Message from President
Looking ahead to what promises to be an eventful and exciting year, I want to acknowledge the support of our members, volunteers and the board that allowed us to have such a successful year in 2007.
Nearly a full year of planning culminated on October with the first-ever Washington State Public Service Career Fair where 800, possibly as many as 1,000 job seekers met with representatives of 81 federal, state, county and municipal agencies and several academic institutions. A dedicated, tireless Steering Committee along with energetic students from the University Washington’s Daniel J. Evans School of Public Affairs, produced a flawless event.
Seattle visits by national association leadership also highlighted the year’s final months. Kathy Newcomer, president of the National Association of Schools of Public Affairs and Administration (NASPAA) talked about “The Future of Public Administration Education” during a luncheon hosted by Seattle University’s Institute of Public Service.
Newcomer was in town to attend NASPAA’s national conference which also drew a visit by Antoinette Samuel, executive director, American Society for Public Administration. I had the opportunity discuss Evergreen Chapter plans as well as current and future activities on ASPA’s national agenda with Samuels and other national leaders.
Finally, we were honored when Dr. Harvey White, ASPA’s national president, addressed an audience at Seattle’s City Hall. White encouraged attendees to become involved in organizations like ASPA, Blacks in Government and other organizations that encourage professional development and extolled the value of public service careers. He also challenged his audience to embrace diversity in the workplace and engage in addressing the global issues that affect us all.
We’re already working on a number of projects that promise to keep your board busy and hopefully inspire you to take advantage of your ASPA membership. An invitation to Seattle leaders from Dr. White to discuss the City’s innovative Race and Social Justice Initiative at ASPA’s national conference in Dallas has been accepted. I hope you will plan to join our chapter’s delegation, possibly including Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels, at the conference, see
http://www.aspanet.org/scriptcontent/PDFs/08confregbro.pdf
We plan to hold an event during National Public Service Recognition Week where we will recognize a leading public servant and longstanding Evergreen Chapter members. We’re talking with a number of organizations including the Municipal League of King County, City Club and the Greater Seattle Chamber of Commerce about opportunities for collaborative programming. The national, statewide and local campaigns leading to Election Day next November offer some exciting possibilities.
Our chapter’s international relationship with the Hyogo Administrative Policy Studies Association (HAPSA) in Japan is once again something to highlight. We are extremely pleased that our colleague, Dr. Matsuyo Makino has been selected to receive ASPA’s International Public Administration Award at the national conference in Dallas. Dr. Makino is a member of ASPA and Professor at the School of Economics and Graduate School of Economics at the University of Hyogo in Japan. Since joining ASPA, Dr. Makino has become actively engaged in promoting international activities between ASPA, the Evergreen Chapter, the University of Hyogo, and HAPSA. Through her academic work and volunteer activities, Dr. Makino has been a true contributor to the art and science of international public administration. She is truly deserving of this honorable recognition.
Several board members met with Dr. Makino in October during her visit to Seattle. Arrangements were made for her to meet with Seattle Department of Transportation planners, for mutual learning about local citizen involvement in transportation planning. In addition, she attended the career fair and met with a number of chapter members and event participants.
With the world’s attention turning to Beijing for the Summer Olympics, our International Committee will plan a program featuring a discussion on democracy and the ongoing development of public administration education in China.
As part of our ongoing effort to increase Evergreen Chapter membership, ASPA National will send letters and membership applications to more than 600 people who left their names and email addresses while attending the Career Fair. We are also taking steps to encourage members to renew their memberships.
The Career Fair’s success generated much excitement and enthusiasm among the volunteers involved and the board which has approved plans to hold the event again next October. I’m pleased that Rosalind Monteros, human resource analyst, King County Department of Executive Services, Human Resources Division, has agreed to chair the Career Fair Steering Committee. I sincerely hope that most members of the original Steering Committee continue to serve in that capacity. Please contact me if you’re interested in becoming involved or in attending a chapter board meeting held in the Seattle Municipal Tower, 49th Floor, 6 p.m., the third Thursday of the month.
Continued best wishes to you, your families and colleagues in 2008.
J. Paul Blake, President
Evergreen Chapter
