Getting There

I’ve been following the health reform debate pretty closely, and it has brought home to me the distance between what we learn in our high-school government classes about “How a Bill Becomes a Law,” and reality.

As someone who teaches public policy, I’ve taken another lesson from the frequently dishonest, impossibly convoluted and incredibly painful process of reforming something that virtually everyone recognizes needs to be reformed. That lesson is that I spend too much time in the classroom focusing on what separates good policies from bad ones, and far too little time on the impediments to enacting the good policies.

Getting from here to there is tortuous, and far too many people are elected to legislative bodies with the best of motives and absolutely no clue how difficult change really is.

I know what I’m doing over the holiday break.  I’m traveling (to (re)visit my syllabus).

Happy Holidays!

A Thousand Words

A picture is worth a thousand words. At least that is what we have all been taught. As a Geographic Information Systems and Public Administration professional, it has been exciting to see how many agencies in my organization are picking up on the potential for using mapping technologies such as geographic information systems to present a picture that shows how our constituents and our government resources are related.

A geographic information system (GIS) integrates hardware, software, and data for capturing, managing, analyzing, and displaying all forms of geographically referenced information (ESRI). The system relies on human operators and analysts to develop geographically referenced data. Geographically referenced or “spatial” data are data that tell you both what things are and where they are.

GIS can be used for scientific investigations, resource management, and development planning, as well as for evidence-based policy making. I have recently seen several excellent applications of GIS in public health, for example, where consumers (constituents using available resources) are mapped and compared to health care delivery points (hospitals, primary care facilities, etc).  After analysis, delivery resources can be adjusted based on actual usage to serve the actual rather than the estimated consumer population.

It is wonderful thing to see the looks on people’s faces when they realize the power of mapping the relationships between people and places. Usually it just takes a simple presentation of something like flu vaccination locations and high-risk populations.  Mapping flu vaccination locations and census block groups by elderly population can instantly show the power of the geographic information. Are the flu vaccination sites accessible to the elderly? Are the sites in places that have populations in need of their services?

I can already see that my office is going to be overwhelmed with requests for mapping assistance this year. It is a blessing and a curse, but it is worth the effort if we can make a difference in even just a few lives. I encourage you to seek out the GIS resources that are available to you in your agency. Talk to other organizations as well and find out what they are doing with GIS. I will guarantee you that you will find it to be a tremendous resource in your work as a public administrator.

Holiday Etiquette for Grant Recipients

As the holidays are among us, there are a lot of people mapping out their assault on gift giving and strategizing their perfect thank you’s to family, friends, co-workers and the like.  However, there is one entity that is forgotten more often than not…YOUR GRANT FUNDER.   Therefore, since we are in the season of good will and cheer, I thought I would share one of my articles that addresses this very issue.  Enjoy!

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Holiday Etiquette for Grant Recipients

by Vanessa S. O’Neal © 2008

It never ceases to amaze me how many organizations are funded each year by corporate and private foundations, but during the holidays the grant recipients don’t do anything to show gratitude for their generosity. Then they wonder why they cannot obtain additional funding the next year.

Yes, holiday etiquette matters.

After you received your grant award you called the organization and said “Thank You” 50 million times for funding you and reiterated how much the money would benefit  your program and services. Isn’t that enough? you ask. The answer is, YES, if you want to be a one-hit wonder.

If you would like to build a lasting partnership and show confidence and good measure, NO! Why is this important you ask? Let us start from the beginning. When a funder grants you money they give it to you because they want you to have it and they want you to provide services that they are interested in AND they like to feel appreciated for having done so. However, the appreciation that they feel is nothing compared to the impact you would make on them if you took a minute to send them a card, a thank you gift or something during the holidays.

It does more than say “Thank You” for the 51 millionth time. It keeps your organization fresh in front of them. I always suggest that an organization not only send a card, but also perhaps a photo in a nice frame of an activity that was funded or a cup, pens or whatever was given to the employees as a gift.

I am aware of one organization that gives their employees mugs for Christmas. I suggested that they send a mug and a little impromptu report of how the program was doing. The funder was very pleased and impressed with the thoughtfulness, and were the first to call this organization when they found out that they had surplus funds. Go figure.

Another organization focused on children and art, decided to turn their children’s finger-painted holiday art into cards to be sent to the funders with a little note saying “because of you our children can learn to appreciate Art.” Nothing elaborate or expensive, but did it make an impact? Yes!

When thinking of the funder and trying to be creative remember that you are not trying to buy the funder, you are showing gratitude, you are giving them a reason to be enthused and continually interested in your project and/or organization. Don’t be too elaborate, stay well within your means and use what you have. Remember, it is the thought that counts.

Now, understanding that not all people celebrate Christmas how do you stay politically correct and embarrassment free. Simple, no matter what you do, be general. No, you don’t have to call each and every one of your funders and say “Hey, what holiday do you celebrate?” If you stay general you cannot go wrong.

Example: Don’t purchase or make cards that say Merry Christmas, you could ultimately offend someone, instead purchase cards that say Happy Holidays or purchase a blank card and personalize it.

In the case of the finger-painting cards, all their cards had animals with a winter scene, trees or rainbows. None of which could be misconstrued to be distasteful. The key here is creativity and trust me the best way to stay in the minds and hearts of a funder is by keeping them in mind.

ASPA Hosts Second Annual Practitioner Conference

ASPA and The Public Manager’s second annual practitioner conference, Strengthening Trust in Government: Opening Dialogues, Building Collaboration, was a major success!  The conference was held November 2-3, 2009 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center.  Approximately a hundred public servants attended the conference eager to learn more about public service from a practitioner angle.  Listed below are some of the major highlights of the conference.   

 Opening Plenary Session

The opening plenary session provided an overview of the challenges facing the public management community.  Jeffrey Zeints, Deputy Director of the U.S. Office of Management and Budget (OMB), served as the keynote speaker for the session.  Zeints responded to questions on President Obama’s management agenda.  

Exhibit Hall

The exhibit hall was the central location for networking and socializing.  Several organizations served as exhibitors and offered services to the conference participants.  Additionally, breaks and receptions were held in the exhibit hall throughout the conference. 

Concurrent Sessions and Working Groups

The first day of the conference was centered around concurrent sessions which focused on the theme of “engagement”.  The themes included engaging the organization, engaging the organizational workforce and engaging the public.  Day two of the conference was focused on interactive working groups.  Attendees were able to identify building blocks necessary to strengthening public trust in a particular area.  The sessions included a facilitator and subject matter experts who provided initial thoughts on how to proceed based on their experience.  Attendees were charged with determining how to scope out and prioritize these ideas further.

Where is the organizational love?

I’m smiling to myself because I know that the title is a little melodramatic, but by the time I end this post, I am pretty sure you will understand the question.

This week was an interesting week as change is becoming more evident. Recently, I had a conversation with a very good friend of mine, who also happened to be my mechanic, regarding change; specifically relocation.  I stated that there were four things that made relocation a little difficult: finding a new mechanic, doctor, dentist and hair stylist.  He chuckled because he said that he heard that finding a new hair stylist was a task and extremely unnerving.

Nevertheless, these are the things  that I knew without a shadow of a doubt that I would have issue with.  So, as most people are seeking other career/employment options so am I.  Because I am in the last phase (dissertation) of completing my PhD,  my mindset, until this past July, was to complete the degree first and then actively seek another position.  Due to current “handwriting on the wall” revelations with my current institution, I have been compelled to actively seek change now.

Having said that; last weekend as I was walking through the Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson Airport, I actually ran into my mechanic.  He informed me that he had quit his job and was on his way to Afghanistan as a contractor.  Of course I was stunned as I had not a clue, but the first thing to come to mind was “who was going to service my car? after all he had been the only person to work on my car for 10 years.”  Yes, a little selfish, but honest.  Of course I wished him well, but the feeling of lost was there.

Then on Friday, I received notification that my doctor, whom I have also had for 10 years was leaving the practice and going elsewhere.  Another loss….CHANGE! These are the types of changes that for most are acceptable and understood.

To further delve into my week, a girlfriend of my mine, who is also a Public Administrator discussed her need and plan for change,which for me is unacceptable, but unfortunatley I understand.  In a conversation with her, she said “I think I made a mistake in getting my MPA and PhD in Public Administration.  Of course this turned my ears up like a doberman pincher because how could PA ever be a mistake?

She continued to state that the reason that she felt this way was because in her seeking change she is finding that PA positions are not as available as other disciplines.  So, of course I had to take a hands on approach to her search, as remember, I am currently actively seeking now myself,  and what we have found is the following:

1.  There are very few faculty positions available in Public Administration and the ones that are available would prefer that you have a speciality such as Nonprofit Management, Public Policy or others.

2.  There are a lot less Public Administration programs within 4 Year institutions and the community college programs are dwindling.

3.  There are not a lot of Post-Doc positions or research positions within the field. Nor are there a lot of research stipends, funding etc.

4.  The PA field does not render a lot of options especially if ones desire is to remain or enter higher ed.

My girlfriend is considering obtaining a second masters degree in Criminal Justice.  This field has a wealth of positions available and seemingly attractive.  Although I understand how my friend feels, I just do not agree.

Yes, I have noticed that Public Administration in a lot of institutions is not a primary discipline or one that is coveted.  I agree that we could use a lot more research opportunities, grant funding, research funding and more for the field.  I do believe that organizations that focus upon PA should restructure and redevelop to further move the field forward, but to feel that I have made a mistake in choosing a field?  NO, absolutely not.

In my opinion, in order for our field to remain viable we have to provide the same or if not more opportunities for growth. I believe this is what is bothering my girlfriend.  It does not appear to be a lot of opportunities available.  It does not seem that one has options.  So again, I ask where is the organizational love?  Meaning where are the options and opportunities for fellow public administrators?

Vanessa

An Opportunity to Promote, Re-Use and Redevelopment

During these slower construction times that many of us are experiencing as a direct effect of the economic climate, there are still opportunities out there for developers or businesses who want to grow, expand or start up in your area. Don’t overlook those redevelopment opportunities.  Many property managers/owners are willing to give or offer a better deal on rent, lease or purchase price on empty retail space.  Empty warehouse space can be given a new use, such as indoor recreation facilities.

This could be a good time for zoning and comprehensive plan re-evaluation to make sure it is well suited for allowing creative and reasonable re-use and redevelopment of empty space.  Empty space will not provide any tax revenue. So if your ordinance is not business friendly, it may be time to consider some minor changes.

Business tax revenue keeps residential taxes lower, something we all like.

Teachable Moments

Here in Indiana,  our local media recently reported on a controversy at Purdue.  A professor had posted anti-gay opinions on his private website, and students were predictably up in arms–not just at Purdue, but on my campus as well. Purdue declined to take any action against the professor in question, and I fielded several inquiries from my own students, who were curious about my opinion of the situation. They knew me to be a strong (occasionally strident) proponent of equal rights for gays and lesbians, and wanted to know what I thought about Purdue’s decision to do nothing about this expression of anti-gay animus.

These sorts of conflicts provide us with valuable ”teachable moments.”

As I told my students, Purdue was exactly right. The posting was not to an official Purdue site; there was no likelihood that the sentiments would be attributed to the University. It was a private opinion, expressed by someone with whom I strongly disagree. Purdue is a government entity; the whole point of the First Amendment’s Free Speech clause is to prohibit government from censoring or punishing people who say unpopular or disagreeable things.

As I explained to my own students, people who want to control what others can read, view or download generally have the best of motives: they want to protect others from ideas they believe to be dangerous. To them, those of us defending civil liberties often appear oblivious to the clear potential for evil. (At best, they consider us naïve First Amendment “purists;” at worst,  moral degenerates.)

Most of us, I hope, cringe when someone uses a racial or religious insult, or otherwise denigrates people based upon their race, religion or sexual orientation. But in a free society, the appropriate response is education, not suppression. It is more and better speech—not censorship.

Well-intentioned as some of these efforts may be, what they signal is a profound lack of respect for the constitutional right of others to hold wrong opinions–or opinions contrary to their own.

When the public is faced with expression that offends us—that is uncivil or unfair or hateful—we have an unfortunate tendency to confuse a defense of the speaker’s right to free speech with an endorsement of the contents of that speech. So an argument that government cannot—and should not—ban offensive videos, or the Klan’s despicable rhetoric, or hate speech directed at marginalized groups, is seen as an endorsement of the pornography or racism or other hateful sentiments.  It isn’t. 

America’s founders understood that ideas have consequences. They also understood a profound truth: giving government the power to decide what ideas are acceptable is much more dangerous than even the most dangerous idea.

We have an obligation to explain that to our students, and incidents like the recent one at Purdue afford us the opportunity to do so.

Reflecting on (Public) Service

On this, Veteran’s Day, I’ve spent some time thinking about “service” and what it means.  Today we are celebrating the efforts of our military veterans and the heroic service that they have performed.  I found myself also considering my choice of government service.

There are a few things in my life that I know were the right decision, and my choice to be a public servant is one of them.  I am still passionate about what I do after 10 years, and I plan to be passionate about it for many more years.  I can only hope that my fellow public service professionals are as lucky as I am -  to love what we do.

Tune in to Our Morphing Media

Like many other so-called “policy wonks,” I’ve been worrying a lot about the effects of the  media’s increasing shift away from hard news to “infotainment” and political spin.

It’s one thing to disagree about something that we all can see. People can look at the same photograph, listen to the same speech, or read the same draft of a pending bill, and disagree about its meaning or, in the case of proposed legislation, whether it’s a good idea. But in our current media environment—characterized by multiple cable channels and blogs, and featuring “commentators” with extreme philosophies and varying degrees of sanity—we are often not even looking at the same reality. We may use the same words, but those words mean different things to different people.

It reminds me of the time before cell phones when a friend and I agreed to meet for lunch at “the tearoom.” Back then, two downtown department stores had tearooms, and I went to one of them while she went to the other. This made conversation difficult, in much the same way that our current media environment does.

A number of journalists have written about what this morphing of the media bodes for our ability to sustain democratic discourse.  Several have echoed an observation by media historian Paul Starr, who wrote that “journalism isn’t just about uncovering facts and framing stories; it is about assembling a public to read and react to those stories.”

In other words, there is a difference between an audience and a public. Journalism is about more than dissemination of news; its about the creation of shared awareness. It’s about occupying the same reality (or eating at the same tearoom).  So today’s situation raises troubling questions.

When these current changes shake out, will we be an audience, or a public?

Are we developing a media landscape that encourages disgruntled Americans to choose the news they prefer to believe?

If traditional media outlets like newspapers continue to lose market share to blogs, talk radio and cable “news” shows, as it appears they will, what are the likely consequences for our common civic life? With a diminished role for authoritative journalism—the kind that checks facts and separates conjecture and opinion from actual news—how can Americans  make wise choices between conflicting policy options?

On November 11^th  at 11:30, I will pose these and other questions to a stellar panel that includes James W. Brown, recently retired Dean of Journalism at IUPUI, Bruce Hetrick, CEO of Hetrick Communications in Indianapolis, and the Indianapolis Star’s political columnist, Matt Tully.  The panel is being sponsored by the Indiana Chapter of the American Society for Public Administration, and it will be available to other ASPA Chapters via the Internet—I believe the term is “Webinar”—and podcast.  

 If you are worried too, tune in! Check with your local ASPA Chapter to find out how and when.

Mentorship

I recently had the honor of participating in a panel discussion regarding women and minorities in science and technology.  Our discussion revolved around how we can encourage women and minorities to enter science and technology careers, and how we can make the case to these groups early on in life.

We, the panelists all spoke to different perspectives on the topic, yet we all came to the same conclusions.  It is critical to implement mentor programs in schools and encourage existing practitioners to serve as role models.  I realized as we were talking, that I’ve had some great mentors when it came to technology.  Mostly my mentor/mentee relationships have been informal, but good relationships nonetheless.  In my public administration career, however, I don’t feel like I’ve really had the opportunity for a good mentor.

I’m not complaining.  I don’t feel like I am missing out.  I am curious, though:  Have you had a mentor in your public administration career?  How have they helped you?