New York Metropolitan Chapter
ASPA NEWSThe American Society for Public Administration, ASPA, is a national professional organization dedicated to better government and excellence in the public service.
Upcoming Chapter Program Event:
What to do with a Public Affairs Degree
DATE: Thursday, March 20th, 2003
TIME: 6:00PM - 7:30PM
LOCATION:
Baruch College Vertical Campus
55 Lexington Avenue (at 24th Street)
14th Floor Conference Center
Manhattan
The Students for Public Affairs Interests group at Baruch College invites you to an informational evening sponsored by the NY Metro Chapter of the American Society for Public Administration (ASPA).
If you ever thought about getting a degree in public affairs/administration, or have the degree and are interested in which sectors to look for jobs and internships, then this night is just for you.
A panel of current participants in government, non-profits, graduate schools, and law schools will speak about their professions, what a public affairs degree can do for you, and take any questions you may have for them.
For more information, or to RSVP, please contact Marco DeSena at publicaffairsgroup@hotmail.com
ASPA Steering Committee Appointment
ASPA President-Elect Cheryle Broom recently announced the appointment of Stephen Rolandi as Vice Chairman for 2003-2004/Co-chair for 2004-2005 of Steering Group 3 (SG 3), one of the National Council's Standing committees. SG 3's mandate covers chapters, sections, membership/professional development, and other areas. Steve will assume his new responsibilities at ASPA's National Conference in March 2003 in Washington, D.C.
Ethics and Scandal
Dan Williams, Baruch College
The year 2002 was a great year for scandal. And scandal is good for the ethics business. This year I am attending seminars, giving talks and continuing to write this column, thanks, in part, to the scandals of last year.
However, scandal makes for bad ethics.
First, scandal can be a substitute for knowing much about the object of scandal. Kenneth Lay, Enron, and the accounting profession are all easily scorned. Not so many years ago, it was President Clinton. It is all too easy to dismiss someone or something that is involved in scandal.
Better ethics refuses to substitute stereotypical thinking for knowledge. The whole story usually involves understanding that every person, organization, sector or public policy has its good and bad parts. Some people are horrible bosses and great parents. People who act badly in the end may begin with a single bad decision.
Second, scandal undermines the trust between the public and the object of scandal. Today the public distrusts the financial services industry. The private sector or, at least, the large corporations are also under a cloud of suspicion. The public sector is equally at risk. It was not so long ago that the public sector was smeared with an image associated with the questionable personal behavior of a president. High profile or long standing corrupt or immoral behavior is particularly damaging.
Better ethics depends on trust. To attain this trust, all parties to relationships must maintain their trustworthy behavior. When trust has failed, everyone involved must take action to repair the trust as quickly as possible. Scandal, however, may thrive on continuing to undermine trust.
Third, scandal can lead to bad law or regulation. When scandal hits, the automatic solution is to nail down rules that will prevent the behavior again. Sometimes this solution is reasonable. Perhaps, for example, the law should enforce a separation of auditing from other services. However, often the rules are just too burdensome. Current evidence suggests that the last 100 years of corruption prevention has done little to actually suppress corruption. It has, however, made the work of government much more difficult.
Solutions to scandal should be carefully considered and implemented with care. Where specific policies are clearly linked with the source of scandal, they should be considered for change. However, consideration should include examining the potential cost of those changes.
Let’s not let the reaction to scandal become a substitute for a more developed sense of ethics.
American Society for Public Administration
New York Metropolitan Chapter
CALL FOR NOMINATIONS:
2003 Luther Gulick Public Service Awards
You are invited to nominate candidates for the prestigious 2003 Luther Gulick Awards. These awards are part of our effort to recognize public servants for their contributions to the community. This year, the New York Metropolitan Chapter of the American Society for Public Administration (ASPA) honors:
an Outstanding Leader in Public Affairs
an Outstanding Public Administrator
an Outstanding Organization
an Outstanding Academic
an Outstanding Contribution to Volunteerism
two Outstanding Students
an exemplary illustration of a "Best Practice" in Public Administration
The nominee should have made significant contributions to the practice and/or study of public administration. The annual awards are named for Luther Gulick, one of the founders of ASPA and a major force in the field.
To be nominated, one simply has to satisfy the criteria established by the New York Metro Chapter of ASPA (see below). Nominees may be organizational leaders or executives, administrators or managers from the public or not-for-profit sectors; academics and students of public administration; individual volunteers or volunteer organizations or units; public or non-profit departments, agencies, bureaus, or units. Nominations can be made by persons within the same organization. Membership in the Society is not required; excellence is.
Please submit nominations to the Awards Committee in letter format by April 16, 2003. The letter should illustrate clearly how the nominee meets or exceeds the award criterion. Materials, citations, and/or references that substantiate the nominee’s accomplishments are welcome. Provision of contact information, name, address, and telephone number for both the nominee and the nominator is mandatory. Send nomination letters to Christian Meyer, 1468 Midland Avenue, Apt. 1B, Bronxville, New York 10708.
The Awards Committee will meet at the end of April 2003 to review and evaluate all nominations. It will then submit a list of finalists to the New York Metropolitan Chapter ASPA Council for the selection of winners.
Award winners will be honored at the Annual Awards Dinner scheduled for June 5, 2003 at Sal Anthony's S.P.Q.R. Restaurant in Manhattan.
For further information about the awards or the dinner, please contact Christian Meyer at 212-360-3187 or cmeyer868@aol.com or Ed Falterman at 212-642-9465 or falterman1@aol.com.
Your participation in this event to commemorate the contributions of public servants to society displays your concern about recognizing the dedication of those committed to public management.
Luther Gulick Awards
Nomination Criteria
Outstanding Leader in Public Affairs
Must have risen to a position of leadership and prominence in public affairs. Those eligible will have a distinguished record of leadership as elected executives, legislators, or members of the judiciary; and/or as chief executive of a public agency, non-profit organization, and/or private firm. In addition to distinguished leadership, the recipient will have played a prominent role in policy making and/or implementation of programs addressing key issues in public affairs.
Outstanding Public Administrator
Must serve as a model of outstanding management and demonstrate some combination of the following attributes essential to excellent public service: extraordinary work delivered with energy, ingenuity, and compassion – an expression of commitment beyond the call of duty; willingness to put reputation and chances of promotion on the line, if necessary, to improve services or correct abuses and inequities; responsiveness to public needs by cutting through red tape and developing more effective methods of service delivery; outstanding and reliable performance both in situations of crisis and under the pressures of daily routine.
Outstanding Organization
Must have made a permanent change in the quality and relevance of organizational delivery and a permanent change in the organization’s institutional capability, which has been recognized as significant.
Outstanding Academic
Must have made a significant contribution to the progress of the university/college in the area of public service or college-based training of public servants or to their academic or professional discipline through an accomplished record of teaching and research.
Outstanding Contribution to Volunteerism
An individual providing consistent service in a difficult area, marked by commitment, innovation and organizational improvement. Volunteer organizations are also eligible.
Outstanding Student (2)
Must have an excellent academic record and possess at least one distinguished academic achievement as well as one non-academic achievement in connection with obtaining a degree.
"Best Practice" in Public Administration
The "Best Practice" in Public Administration will be awarded to an innovative program in City, State, or Federal Government, or a non-profit organization or university. The nominated program must be a pioneering undertaking that has widely benefited the public and/or the organization and has a demonstrated record in its field for excellence.
Welcome New Members
We welcome our newest members: Edwin Adjei, Ruecker Ann, Tara Bernstein, Judy M. Billingslea, Monique N. Boyce, Claudio Campuzano, Rosalind Carlies, Holly Clarke, Sonia P. Clarke, Shelly Cryer, Harold Daffin, Cynthia Daniel, Matthew DeTemple, Michael A. DiDio, John A. Duff, Georgina Ellis Simpson, Thomas Fleming, Sandy Forbes, Victorine C. Foster, Iman Freeman, Vincent Giorgio, Sandra A. Glasgow, Aron Greenberg, Janice L. Greene, Kathy Hansen, Jeanette Joseph, Elie Kathleen, Joyce Keyes Williams, Warren Lederman, Frank Lin, Maria A. Makara, Osmin Maxwell, Gregorio Mayers, Laura Mckieran, Andrew Morales, Sharon Morgan, Tatyana Narchayeva, Preston Niblack, Lola Pavlovic, Antonella Petruso, Gwellodne A. Pfrench, Sushil Raj, Dominic Robertson, Lisa Sacks, Nikia Sankofa, Michael Sirlag, Anya A.L Smith, Tania Tinley-Porter, and John Vobis. We also wish to welcome the members of the New York University Wagner Graduate School of Public Service Student Affiliate Chapter: Anabella Escobar, Emily Hampton-Manley, Ashley S. Kolberg, Christopher Manning, Greg J. Rhodes, Carcyle D. Rocherter, Michelle L. Venditto, and Alisa N. Zelman.
Chapter Web Site
We encourage all Members to visit our Chapter web site at: http://www.nymetroaspa.org/index.html.
Summary of November 14, 2002 Chapter Governing Board Meeting
National ASPA:
Mr. Ciaccio said that the Chapter was supporting Bill Solomon's candidacy for National ASPA Vice President based upon comments in support of Mr. Solomon by Steve Rolandi and Ray Joseph. The Chapter is supporting Bill Solomon for Vice President and Ed Falterman for Electoral District 1 National Council Representative. Mr. Jameson said that he published the candidate statements in the November 2002 issue of the Chapter Newsletter. The National Election deadline for receipt of ballots is January 16, 2003.Chapter Affiliates: An ASPA Student Affiliate group is being established at the Wagner Graduate School of Public Service at New York University. The Chapter is co-sponsoring this student group. Another Student Affiliate has been set up at the Baruch College School of Public Affairs; Marco DeSena is the group leader. Ms. Weikart commented that this is good for the students in that they get to meet people and develop career opportunities.
Treasurer's Report: Mr. Meyer said that the Chapter Fund Balance is now $7,950.73. This does not include an accounts payable of $352.94 for expenses for past program event(s). A rebate of between $1,500 and $2,000 is expected from National ASPA. The Chapter is also still owed payment from the Port Authority for the Annual Awards Dinner. The Chapter made a profit on the Annual Awards Dinner. Mr. Falterman requested that a Balance Sheet and Income and Expense Statement for the 2001 - 2002 Program Year be presented at the next Governing Board Meeting.
Program Events: Mr. Falterman requested approval of up to $200 in anticipation of an invoice from New York University for refreshments for the Program Event to be held on Thursday, 11/21/2002. Mr. Falterman praised the work of Paula Gerard on Programs and said that he will not be attending the November Program Event since he will be in Albany that week. He recommended that we rotate the Program Events among the Schools of Public Administration (Baruch College, New School University, New York University, etc.) A Spring Semester Event is a possibility at Long Island University; Dr. Judith Kirchhoff [Director of the Masters in Public Administration Program] is the contact. Mr. Ciaccio said that Marilyn Rubin is the contact person for John Jay College; COMPA is active with Ms. Rubin and John Jay College. Mr. Ciaccio said that the Chapter might co-sponsor an event with COMPA, possibly for a Black History Month Program Event; Ms. Westbrook is the Chapter's "point-person" with COMPA. Mr. Ciaccio suggested a Chapter Holiday Event; Mr. Meyer suggested that we rent a room at a Bar. We can subsidize the cost from the Chapter Fund Balance; estimated cost of $20 per person could be split 50/50 with $10 from Chapter Fund and $10 cost to member. Ms. Alexander suggested that the Chapter continue the tradition of making a donation or other observance to provide a benefit to someone else. Ms. Weikart suggested Groundwork, a dynamite new non-profit which was founded by Richard Beury utilizing funds from the Robin Hood Foundation. Groundwork works with teenagers in East New York. Mr. Beury is from East New York, went to Yale Law School, and then created the non-profit iMentor. It was suggested that we get Mr. Beury as the Guest Speaker for the Holiday Program Event. The date and location will be "firmed-up." Mr. Ciaccio said that an Ethics Event for the Spring had been previously suggested; Mr. Falterman said that he was not involved with this program which was suggested by Mr. Williams, who is interested in the topic. Ms. Weikart suggested a program on The Olympics and Building on the West Side of Manhattan (infrastructure, the democratic process, and people being consulted about revenue stream to West Side rather than to the Outer Boroughs). Ms. Weikart is willing to serve as "co-point-person" for this Program Event. Ms. Westbrook volunteered to help with the Olympics/West Side Program Event. Ms. Westbrook said that Dan Williams had booked a room at Baruch College for COMPA to use for a Holiday Event on December 6, 2002; Mr. Ciaccio said that he will try to coordinate the Chapter plans for an Holiday Event with Mr. Beury and Groundwork with COMPA and the December 6th scheduled date. Mr. Ciaccio said that an effort is underway to coordinate a Black History Month Event with COMPA and Marilyn Rubin at John Jay College. Ms. Westbrook said that the topic for the Program Event is on the table for consideration by the COMPA Executive Board and that they are working out the protocols for joining with other associations for the event; Ms. Westbrook said that she should know the status by Monday. Mr. Ciaccio said that the Annual Awards Dinner is tentatively set for June 4, 2003 at (tentatively) Sal Anthony's S.P.Q.R. Restaurant. An invitation has been sent to Mayor Bloomberg to be the Guest Speaker; the invitation was sent under cover of a personal letter from the Commissioner of DORIS. Mr. Ciaccio expects that Mayor Bloomberg would generate a large turnout for the Annual Awards Dinner. Mr. Falterman suggested a "meet-and-greet" Program Event in January 2003; Mr. Jameson said that he thought that would be redundant with the December 2002 Holiday Party. Ms. Westbrook suggested a "meet-and-greet" with students. Mr. Ciaccio suggested a Job/Career Fair. Ms. Weikart said that the Baruch College School of Public Affairs Career Placement Office might be willing to co-sponsor this. Mr. Meyer suggested that Governing Board members provide job postings from their organizations at this event. Ms. Westbrook suggested that resume advice be offered. A date in March 2003 was suggested. A Program Event Calendar was proposed: February 2003 (first of second week in the month) -- Black History Month Program Event at (tentative) John Jay College; March 2003 -- Job/Career Fair at (tentative) Baruch College; April 2003 -- Ethics Program Event or Economic Development Program Event; May 2003 or June 2003 -- Chapter Annual Awards Dinner. Ms. Weikart suggested Columbia University as site for Economic Development Program Event; Mr. Ciaccio said that he has had problems with getting interest from Columbia in hosting Chapter Events. January 2003 is possible for an event co-sponsored with Long Island University; Claudina Osborne is the Chapter's liaison contact person with LIU. Mr. Falterman said that LIU is very interested in co-sponsoring an event so we should not let the opportunity slip by. The first week of May 2003 is Public Service Recognition Week.
Other Business: Mr. Falterman thanks the Council for the flowers sent from the Chapter for the funeral of his brother. He also thanks members for donations to The Door in memory of his brother. He said that he and his family appreciated the support shown by the Chapter.
Next Council Meeting: Mr. Ciaccio said that he would set a date later. He said that Wednesdays and Thursday are bad for several members of the Governing Board; a Tuesday date was suggested. The attendees then agreed on meeting on Tuesday, January 14, 2003 at 6:00 P.M. at MTA[, Fourth Floor, 2 Broadway, Manhattan]. [This Meeting Date was subsequently changed to Thursday, January 16, 2003.]
[The Meeting was convened at 6:13 P.M. and adjourned at circa 6:58 P.M. The meeting was held at MTA, Conference Room 4.01 (Fourth Floor), 2 Broadway, Manhattan). Governing Board Attendees: Ms. Alexander, Mr. Ciaccio, Mr. Falterman, Mr. Jameson, Mr. Meyer, Ms. Osborne, Ms. Weikart, Ms. Westbrook. Minutes taken by Mr. Jameson.]
Summary of January 16, 2003 Chapter Governing Board Meeting
Program Events: Ms. Westbrook said that COMPA is still looking for a location for their Black History Month Program Event; Pace University is under consideration. The program agenda/theme will be the Bloomberg Administration and Where Minorities Fall in City Management. Panelists are expected to include Bill Perkins (NYC City Council). Since planning is not yet complete, the program may not be held in February 2003 (Black History Month); it may be delayed until March 2003. The Chapter will be co-sponsoring this Program Event by paying a share of the costs; Mr. Ciaccio will contact Deborah Tyson to check on the status of the event planning. Tentative Program Events for the remainder of the Program Year: February or March 2003: Black History Month Program Event (co-sponsor with COMPA); March 2003: Co-Sponsored Event with NYU Student Affiliate Chapter (but the Chapter will let the Affiliate set it up) (the event will be co-sponsored by NYU and the NY Metro Chapter ASPA); April 2003: Career Information Evening.
Chapter Affiliates: The NYU Student ASPA Affiliate Chapter has requested a letter from the Chapter stating support for their efforts and has also requested that the Chapter waive any claim to the $6 rebate per member due from National ASPA (and thus allowing these rebates to go to the Student Affiliate Chapter). Ashley Kolberg is the Student Leader of the NYU Student Chapter. As a Student Group, this Affiliate Chapter will also be receiving funds from New York University. The Student Affiliate Chapter has set up a schedule of events that they will run themselves. Under the ASPA University-Based Affiliates Program, the NY Metro Chapter will act as a "big brother" to this "junior" Chapter. The NYU group is the first Chapter to go active under the ASPA program, so there is some prestige to the Chapter's role in guiding their development. The Baruch College School of Public Affairs also now has a Public Administration Students group. Marco DeSena, the group leader, would like the Chapter to run a job information program event with people from different fields as speakers. Ms. Westbrook said that she is on the Foundation Center ListServ and can obtain job listings from that site.
Chapter Annual Awards Dinner: Mayor Bloomberg declined the invitation from the Chapter. Invitations to Senators Schumer and Clinton are now pending. If the senators decline, then the next choices are Charles Rangel, Gifford Miller, and Bill Thompson. The Dinner has tentatively been scheduled for June 5, 2003 at Sal Anthony's S.P.Q.R. Restaurant. Mr. Jameson requested a deadline for the Award Nominations so that he could post a notice on the Chapter web site; a nomination deadline of April 15, 2003 was set.
National ASPA: Mr. Ciaccio said that the results of the National ASPA Election should be known next week. The Chapter had supported that candidacy of Bill Solomon for ASPA Vice-President and the candidacy of Ed Falterman for National Council Representative for Electoral District 1. Ms. Westbrook discussed the nomination of Lynne Weikart for the Joan Fisk Bishop Award given by SWPA. Ms. Westbrook requested that Mr. Ciaccio submit this as a news item to PA Times. Mr. Ciaccio said that the National ASPA Conference will be held in March 2003 in Washington, D.C. Mr. Ciaccio distributed informational copies of the Snowball Manifesto: A Summary of the ASPA Chapter/Section Leaders Discussion Forum.
Chapter Elections: Mr. Ciaccio said that the Chapter will hold an Election in Spring 2003. He also commented that the Chapter President needs organizational support in order to be effective (to provide meeting space, etc.)
Treasurer's Report: Mr. Meyer said that the Chapter Fund Balance is now $7,197.82 (which includes the $1,000 Chapter Scholarship Fund). The National ASPS rebate is still due.
Next Council Meeting: The attendees agreed on setting next Governing Board Meeting for Tuesday, February 25, 2003 [at 6:00 P.M. at MTA, Fourth Floor, 2 Broadway, Manhattan]. [Meeting Date later changed to Thursday, February 20, 2003.]
[The Meeting was convened at 6:05 P.M. and adjourned at circa 6:47 P.M. The meeting was held at MTA, Conference Room 4.01 (Fourth Floor), 2 Broadway, Manhattan). Governing Board Attendees: Mr. Ciaccio, Mr. Jameson, Mr. Meyer, Mr. Tinker, Ms. Westbrook. Minutes taken by Mr. Jameson.]
Event Calendars
NY Metro Chapter ASPA Events:
March 20, 2003: Career Day Program Event (6:00PM - 7:30PM) (Baruch College Vertical Campus, 55 Lexington Avenue, 14th Floor Conference Center, Manhattan) (Contact: Marco D. DeSena at
publicaffairsgroup@hotmail.com.)April 2003 (Date TBA): New York City Municipal Records Archives Program Event (NYC Department of Records & Information Services, 31 Chambers Street, Manhattan)
June 5, 2003: Chapter Annual Awards Dinner (Sal Anthony's S.P.Q.R. Restaurant, Mulberry Street, Manhattan)
Other Regional, and National Events:
March 15 - 18, 2003: 64th Annual ASPA National Conference (Theme: The Power of Public Service) (Location: Omni Shoreham, Washington, DC) (Contact: ASPA at 202-393-7878 or
info@aspanet.org) (website: http://www.aspanet.org/2003conf/)March 29 - 31, 2003: World Future Society 2001 Annual Conference (Location: Minneapolis, MN) (Contact: World Future Society, 800-989-8274, e-mail:
info@wfs.org)April 9, 2003: 11th Annual Dr. Jerzy Hauptmann Distinguished Guest Lecture (Featured Speaker: Dr. Patricia Ingraham, Syracuse University) (Location: Park University, Parkville, MO, 7:00PM)(contact: Tom Gee, 816-421-1125x236 or
Tgee@mail.park,edu)April 10 - 12, 2003: 11th NISPAcee Annual Conference (Theme: Enhancing the Capacities to Govern: Challenges Facing the CEE Countries) (Location: Bucharest, Romania) (Contact:
wallnerova@nispa.sk)
New York Metropolitan Chapter ASPA Governing Board
2002-2003 Chapter Officers:
President: William Ciaccio 646-252-3820
Vice President: Edward L. Falterman 212-642-9465
Treasurer: Chris Meyer 212-360-3187
Secretary: Michael V. Jameson 718-557-3733
2002-2003 Chapter Council:
Sybil Alexander (2002 - 2004)
Paula Gerard (2001 - 2003)
Carolyn Hubbard Kamunanwire (2002 - 2004)
Claudina Osborne (2002 - 2004)
Peter Tinker (2001 - 2003)
Lynne A. Weikart (2002 - 2004)
Caroline N. Westbrook (2002 - 2004)
Daniel Williams (2001 - 2003)
Ex-Officio Chapter Officer:
Immediate-Past Chapter President: Gregg Van Ryzin
Chapter Committees:
Awards Dinner: Edward L. Falterman, Chris Meyer, and Paula Gerard
Membership: Claudina Osborne and Caroline Westbrook
Student Essay Contest: Peter Tinker
NY Metropolitan Chapter ASPA Mailing Address:
New York Metropolitan Chapter ASPA
c/o Mr. William Ciaccio
Metropolitan Transportation Authority
2 Broadway, Fourth Floor
New York City, NY 10004
NY Metropoltan Chapter ASPA e-Mail Address:
NY Metropolitan Chapter ASPA Web Site:
http://www.nymetroaspa.org/index.html
National Council/Region II Representative:
Raymond Joseph 718-361-3773
ASPA National Office:
1120 G Street NW, Suite #700
Washington, D.C., 20005-3885
Phone: 202-393-7878 FAX: 202-638-4952
National ASPA Web Site: