Debbie’s Date with Radicalism

DNC chair to attend fundraiser hosted by man on terror watch list http://www.homelandsecuritynet.com/HSN/2012/03/debbies-date-with-radicalism/ Democratic National Committee Chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz is facing criticism for her upcoming appearance at a fundraiser hosted by an American Muslim leader who was placed on the Federal Terrorist Watch List. Wasserman Schultz is set to keynote an annual fundraising dinnerRead… Read more »

GovCamp Queensland 2012 liveblog

I am in Brisbane all day today at GovCamp Queensland with roughly 200 Queensland public servants and will be liveblogging the event as far as possible, plus capturing the twitter feed for the day (which uses #GovCampQld). Follow all the excitement below. <p><a href=”http://www.coveritlive.com/mobile.php/option=com_mobile/task=viewaltcast/altcast_code=0f0fbc3fc1″ >GovCamp Queensland 2012</a></p> eGov AU Craig Thomler’s personal Gov 2.0 andRead… Read more »

What separates you from being a crazed babbling lunatic and a leader?

One follower. According to Derek Sivers, leadership starts with someone who has the guts and chutzpah to stand out and be ridiculed. Being different doesn’t have to mean being wierd (*which is part of another awesome TED talk) but it does require being confident enough in your message, vision, and purpose to be willing toRead… Read more »

Diversity Matters to the Mission

http://www.fedinsider.com State Department veterans remember when the best way to describe their colleagues was “pale, male and Yale.” It wasn’t just State. At most federal departments, at the professional and managerial ranks, you found white men with similar backgrounds. Diversifying – employment, business ownership, contracting, college enrollment – as a movement followed the civil rightsRead… Read more »

Happy Texas Independence Day! The Texas Declaration of Independence Turns 176

The Texas Declaration of Independence was initiated at the Convention of 1836 at Washington-on-the Brazos on March 1. Very similar to the United States Declaration of Independence, it echoes the contentions of Thomas Jefferson and John Locke when discussing governmental philosophy, and includes complaints against the governing nation and a call for independence. The declarationRead… Read more »

Wikithon Rap

Answering that age-old question, “What is a Wikithon?” Who says government can’t be fun? This past Wednesday, celebrating Leap Year, a score of people drank coffee, talked about data.gov and mobile, built and vastly improved pages like those about the Open 311 standard, GPS and data and mobile. Come see for yourself at the nextRead… Read more »

Kudos to Google and YouTube! Financial Help for Nonprofits and Associations

Http://LeonardSipes.Com (PR and social media for government, associations and nonprofits) I wrote an article describing assistance from Google regarding assistance to nonprofits, seehttp://leonardsipes.com/kudos-to-google-help-for-nonprofits-and-associations/. Now, YouTube (owned by Google) is offering an array of incentives to encourage nonprofits to take advantage of its services. One of the challenges of working with nonprofits and associations is gettingRead… Read more »

What is the Value of Coaching during these Times of Uncertainty?

Recently I’ve been reflecting on the value and importance of coaching and how it supports the development of leadership during the chaotic times in which we find ourselves. There is no question that government leaders today find their roles and responsibilities changing, and things that were once stable and enduring are no longer so. OneRead… Read more »

Location Data and Mobile Device Threats

Threatpost reports that cell users just got that more vulnerable to attackers: [T]here is enough information leaked from the lower layers of the GSM [Global System for Mobile Communications] communication stack to permit attackers to perform what they call “location tests” on targeted devices. “Cell phone towers have to track cell phone subscribers to provideRead… Read more »