Folks, this is going to be a really short blog post because all I’m going to do is point you to a post by Bev Godwin, Director of Online Resources & Interagency Development at the White House.  She has compiled a fairly exhaustive list of government agency sites that prove that they are taking the Open Government directive very seriously.

This is truly government of the people, by the people, for the people.  Enjoy!!

Click here to go there…

Today’s Mid-Week List highlights non-governmental organizations that help the US government and are closely aligned with its goals:

1. The Partnership for Public Service: Their mission is to revitalize the federal government by inspiring a new generation to serve and by transforming the way government works.
2. The National Academy of Public Administration (NAPA): As a Congressionally chartered, independent, non-partisan organization, the National Academy is committed to the improvement of the management of government.
3. The Pew Charitable Trusts: The Pew Charitable Trusts is driven by the power of knowledge to solve today’s most challenging problems. Pew applies a rigorous, analytical approach to improve public policy, inform the public and stimulate civic life.
4. The American Society for Public Administration: ASPA is the leading public service organization that advances the art, science, teaching, and practice of public and non-profit administration; promotes the value of joining and elevating the public service profession; builds bridges among all who pursue public purposes; provides networking and professional development opportunities to those committed to public service values; and achieves innovative solutions to the challenges of governance.
5. Senior Executives Association (SEA): The Senior Executives Association is a nonprofit professional association that promotes ethical and dynamic public service by fostering an outstanding career executive corps, advocates the interests of career federal executives (both active and retired), and provides information and services to SEA members.
6. IBM Center for the Business of Government: The IBM Center helps public sector executives and managers improve the effectiveness of government with practical ideas and original thinking.
7. Public Administration Service (PAS): PAS was established to provide as its basic mission consulting and technical assistance to public and quasi-public organizations in order to improve the quality and effectiveness of public services.  Over the years it has focused on problems of organization and management; and such issues as inter-jurisdictional or interagency relationships, policy planning and development, organizational structure, establishing operational policies and procedures, communications, coordination and supervision, budgeting, and human resources development.  PAS believes that effective management is the key to the success of any institution, regardless of size or mission.  Developing appropriate methods for improving efficiency and effectiveness is an essential element of an improvement program, requiring an understanding of management systems, manpower planning, and organizational analysis. The numerous management audits and other projects successfully conducted by PAS involving management issues and problems in which its acquired institutional skills have been applied are testimony to the effectiveness of PAS’ management consulting services. PAS has frequently provided specialists to participate in project preparation, identification, and appraisal missions of the World Bank, the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations, the U.N. Development Program, and other entities of the United Nations family.
8. The Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation at Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government: The Roy and Lila Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation advances excellence and innovation in governance and public policy through research, education, and public discussion. The Ford Foundation is a founding donor of the Center. Three major programs support our mission: the Program on Democratic Governance, the Innovations in Government Program; and the Rajawali Foundation Institute for Asia.
9. Progressive Policy Institute (PPI): PPI’s mission is to define and promote a new progressive politics for America in the 21st century. Through its research, policies, and perspectives, the Institute is fashioning a new governing philosophy and an agenda for public innovation geared to the Information Age.
10. Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars: Established by an act of Congress in 1968, the Wilson Center is our nation’s official living memorial to President Woodrow Wilson. As both a distinguished scholar—the only American President with a Ph.D.—and a national leader, Wilson felt strongly that the scholar and the policymaker were “engaged in a common enterprise.” The Wilson Center is a nonpartisan institute for advanced study and a neutral forum for open, serious, and informed dialogue. It brings pre-eminent thinkers to Washington for extended periods of time to interact with policymakers through a large number of programs and projects. The Center seeks to separate the important from the inconsequential and to take a historical and broad perspective on the issues.

There has been a lot of talk (AND action) on implementing Web 2.0 initiatives in government over the past few years, so here are a few resources to help you understand the processes and regulations that accompany such initiatives (and some tools that can help you get started):

• Understanding why these initiatives are happening: The White House Open Government Initiative
• A great resource from USA.gov on technology, management, tools, regulations and best practices that will help you revamp your website: WebContent.gov
• Blog Policies (a guide that could be suggested as a template): From GovGab
• The National Academy of Public Administration hosts a Wiki which invites participation from government agencies to discuss policies, best practices and implementation of Web 2.0 initiatives: The Collaboration Project
• Finally, the great flowchart below provides guidance for EPA employees on social network interaction: From the guide Representing EPA Online Using Social Media

Many days after the first 100, where do you think we are today (you’ll know what I mean after you view the OMB Watch video that includes interviews with Tom Blanton of the National Security Archive, David Sobel of the Electronic Frontier Foundation, and Ellen Miller of the Sunlight Foundation)?  Do you think that government transparency can be achieved?  Do you think that it’s even possible to penetrate a bureaucracy that, as Steve Kelman points out in this Washington Technology post, tends to equate transparency with accountability only for punishment’s sake?  Is the Obama Administration being too idealistic or do they have to aim high in order to move in the right direction?

View ‘em and peep:

Here’s a few conferences that both government folks and contractors might be interested in attending:

Sorry about the late notice on this one but the G3 Conference is taking place tomorrow (Thursday, October 14) at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, DC from 9am-6pm.  The conference will deal with the triple theme of Gurus, Growth and Government and is put on by Smart CEO.  Here’s the agenda for the day.  If you can’t attend tomorrow (I know, it’s a little late) despair not, as I’ll be posting some of the juicier info from the conference in the next few days!

The 2010 Adobe Government Assembly Engage America one-day event is taking place on Wednesday, November 3 at the Ronald Reagan Building in Washington, DC.  As described by them:

“More than talk, agencies are now communicating within their own walls, breaking down silos to interagency collaboration, and engaging with constituents in new ways – with citizens, with soldiers, and with employees. Join the debate defining the line between ensuring a full and open government – by the people, for the people, while still protecting the people. Here’s your chance to engage, innovate, and improve government efficiency.”

If you are interested in open government, I would strongly recommend attending.  The event is free.

For all of you Digital Media, Video and A/V folks, the Government Video Expo 2010 is taking place from November 30 – December 2 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, DC.  This is a really good place to catch up with all of the latest and greatest video and A/V tools available in our profession, as well as to network with other professionals and take some courses to polish up on the newest trends in our ever evolving field.