NEWSLETTERFEBRUARY 2013

2012/2013 Chapter CouncilPresidentAnthony Campbell

Past PresidentScott Bovick

Secretary/TreasurerCarl Ekstrom

MembersJohn BartleCarol EbdonGregory FettermanBryan FreemanMary HamiltonPerry PirschRhonda Sheibal-Carver

Can you remember that moment when you decided you wanted to have a career oriented towards public service? If so, or even if not, there is a project based here in Nebraska that wants to help people not only remember why they chose public service, but be proud of that decision! In the Winter of 2012 Dr. Mary Hamilton and Rita Paskowitz began the bold project of helping public service professionals to begin telling their stories. This dynamic pair have held three Implementing the Dream of Democracy Through Public Service: Ask Me Why I Care! sessions, and the fourth will be at the ASPA National Conference in New Orleans, Louisiana (Saturday, March 16 at 1:30 pm). The most recent session was held in Omaha, which allowed for a brief interview.

How did this project begin?Mary: For years I had wanted to undertake a project like this. Despite the overwhelming negative commentary, I simply knew too many good public administrators. I struggled with how I could go about telling the stories of why public administrators chose to work in government, but then one day I had an epiphany – I realized that I did not have to tell the stories, my job is to help other people tell their stories. As my professional relationship and friendship with Rita blossomed, I was inspired to begin this project, but I could not do it alone.Rita: Be they public administrators or third graders – everyone has a story to tell. People just need the support to tell it, which is what this project is all about. Today more than ever, individuals need to tell the story of why they chose the job of delivering democracy on a daily basis. We’re living in a time when there is so much negativity – government doesn’t like us, we don’t like government – that we wanted to provide an opportunity to shine the light on the positive for the public band for those employed in public administration. This project is about giving people...

You Deliver Democracy on a Daily BasisDrawing on the landmark work of Janet and Robert Denhardt (2007), Dr. Mary Hamilton and Rita Paskowitz are working to remind us that everyone employed in public service delivers democracy. So how do public service professionals help to ensure the potential of democracy is realized?

• Helping citizens access their rights

• Promoting the public interest

• Managing and administering public institutions

• Implementing public policy

• Acting professionally, responsibly, and responsively with high ethical and moral standards.

Public service professionals gather at the University of Nebraska Omaha to share their stories.

Ask Me Why I Care!

Story continued on next page Denhardt, J.V., & Denhardt, R.B. (2007). The new public service. Armonk, NY: M.E. Sharpe.

permission to be proud of what they do and why they do it. We so often paint the work of government with a broad brush, but there are those fine-tipped brush stories – the ones about caring and making a difference – that need to be painted as well. At a time in our society when we spend so much time differentiating ourselves, this project is about coming together.

What is the power of telling a story?Rita:It’s the least technological, most basic thing we all possess, and defines us the most. When you see someone genuinely tell their story, you see them come to life.Mary:More than just the impact telling a story has on the storyteller, the impact a story has on all who hear the story is powerful…you see people’s views of one another change right in front of your eyes.

As a result of this project, how have your views of public service changed?

Rita:I knew very little before all this began…this experience has broadened my view – proving that we’re all engaged, or have the potential to be engaged, in public service. I want more people to understand the depth and breadth of what public service really is.Mary:I’ve enjoyed the stories, but I already knew they existed. What this experience has changed for me, is the realization about how critical it is for this to be in public administration classrooms…help the next generation of public service professionals to realize that they not only have permission to, but an obligation to tell their story.

What can public service professionals do to keep their stories alive?

Rita:They just have to keep telling them, which will lead to more conversations...the whole reason we’re doing this.Mary:Public sector organizations’ leaders need to have exercises that allow

people to tell their stories of public service, which can be used to connect to one another and to citizens…helping everyone to understand their connection to democracy.

What are the next steps?Rita:We do not see this stopping…we’d like to develop a body of stories that can be used in ways we cannot even imagine at this point.Mary:An important next step will be the role this project plays in the 75th Anniversary of ASPA. We’re assembling videos along the way that tell the story of why people chose public service, but their stories and this project does not end at the 2014 ASPA Conference.

What does success look like?Rita:People asking us how they can get involved…enthusiasm on the part of public service professionals to tell their stories. To have the project inspire the next generation of public service professionals.Mary:When the average citizen knows these stories exist and has heard at least one…when humanity has been restored to public service, as understood by both public service professionals and citizens.

Rita:The long-term goal is to have more and more people understand that government is full of good people dedicated to democracy and public service.

How can people learn more about this project and get involved?

Mary:Anyone who’s interested should not hesitate to reach out to me (mary.hamilton@cox.net). We’ll take help in any way it’s offered!Rita:We’re interested in designs for “Ask Me Why I Care” buttons, we could use technological help, but most of all we want to hear from people who desire to share their story or know of someone who has a story to tell.

Dr. Mary Hamilton is Sr. Executive in Residence in the School of Public Administration at the University of Nebraska Omaha, and the founder of the Nebraska Certified Public Manager® Program. Previously she was the Exec Dir of ASPA, and was a Sr. Exec with the U.S. GAO.

Rita Paskowitz is a member of the Nebraska Arts Council's Artists in the Schools/ Communities and Touring Artists Programs. She teaches Storytelling and Education at UNO and is on the faculty of the Nebraska Certified Public Managers Program and UNMC’s Great Plains Public Health Leadership Institute.

Dr. Mary Hamilton & Rita Paskowitz

Sections Supporting

the Whole

The shear size and

complexity of ASPA can be overwhelming for

new members...even the most seasoned member can feel as

though they are lost within an organization that has earned the reputation as the “biggest

tent” in public administration. Therefore, this is why there are ASPA sections and committees, each of which

focuses on a different dimension of public administration. Not unlike a mosaic, sections and committees are discrete subsections that afford members a community of scholars and practitioners who share their particular interest. ASPA has gone to great lengths to keep sections and committees connected to one another, as well as connected to the organization as a whole. Several ASPA-Nebraska members, as well as one Section Chair from Florida, have generously offered windows into sections and committees with which they are affiliated, but you can always learn more at aspanet.org.

The Conference of Minority Public Administrators (COMPA), is one of America’s leading national organizations committed to excellence in public service and public administration in city, county, state and federal government. The organization was founded in 1971,and was established as a Section of the American Society of Public Administration (ASPA) in 1977 as an effort to reach and foster a more diverse membership. COMPA is the only section of ASPA to hold a seat on the National Council. The goal of COMPA is to provide a forum for leadership and professional development of minority public servants, administrators, engineers, governmental officials and technologists. Though the majority of the members of COMPA are from minority populations, it strives to have a broad-based membership. Like the other sections of ASPA, COMPA publishes a journal bi-annually.  The Journal of Public Management and Social Policy (JPMSP) publishes theoretical, applied, and/or discussion papers on public administration, political science, and public policy issues associated with the process of economic, educational,

environmental, political and social well-being of diverse populations. JPMSP also accepts book reviews and case studies designed to bring literature to the attention of a wider readership. JPMSP aims to provide a forum for scholarly research addressing diverse issues. COMPA also holds an annual conference each year (usually in February). If ASPA members are looking for mentoring or a smaller more supportive environment, then COMPA is an excellent choice for membership. (Section Fee: $35)

Dr. Ethel Williams | University of Nebraska Omaha

The Section on Transportation Policy and Administration (STPA) focuses on issues related to all modes of transportation, as well as infrastructure issues. The members include both practitioners and academics.   The Section’s academic journal is Public Works Management & Policy, which is a well-regarded, refereed journal. The Section does not have its own conference, but instead focuses on providing panels at ASPA’s national conference. It sponsors two awards. The Felbinger-Truitt Award is awarded to a practitioner with exemplary contribution to transportation in public administration. The STPA Student Paper Award is awarded on a competitive basis to a student for a paper written on transportation policy or administration. STPA is one of ASPA’s smaller sections, numbering slightly less than 100 members which means that it is relatively easy to be involved in the activities of the section, or to be elected to the Board. For those interested in transportation issues, it is an excellent network for potential research collaborators, or for professional networking. (Section Fee: $26)

Dr. John Bartle | University of Nebraska Omaha

The Section on Public Management Practice’s (SPMP)mission is to share insight on contemporary governance challenges and solutions among both advanced systems and emerging democracies alike, and to foster networking within this community to help engage practitioners, researchers and other applied academics through: (1) Best practice articles, case studies, commentaries, videos, podcasts; (2) Case-oriented blogs – rich in tools, techniques and other practical takeaways; (3) Ongoing topic forums led by diverse subject matter experts; (4) Individual and small group professional networking and mentoring around the globe; and (5) Collaboration on events – e.g., conferences, seminars, webinars, and forums. The Section administers ASPA’s Good Governance Worldwide site and plans to offer a half-day forum at the 2013 ASPA Conference that focuses on a mix of domestic and global experience on major practice-oriented challenges (e.g., Homelessness in a Global Context; Improving Educational Accountability; Sustainable Governance in a Post-Katrina Environment). For those interested in the ever- expanding global community of public service practice, this is a section that is right for you. (Section Fee: $10)

Warren Master | SPMP Chair | The Public Manager

ASPA ASPA ASPA ASPA ASPA ASPA ASPA ASPA ASPA ASPA ASPA ASPA ASPA ASPA ASPA ASPA ASPA ASPA ASPA ASPA ASPA ASPA ASPA ASPA ASPA ASPA ASPA ASPA

Visit aspanet.org to learn more about becoming a member of

the largest and most prominent professional association for

public administration.

CHAPTER HAPPENINGS

& TO-DO’S• Please mark your calendars for

Tuesday, March 26, 2013 from 8:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. for the Critical Employee Emergency Planning (CEEP) Seminar. This free seminar is being hosted by the Washington County Long-Term Recovery Group with training being provided by the Gulf States Regional Center for Public Safety Innovations. This course is appropriate for any Government/Emergency Responder Agency (Police, Fire, and EMS), or any organization whose employees are expected to work through or respond immediately after a disaster. For more information, please visit the training calendar section of gsrcpi.org or call 888.283.0966.

• In an effort to create a greater sense of community among public service professionals, students, and academicians in the Omaha Metropolitan Area, ASPA-NE holds an informal networking session the last Friday of each month. These sessions are held from 4-6 at the Mojo Smokehouse in Aksarben Village. The next informal networking sessions will be on Friday, February 22.

• Do you know someone who you think should join ASPA? Do you know someone who you think would be ideal for serving on the ASPA-NE Chapter Council...perhaps you think you’re ready to serve on the Chapter Council? The strength and vitality of local ASPA chapters is tied directly to

their membership. 2013 is already an exciting year for ASPA-NE, bring a colleague or friend to an event, or reach out to a Chapter Council member and talk about what responsibilities and benefits come with being a member or an officer.

• The 2013 Nebraska Municipal Clerk Institute and Academy (NMCIA) will be held from Sunday, March 17 to Friday, March 22. The NMCIA is an annual continuing education professional seminar administered by UNO’s School of Public Administration, in conjunction with the Nebraska Muncipal Clerks’ Assoc. (NMCA) section of the League of Nebraska Municipalities. For more information about this year’s program, please visit unomaha.edu/clerkinstitute. Don’t forget that the registration deadline is March 1.

• Prior to the Annual Public Service Recognition Luncheon & Awards Ceremony (Wednesday, April 3, 2013 at UNO’s Thompson Alumni Center), ASPA-Nebraska will be offering a professional development program entitled Ethics in Public Service: Your Professional Responsibility, which will be comprised of two sessions - The Starting Point: A Code of Ethics and Ethics in Action. Registration for the event has not started, but there will be three fee options (professional development only, luncheon only, and all-day), with members of affiliated/sponsor organizations getting a discounted rate for the all-day registration. Inquiries regarding sponsorship opportunities, group rates, and continuing education credits, should be sent to aspanebraska@gmail.com.

ASPA and the ASPA Logo servicemarks of the American Society for Public Administration in the United States and/or other countries.

ANNUAL PUBLIC SERVICERECOGNITION LUNCHEONand AWARDS CEREMONY

11:30 - 1:00Keynote: Bob O’Neill, Executive Director, ICMA

HonoreesElected Official of the YearPublic Administrator of the YearNonprofit Administrator of the YearNonprofit of the Year presented by UNO’s Service Learning AcademyPi Alpha Alpha InducteesPAGO/CPACS Award Winners2012 Nebraska Certified Public Manager® Program Graduates

9:00 - 10:00The Starting Point: A Code of EthicsAmy Haddad, Director, Creighton’s Center for Health Policy & EthicsBob O’Neill, Executive Director, ICMAJim Svara, Arizona State University

10:15 - 11:15Ethics in ActionBrett Baker, Nebraska City Management AssociationFrank Daley, Nebraska Accountability and Disclosure CommissionKathy Kelley, (former) Douglas County ExecutiveNancy Thompson, CEO, Health Center Association of Nebraska

ETHICS IN PUBLIC SERVICE:Your Professional Responsibility