In this issue, you'll read:
March 22 EWG Summit & Training Conference Celebrates "Women: Builders of Communities & Dreams"
EWG Members Approve Revised Bylaws
Caution Urged For Those Seeking Spots On Nonprofit Boards
Upcoming EWG Spring 2006 Program/Event Calendar – Save The Dates!
EWG Past Events Offer Education, Networking & Fun
EWG Cameo
EWG Welcomes New Members

March 22 EWG Summit & Training Conference Celebrates "Women: Builders of Communities & Dreams"

Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao will give the keynote address at EWG’s 2006 Summit and Training Conference on March 22. Secretary Chao is respected as an effective and articulate champion of the nation’s contemporary workforce which certainly reflects this year's theme...Women: Builders of Communities & Dreams.

You’ll want to join the cadre of women leaders from the public and private sector for this full day of education and networking on Wednesday, March 22, 2006 at the US Chamber of Commerce. In keeping with this year’s National Women’s History Month, we’re honoring the spirit of possibility and hope set in motion by generations of women in their creation of communities and their encouragement of dreams. We’ve built a program that will help women continue to excel and build communities into the future.

As you assemble your training and education program for yourself and your staff, you’ll want to know that this training conference fee falls within the Government Employees Training Act (GETA). The fee is $225 for EWG/TIAW members and $295 for non-members. It includes handouts and training resources, full day of sessions, light breakfast and full lunch. For full details and to register online, visit the EWG at www.ExecWomenInGov.org.

Summit Draws Leading Speakers
Hear from a collection of women who have created change and progress. Here’s a look at a few of our confirmed speakers to date:

Anna Escobedo Cabral, U.S. Treasurer As a third generation Mexican American, first generation college graduate and the second highest ranking Hispanic in the Bush administration, Ms. Cabral has wisdom and experience to share with all women as they seek to build tomorrow’s neighborhoods.

Dr. Linda Combs, Comptroller, Office of Federal Financial Management, Office of Management and Budget “Work hard, be bold, and think big,” are the words of advice Dr. Combs gives to those interested in a career in public service. She also lives those words and will share advice from a long career that includes key positions at EPA, Treasury, Transportation, Education, in the private sector and as an educator in the public school system. She is also the author of A Long Goodbye and Beyond: Coping with Alzheimer's an account of her mother's struggle with Alzheimer's.

Karen Evans, Administrator of E-Government and Information Technology, Office of Management and Budget Ms. Evans has been instrumental in building communities through technology for more than 20 years in the public sector. Along the way, she has seen many applications and remarkable solutions. Hear about some of these as well as what’s in store for the future.

Torie Clarke From the Pentagon to the private sector, Torie Clarke has been at the center of some of the most historic events in the United States. She is renowned and respected in political and business circles as one of the nation’s most gifted communicators. She served most recently in the public sector as Assistant Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs and was at her desk in the Pentagon’s outer ring when the World Trade Center was attacked on September 11, 2001. Today, she is a Senior Advisor for Comcast Corporation and on air commentator for CNN and recently wrote a book, Lipstick on a Pig: Winning in the No-Spin Era by Someone Who Knows the Game. Join us for an entertaining and insightful presentation.

Dr. Mary Catherine Bateson “We are not what we know but what we are willing to learn.” Join cultural anthropologist Ms. Bateson for an intriguing conversation that will inspire you to learn more. Like her parents, anthropologists Margaret Mead and Gregory Bateson, Ms. Bateson has inspired a generation. As a founder of GrannyVoter.org she is now inspiring and laying the ground work for another generation.

Mary Fillmore, Founder & Director of Changing Work Helping women succeed has been a career goal – and life goal – for Ms. Fillmore. Her book Women MBAs: A Foot in the Door has been called "one of the few absolute must books for today's serious career women.” She will share the stories of women and strategies on mentoring, coaching and succeeding in today’s world.

Panel to Focus On Transitioning to the Private Sector
Our panel of four former state and federal executives will talk about “How to Succeed in Business: Much of What I Need to Know I Learned in Government”. How did their public sector experience prepare them for a successful career in the private sector? What would they have done differently had they known what they know now about private sector demands and expectations? Expect a lively discussion moderated by the Anne Armstrong of Federal Computer Week, one of the nation’s premier technology publications.

Kim Nelson, Executive Director, e-government, Microsoft, formerly CIO at EPA

Cathy Wagenfer, Director, Business Development, Lockheed Martin Information Technology, formerly Maryland Department of the Environment

Mary Ellen Condon, Vice President and Deputy Director, Orion Center for Homeland Security, SRA International, formerly Department of Justice

Anna F. Dixon, Managing Consultant, IBM Business Consulting Services, formerly Department of Homeland Security.

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EWG Members Approve Revised Bylaws

On Thursday, Feb. 9, EWG members voted to accept changes to the organization’s bylaws which include updates on officer positions and terms, and membership categories. “Our goal is to create more opportunities and make it easier for members to join and participate in the organization,” said EWG President Maria Vickers. “We were pleased the members voted for this revitalization!”

The changes addressed a number of needs voiced by members and leaders in the organization. Kate Perry, Bylaws Committee Chair, explained that she began by collecting and drafting various proposals put forth by existing and former Board members based on their experience and concern about EWG's growth as an organization. At almost every Board meeting of the past six months, the existing Board considered the pros and cons of the proposals in terms of their effect individually and collectively as a package. “The proposed amendments reflect extensive consideration and refinement of language over those months, and reflect the unanimous support of the Board,” said Perry. “The Board believes the amendments will promote leadership by and participation in the organization by both SES and GS/15 level (and equivalent) women.”

These changes included:

A provision now opens membership to women who, while at the level of GS-15 or equivalent and above, retired or otherwise left honorably but were not members of EWG at that time. While they will not be eligible to serve on the board or vote in elections, they will be able to participate in events and committees and other services. Pass the word if you know someone who would be eligible and interested. Contact EWG’s Membership Chair, Gayle Rice with questions.

Modifications to the officer positions and terms now allow greater flexibility in bringing new people to the table and shortening the overall commitment to serve in the top position. Part of the change also is intended to raise the visibility of EWG by reserving the top leadership position for women who have attained the SES/equivalent level or political appointment. To do this, we eliminated the president-elect position allowing for open election each year, reduced the requirement from more than 1 year membership to current membership, and added a requirement of SES/equiv or political appointee/elected office. Combined, these elements have the effect of encouraging and allowing political appointees and women who have attained SES position to accept the leading role more readily.

While controversial in some cases, we balanced these changes with a modification to the Vice Presidency which encourages women at the GS-15 level to assume a leading role in the organization as the number 2 position with authority and oversight for the organization’s primary business: events and annual conference. The Vice President was made a 2-year term thus assuring continuity given the change in the president-elect and to provide ample opportunity to grow and lead in the role.

We also modified the terms so that those positions with 1-year terms may choose to run for a second, consecutive 1-year term while those in two-year terms may not. So the President, and Secretary may now hold consecutive one-year terms providing they successfully run for re-election. The Vice President and Treasurer terms are 2-year terms.

Other changes clarified misleading sections by adding “women” rather than “persons” throughout and permitting communications relating voting and ballots be conducted in writing regardless of distribution via mail or email.

“The net effect is a stronger governing document that will be a tool for the board and membership to grow the organization,” said Kate Perry, bylaws chair. You may contact Kate with questions or comments.

To view the approved Bylaws visit our website. You can also request a copy by email, mail or fax, by contacting the EWG offices at 301-725-3500.

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Caution Urged For Those Seeking Spots On Nonprofit Boards

Excerpted from an article written by Daniel Pulliam, GovExec.com

Senior Executives—Heads Up! Dan Pulliam’s article states that agencies should be careful about allowing employees to serve on the boards of nonprofit organizations that have an interest in their work, however the DOJ opinion does state that because nonprofits spend money advocating a position does not necessarily mean they have a financial interest in an agency action.

Federal executives can serve as officers or directors at nonprofit organizations but agencies should take into account the appearance of an ethical violation before permitting employees to serve in a group that handles issues related to their government work. "Government employees [have a] …’duty to avoid any actions creating the appearance that they are violating the law ... or ethical standards,’ " DOJ’s opinion said. "If an outside organization in which an employee is a director has been advocating its views directly to the federal government on a matter that the organization has identified as especially significant, there is a significantly heightened risk that the employee ... will at least appear less than independent in his judgments," the legal counsel stated. Federal law requires government employees to recuse themselves from work activities when a nonprofit on which they serve has a financial interest in the matter.

The opinion released January 11, 2006 originated with from a July 2004 case where a senior executive at the Education Department was told by the Office of Government Ethics that election to the Senior Executives Association board of directors would result in a criminal conflict of interest due to his service on his department's Executive Resources Board.

While EWG does not lobby or advocate positions on issues and therefore its board members are not at risk, organizations such as the Senior Executives Association, International Personnel Management Association or the American Society of Public Administration do making this a critical concern for those organizations. According to SEA President Carol Bonosaro, the association appealed the original case in August 2004 because if permitted to stand, it could have eliminated some federal employees from serving on these boards. Bonosaro said the decision was a long time in coming and added that the association's lawyers are working to issue a statement carefully laying out what the appearance standard means.

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Upcoming EWG Spring 2006 Program/Event Calendar – Save The Dates!

Wednesday, March 22 – Annual EWG Summit & Training Conference provides excellent networking and educational opportunity which is hosted at the US Chamber of Commerce. (See comprehensive overview above.)

April 27 – Transitioning from the Legislative to the Executive Branch featuring EPA's Assistant Administrator for OSWER, Susan Parker Bodine

May 10 – Spring Tea Honoring Presidential Rank Awardees at the Arts Club of Washington, D.C. EWG’s annual event honors winners of the Presidential Rank Award recognizing their contribution and achievement throughout their Federal executive service.

June 3 – Komen Cure for Cancer Run – Join the EWG Team, contact Diane E. Gelburd, 202-720-2587 or Diane.Gelburd@wdc.usda.gov

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EWG Past Events Offer Education, Networking & Fun

National Academy Of Public Administration Hosts EWG’s Meeting

By Susan Taylor and Chris Tirpak

EWG's monthly luncheon, hosted by and held at NAPA Headquarters on Feb. 9, 2006, focused on "Managing the Multi-Sector Workforce". NAPA's Hannah Sistare, Executive Director for Human Resources Management Consortium and Alethea Long-Green, Human Resources Director for Government Studies offered an update on a project looking at the multi-sector workforce and shared clips from a video on "Living Legends".

NAPA is currently working on a project examining the FBI's organizational structure and competencies. They have performed numerous other studies, which have been posted to their web site and can be used as a reference for research projects. Included in those projects is one recently completed involving the multi-sector workforce. This project discusses combining Federal, state, and local workers in carrying out shared missions. Six key issues were identified as significant in multi-sector workforce projects:

• Accountability
• Acquisition
• Human capital
• Social equity, ethics and values
• Legal and governance
• Organizational culture