Government Connections - Winter 2012 - (Page 9) EDITOR’S LETTER G Published for Society of Governme Meeting Pr Government overnme ent Professionals CONNECT TO GOVERNMENT MEETINGS. WINTER 2012 • VOL 3, ISSUE 2 Leading During Turbulent Times By Charles Sadler, CGMP, CHSP, CHSC Executive Director & CEO Society of Government Meeting Professionals 908 King Street, Lower Level Alexandria, VA 22314 703-549-0892 Fax: 703-549-0708 www.sgmp.org EXECUTIVE EDITOR Charles Sadler, CGMP, CHSP, CHSC MANANGING EDITOR Lisa Silverman, MA, CGMP Address editorial comments and questions to Charles Sadler, editor, Government Connections, 908 King Street, Lower Level, Alexandria, VA 22314. When you hear the word turbulent, your first thought probably flashes to an airplane traveling through rough skies – being shaken and pitched and tested for its strength and ability to keep safe the people it is responsible for during the journey. Now think of that same plane as the good ol’ US of A, being pitched about by the huffing and puffing of Congress – lighting strikes from the media and the president trying to pilot through the situation to clearer skies. Buckle up, members, for a rough ride. So far we have pitched and rolled in an uncertain economy, found out Muffingate was really a peanut media story, Office of Government Ethics vs. Widely Attended Gatherings and landing gear gridlock in government. I think I can dispense with the figurative story and simply say that SGMP has been diligently working and advocating for government meetings. We are not an organization that reacts ad hominem to issues, individuals or political theater. We remain true to our core mission and the advocacy of enhancing the knowledge and expertise of government meeting professionals. Our objectives are to improve the quality of, and promote the costeffectiveness of, government meetings and to achieve those goals in partnership with our members and government agencies – federal, state and municipal. SGMP National Board Leaders and I are directly involved in these issues, and I have reached out to CIC and ASAE from the meetings industry and OGE and GSA from the federal government about these hot topics. Direct communications from my office to the director and the depu ty controller of OMB and the director of OGE have also been made. SGMP has sent press releases to 12 publications to include web and print, and I have been interviewed by five industry publications. We are keeping our members informed and answering questions. I presented these issues to federal planners for discussion at the Denver Federal Center this past October in conjunction with our Rocky Mountain SGMP Chapter. We welcome our hospitality partners’ support and I personally will continue to advocate for our members the important role government meetings serve. The meetings and convention industry does not deserve such negative attention or to be positioned as political or economical fodder. Our industry is an economic engine and government meetings serve the public interest. This is an opportunity for SGMP, not an obstacle, and we are reacting as such to take advantage of this opened door to government meetings. You may not see and hear a lot of grandstanding from SGMP leadership, but be very assured Rob Coffman, the National Board and I are clearly piloting SGMP’s position to the federal government during these turbulent times for government meetings. I have always taken stock in President Teddy Roosevelt’s advice in matters of political theatre, “Speak softly and carry a big stick; you will go far.” Published by Naylor, LLC 5950 NW First Place Gainesville, FL 32607 800-369-6220 Fax: 352-331-3525 www.naylor.com PUBLISHER John Kilchenstein MANAGING EDITOR Leslee Masters SALES MANAGER Rick Jablonski MARKETING Rebecca Wentworth ADVERTISING DIRECTOR Kathryn Hillgardner ADVERTISING SALES Pam Blasetti, Carol Carter, Cherie Dubay Scott Pauquette, Beth Sheahan, Jessica Semonin, Jamie Williams GRAPHIC DESIGN Surendra Gupta For advertising rates, information and media kits, please contact Kathryn Hillgardner at 800-369-6220 ext. 3384 or khillgar@naylor.com. © Naylor, LLC. All rights reserved. The contents of this publication may not be reproduced by any means, in whole or in part, without the prior written consent of the publisher. Mention of any product does not constitute endorsement by Government Connections. 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PUBLISHED FEBRUARY 2012/SGM-Q0411/5448 www.sgmp.org 9 http://www.sgmp.org http://www.naylor.com http://www.naylornetwork.com/sgm-nxt/ Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Government Connections - Winter 2012 President’s Letter Editor’s Letter Going Places Education Edge That’s Technology Supplier Strategy Plan Green Travel Tips & Trends Good to Know Dieting on a Per Diem Budget Boosters Location, Location, Location OGE Proposes Ethics Changes The Evolution of e-RFPs Organizing More Effective Meetings 7 Deadly Sins of Small Meetings SGMP Nation Membership News Conference Connection Advertisers’ Index The Meeting Minute Government Connections - Winter 2012 http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/naylor/SGMQ0412 http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/naylor/SGMQ0312 http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/naylor/SGMQ0212 http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/naylor/SGMQ0112 http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/naylor/SGMQ0411 http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/naylor/SGMQ0311 http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/naylor/SGMQ0211 http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/naylor/SGMQ0111 http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/naylor/SGMQ0410 http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/naylor/SGMQ0310 http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/naylor/SGMQ0210 http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/naylor/SGMQ0110 http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/naylor/SGMQ0409 http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/naylor/SGMQ0309 http://www.nxtbookMEDIA.com
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