https://www.vitesse.com

Administrators and public policy leaders often have a natural inclination to keep up on “the news” – local, state, national, and international. I’ve compiled my Top Eight sites for getting the latest news on government and policy issues. (Why eight instead of ten? Well, I primarily only use these eight, and they offer more than enough news to satisfy any wonk).

1.       National Public Radio (NPR)

Radio is my preferred news medium because it minimizes exposure to gratuitous and sensationalized content. Public radio offers an unbiased, rich information resource. I enjoy both the national and state affiliate programs. (Unfortunately a longstanding NPR program of particularly high caliber, Talk of the Nation, is soon to be cancelled).

Find it online: www.npr.org, www.cpr.org

Find it on Twitter: @nprnews, @totn, @COPublicRadio

2.       The Economist

If your career includes a national or international focus, The Economist offers an unmatched global perspective that rarely disappoints, and offers intriguing, easy-to-read articles.

Find it online: www.economist.com

Find it on Twitter: @TheEconomist

If I didn’t hear it on NPR or read it in The Economist, I probably read it on a Twitter feed.

3.       POLITICO

Whether you’re located in Washington, D.C. or you just have a need to keep up on national politics and legislative happenings, POLITICO is in the know.

Find it online: www.politico.com

Find it on Twitter: @politico

4.       Denver Post

If you don’t follow your local newspaper, you should! Print news may be a dying art form, but the news business is thriving in e-mediums. The Denver Post delivers customized breaking news alerts straight to my inbox every day.

Find it online: www.denverpost.com

Find it on Twitter: @denverpost

The next two don’t require much explanation – they’re the primary source for all news, but I find their Tweets particularly informative.

5. Reuters

Find it online: www.reuters.com

Find it on Twitter: @Reuters

6. Associated Press

Find it online: www.ap.org

Find it on Twitter: @AP

The last two are my go-to sources for energy news.

7.       E&E News

If you work in the energy field, this is the one news subscription service you need to invest in.

Find it online: www.eenews.net

Find it on Twitter: @EEPublishing

8.       Bloomberg NEF

Bloomberg acquired New Energy Finance in 2009. I first came in contact with a BNEF reporter in 2011, he was very professional and well-informed and I’ve been following their reporting ever since.

Find it online: www.bnef.com

Find it on Twitter: @BloombergNEF

If you decide to pick up any of these Twitter, RSS, HTML, print, or radio news sources, let me know how you like them! Find me on Twitter: @sruenb

http://drpinna.com

By Wiha Powell

Whether it is the national debt, mortgages, student loans, credit cards or auto loans, America has become a society of debt and the American people are drowning in it. The average American, even after the recession, still treads dangerous waters. The majority are no longer working towards achieving a better life; instead, they are struggling to keep a roof over their heads and food on the table. The American dream no longer exists. It has been replaced by a whip known as the American nightmare.

According to a recent survey by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, as of Dec. 31, 2012, the total consumer indebtedness is $11.34 trillion, 0.3% higher than the previous quarter. The largest component of household debt is mortgages, which stands at $8.03 trillion. Student loans, the second largest, stands at $1 trillion followed by credit cards and auto loan debts.

One of the major problems many Americans are facing is the issue of consumerism not consumption. Consumption mainly focuses on basic human needs, such as safety, shelter, food, clothing, health care and education. Consumerism, on the other hand, is a social and economic order that encourages the purchase of goods and services in great amount. Basically, the American society has become obsessed with acquisition. Constantly acquiring more goods and services is the only way to scratch the itch. Many Americans are given a significant amount of purchasing power to buy more using credit cards and other lines of credit. This obsession (consumerism) has become a social disease within our society that results in drowning debt.

Consumerism also causes one to spend more than what is earned, resulting in many not having enough saved or barely keeping up with monthly expenses. As grandma would say “save for a rainy day;” but faced with such a huge debt, most Americans either do not have enough money stashed away or a penny saved for emergencies. In these tough economic times, many Americans are more focused on staying afloat than saving.

The sad truth is that debt slavery has become a way of life for millions of Americans. Currently, most people are either getting into

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more debt or trying to pay off the debt that has already consumed their lives, resulting in many finances to be dominated by debt. According to Sentier Research, the median household income dropped from $51,994 in January 2013, to $51,404 in February 2013, while the median household debt continues to rise. According to the US Census Bureau the median household debt is $70,000, which amounts to 69% of household families having some form of debt.

For decades, American consumers have run up an ever-increasing debt causing many to be trapped in debt slavery.  We have grown accustomed to financing purchases with credit cards or other lines of credit; leaving many to toil and labor for years in an attempt to pay off those debts. But as Former Congressman Traficant stated “90 percent of all Americans are mortgaged to the hilt, and would have little or no assets left if all debts and liabilities were to be paid”. So, what possible solution can there be for a society that strives on putting its citizens in debt?

For over a century, the constitutional right to vote, particularly for Blacks has been under attack. Blacks, ex-slaves and slaves alike, were not considered e citizens of the U.S. and not allowed to vote. However, ratification of the 14^th Amendment in 1868 redefined citizenship as “individuals born or naturalized in the United States are American citizens.” The 15^th Amendment guaranteed voting rights to every citizen stating that, “the U.S. government is prohibited from denying a citizen the right to vote

http://www.core-online.org

based on race, color, or previous condition of servitude”. As a result, Blacks were allowed to vote, but faced obstacles. The Voting Rights Act of 1965 banished these obstacles by outlawing all discriminatory voting practices that would otherwise be responsible for widespread disenfranchisement of voters.

Recently, the Supreme Court heard arguments to dismantle the Voting Rights Act of 1965, in particular to remove Section 5, which requires states (mostly Southern States) to receive preclearance from the Justice Department for any changes to districting or voting procedures. The argument from the attorneys who seek to strike down Section 5 are that racial discrimination no longer exists. The argument itself is very compelling but reality suggest otherwise. Voter disenfranchisement still remains a prominent problem in states and communities that fall under Section 5.

The question remains, why are our political leaders creating a series of bureaucratic obstacles that make it difficult for citizens to exercise their fundamental right to vote. The operative word is “citizen,” which is clearly defined by the 14^th Amendment.  It seems as though being a citizen in this country, especially a minority citizen, no longer guarantees you can exercise your right to vote since some of our leaders are using dirty tricks to take away this right or to make voting inconvenient. These are the same dirty tricks used in the Jim Crow era to deny people their basic voting rights because of skin color. Currently, a new Jim Crow era is upon us.

Voting rights are no longer taken away because of the color of one’s skin, but is taken away by new voter ID laws that limit early voting, restrict registration drives, impose onerous residency requirements and dismantle Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act. These voter ID laws have become the main source of voter disfranchisement in the US, where some political leaders are introducing strict voter ID laws as strategies to influence the outcome of an election. These laws often most adversely affect the votes of poor, elderly, minorities and young people.

http://www.ncsl.org

According to the National Conference of State Legislature (NCSL) since 2001, nearly 1,000 Voter ID bills were introduced in a total of 46 states and 24 of these states passed major legislation between 2003-2012. Moreover, as of April 10, 2013, 30 states have introduced Voter ID legislation, which includes 12 states proposing new Voter ID legislation, seven states proposing to strengthen existing ID laws and 11 states making other changes to existing ID laws.

It is clear the very Act the Supreme Court is trying to dismantle is still needed in 2013 to protect minorities against voter disfranchisement. This was made clear in 2006 when Congress voted unanimously to extend Section 5 for the fourth time based on data from communities that are covered under Section 5. Now is not the time for the Court to dismantle or change one of the most effective law on the books. It is now time for the federal government to step up and protect minorities against these discriminatory voting practices. Section 5 is far from being outdated. Rather, since we are seeing the emergence of the new Jim Crow era, this section may be needed more than ever in the coming decades.

By Robyn Bage

Long before the threat of sequestration, the nonprofit sector endured episodes of merciless uncertainty. Staying the course with less than perfect vision is nothing new. Yet, this time it seems different. Perhaps it’s the exponential effects of layers of ambiguity.  Perhaps we’re just tired.

No matter the reason, it is imperative that we effectively plan for a range of contingencies. One way to prepare our organizations for the unpredictable is to engage in scenario planning.

Scenario planning is the identification and analysis of the most relevant and probable future states. It includes creating a tentative course of action. It must also include an unwavering focus on the mission, as this is the North Star for nonprofits.

There are many resources to help you engage in this type of planning. I will talk about components that seem to be common to all of the approaches that I’ve seen or experienced.

The first step, as I mentioned in Navigating a Sea of Uncertainty Part I, is an environmental scan. What’s out there, in the external business environment, with the potential to pose immense problems for your organization? What opportunities exist to counteract the challenges or present new, hopeful possibilities? The next step is to figure out which variables will have the most significant impact. Changes in consumer demographics? Decreases in funding source A and F? Increased regulations or modified compliance criteria?

After identifying the most critical variables, it is time to ask the question, “What if…” Examine the possible impact of change. What if the customer group for your most effective program disappears? What if this revenue source, or that one, is discontinued? What if they both take a significant (greater than 50%) cut? Brainstorm, without judgment, what the worst possible variations would look like for your firm. I suggest inviting input from all layers of your organization to answer these crucial questions. Everyone’s perspective counts.

Once you have looked at all of the worst possible outcomes, pick the most probable scenarios. For example: there may be a chance that your customer group would disappear, but it is more likely that two of your funding streams will receive catastrophic cuts. Brainstorm your possible response to each change. How can you turn lemons into lemonade? Be as creative as possible. When you have come up with a list of viable responses, you can begin to evaluate your ideas and pick the one best response to each variable.

At this point, I strongly suggest that you present your scenarios to your governing body—e.g., the Board of Directors, City Council, Advisory Committee. An oversight group should have the opportunity to weigh in and approve any strategic adjustment. It would be wise to seek this approval before the next step—developing a detailed action plan.

As with all good plans, an action plan (sometimes called a work plan) is required for each contingency.  These identify what, when, where/how, and who. In the event the scenario unfolds, the action plan will ensure a timely and accurate response. This document also facilitates communication, ensuring that each stakeholder has the same information.

Engaging in scenario planning will help your organization to be prepared for the likely outcomes of the changes you predict. It will also enable you to maintain a sense of calm, order and control throughout your firm.

http://www.salesprogress.com

By Sarah Ruen Blanchard

The Latin phrase ministerium super se translates to “service above self.” Civil servants and government leaders have always understood this mantra, but there’s more to it than a commitment to the public good. We cannot deliver on service if we ignore the importance of reflection and care for oneself.

We ask our leaders to be personable, energetic, and proactive, in addition to being generalists and specialists that deliver efficient and effective solutions for our citizens every day. These qualities sought by the public service are lofty, but it is a selfless commitment to others that drives successful public administrators.

As managers, we must trust proven pathways that enable collaborative processes, allowing us to free up our frenetic field of vision to focus in on the decisions that are within our span of influence and control. Without creating these opportunities for thoughtful examination, we lose sight of what innovations we could otherwise offer to our field due to fatigue.

With frugal public budgets, staffing constraints, and limited access to the latest technological services, it can seem that time is not a commodity of abundance. Yet, time is always elusive; and self-reflection and continuous learning is the only way that we can lend tempered, thoughtful, and caring judgment to our daily tasks.

“Service above self” is the mantra of our profession, and self-reflection enables our commitment.

http://www.bendib.com

As Congress and the President remain in a stalemate over the budget (although a complete budget hasn’t been approved in years), public employees have remained the scapegoat for an ineffective and inefficient budget process that has become the prisoner of partisan politics. In the Memos to National Leaders, launched and rolled out last summer and fall, ASPA and NAPA made clear that there is need for a more strategic federal budget process.

As the authors of the Memo on Strengthening the Federal Budget Process noted:

A strategic approach to budgeting requires a broader conception of what the budget is and does.

If we continue budgeting this way cutting spending or raising new revenues without a careful eye to the Nation’s long term interests and the sustainability of its commitments

we risk a period of slow growth and austerity that could cripple all efforts and threaten our position in the world. If instead we manage fiscal challenges strategically, we will be able to more effectively reallocate public and private resources to growth sustaining investments vital for long term fiscal stability.

And that’s the goal isn’t it – fiscal stability. Or at least it should be.

We expect our leaders to think strategically – at all levels. Congress and the President are not exempt. We want a strategic budget process that reflects the needs of the citizens and not just a small minority of the population. As the Memos outlined:

To make effective use of its limited public resources and to mobilize private investment to achieve its most important national objectives, the United States needs an approach to fiscal choice that is more strategic in its scope and capacity to prioritize. It needs a new, rigorous review process that analyzes the base of current resource use and alternatives using information on expected costs and returns to the economy over a long horizon.

ASPA and NAPA continuously promote good governance and improved performance management. And a central part of public administration is the people. Public employees commit to do their jobs diligently and effectively.  But it’s no surprise that it is getting harder to do that as anti-government sentiments grow and public servants are blamed for wasteful spending and partisan gridlock among our elected leaders.  Public servants are feeling overburdened and underappreciated.

As we prepare to celebrate Public Service Recognition Week during the first week of May (May 5-11), we challenge everyone to take a moment to thank a public servant for what they do.  It is a choice to work in public service and the majority who do, chose this path because they care about their country and their communities.

So, while the country waits out the fiscal debacle between Congress and the President, remember the public servants you meet during your day at the post office, the parks, VA, HR office and everywhere. Thank them for their service and then take a step further and urge your elected official to act with conscience and thought about the real impact of policy decisions on real people.

http://www.usm.edu

In the 1860s, thanks to Congress, former slaves became citizens of the United States, which allowed them to have due process rights, equal protection, and a federally protected right to vote. Under the 15^th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which was ratified on February 3, 1870, the U.S. government is prohibited from denying a citizen the right to vote based on race, color, or previous condition of servitude. However, blacks were not allowed to vote until efforts were made some 94 years later by the 1964 campaign called Mississippi Freedom Summer. In this campaign, Mississippi civil rights workers like James Earl Chaney, Andrew Goodman, and Michael Schwerner risked their lives registering black voters. They ultimately gave their lives for such a right.

One year later, on Sunday March 7, 1965, which became known as Bloody Sunday, 600 nonviolent protesters set out to march from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama with a call for voting rights for Blacks. These peaceful protesters didn’t even leave Selma before they were met and brutally beaten by police officers.

On March 15, President Lyndon Johnson convened a joint session of Congress to address the voting crisis and to demand a very specific response to the issue of every American citizen having an equal right to vote regardless race or color. This resulted in the proposal and the enactment of the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

The Act authorized voting rights for black people and banned any test or hurdle that hindered black people from voting.  Under

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Section 5, it also places extra guards in certain states (mostly Southern states) that historically did not uphold integration-related, forcing them to do so. Special scrutiny was put in place for these problem states. These states were no longer allowed to change voting ID requirements, close polling places, change voting dates or change the registration procedures – all tactics that had been adopted in the past to prevent minority voting. Under the Act, the states would require prior Justice Department approval. The Section 5 provisions were set to expire in five years. However, in 1970 Congress extended these provisions for another five years. They were then extended in 1975 for seven years; in 1982 for another 25 years; and in 2006, under President Bush, Congress voted unanimously to extend these provisions for another 25 years.

Almost 50 years after Bloody Sunday and President Johnson’s speech to Congress, voting rights for minorities are once again under attack. On February 27, 2013, the U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments over dismantling the Voting Rights Act of 1965, in particular getting rid of Section 5. The main argument from proponents of this move are whether states with long-standing history of racial discrimination must still gain permission from the Justice Department before changing their voting laws. Upon hearing the arguments, Justice Scalia gave his personal assertion on the 2006 congressional unanimous vote. He stated that the shift to near-unanimous support was “very likely attributable to a phenomenon that is called perpetuation of racial entitlement.” He further went on to say “I am fairly confident it will be re-enacted in perpetuity…unless a court can say it does not comport with the Constitution…It’s a concern that this is not the kind of a question you can leave to Congress.”

http://a.abcnews.com

Clearly, Justice Scalia needs to reread the Constitution because Section 2 of the 15^th Amendment states that, “the Congress shall have power to enforce, by appropriate legislation, the provisions of this article”. Therefore, the decision to uphold Section 5 of the Voting rights Act does in fact rest with Congress because they have the authority to protect the voting rights of the American people.  However, regardless of the constitutionality of the Act, there are some states, 150 years later, that are still trying to pass laws that would deny voting rights to the very people the Act protects.

The right to vote is not a racial entitlement nor was it a gift from the government. The Act was enacted to enforce our constitutional rights, a right that was completely ignored by Confederate states for almost 100 years. It took Congress that long to make those promises a reality. The pillar of citizenship enacted in the 1860s applies to all, no matter your color, race or creed, which is the total opposite from a special entitlement.

It can sometimes be intimidating for a master’s student to attend a conference full of professionals in the field, which is exactly how I felt before I got to New Orleans for the 2013 ASPA conference. For me, I was the only master’s student from my university that was present and around ten of the professors from my university were also in attendance. Needless to say, I felt the pressure to make an impression not only with the professors from my university but also to reflect well on my university with the program directors, professors, and deans from other universities.

So, a little about me…I am pursuing a Master of Nonprofit Management and a Fellow with the Center of Public and Nonprofit Management at the University of Central Florida. My plans after graduating in December 2013 are to pursue a doctorate in Public Affairs, Public Administration, or similar program. My research interests mainly involve the nonprofit sector however I also have interests in international development, social entrepreneurship, and environmental policy related issues. Going into the ASPA conference I had two goals: network with as many people as possible and learn something along the way!

Arriving at the conference I found that registering was quick and easy! The volunteers at the registration counter were very helpful yo a first-timer/student. There was a display table with a variety of ribbons that attendees could attach to their name badge lanyard signifying their status such as “speaker”, “presenter”, “new member”, “student”, “first time attendee”, etc. I was told by a very nice gentleman I met in the elevator that if you wear the student or first-time attendee ribbons, seasoned attendees will greet you and welcome you to the conference (Some of you shy people may want to avoid the ribbons in this case!).

However, it was nice that most people wore the ribbons because it allowed me to easily identify other students or first-timers. Speaking of students, there were a lot more than I expected! It made me feel more comfortable that there were people like me at the conference probably feeling just as nervous as I was.

The nice thing about the conference for students is that there are a variety of presentations just for students. In fact, a student summit was held on the entire day on Saturday. The summit included an orientation and presentations about networking, resume building, and mentoring. You didn’t have to go to every single presentation during the day. You could pick and choose which presentations were appropriate for you and go to panel sessions in between. I would recommend going to at least a couple student summit presentations because it’s a great way to meet and make friends with students during the conference. I was actually able to make friends the first day during a student summit presentation and have people to go to lunch with and hang out with during down time the rest of the conference.

Let’s end on a couple of helpful hints and tips to use at the next ASPA conference (or any other professional/academic conference in the future):

• Bring plenty of business cards. Most of the students even had business cards so make sure you bring yours. I printed resumes as well but didn’t give any out at all. I wouldn’t worry about bringing printed copies of your resume to the conference.
• Dress is business casual to business professional. Some people had suits (I was one of them and didn’t feel overdressed at all) and some just wore nice blouse/button up shirt with slacks.
• Be strategic about your schedule. Look at the program guide online ahead of time and plan your day(s) out accordingly. Pick which panel sessions and meetings you want to attend. If you wait till the day of you might feel overwhelmed. Make sure to also schedule time for fun to enjoy the city.
• Plan your meals. Food is not included (at least not this year) in the registration fee so make sure you plan your meals ahead of time. Some meetings and receptions do have food but the information you will receive will explicitly mention if food is being served.
• Join a section ahead of time. I would recommend getting involved in ASPA by joining and being an active participant of a section. For example, I joined a newly formed section called NP3: Nonprofit Policy, Practice, and Partnerships and signed up on a committee during the conference. Usually each section holds meetings, special receptions, and workshops for their members. It’s just another way to get engaged with professionals with similar interests all over the country.

Jose Luis Irizarry, MPA, MA

ASPA District I Representative/ Vice-chair, LGBT Advocacy Alliance Section

First, let me thank all of the attendees and supporters of this panel, Walking the Talk on Social Equity at the ASPA Annual Conference.  I was not sure how many people to expect at the panel considering the way many people feel about LGBT Issues. The support means the world to me, the ASPA LGBT Advocacy Alliance Section, ASPA, and the public administration community as a whole. You inspire us to continue to do what is right, even if it is not easy.

The purpose of this post is to provide you with a quick summary of my portion of the presentation, The Future of LGBT Persons and Issues with ASPA: A Perspective. I know that many supporters and conference attendees had conflicting workshops when the panel was on and I want to make sure you do not miss out.

I presented last and by that time, Wally Swan had already explained the history and impact of LGBT issues on public administration (or lack of impact in some cases) and within ASPA. He also provided us a detailed overview of the growing number of social injustices that face the LGBT community and the response of the field (which was practically nonexistent except for a few select points in time including the publication of his first text on LGBT Issues in Public Administration) and ASPA’s response or lack of reaction to the issue. As a whole, ASPA has not done much to take a stand against these social injustices, discrimination, and inequities. With the exception of the first LGBT Panel developed by Wally Swan for the 1992 ASPA Annual Conference, various efforts by sections that touch topically on LGBT Issues in Public Administration, and finally the approval of this section by the council.  But there is light at the end of the tunnel.

Antoinette Samuel, ASPA’s Executive Director informed us on how associations are addressing issues of diversity and inclusion which also topically touch on issues facing the LGBT Community. It seems like our section, LGBT Advocacy Alliance, is the only one focusing on these issues head on, while topically touching upon the other issues. Although this too could be changing thanks to many supporters of true social equity and justice in many of ASPA’s other sections (SWPA in particular) and sister organizations such as the organizers behind the Social Equity and Leadership Conference and the Southeast Conference on Public Administration (SECoPA) in particular.

Three things (in no particular order) really hit home from Antoinette’s presentation. Two of them were statements that I think are at the heart of what the LGBT Section stands for at ASPA:

• First, we need to consider “the way we think…the way we do things…[&] the way we are.” According to Antoinette, this is who we are at ASPA. Looking at ASPA as a whole since I joined, I have to say that this applies in theory but ASPA hasn’t really started ‘walking the talk’ until relatively recently and even then it is more like a hesitant first step that was taken when they thought no one was looking to move them an inch forward. As was asserted during the panel, more needs to be done and I guess it started with the creation of this section and that this section will need to facilitate and lead these moves.
• Second, during a conversation of what others have done in this area (she did not provide much on what ASPA has done in this area) in terms of ensuring that the LGBT perspective is adequately represented was her mention and specific focus on “Diversity + Inclusion” with “+” representing “PLUS” and not “AND.”  There is a difference and I am glad that she singled that out and explained that to the audience.
• Finally, (and of course there was more but I don’t want to summarize her presentation when you can email her for the slides) what impacted me was her slide that proposes the following question: “What is ASPA’s commitment to diversity in its leadership and membership and most important, our profession?” After her presentation I asked to her to leave this question posted for the audience for the rest of the session because I truly believe this is a critical question that we must be addressing NOW.

Following Antoinette’s presentation, our “feisty” but friendly, Claire Mostel, LGBT Advocacy Alliance Section Chairperson and ASPA Life Member, spoke. Claire covered several issues including the issues that we as a community of ASPA face and continue to struggle with when trying to focus on social equity of the population. A population that tends to be forgotten by the PA community and the general discussions in the field of social equity—LGBT issues.

Additionally, Claire explained the decision to form a section versus a task force, what thought went into the name, mission, and purpose of the section, and what obstacles and challenges we are ready to overcome in order to continue to do what is right while advocating with our allies (which she made a point of identifying and thanking for everything because without them we would not be here) on issues of social equity that impact the LGBT community and the field of public administration.

I will try to get some notes on this history as it is important in demonstrating how imbedded social inequities are in people and collective organizations regardless of how much they talk the talk of being in favor of and supporting social equity and social justice.

At this point, I should admit (though I could not say this during the panel), that these were tough acts to follow, especially as a newer member of ASPA and the ASPA National Council but I believe I did us proud.

I began my portion with looking at what I consider to be landmark events, from my current past that I recall and that impacted me greatly.  In chronological order these include:

• Passage of the Defense of Marriage Act by President Bill Clinton;
• Various states banning and limiting same sex marriage and civil unions;
• Various states banning LGBT people from adopting and limiting other civil rights;
• Protections, and liberties for LGBT peopl;
• President Bush’s attempt at passing an anti-gay marriage bill that would forever define marriage as a union between a man and a woman.

Select states continue to lead the charge and in the face of political disaster pursue the right course of action and extending civil rights and liberties, or better yet providing what is constitutionally guaranteed and being unconstitutionally withheld from those in the LGBT community. Finally, the recent attempts by Presidents Obama and Clinton to announce their determination that DOMA is unconstitutional and asking the United States Supreme Court to rule in accordance with their determination in the cases before them this year.

One who is knowledgeable about public administration has to see the complexity, impact and implications of LGBT issues on public administration whether they agree with or disagree with the issue of gay marriage. The issues and their implications extend well beyond marriage and the LGBT community.

This leads me to my ultimate point during my portion of the presentation: the future of LGBT persons and issues with ASPA, and that is that we as THE association of experts in the field of public administration and as scholars in social equity must be on the front lines. We must be ready to interpret what is going on, identify the implications of recent and upcoming developments, and lead the efforts to address the implementation and social equity issues that are present and will arise in the various areas of technical expertise of the field.

Some of the technical areas mentioned during the panel include areas in which ASPA already has sections and partnerships including: education, training, and competency development, ethics, personnel administration and labor relations, criminal justice administration, health and human services, international and government relations, research, and public law and administration, to name a few.

IN ORDER FOR ASPA TO REMAIN RELEVANT TO THE FIELD AS EXPERTS AND A RESOURCE we must remain on the cutting edge of our areas of expertise otherwise people will go elsewhere and the relevancy and usefulness of the organization, and the field as a whole, may be in question.

I then discussed three ways that ASPA can be current and on the front lines—the cutting edge. First, we could and I believe should, take a position against injustices outright and support good socially just policies that address all traditional areas including LGBT issues as they continue to become major policy issues in society and government. In my history on the ASPA National Council (since 2010), ASPA has not done a good job at this, with a handful of exceptions.

Second, we need to ensure that the LGBT perspective is adequately represented in persons in top leadership positions and in contributing leadership. This means that we should do our best to encourage and support this throughout our organizations, at all levels as much as possible, rather than excluding those that would bring those fresh and critical perspectives to the table in meaningful ways by choosing not to focus on the specific issues head on when they are brought to the table. Additionally we should not assume that because a small victory was achieved or that because people are talking about the issues, that the issues have been resolved. As we know, we must continue the fight for social equity as it is an ongoing struggle.

Finally, we need to ensure that LGBT issues are adequately represented in issues at national conferences, PAR, the PA Times, and other arenas.  As I mentioned during the panel, I believe we have taken major steps forward at this conference but many more steps are needed before we can claim victory.  Of particular importance on this front are three events that were hosted at this conference and endorsed by several ASPA sections and tracks. The three events were held on Saturday, Sunday and Monday (nicely divided by chance) and they are:

• Saturday’s Panel, Social Equity and the Intersection of Same Sex Marriage: A New Understanding of Partnership in 21st Century America in the Social Equity, Gender, and Diversity Track and endorsed by SWPA.
• This panel on Sunday, from the same track and endorsed by SWPA.
• And Monday’s Roundtable Forum: A Narrative Approach and the Inner-City: An Early Analysis of an Action Research Project in Miami’s Liberty City Neighborhood, that addressed social equity with a strong LGBT emphasis, in the Nonprofit/nongovernmental and Civil Society Organizations track.

I hope ASPA and the field continue to move in the right direction and WALK THE TALK that they talk so much!

The most useful way I’ve found to understand and teach this topic is illustrated in a management textbook[2]. It explains that environmental uncertainty can be assessed by examining three factors: resource scarcity, rate of environmental change, and complexity (i.e., the number of external factors affecting the organization). In a highly uncertain environment, accurate and timely information may be difficult to gather; forecasts maybe unreliable. The more uncertain the environment, the more difficult it is to make decisions.

Based on this characterization, nonprofits operate in a highly uncertain environment. As the 2013 sequestration points, out financial resources are scarce. Funding streams have been reduced or eliminated; the competition for revenue is fierce. Like our for-profit counterparts, nonprofits must manage a rapidly changing environment. New technology, the volatile economy, the evolving demographics of our constituents and the changing political clime require ongoing flexibility. Moreover, the nonprofit sector is incredibly complex.

Fortunately, it is possible to survive and even thrive in an environment of uncertainty. I offer the following considerations:

• Although good data will be hard to find, a comprehensive environmental scan (otherwise known as S.W.O.T. analysis) is critical. The information derived from the scan will lay the foundation for sound scenario planning.
• Scenario planning involves using the information from the environmental analysis to identify a range of possible futures that your organization may face, and then making plans to address those circumstances that you project will exist in each future state.

Scenario planning is akin to creating several alternate strategic plans. The process creates intentional flexibility. Moreover it can foster collaboration, hope, and innovation.

April’s blog will take a closer look at scenario planning.