Those of us in the private sector know that the U.S. still has not fully recovered from the weak real estate market and general economic malaise that started in the recession of 2008. Most also know that Washington DC has been immune, and continued its rise uninterrupted, buoyed by fat federal jobs and that unstoppable force of nature, tax collections fueled by the rest of us living in the outer reaches of the empire (“The New Boomtown,” crows the Washington Post).
The media has done its best to paint last week’s shutdown as a disaster. Mother Jones magazine warns about “48 Ways a Government Shutdown Will Screw You Over” (#44: “The Bureau of Economic Analysis will cut back on its data collection.”) Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid decries those children stricken with cancer who will no longer have access to government-funded clinical trials.
In many cases government workers seem to have gone through the trouble of actively shutting down agency websites, when it seems the path least likely to have caused disruption to citizens would have been to simply leave them as they were.
The Federal government does, of course, provide some critical services (including help to cancer-stricken children). But there is simply so much waste in DC it’s hard to avoid schadenfreude and feel the Feds had it coming.
Take the U.S. Department of Agriculture, whose Office of Communications employed 59 people last year at an average of $136,000 each in wages and benefits, for a total of $8 million. The Department also has its own Office of the Chief Economist with 49 employees that average $184,000 each in wages and benefits, totalling another $9 million. In all, the average federal worker in 2012 earned $114,976, a startling 74% more than the private sector average of $65,917.
But for those who decide you can’t beat ‘em: our beloved Department of Agriculture is currently looking for a “Public Affairs Specialist,” at a salary (excluding benefits) of between $105,000 and $137,000 per year. You can apply here.
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1:00 - 5:00 pm
Over 70% of Executives Surveyed Agree: Many Strategic Planning Efforts Lack Systematic Approach Tips for Enhancing Your Strategic Planning Process
Executives expressed frustration with their current strategic planning process. Issues include:
Steve Rutan and Denise Harrison have put together an afternoon workshop that will provide the tools you need to address these concerns. They have worked with hundreds of executives to develop a systematic approach that will enable your team to make better decisions during strategic planning. Steve and Denise will walk you through exercises for prioritizing your lists and steps that will reset and reinvigorate your process. This will be a hands-on workshop that will enable you to think about your business as you use the tools that are being presented. If you are ready for a Strategic Planning tune-up, select this workshop in your registration form. The additional fee of $695 will be added to your total.
2:00 - 5:00 pm
Female leaders face the same issues all leaders do, but they often face additional challenges too. In this peer session, we will facilitate a discussion of best practices and how to overcome common barriers to help women leaders be more effective within and outside their organizations.
Limited space available.
10:30 - 5:00 pm
General’s Retreat at Hermitage Golf Course
Sponsored by UBS
General’s Retreat, built in 1986 with architect Gary Roger Baird, has been voted the “Best Golf Course in Nashville” and is a “must play” when visiting the Nashville, Tennessee area. With the beautiful setting along the Cumberland River, golfers of all capabilities will thoroughly enjoy the golf, scenery and hospitality.
The golf outing fee includes transportation to and from the hotel, greens/cart fees, use of practice facilities, and boxed lunch. The bus will leave the hotel at 10:30 am for a noon shotgun start and return to the hotel after the cocktail reception following the completion of the round.
