2) ASPA AND THE UN TEAM UP TO CONDUCT E-GOVERNMENT STUDY; ASPA FORGES TIES TO PROMOTE PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION THROUGHOUT THE WORLD

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1 ASPA Monthly Update expresses best holiday wishes to all our readers, but particularly to those serving in the US armed forces and our international subscribers located in: Armenia, Australia, Belgium, Canada, China, Chinese Taipei, Estonia, Germany, Japan, Mexico, the Netherlands, Norway, the Philippines, Portugal, the Republic of Korea, South Africa, Singapore, Turkey and the United Kingdom. ASPA Monthly Update - December 2000 Topics: 1) ASPA becomes a FirstGov certified partner 2) ASPA and the UN team up to conduct e-government survey; ASPA forges ties to promote public administration throughout the world 3) Performance measurement online forum attracts more than 100 ASPA members 4) ASPA joins "better government" groups in providing nonpartisan transition guidance for new president 5) The December issue of PA Times features a tribute to Dwight Waldo and a special section on human resources management 6) Visit the ASPA Web site for the latest 2001 conference information 7) ASPA issues RFP for Internet radio station feasibility study 1) ASPA BECOMES A FIRSTGOV CERTIFIED PARTNER On November 30, ASPA finalized a partnership agreement with FirstGov, the US federal government's central web site. Now its members can search more than 27 million web pages via a FirstGov search engine located on ASPA's web site - "FirstGov is pleased to have the American Society for Public Administration (ASPA) among our first 45 partners. We look to ASPA to deliver innovative, online public management information and services to the FirstGov customers - US citizens and businesses," said Ralph W. Hager of the US General Services Administration's FirstGov Team. "ASPA will provide broad coverage, since ASPA's membership of more than 10,000 practitioners, academics and students represents every level of government, as well as non-profit organizations." Since its debut on September 22, FirstGov has allowed citizens to search all on-line US federal government resources from one site, conduct searches faster and more efficiently by topic rather than by agency, and have easy access to federal government information 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. 2) ASPA AND THE UN TEAM UP TO CONDUCT E-GOVERNMENT STUDY; ASPA FORGES TIES TO PROMOTE PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION THROUGHOUT THE WORLD During the past year ASPA has focused much attention on enhancing its current international affiliations while forging new partnerships. ASPA can report progress on two fronts: a new e- government survey project in conjunction with the United Nations and its international consortium.

2 Late last month, ASPA entered into an agreement with the United Nations to conduct an in-depth web-based research study of the UN Member States' level and degree of participation in e- government. Stephen Ronaghan is being contracted to ASPA to perform the research, to summarize findings and analyze the trends and to develop a comprehensive database. He will draft a final report to be produced as a joint UN/ASPA publication that will be disseminated next March at ASPA's 2001 National Conference and the E-Government Conference sponsored by the Italian Government in Naples. For more information, contact Ronaghan at ronaghan@un.org. Earlier this year, ASPA issued a request for proposal for partners to support each of ASPA's international memoranda of understanding (MOU). To date, the following decisions have been made: * Chinese Public Administration Society MOU - supported by Rutgers-Newark * European Group of Public Administration (EGPA) MOU - supported by the University of Missouri-Columbia * South Korean Association for Public Administration MOU - supported by the University of Illinois-Springfield * Mexico: Colegio Nacional de Ciencias Politicas y Administracion Publica, A.C. MOU - supported by Florida International University * Slovenian Society of Public Administration MOU - supported by Appalachian State University * United Nations MOU - supported by Rutgers-Newark These institutions will be responsible for: 1. Coordinating the range of existing activity to which ASPA is currently committed internationally; 2. Developing new programs to support ASPA's goals in advancing excellence in public administration worldwide (e.g. technical assistance databases, exchange programs, on-line conferences, etc.); 3. Monitoring progress against goals; 4. Recommending changes to plans and goals based on experience; 5. Handling all basic correspondence and administrative responsibilities necessary to accomplish the previous responsibilities. ASPA has yet to find partners for its MOUs with the Commonwealth Association for Public Administration and Management (CAPAM), the Hong Kong Public Administration Association and the Institute of Public Administration of Canada (IPAC). 3) PERFORMANCE MEASUREMENT ONLINE FORUM ATTRACTS MORE THAN 100 ASPA MEMBERS From October 31 to November 22, 2000 more than 100 ASPA members participated in an online forum on performance measurement, governance, and sustainability. Through special arrangement with ASPA's Center for Accountability and Performance (CAP), ASPA members were invited to join the forum, hosted by Redefining Progress's Community Indicators Network.

3 The forum examined: a "governance model" involving performance measurement, citizen engagement, and government policy and implementation; a "sustainability model" of society, environment, and economy; how governmental and non-governmental community measurement efforts can relate to each other and issues of regional vs. local community measurement. Two guest forum presenters were David Swain, Deputy Director of the Jacksonville (FL) Community Council, a community-based non-governmental organization (NGO) that has been reporting community outcomes in its region since 1986 and Dean Kubani, Sustainable City Program Coordinator of the City of Santa Monica, CA. Wilson Campbell of the Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB) also provided a statement to the forum on the GASB's interests in these issues. Much discussion centered on how to engage communities in policy discussions and in developing outcome measures. CAP Fellow Paul Epstein, who helped organize and facilitate the forum, received suggestions to "start a movement" to encourage strategic alignment and community learning, including convergence of NGO and government measurement efforts. Epstein proposed that the movement start with a "Learning Network" to help "people interested in alignment in different communities learn from each other, through further development of concepts and sharing of practices and lessons learned." The January issue of PA Times will include a substantive summary of the forum. If you are interested in participating the proposed "Learning Network," send an message to Epstein at epstein@pipeline.com. 4) ASPA JOINS "BETTER GOVERNMENT" GROUPS IN PROVIDING NONPARTISAN TRANSITION GUIDANCE FOR NEW PRESIDENT While think tanks and interest groups across the political spectrum will inundate the Presidentelect with a broad range of policy recommendations, few will tackle the less-glamorous but critical topic of effective federal management. Unfortunately, many policy challenges are difficult to address without responsive, efficient management structures in place to institute change, focus on performance, and coordinate competing interests. At the same time, regardless of who emerges as the winner of the Presidential race, improving government performance might offer a common-ground starting point for bipartisan cooperation in the next Administration. With this in mind, on November 30 a broad group of better government organizations, including ASPA, released the findings and recommendations from a recent series of bipartisan focus groups that consisted of more than 140 federal officials from current and previous Administrations. Drawing upon the experiences of these Washington veterans, the report offered balanced, nonpartisan advice to the incoming administration in an attempt to avoid repeating transition and management mistakes of the past. To access a copy of the report (MS Word - 213K), visit

4 5) THE DECEMBER ISSUE OF PA TIMES FEATURES A TRIBUTE TO DWIGHT WALDO AND A SPECIAL SECTION ON HUMAN RESOURCES MANAGEMENT The December issue of PA Times contains four lead articles plus a special section on Human Resources Management: Lead Articles: ASPA Members Pay Tribute to Dwight Waldo Transition Bill Passes: Dwight Ink Initiative Becomes Law Virginia Tech Hosts "Capital Praxis" Event Who Wants to be a Beacon Hillionaire? Special Section on Human Resource Management: Government Agencies Can Compete The need to improve federal recruiting is urgent. The US General Accounting Office (GAO) estimates that by 2004, nearly 30 percent of federal employees will be eligible to retire, with another 19 percent eligible for early retirement. Taking a Corporate View The fundamental concept of training is shifting from identifying the training needs of employees towards determining the strategic needs of the organization that training, education, and development can support on a continuing, long-term basis. The Need for Change Culture change does not just happen; it has to be a deliberate process. Culture change requires changes in the vision and perception held by employees and customers about the organizations' mission, goals, management, and performance. Gaining the Edge on Public Safety Applicant Processing In 1994, Wayne K. Curry, county executive of Prince George's County, Maryland, sought to raise the police department's strength by 200 officers. No Insurance Because of Your Genes? "Welcome to Subtronics Inc., the world leader in human cloning, organ reproduction, and genetic manipulation. Before your employment, you have consented to genetic DNA sequencing to determine your eligibility for insurance, health benefits, and dependent coverage." Frederick Winslow Taylor, The First HR Advocate? Every discipline evolves in time; yet, scientific management's evolution was misunderstood from the very beginning. Despite the erroneous implication, we can still learn from the mistakes of the past. 6) VISIT THE ASPA WEB SITE FOR THE LATEST 2001 CONFERENCE INFORMATION ASPA's 2001 National Conference will take place in less than three months, specifically March in Newark, NJ. Visit the ASPA Web site for the latest conference information: * Registration * Featured Panels

5 * Concurrent Sessions * Poster Sessions * Hotel Information * Conference Link Center The Conference homepage is located at 7) ASPA ISSUES RFP FOR INTERNET RADIO STATION FEASIBILITY STUDY ASPA is exploring the feasibility of an Internet radio station. This service would include (but would not necessarily be limited to): audio archives, speeches, interviews, discussions and public service and government ads. ASPA hopes to partner with a university's Communications and Public Administration Departments with a three-to-five year commitment. The partner would be responsible for technical support, content development and assigning a station manager. ASPA is looking for an individual or organization to prepare and submit a feasibility study for an Internet radio station by February 15, Visit the ASPA Web site to view the RFP - Join ASPA or renew your ASPA membership today! Visit American Society for Public Administration 1120 G Street, NW, Suite 700 Washington, DC Phone: (202) Fax: (202) info@aspanet.org Online career center, hot links, message boards, yellow pages and more - visit ASPA's Online Community today! To subscribe - send a message to ebergrud@aspanet.org with the subject line - Subscribe to ASPA Monthly Update To unsubscribe - send a message to ebergrud@aspanet.org with the subject line - Unsubscribe from ASPA Monthly Update