THE GEORGIA PUBLIC
ADMINISTRATOR

Published by the Georgia Chapter of the
American Society for Public Administration
(
http://www.NGCSU.edu/bdf/GaASPA/index.htm
)

Barry D. Friedman, Editor

Vol. 28     February 2008     No. 1

GEORGIA PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION ACADEMIC CONFERENCE
HEADS FOR THE NORTHEAST-GEORGIA HILLS ON FRIDAY, MARCH 7

     The 10th annual Georgia Public Administration Academic Conference will take place on Friday, March 7, on the campus of North Georgia College & State University.

     Dr. Ross C. Alexander, the conference's program chairman and a member of NGCSU'S M.P.A. faculty, has announced the program.

Location of Luncheon and Panels:  North Georgia College & State University, Health and Natural Sciences Building, George E. Coleman Sr. Planetarium, Room 234

11:30 a.m.-12:10 p.m.  Luncheon

     Lunch with be served, compliments of the Georgia Chapter.  The chapter will host a splendid buffet luncheon, catered by NGCSU's ARAMARK staff at a location near the Planetarium; the buffet features smoked turkey, roast beef, honey ham, tuna salad, cheddar and Swiss cheeses, rolls, red-bliss-potato salad, and fresh-cut-fruit salad, along with brownies, cookies, and chilled sodas -- no charge to conference attendees.

12:15-2 p.m.  Panel #1

Panel #1:  Issues in Homeland Security and Emergency Management (Planetarium)
Convenor / discussant:  Dr. Saundra J. Reinke, Augusta State University
• "Microbiology and Biodefense."  Jeane Silva, Augusta State University
• "Real ID Act of 2005."  Marirene Edwards, Augusta State University
• "The EMS Identity Crisis"  Kelly Edwards, Augusta State University
• "Critical Infrastructure."  Marion Wilson, Augusta State University
• "The PATRIOT Act Renewal."  Kristina M. Khansari and Logan L. Walker, North Georgia College & State University

2:15-4 p.m.  Concurrent Panels #2 and #3

Panel #2:  Issues in Public Personnel Administration (Planetarium)
Convenor / discussant:  Charles H. "Trey" Wilson III, North Georgia College & State University
• "What Future Presidents Can Learn from the Staff Management of Ronald Reagan and Bill Clinton."  Stacey L. Kirkland, North Georgia College & State University
• "Effects of Personnel Policy on the Public-Administration Paradigm Shift:  From Merit to Neo-Managerial."  J. Stuart Batchelder, North Georgia College & State University
• "The Use of Student Workers in Universities."  Jared A. Goodall, North Georgia College & State University
• "Leading the Masses:  Why Organizational Managers Should Recognize the Importance of Informal Work Groups."  Maria J. Albo, North Georgia College & State University

Panel #3:  Issues in State and Local Government (Room 120)
Convenor / discussant:  Dr. Martha A. Griffith, Kennesaw State University
• "Defending the Property Tax:  Why H.R. 900 is Not Such a Great Plan."  Ryan J. Arnold, North Georgia College & State University
• "City-County Consolidation in a Rural Georgia County:  The Black and Efficiency Perspectives."  Willie Green, Clark Atlanta University
• "Municipal Incorporation:  Why Cities Incorporate and What Are the Effects?"  Leora Waldner and Kathryn Brice, Troy University
• "A Case Study of the Accountability of the Audit Process of Local Governments in Georgia."  Johnnie Norton, James Polk, and W. Clifton Wilkinson Jr., Georgia College & State University
• "A Fight for Higher Sales Tax:  Benefits of SPLOST in Muscogee County, Ga."  Katherine A. "Katie" Stone, North Georgia College & State University

4:15-6 p.m.  Concurrent Panels #4 and #5

Panel #4:  Issues in Policy and Management (Room 120)
Convenor / discussant:  W. Clifton Wilkinson Jr., Georgia College & State University
• "Impact of NAFTA on Rural Subsistence Farming in Mexico."  Michael B. Trueblood, University of West Georgia
• "Relevant Court Cases on Separation of Church and State."  Pat White, University of West Georgia
• "The Strategic Planning Process and How It Directs the Actions of Our Military."  Philip S. Rosso, North Georgia College & State University
• "Ethics, Power, and Knowledge in Police Pursuits."  Lee Wade, University of West Georgia
• "Recycling Goodwill:  The Buzz for Nonprofits on Word-of-Mouth Marketing."  Kristen Posey and Deborah Yarbrough-Layden, Kennesaw State University

Panel #5:  Issues in Education (Planetarium)
Convenor / discussant:  J. Derek Sutton, North Georgia College & State University
• "Student Success in Question:  A Statistical Analysis of Limited Admissions at NGCSU."  Karson G. Levely, North Georgia College & State University
• "Athletic Departments:  The Lack of Women in Collegiate Athletic Administration."  Kelly D. Curran, North Georgia College & State University
• "An Explanatory Study in the Use of Modern Pedagogical Knowledge Portals with Traditional Lectures."  Daniel Simpson and Brittany Boston, Georgia College & State University
• "Strategic Planning in the Public-School System."  Amy M. Moore, North Georgia College & State University

6:30-7:30 p.m.  Annual Dinner Meeting of the Georgia Chapter at the Dahlonega Woman's Club's Community House, 111 North Park Street, Dahlonega.  Tammy R. Kane, proprietor of Tea Rose, Inc., will cater our dinner meeting.  The menu features Cornish game hen.  The cost per dinner, if reserved in advance, is $18 (but, for an extra $2, one can reserve a dinner with a whole Cornish game hen).  Reservations must be received by Monday, March 3, at 5 p.m.  Send reservations to Dr. Barry D. Friedman, NGCSU Political Science, 82 College Circle, Dahlonega, Ga.   30597-1001.  Make checks payable to "Georgia Chapter -- ASPA."  Without a reservation, a dinner, if available, will cost $20 at the door (˝ Cornish game hen only).  (Only a limited number of dinners will be available for those who do not have a reservation.  Avoid disappointment:  Please reserve dinners in advance if at all possible.)  You are not required to buy a dinner to attend the annual meeting.

DIRECTIONS, PARKING, AND LODGING

     On the chapter's home page (the URL address of which is http://www.NGCSU.edu/bdf/GaASPA/index.htm ), one can find detailed information about:

          •Directions to NGCSU's Health and Natural Sciences Building.
          •Information about parking near the HNS Building.  You can download a parking permit at our home page!
          •Directions to the Dahlonega Woman's Club's Community House.
          •Information about finding a motel in Dahlonega.

Editor's note:  This will be a banner weekend for me.  On the day of our conference, I will not be subject to election because I have a two-year term.  And the next day, albeit in absentia, I will be awarded my 25-year membership pin during ASPA's national convention in Dallas, Tex. -- BDF


MEMBERS OF CHAPTER COUNCIL TO BE ELECTED AT ANNUAL MEETING

     The annual conference culminates in a dinner meeting at which members of the Georgia Chapter elect officers and council members for the following year.  The meeting will begin at 6:30 p.m. at the Dahlonega Woman's Club's Community House (see conference program, above).  The nominating committee proposes the following slate:

PRESIDENT (elevated automatically from the office of vice president)
     F. Elaine Elmore
     Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, U. S. Department of Health and Human Services

VICE PRESIDENT (President-elect)
     Paul A. Harris, Ph.D.
     Augusta State University

SECRETARY-TREASURER (second year of two-year term)
     Barry D. Friedman, Ph.D.
     North Georgia College & State University

IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT
     Steven A. Bales
     U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development

NOMINEES FOR CHAPTER COUNCIL

William E. Baker, Ph.D.
Kennesaw State University

Helen R. Buckelew
(Family Nurse Practitioner, Retired)

Stanley M. Caress, Ph.D.
University of West Georgia

Martha A. Griffith, D.P.A.
Kennesaw State University

Ann D. Maize
Georgia Department of Administrative Services

Charles E. Mitchell, Ph.D.
Troy University

Robert M. Sanders, Ph.D.
University of West Georgia

Ulf Zimmermann, Ph.D.
Kennesaw State University

 

RESULTS OF CHAPTER AWARD COMPETITION ARE ANNOUNCED

     In October, the chapter council announced to our chapter members that a new award competition was ready to implement.  The competition would result in the presentation of three awards:

      Policymaking Public Administrator of the Year.
    
 Unsung Hero Award.
      Georgia Chapter Member of the Year.

The award program is described on the Web page at http://www.NGCSU.edu/bdf/GaASPA/awards.htm .

     And the winners are:  Nobody!  The January 10 deadline came and went, without any nominations being submitted.  Let's give some thought to this in the months to come.  Undoubtedly, there really are some outstanding practitioners and scholars in North Georgia who deserve recognition for their valuable contributions to the public and to their students.

 

VOLUNTEERS SOUGHT TO ASSUME POSITIONS OF POWER!

     From time to time, a city in Georgia will set out to annex adjoining land in an unincorporated part of the county, sometimes leading to a dispute between the two governments.  Last year, the Georgia General Assembly enacted a law establishing a binding dispute-resolution process to resolve such conflicts.  A complaint by a county government about a city's attempt to annex land will now result in the appointment of a panel of five members, who will be:

      Two people who, within the previous 6 years, have been county elected officials.

      Two people who, within the previous 6 years, have been city elected officials.

      One person who has a master's degree in public administration, planning, or a closely related field and is employed by a college or university in the state.  This could include, say, a doctoral student in public administration who holds an M.P.A. degree and is a teaching assistant at the university.

     Note, therefore, that such individuals as federal and state employees (other than state-college professors) or unelected local-government employees are not eligible for appointment to a panel.

     The Georgia Department of Community Affairs implements this process.  The Association County Commissioners of Georgia (ACCG) is assisting the DCA in the recruitment of volunteers.  Would you like to participate in a fascinating service activity that will provide valuable practical experience?  If so, please contact one of the following:

      Art Gilbert at the Georgia Department of Community Affairs by sending him an E-mail message at agilbert@dca.state.ga.us .

      Matthew Hicks at the ACCG by calling (404) 522-5022 or sending him an E-mail message at mhicks@ACCG.org .

     Editor's note to my fellow academic people (including doctoral students in public administration):  The DCA is having the most difficult time recruiting people who will be the college/university member of the panel.  Please consider volunteering.  If lots of us volunteer, each of us will be called on infrequently to serve on a panel.  If very few of us volunteer, each volunteer will be called on rather frequently--as often as twice a year or more.  Personally, I am an advocate of spreading the wealth as widely as possible.  Help us by recruiting your colleagues and students, too. -- BDF


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Visit the home page of the Georgia Chapter of ASPA.