http://www.main.org/aspa
CenTex ASPA and many community-spirited collaborators joined together to celebrate Public Service Recognition Week during May 3-9, 1999, with public proclamations, information fairs and awards honoring outstanding public service. This year's observance, the 15th nationally and CenTex ASPA's fourth, carried the theme, "Public Employees: Working for America". The CenTex Chapter awards of Public Administrator, Elected Official and Educator of the Year went to Jerome A. Lindsay, Charles R. Matthews, and Robert D. Larsen, respectively. Research honors went to Carey Welebob, Alan Bojorquez and Snapper Carr. Charles R. Matthews, Texas Railroad Commissioner, was keynote speaker. CenTex ASPA's efforts were boosted by free resources provided by the Public Employees Roundtable, the consortium of 35 national organizations with the common goal of restoring and maintaining public understanding and respect for the important work that public servants do every day. CenTex ASPA also once again received generous support from the Greater Texas Federal Credit Union.
On Monday May 3, Texas State Senator Gonzalo Barrientos introduced and read a Resolution proclaiming May 3-9 as Public Service Recognition Week in Texas. From the floor of the Senate, Senator Barrientos recognized CenTex ASPA members in the gallery and then presented the proclamation to CenTex ASPA President, Ryan Tiedt. Thanks to Harold Stone, who arranged the event, CenTex ASPA and public servants throughout Texas received acknolwedgement from the Senator Barrientos and the entire Texas Senate. The complete text of the resolution is on the CenTex ASPA website at http://www.main.org/aspa/senpsr99.htm, and the proceedings are also archived online with the other proceedings of the Senate on May 3 in print at http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/sjrnl/76r/html/5-3.htm and in video/audio format at http://www.senate.state.tx.us/75r/Senate/Live.htm.
On Thursday, May 6, from 10 AM until 2 PM, CenTex ASPA joined many other professional societies and public employee organizations, community organizations, and governmental programs for a "Serving the Public Together" Fair Day at the state headquarters of the Texas Department of Human Services at 701 West 51st Street in Austin. With the support of the Greater Texas Federal Credit Union, CenTex ASPA provided buttons and other materials for the celebration. Exhibitors included ASPA and PER, SWT MPA and CPM programs, the LBJ School, General Services Commission's Texas Public Employees Association, Texas State Employees Union, Capitol Metro, CAMPO, Employee Trip Reduction Program, State Agency Libraries of Texas, Windsor Park Neighborhood Association, Austin Neighborhoods Council, Earth Share of Texas, Clean Air Force, Austin FreeNet, Texas Legal Protection Plan, Red Cross, Ready Texans, Texas Department of Insurance, State Employee Incentive Program, Austin Fire Department, TDHS staff training and recognition programs, and many TDHS programs and projects that rely on public participation, including Long Term Care, Texas Works, Historically Underutilized Business program, Refugee Services, Family Violence Services, Disaster Services, Volunteer Services, Adopt-A-Nursing Home, Family Pathfinders, and several programs of PRS and TDH. Because of the legislative session underway, executive staff, Jim Lehrman, JB McReynolds, Clif Martin, Irma Bermea, and Chuck Lyon recorded a video tape message of congratulations and heartfelt thanks to TDHS which was played throughout the fair. Copies of the video tape were also provided to TDHS regional offices which sponsored open houses at TDHS offices and similar events around the state.
CenTex ASPA ended the week with the chapter's annual awards banquet on Friday May 7. The Austin Society for Public Administration, an early collaborator with CenTex ASPA in observing Public Service Recognition Week, began these prestigious awards in 1968. In 1997, the organizations reunited and have been continuing a the great tradition of honoring the best in public administration as a special event during Public Service Recogntion Week. This year's award nomination process was coordinated by CenTex ASPA Vice President Doyle Pendleton. Nominations were solicited from CenTex ASPA members and other scholars and practitioners. Ryan Tiedt presided over the program and banquet at Serano's Restaurant, Austin. Reuben Leslie gave a brief overview of Public Service Recogntion Week. Charles R. Matthews, Texas Railroad Commissioner, was keynote speaker as well as the winner of the award for Elected Official of the Year. Mr. Matthews praised the efforts of public servants working to improve the quality of public service. He was introduced by Howard Balanoff who also made the presentation of the award to Mr. Matthews, noting that although he is a busy statewide elected official, nonetheless Mr. Matthews will this year complete his studies and earn a Masters of Public Administration. A Special Achievement Award was also presented to Elliott Naishtat, Texas State Representative.
Pat Shields introduced and thanked her committee who reviewed the James W. McGrew Research Award nominees. She presented the award winners: Carey Welebob, Southwest Texas State University, for her student work "Description of Texas department of Criminal Justice-Parole Division Staff Perceptions Regarding Officers Carrying Firearms in the State of Texas;" and Alan Bopjorquez and Snapper Carr, Texas Municipal League, for their practitioner work "Sand Dollars: The Need for Coastal Erosion Prevention & Response". Special Achievement Awards were also presented to Melody Kuhns, Le Ann Estes Piatt, and Ray Cantu, all affiliated with Southwest Texas State University. Abstracts of the honored papers and the e-mail addresses of the authors are on the CenTex Chapter's website at http://www.main.org/aspa/mcgrew99.htm.
Public Administration Professor of the Year Award was presented by Amy Miller to Robert D. Larsen, Southwest Texas State University. Amy Miller noted Prof. Larsen's long and distinguished career as an educator and program leader at Southwest Texas State University. Prof. Larsen thanked the members of CenTex ASPA for so honoring his efforts to develop new professional public administrators. A Special Achievement Award was also presented to Gary Chapman, Professor of Public Affairs at the UT-Austin LBJ School of Public Affairs.
Public Administrator of the Year Award was presented by Doyle Pendleton to Jerome A. Lindsay, now with the Attorney General's Office of Child Support Enforcement but formerly, until his recent retirement, the Deputy Commissioner for Regional Operations at the Texas Department of Human Services. Doyle Pendleton noted in his introduction that Mr. Lindsay led the field staff of TDHS to the achievement of Food Stamp "enhanced funding", millions of federal dollars in incentives for exceptional payment accuracy, never before achieved by Texas or any of the six largest states. Mr. Lindsay spoke briefly and acknowledged the teamwork by many staff that made the TDHS achievement possible. Special Achievement Awards were also presented to Kathleen McCorquodale, Texas Department of Human Services, and John Clary, Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs, for their outstanding recent work and exemplary careers with their respective agencies.
CenTex ASPA awards have a long tradition. For more information about the awards, see this year's announcement, research award criteria, online nomination form and prior honorees.
Thanks to sponsors and many volunteers, CenTex ASPA's observance of Public Service Recognition Week was a great success. CenTex ASPA determined in 1995 to make Public Service Recognition Week a civic tradition for Central Texas, and it's not too early to think about how to make the observance in 2000 bigger and better. Collaboration for these events strengthens community, public service, and just about any public-spirited organzation...and it is fun. To find out more about Public Service Recogntion Week in CenTex ASPA or the Texas Department of Human Services contact Reuben Leslie, Jr., Chair for PSRW at TDHS and CenTex ASPA at 512 438-4175 or email to reuben.leslie@dhs.state.tx.us. To learn more and obtain free resources from the national sponsors, contact the Public Employees roundtable at PO Box 44801, Washington, DC 20026-4480, telephone 202-401-4344 or fax 202-401-4433, or see the webpage at http://www.theroundtable.org.