Learn the latest public administration news in today's edition of The Bridge!
May 25, 2022

   
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2022 Transatlantic Dialogue Two Weeks Away!

The 16th Transatlantic Dialogue (TAD16), an annual conference bridging scholarly communities on either side of the Atlantic Ocean, will take place June 9-11, 2022, in Roskilde (Denmark). Co-sponsored by ASPA, the European Group for Public Administration/International Institute of Administrative Sciences and Rutgers University, we are pleased to join with our European counterparts to support this event and the scholarly communities it enhances.

Under this year's theme, “Strategic Management of Public Sector Transformation in Turbulent Times: Enhancing Collaborative Governance and Co-creation of Public Value," TAD16 will organize a broad range of workshops led by pairs of American and European scholars:

  • Building capacities for collaborative governance and co-creation through strategic management
  • Enhancing public performance through interagency and cross-sector collaboration
  • Public innovation through networks of public and private actors: theory and practice
  • Improving the performance of contracts, procurement and public-private partnerships
  • Co-creating public value outcomes with citizens and voluntary organizations
  • Public leadership and motivation in public value production
  • Designing institutional platforms and arenas for collaborative governance and co-creation
  • Political leadership and policy entrepreneurship in a turbulent world of collaborative governance
  • Democratic legitimacy and accountability in collaborative governance arrangements
Program details, a list of workshops and more are posted on the TAD website. This event also will feature several keynote speeches, a roundtable discussion of public governance responses to COVID-19 and site visits to the Louisiana Museum of Modern Art and Kronborg Castle. Find more information online and we'll look forward to seeing attendees in Roskilde soon!

 


E-Learning at Your Fingertips

ASPA staff work tirelessly to keep your skills up to date and the information flowing all year long through our e-learning program. Visit our website to see more details about upcoming KeepingCurrent, BookTalk and Students and New Professionals series programming.


KeepingCurrent: Reflections on the Changing Job Market: The Nonprofit Context
June 9 | 1 p.m. EDT
In Partnership with ASPA's Section on Nonprofits and Students and New Administration Professionals Section

This webinar discusses current and emergent shifts in the nonprofit job market caused by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Speakers will discuss how the pandemic has affected various nonprofits sub-fields so far, how nonprofit organizations and their managers have been coping with the challenges and what they may expect in the future. This webinar also will discuss job recovery trends, as well as the utilization and effectiveness of the various public policy tools available to nonprofits. We invite nonprofit researchers, faculty teaching nonprofit classes and nonprofit management students and practitioners to attend this event. The webinar is sponsored by ASPA's Section on Nonprofits (SNP) and Students and New Administration Professionals Section (SNAPS).




From the Archives

KeepingCurrent: Getting Serious About Intergovernmental Data Sharing in Times of COVID-19
COVID-19 has demonstrated the importance of being able to share data quickly between levels of government, but this does not come easy. Our presenters offered case studies that provide insights and recommendations that may be helpful in guiding your city, state or federal agency on ways they can undertake data sharing initiatives.


ASPA's Bookstore Gains New Editions!

ASPA’s 2022 Annual Conference included two book signings: Our Own Worst Enemy by Tom Nichols and Gimme Shelter by Bonnie Stone. We have extra signed copies of each book for sale on our website. Purchase your copy now and expand your library with these must-reads!

Our Own Worst Enemy ($20)

Over the past three decades, citizens of democracies who claim to value freedom, tolerance and the rule of law have increasingly embraced illiberal politicians and platforms. Democracy is in trouble—but who is really to blame?

In Our Own Worst Enemy, Tom Nichols challenges the current depictions of the rise of illiberal and anti-democratic movements in the United States and elsewhere as the result of the deprivations of globalization or the malign decisions of elites. Rather, he places the blame for the rise of illiberalism on the people themselves. Nichols traces the illiberalism of the 21st century to the growth of unchecked narcissism, rising standards of living, global peace and a resistance to change. Ordinary citizens, laden with grievances, have joined forces with political entrepreneurs who thrive on the creation of rage rather than on the encouragement of civic virtue and democratic cooperation. While it will be difficult, Nichols argues that we need to defend democracy by resurrecting the virtues of altruism, compromise, stoicism and cooperation—and by recognizing how good we've actually had it in the modern world.

Trenchant, contrarian and highly engaging, Our Own Worst Enemy reframes the debate about how democracies have ended up in this dire state of affairs and what to do about it.



Gimme Shelter ($20)

Now and then, there really is good government. Bonnie Stone spent 40 years in New York City and social services-oriented not-for-profits. She doggedly and ingeniously tackled some of New York's most urgent issues, particularly chronic homelessness. Undaunted, Stone negotiated choppy waters, working with the expert, the difficult, the skeptical, the next-to-impossible, the determined and the inspired.

Gimme Shelter has a cast of characters as colorful and varied as the city itself. There are big stories of apparently insurmountable odds, surmounted-and smaller stories of people who with dedicated help were able to beat terrible odds. At a time when government is viewed as ineffective or even as a saboteur of people's best interests, Gimme Shelter reveals how the men and women who work for the City of New York can bring positive change to the lives of its citizens.


2022 Annual Conference Photos Online

ASPA’s photographer captured tons of great moments at this year's Annual Conference and we have posted the best of them to our Flickr account. Check out the albums, see your friends and colleagues and get a visual idea of everything that happened in Jacksonville.

If you find a photo of yourself and would like a non-water-marked version, contact us and we'll be happy to help (copies are free).


Print Copies of National Civic Review Available for the Classroom!

The National Civic League (NCL) is offering free print copies of past editions of the National Civic Review for your students. They are hoping, in the next academic year, you might be willing to include one or more articles from one of these editions in your coursework, in which case NCL would be willing to mail up to 40 copies of the print version for your use. Of course, for those who prefer online versions, those are available as well through the links below.

Below are editions NCL has produced during the past four years, in collaboration with the Kettering Foundation, that they feel have some of the more thought-provoking articles (there might even be one by you in there!). Each of the links below will provide a list of the included articles.

Please contact NCL this week if you would like them to mail you a batch of one of these editions. If you are interested in an edition that is not listed, please let them know that as well. If possible, please also inform them of your plans for using the edition. NCL might even be able to provide an incentive for having your class discuss these articles. Of course, please feel free to forward this offer to others in the field.

Available National Civic Review editions:

 


Excellence in Virginia Government Awards Honor Outstanding Public Servants of the Commonwealth


Last month, the 15th Excellence in Virginia Government Awards returned in person at the Downtown Richmond Marriott. The L. Douglas Wilder School and VCU leadership proudly celebrated key Virginian public servants who have made noteworthy contributions to the practice of government and welfare of our communities and citizens.

Wilder School Dean and National Academy of Public Administration Fellow Susan Gooden gave opening remarks, sharing her enthusiasm for a return to in-person awards. Gooden, who also is President of the Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs, and Administration (NASPAA), thanked the 300 guests in attendance for their participation in the awards ceremony, which raises funds for student scholarships. This year’s ceremony was made possible by the generosity of 20 sponsors including ASPA's Central Virginia Chapter.

VCU President Michael Rao spoke about the lasting impact the Wilder School creates for its students, researchers and alumni. He highlighted the importance of building community relationships in Richmond and throughout Virginia. Rao applauded the growing national reputation of the Wilder School as noted by U.S. News & World Report.

66th Governor of Virginia L. Douglas Wilder addressed the importance for public service in demanding change. He expressed his support for the Wilder School's recently created Research Institute for Social Equity and the need for additional resources to continue to improve access to outcomes that advance and promote equity and opportunity for all citizens.

Watch the WTVR video special exploring the Excellence in Virginia Government Awards here.


Chapters and Sections: Review the Policies & Procedures!

ASPA's May Chapter and Section leadership call included a review of ASPA's Policies & Procedures (P&Ps). Covering all aspects of how the business of ASPA occurs, this is a vital document for the health of the organization—and includes specific chapters referencing policies guiding Chapter and Section administration. For instance, did you know...

  • Chapter Presidents and Section Chairs are responsible for ensuring your leaders renew their membership in a timely fashion.
  • Chapter and Section rebate remittances are contingent on your organizations being up-to-date on ASPA's administrative needs
  • At least 70 members are needed to start new Sections and at least 25 members are needed to start new Chapters
Imagine what else you can learn by reviewing this document!

Click here to access the P&Ps and review the relevant chapters carefully. Contact us with any questions!

 



1950 Census Data Released This Spring


As reported by The New York Times earlier this spring, several weeks ago the U.S. government made available the results of the 1950 census, completed by more than 150 million people. It was "a once-in-a-decade bonanza" of data, opening doors for researchers, genealogists, historians and more.

The 1950 census took place post-World War II, mid-baby boom, and was the last mostly house-to-house canvass. Per The New York Times, "... the next census in 1960 was conducted largely by mail." Containing almost 40 questions and including "infant cards" (not retained), results were entered into a computer for the first time and forms were photographed onto microfilm.

As noted in the article (which you can read via the link below), this is a treasure trove of data accessible by anyone. Whether you are interested in data for research or are looking for specific family data from that period, these records are now available to answer your most burning questions!


Tips and Resources

How Managers Can Become More Effective Leaders
A new report from Gallup identifies seven leadership traits found among managers of high performing teams and offers tips for how to develop these skills.

Here’s How Agencies Can Help Ease the Return to Offices
A positive, people-centric approach is critical.

A Guide to Help You Keep up with the Omicron Subvariants
How different are the seemingly endless stream of emerging omicron subvariants from one another and how protected are we?

How to Make Performance Reviews Less Terrible—Especially Given the Challenges of Supervising Remote Workers
Performance reviews were always a challenge, but even more so in the age of hybrid work, when some employees are in the office more often than others.

The Public Service Student Loan Forgiveness Flood Gates Have Opened
Recent changes to an embattled program designed to cancel student loan debt for federal employees and other people who work in public service appear to have made it more accessible, as the Education Department announced recently that it has canceled $6.8 billion in student debt in recent months.


In the News

Today's headlines contain plenty of news coverage of some of our nation's most pressing public administration challenges. ASPA has curated some of the most important stories from recent weeks. If you have not seen these yet, make sure you read them now!

Infrastructure

Public Finance Public Service Social Equity

 


Members in the News

ASPA members are in the news in a variety of ways. If you have been featured, please send a link to the article to us and we will be happy to include it in a future newsletter.

Black Representation Getting Harder to Protect through Charleston City Council Redistricting
ASPA Immediate Past President Kendra Stewart is quoted in this article.

Celebrating Public Service—and Public Servants
By Bob Lavigna

A Quick Take on the President’s Management Priorities
By John Kamensky

Police Academies Dedicate 3.21 Percent of Training Hours to Ethics and Other Public Service Topics
By Galia Cohen

Public Health and America’s "Forgotten Governments"
By Don Kettl

The Promises and Pitfalls of Public Sector Short-Term Workers
By Katherine Barrett and Richard Greene

In the Pandemic, Federal, State and Local Government Responses Weren’t Always Aligned
Featuring an interview with ASPA member Rich Callahan.

Cal State San Bernardino Honors 2,800 in First Live Commencement Ceremony in Three Years




Around Public Administration

Here are the most recent updates from across the profession. Did we miss you? Send us your news and we'll include it in the next round!

Upcoming Events:

Calls for proposals and other updates:
  • 2022 SECOPA Call for Proposals
    The program committee for the SECOPA meeting in Lexington, Kentucky (September 30 – October 1, 2022) invites participants to offer papers and presentations on all topics of public administration, but particularly encourages proposals dealing with the many ways public administrators across agencies, sectors and levels of government build and promote community. Recent events—even those only peripherally related to the pandemic—have heightened public awareness of the importance of community in all its forms. As the hallmark of our profession, public administrators rely on technical expertise to identify and address the needs of our communities. No stranger to collaboration or conflict before the Age of COVID, public administrators now face new and more intense challenges in providing public goods and services as we are battered and bolstered by the forces of politics. Public administration research and practice have consistently emphasized mechanisms of accountability as important tools to combat negative images and document the positive impact of public agencies. We rely on evidence from research and practice to develop and utilize management tools to help eradicate corruption and build trust while meeting public needs. The challenges of the pandemic were exacerbated by a divisive and highly partisan political environment, drawing additional attention to the importance of technical expertise and ethical competence in public service. For more than 50 years, practitioners and academics have come together at the Southeast Conference for Public Administration to address the challenges and celebrate the impact of public administrators. For SECOPA 2022, we once again issue the call to academics and practitioners to provide research and reports to assist public administrators at all levels as they build community through the collaborations and conflicts that characterize practice. If you have questions, please contact conference chair Matthew Howell, or visit the website. The proposal deadline has been extended; all proposals are due by June 1, 2022.

  • Editor in Chief Search: Public Administration and Development
    Public Administration & Development is a long-running journal dedicated to publishing the best research in the field. For more than 50 years, it has been reviewing and assessing the practice of public administration at the local, regional, national and international levels. It gives special attention to investigations of the management of all phases of public policy formulation and implementation which have an interest and importance beyond a particular government and state. The journal is looking for two new editors in chief who will relish the opportunity to develop the journal in line with the discipline, with the changing publishing landscape, and will be able to work together to bring different perspectives to the journal. All applications are due June 1, 2022. Click here for more details.

  • 34th Annual ABFM Research Conference
    The Association for Budgeting and Financial Management (ABFM) invites proposals for panels, papers and posters for its 34rd annual research conference, September 22-24 at the Hyatt Regency Miami in Miami, Florida. Proposals are invited from practitioners, scholars and students of public budgeting and financial management on the full range of topics encompassed by its name. Proposals should address relevant issues at any level of government or other public-serving organization, across the full range of practical and theoretical applications. All proposals are due by June 1, 2022. Click here for more information.

  • ABFM Awards Call for Nominations
    Nominations are now being accepted for awards to be presented at ABFM's 2022 Annual Conference. Awards include the Aaron B. Wildavsky Award, the S. Kenneth Howard Award, the Paul Posner Pracademic Award, the Michael Curro Student Paper Award, the ABFM Best Book Award and Award for Scholarly Engagement in Public Budgeting and Finance. Nominations for all awards are due by July 1, 2022. Click here for more information.

  • 2022 NECoPA Call for Proposals
    The Northeast Conference on Public Administration (NECoPA) is intended to provide educational opportunities for scholars, practitioners and others interested in public service in a collaborative environment by educating all on current issues, research and practice in public and nonprofit organizations. This conference will be NECoPA’s 13th year of bringing together scholars and practitioners from the northeast region, the United States and internationally. This year's theme, "Public and Nonprofit Administration in a Hybrid-Connected 21st Century," recognizes that the events of the last two years accelerated the pace at which both our professional and personal lives have become intricately intertwined with technology, as we live and work in a hybrid—virtual and in-person—world. Public and nonprofit administration has been tasked with adapting and navigating public programs in this world to ensure they continue to be delivered in an effective, efficient, economical and equitable manner. All proposals are due by July 31, 2022. Click here to view the Call for Proposals.

 

PA TIMES Online

Here's a selection of current pieces on PA TIMES Online, covering a range of issues within the profession. We accept individual articles on a rolling basis; if you have a piece you think would fit our publication, submit it to [email protected] for consideration. (Please review our submission guidelines in advance!)

 

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