASPAPics or send them to ASPA chief of communications Karen Garrett.
Support ASPA's New Procurement Section Now!
 ASPA's proposed Procurement Section is still gathering signatures of support for its establishment. Ninety people have already endorsed the Section. It is not too late for you to join them. Click here to sign the form.
ASPA has almost 30 topic-based Sections across its membership, serving as discussion forums related to everything from emergency management to technology in government to public administration research and more. Members are now forming this new Section focused on procurement and contract management, enabling practitioners and scholars alike to exchange information, collaborate on research and connect procurement practitioners with other public servants.
Sign the online document and help get this new Section started. Your support does not commit you to membership in the Section. Interested ASPA members can join for a minimal annual fee of $10 after it is formed and will receive a free electronic membership in the Journal of Public Procurement. You can read the proposed bylaws for this new Section here.
Thank you to the proposed Section's organizing committee members who have put tremendous time and effort into this undertaking:
- Sawsan A. Abutabenjeh, Miami University of Ohio
- Mohamad G. Alkadry, Florida International University
- Maria Aristigueta, University of Delaware
- Trevor Brown, Ohio State University
- Ana-Maria Dimand, Florida International University
- Stephen Gordon, Universal Public Procurement Certification Council
- Lawrence Martin, University of Central Florida
- Clifford P. McCue, Florida Atlantic University
- Rene G. Rendon, U.S. Naval Post Graduate School
- Alexandru Roman, California State University, San Bernardino
- Evelyn Trammell, Florida International University
Webinars, BookTalks and Student Series on the Horizon
 ASPA's professional development webinars are ongoing throughout the year. Averaging 85 attendees per webinar and free to ASPA members, these e-learning opportunities provide you with valuable insights and information at your fingertips. Here's a quick look at upcoming opportunities. Make sure you register today for sessions that interest you and visit our website to take a look at all upcoming webinars and BookTalks.
BookTalk: Pulled Over: How Police Stops Define Race and Citizenship
Thursday, May 12, 1 p.m.
Presenters:
Charles Epp, Professor, School of Public Affairs and Administration, University of Kansas
Daniel Haider-Markel, Professor and Chair of Political Science, University of Kansas
Steven Maynard-Moody, Professor, School of Public Affairs and Administration, University of Kansas
In sheer numbers, no form of government control comes close to the police stop. Each year, 12 percent of drivers in the United States are stopped by the police and the figure almost doubles among racial minorities. Police stops are among the most recognizable and frequently criticized incidences of racial profiling but, while numerous studies have shown minorities are pulled over at higher rates, none have examined how police stops have come to be both encouraged and institutionalized. Pulled Over offers practical recommendations on how reforms can protect the rights of citizens and still effectively combat crime.
Student Series: Why Cultural Competency Matters
Wednesday, May 18, 1 p.m.
Presenters:
Brandi Blessett, Assistant Professor, Department of Public Policy and Administration, Rutgers University-Camden
Angela Kline (Moderator), ASPA National Council Student Representative and Ph.D. Student, University of Delaware
As stewards of public institutions, public administrators impact citizens' lives every day. Engagement with diverse constituents represents an opportunity to either promote or stifle democracy. This reality requires public administrators to develop the necessary knowledge, skills and abilities to effectively implement programs and deliver services to lessen the likelihood of disadvantage, particularly for historically marginalized groups. This webinar will discuss ways to develop cultural competence and its implications for future public administrators.
Webinar: The Nuts and Bolts of Grant Writing
Tuesday, June 7, 1 p.m.
Presenter:
Jody Holland, Assistant Professor, University of Mississippi
This webinar will introduce participants to the world of grant writing and focus on the opportunities and challenges of writing grant proposals. From concept development to project deliverables, this webinar will highlight issues related to project design, implementing workflow processes, developing budgets and budget justification, as well as other major components of developing a successful grant proposal. In addition, the session will highlight the opportunities and challenges of administering a grant once it is funded.
Calling All Authors!
ASPA is seeking new authors and fresh voices for PA TIMES Online for its July-December 2016 rotation.
If you are reading the nuanced articles we publish in this twice-weekly online forum, you know our authors provide you and the entire public administration community with idea starters and valued commentary. This is your chance to get involved!
We are looking for columnists who can speak to a range of subjects throughout the rest of the year. Topics include:
- Managing state and local infrastructure
- Effects of No Child Left Behind on today's students
- New models for social services
- Ethical treatment of seniors in public administration
- Technology and service delivery
- Urban planning for the 21st century
More topics are listed on our 2016 editorial calendar. Authors can sign up for monthly or quarterly columns through the end of the year, each focusing on our running theme/sub-themes (though topics of your choice also are accepted).
Interested in joining our columnist pool? Submit a columnist application and a relevant writing sample to [email protected] so we can review your information. First-time authors and students are welcome!
All applications should be submitted by May 31, 2016 for consideration.
Current monthly authors with terms ending in June 2016 are welcome to reapply. Authors will not automatically be added back into the pool. Please contact us to ensure your request to continue is considered.
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State and Local Government Review Special Issue: Deadline Extended
Editor Michael Scicchitano issued a Call for Proposals for the State and Local Government Review's 2016 Special Issue on Political and Ideological Polarization and Its Impact on Subnational Governments in March. The deadline for proposals has been extended through June 1, 2016. Interested parties now have an extra month to submit their papers.
Political and ideological polarization in the United States is evident at all levels of government—federal, state and local. While this polarization is interesting from a political or electoral perspective, it also has profound implications for governance. The goal of the 2016 State and Local Government Review Special Issue is to publish research that examines the impact of political and ideological polarization on governance at the state or local level and in the intergovernmental system.
The editor welcomes manuscripts that address these and related scenarios that are triggered by polarization. Proposals must outline a specific topic that conveys how state and local governments have been affected by political and ideological polarization and how they have responded to this phenomenon. Authors should clearly outline the empirical basis for the manuscript and indicate whether data have already been collected, when applicable. They should also identify the current status of the research and writing and the extent to which the manuscript can be completed on schedule (contact the editor for schedule details). Proposals should be submitted to [email protected].
Rutgers Certificate in Appreciative Inquiry Scheduled for June
Rutgers University-Newark, School of Public Affairs and Administration's Certificate in Appreciative Inquiry for Strengths-Based Leadership and Innovation in Public and Nonprofit Sectors program will begin June 2. Through the use of positively constructed questions and a structured dialogue process, Appreciative Inquiry seeks to discover the conditions, factors and strengths that contribute to success and how they can be replicated to create new possibilities for greater future success. The program commences with a two-day workshop, continues with monthly coaching calls and concludes with a two-day advanced workshop. The Director of the Center for Applied Appreciative Inquiry at Rutgers University-Newark will conduct the monthly Ai coaching conference call with all program participants and will also be available to discuss individual projects as needed. More information and registration details are online.
U.S. Office of Personnel Management and Excelsior College Partner for Education Program
ASPA institutional member Excelsior College and the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) have announced an agreement that will allow the federal workforce and their spouses/domestic partners to pursue higher education at a reduced tuition rate. The College will host a series of informational webinars for federal employees interested in learning more about the alliance. The agreement is part of OPM's continuing efforts to build the future federal workforce by attracting new talent, supporting federal employee career development and addressing current government-wide and agency-specific skills gaps.
University Position Open
Lincoln Memorial University announces an open position directing and teaching in a new, small MPA program. Candidates can be new Ph.D.s but must have an MPA or MPPA degree as well. This is an excellent opportunity for someone who wants to continue their scholarship, is energetic and is interested in public administration and who wants to live/work in the Knoxville, Tenn., area. The position is located in the Duncan School of Law in downtown Knoxville. Visit their website for more information.
A Message from the National CPM Consortium
The National Certified Public Manager (CPM) Consortium requests proposals for administrative services in support of the Consortium. Proposals will be accepted from individuals or from organizations. However, organizations must designate an individual who will be the primary point of contact through the duration of the contract for Consortium administrative services and substantiate his/her experience and ability to perform the work. The person who fills this position will work as a contractor for the Consortium. This position must operate with significant autonomy subject to Board and Executive Council oversight, and thus must have an impeccable record of meeting stringent fiduciary and ethical standards. Full duties and responsibilities are listed in the bid package. Proposals and bid package requests can be emailed to the chair of the search committee, Charles D. Taylor, with a subject line: "Response to National CPM Consortium RFP." Proposals are due by May 25, 2016.
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PAR Update
Public Administration Review has released its 2016 May/June Table of Contents. The issue includes Perspectives, Evidence in Public Administration, Theory to Practice, Book Reviews and more. Articles in the issue include:
Click here for more detailed information about this issue!
New on PA Times Online
Every Tuesday and Friday, ASPA publishes a curated collection of original content that covers public service, management and international affairs.
For issues being published in the second quarter of 2016, we welcome submissions that focus on millennial changes and implications for governance models. Send us your submissions now! The deadline is rolling; contact us for more information.
Check out our recent articles and columns:
The Cost of Police Misconduct
Preparing for the Next Recession
New on the ASPA Blog
Looking for interesting commentary on news events and contemporary issues? Check out the ASPA Blog, which features a collection of authors writing on everyday life from the eyes of a public manager, student or young professional.
Featured recently on the Blog:
The Struggle of Managing Up
PSM and the Magic Leadership Hat
Career Resources
Find your next career opportunity at publicservicecareers.org. This online job board is the perfect resource for making a career change or landing your first job in the public sector. It lists dozens of positions in academia, government and the nonprofit sector. Below are examples of current listings.
Chief Human Capital Officer – USAID, Washington, DC
Director, Public Policy – Alzheimer's Association, MA/NH Chapter, Watertown, MA
Budget & Policy Analyst, Community & Social Services – NYC Independent Budget Office, New York, NY
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