Posts Tagged: in

What’s a Filibuster?

There is no such thing as a “filibuster-proof majority” In his State of the Union address to Congress last week, President Barack Obama asked the U.S. Senate to amend or abolish its filibuster rules to break the Congressional gridlock. Don’t hold your breath. Neither party wants to change those rules because they always benefit theRead… Read more »

Know Your Bill of Rights

December 15, 2011 marked the 220th anniversary of our Bill of Rights. As usual, it passed without much fanfare, yet it’s been protecting American rights for more than two centuries. The Bill of Rights is part of the Constitution–our nation’s primary legal document–and they are law. Americans are quick to assert our legal rights. WeRead… Read more »

Preparing for the Arrival of a New Leader Tip #2

Preparing for the Arrival of a New Leader Authored by: Patty Guard, Former Deputy Director of Special Education Programs, US Department of Education, Board Member Public Sector Consortium Build trust and credibility with the new leader Contact the new leader to introduce yourself, to say congratulations and that you are looking forward to working withRead… Read more »

Managing Change in an Organization during a Transition in Leadership Tip #3

Managing Change in an Organization during a Transition in Leadership Authored by: Patty Guard, Former Deputy Director of Special Education Programs, US Department of Education, Board Member Public Sector Consortium Ensure stability When the previous boss is departing and you have accepted the position of the acting replacement, there are steps you can take toRead… Read more »

Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month through History, Numbers and Public Service

Did you know that we are in the midst of Hispanic Heritage Month? In 1968, President Lyndon Johnson established an annual week-long celebration of the culture and traditions of those who trace their roots to Spain, Mexico and the Spanish-speaking nations of Central America, South America and the Caribbean. In 1988, President Ronald Reagan expandedRead… Read more »

Web-Enabled Coordination

How can organizations reach beyond their traditional smokestacks and silos? Coordination mechanisms have existed for years, notes Naval Postgraduate School author Nancy Roberts, but they haven’t been used. But the availability of new web-based tools and the pressures from cost cuts, the war on terror, and emergency management may have created a new environment forRead… Read more »

Calling Government IT: Cloud Trends – Contribute to the Conversation!

Government IT Professionals – we want to hear from you! Contribute to a report on the government’s use of cloud-based applications and help shed light on the importance of this technological shift. Reports abound on the private sector’s trend to move business applications to the cloud in an effort to reduce expenditures and improve operationalRead… Read more »

Agency Transitions: What happens when the Executive Director leaves?

Nonprofit Organization (NPO) Executive Directors often enter an agency with one objective – a need to bring the organization to its full potential or to maintain the success of the organization. Executive Directors uphold their position for years; so when they decide to pursue other opportunities, the organization, its board members and key stakeholders mustRead… Read more »

Honoring Fallen Civil Servants

Nearly three thousand federal civil servants have died in the line of duty since 1992. They represent a wide range of federal agencies, yet the federal government has no program or policy in place to provide a U.S. burial flag for these fallen heroes. This glaring omission was the subject of an Op-Ed in TheRead… Read more »

Three Easy Steps to Connection

As I ponder topics for my blog, I often look to issues that are coming up with my clients, family, friends, or those with whom I have recently interacted. I enjoy looking at shared stories and themes, and just like Twitter, my experience has taught me that there are trending topics in life. The oneRead… Read more »