Special Edition: FORUM 2009

This special edition of BuyWeekly is dedicated to NIGP's 64th Annual Forum and Products Exposition.  The Gateway to Excellence is open in St. Louis, Missouri, August 22 - 26.

In this issue, we highlight pre-Forum educational opportunities, our featured speakers and social events, special Forum activities, and a greatly expanded array of workshops and networking sessions.

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A special note of thanks and recognition to Forum exhibitor Centennial Contractors Enterprises for their participation in this year's Forum and their sponsorship of this special edition BuyWeekly.

For over 20 years Centennial has been a successful national industry leader in construction services, supporting governmental and educational facilities and infrastructure with construction projects focused on renovation, rehabilitation and repair work.  Through Centennial's dedication for quality results at a fair cost, Centennial has successfully completed over $2 billion worth of construction through Job Order Contracting.  www.jocexcellence.org.

Visit Centennial Contractors at Booth #929 in the Products Expo Hall or contact Vince Duobinis for immediate JOC information.  

Forum Highlights

Through The Gateway to Excellence... 
 
 
Welcome Dinner - Saturday, August 22
The gateway opens with a cocktail reception, dinner and entertainment by master guitarist and humorist Mike Rayburn.  We will also present NIGP's highest honor, the Albert H. Hall Award.

4 Remarkable and Inspiring Plenary Speakers
•  Meagan Johnson - Zap The Gap 
   Sunday, August 23
•  John Schuster - Leading Green: Saving The Planet
   With Everyday Action
   Monday, August 24
•  Patrick Kuhse - Eight Slippery Steps To Unethical Behavior
   Tuesday, August 25
•  FDNY Chief Richard Picciotto - Last Man Down
   Wednesday, August 26

50 Workshops - 5 Procurement Themes
Green, personal development, procurement practices, research and technology.                                                                                

200 Exhibitors
From across the country, across industries and across two half-days of products exposition.

40 Peer2Peer Networking
•  Traditional agency and community based sessions
•  Gateway sessions - ask questions of subject matter experts
•  Open source - spontaneous topics and problem solving

Premier Events
•  A Night at the St. Louis City Museum - constructed from the very stuff of the city
•  Annual NIGP Awards Luncheon - recognize and honor excellence i
   in public procurement
•  Presidential Banquet - a regal evening to compare highlights from Forum
   with friends, new and old

Infinite Memories


Early Bird Registration ends this Friday.  Register Today. 



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Awards: Let's Recognize The Best

Each of you know a leader who has made major contributions to the public procurement profession and became your personal mentor as you learned the public procurement ropes! 

This is your opportunity to have this special person recognized by the Institute for one of the following premier NIGP awards:

•  The Albert H. Hall Memorial Award
•  The Anne Deatherage Meritorious Service Award
•  The Distinguished Service Award (DSA)

Simply complete the 2009 Submission Form and fax it to NIGP’s Offices by Friday, June 5th.   Feel free to nominate several leaders for each award – one form per nominee.

The 2009 awards will be presented during the Institute's 64th Annual NIGP Forum and Products Exposition.  The Albert H. Hall Memorial Award will be presented during the Opening Dinner on Saturday evening, August 22nd.


About the Awards
The NIGP Board of Directors established the Albert H. Hall Memorial Award in 1977 as the highest form of recognition offered by the Institute. The purpose of this award is to recognize a former or present member who has made outstanding contributions to NIGP over an extended period of time. The Institute named the award in honor of NIGP's founder, Albert H. Hall, who served as the organization's first Executive Vice President from 1944 to 1975.  The designation of NIGP Fellow, FNIGP, is bestowed on all Albert H. Hall recipients.

The Anne Deatherage Meritorious Service Award was established in 2005 to recognize current public purchasing officials, retired or former public purchasing officials, NIGP staff members, or other individuals in the private sector who have dedicated their career to advancing the public purchasing profession through volunteer service. This award is named in honor of NIGP's Deputy Chief Executive Officer, Anne Deatherage, who served the Institute in a variety of leadership capacities from 1972 to 2005.

The Distinguished Service Award (DSA) was established in 1950 as the second highest form of recognition offered by the Institute. The purpose of this award is to recognize individuals who have provided extraordinary service to their government entity, the community, the Institute or the purchasing profession.

Questions regarding these awards should be directed to Rick Grimm, CPPO, CPPB, NIGP’s Chief Executive, at 800-367-6447 x235 or at rgrimm@nigp.org.

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Pre-Forum Seminars You Don't Want To Miss

This year's Pre-Forum Seminars maximize your educational opportunities at the NIGP Forum.


CPPO Prep
Thursday, August 20 - Friday, August 21
Instructor:  Mary "Jane" Lopez, CPPO


CPPB Prep
Thursday, August 20 - Friday, August 21
Instructor:  William E. Hertwig, Jr., CPPO, CPPB, C.P.M., A.P.P.


Contracting for Construction Services - NEW
Friday, August 21 - Saturday, August 22
Instructor:  Edward Pabor, CPPO, C.P.M.


Fundamentals of Leadership & Management
Friday, August 21 - Saturday, August 22
Instructor:  Lynda Allair, CPPO


Chapter Leadership Symposium
Saturday, August 22
Presenters:  Belinda Reutter, CMP, CAE, Director of Membership, NIGP
                  Jennifer Steffan, Chapter Relations Manager, NIGP


Register today for Pre-Forum Seminars.  Contact Michael Romero, NIGP Events Coordinator at mromero@nigp.org or call 800-367-6447 x248.





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2009 Executive Leadership Series

...Back by popular demand

Join the 2009 Executive Leadership Series (ELS) – a conference within a conference.  The ELS features sessions devoted to help you move beyond the operation of procurement to the change required to innovate and advance procurement.  Dedicate nine hours of your Forum experience to expand your awareness of the issues and practices that will make you a leader in your organization and your profession. 

The ELS sessions are led by John Schuster, CMC, a mentor and coach, whose expertise is leadership.  John is owner of The Schuster Kane Alliance, known for connecting soft people skills with hard business results. He has a passion: helping professionals build the leadership and social capital in their organizations necessary to successfully execute strategies on behalf of customers and shareholders.  He has led engagements in every sector of the economy and on four continents. His interests are executive teams that work, corporate cultures that execute strategy, and leaders that inspire and bring out the best in others.

ELS topics include Change, Surviving Change, Setting Goals, Personal Leadership Styles and Teams.  Seating is limited. 

View the ELS schedule, session topics and apply for attendance today.






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FDNY Chief Picciotto Shares 9-11 Experience At Closing Session

Forum Closing Session Speaker 
Wednesday, August 26
3:15 p.m. to 4:45 p.m. 

                                   
                                 FDNY Chief Richard Picciotto

Chief Picciotto is the highest-ranking firefighter to survive the World Trade Center collapse on September 11, 2001, and the last fireman to escape the devastation.

Richard Picciotto answered the call heard around the world on that fateful day.  In minutes, he was at Ground Zero of the worst terrorist attack on American soil.  Already a veteran of terrorist attacks, Picciotto fought a similar battle after the World Trade Center bombing in 1993.  He found himself once again inside the North Tower and  focused on the rescue efforts at hand, only to hear that the South Tower had collapsed as he and his firemen stood in the smoky stairwells of the adjacent tower.  After making the call for firemen and rescue workers to evacuate, he and a small team of men stayed behind to assist a group of disabled and infirm civilians.  It was there in the rubble of the North Tower that he found himself buried for more than four hours after the building collapse.

Hear the rest of Chief Picciotto’s story at 3:45 p.m. on Wednesday, August 26 during the final session of the Forum in St. Louis.  Register online today for Forum 2009 or call 800-367-6447 x227.



SPECIAL FORUM UPDATES

• Workshop Topics Visit the NIGP website frequently for updates on workshop topics and for the final announcement of networking sessions.  Workshop registration is easy using our online registration.  Simply log in on the homepage of the NIGP Website, click the link at the top of the page to view your Forum Profile and scroll down modify or add your sessions. You can go back and edit your selections at any time during the registration process.
  
• Early bird registration ends Friday, May 15, so act now for the best rates!
  
  
  
  

Need Help Explaining Why Travel Dollars Need To Be Spent on Forum?

95% of attendees surveyed felt the registration costs reflected the value they obtained by attending Forum.  These attendees said that the cost of Forum is recouped by more effective spending of taxpayer dollars, strengthened services, and operating efficiences.


...You and Your Agency Need To Be At Forum

When faced with less people and fewer resources, you certainly can't afford less procurement knowledge.  The public expects the same services from its government in good times and bad.  As a procurement professional, you need to know how to meet those expectations.  Especially now, making sound, practical decisions for the good of the agency and the public you serve is critical.  Doing so requires that you are familiar with the most effective practices and tips at work in the field.

To help you convince the powers that be to budget for Forum, NIGP has created this Forum Value position paper.  If you would like us to email or mail this paper to the person who controls the purse strings in your organization, please email executive@nigp.org We will need the name, title and appropriate address information. 

You and your agency can—and should—be at the forefront of procurement, making a difference through decisive, effective purchasing programs.  Five days of intensive professional training, networking activities, product exhibits and knowledge sharing will elevate your professional opportunities as you elevate your community and the public you serve.

Forum:  You and Your Agency Need It.


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FREE Things To See and Do In St. Louis

Want to take advantage of the sights and sounds of the City?  Go for it!  These are just some of the FREE things to do and see while in St. Louis.

NIGP invites you to the city made famous by a heroic aviator and a plane that took its name, an iconic arch and – dare we say – the “King of Beers” and home of the Blues.  With a history over 300 years old, St. Louis is rich in cultural heritage, community spirit and family-friendly attractions.


St. Louis Zoo in Forest Park

The St. Louis Zoo is rated #1 according to Zagat and features more than 5,000 exotic animals, many of them rare and endangered.   The city of St. Louis set aside 77 acres in Forest Park for a zoo and named a Zoological Board in 1913.  State legislation provided that "the zoo shall be forever free," which has kept the zoo accessible to millions of visitors ever since.

Open every day from 9a.m. to 5p.m.  Some attractions require a fee.



Walk of Fame
The St. Louis Walk of Fame is a non-profit organization founded in 1988 to honor well-known people from St. Louis who made contributions to cultural heritage.  The Walk of Fame consists of sets of brass stars and bronze plaques honoring those individuals. 

Among those honored on the St. Louis Walk of Fame are:

•  Acting:  Phyllis Diller, Buddy Ebsen, Redd Foxx, John Goodman, Betty Grable, Kevin Kline, Virginia Mayo, Agnes Moorehead, Vincent Price and Shelley Winters

•  Music:  Chuck Berry, Miles Davis, Johnnie Johnson, Leonard Slatkin, Willie Mae Ford Smith, Clark   Terry, Grace Bumbry and Tina Turner

•  Sports:  James "Cool Papa" Bell, Lou Brock, Dizzy Dean, Bob Gibson, Stan Musial and Red Schoendienst


Anheuser Busch Brewery
Take a complimentary tour of the world's largest brewery.  Your tour will guide you through a blend of rich brewing heritage, state-of-the-art technology and extraordinary architecture.  Visit the historic Budweiser Clydesdale Stable, Beechwood Lager Cellars, historic Brew House and Bevo Packaging Facility.


The Old Courthouse
St. Louis' Old Courthouse is listed in the National Park Service's National
Underground Railroad Network to Freedom.  The Network to Freedom recognizes sites, programs and facilities with verifiable associations to the Underground Railroad.  The Old Courthouse is linked with the story of the Underground Railroad, and with that of slavery, as a property associated with legal challenges to slavery.  It was a public forum as well as a courthouse.  Slaves were auctioned from its steps in estate settlements, while one man's suit for freedom helped plunge the country into Civil War.


Visit NIGP's FREE St. Louis  to see what's free in the beautiful city and host of the 64th Annual Forum.

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Take Me Out To The Ball Game...

Attention baseball fans!  Why not enjoy a game during your free time in St. Louis?


NIGP has a limited number of tickets to the Cardinals/Astros game on Tuesday, August 25 at 7:15 p.m.  The stadium is approximately eight blocks from the downtown area. 

Tickets are available on a first-come, first-served basis at a discounted price of $18.  A limited number of tickets are available, so reserve yours today! 

Contact us at forum@nigp.org or 800-367-6447 x242.
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Make a New Friend - Participate in the Purchasing Partners Program

“Give what you have.  To someone, it may be better than you dare to think.”
                                                                                                Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Remember when you attended your first NIGP conference?  Not knowing anyone, not being a part of a group, finding your way alone.  You can help a first-timer feel more comfortable by becoming a “Purchasing Partner”.  Purchasing Partners are delegates who volunteer to help a first-time attendee learn the ropes and meet new people.  This doesn’t require partnering for the entire conference, but an introduction and an arrangement to meet for breakfast or another event can make a big difference to a first-timer.  Several members have formed lasting relationships by participating in previous purchasing partner events.

Take the step to make new friends and enrich another participant’s Forum experience.  Share your knowledge of previous Forums and help first-timers get the most out of their time in St. Louis.  Introductions will be made at the First-Timers event on Saturday, August 22nd.  Bring your new friend to the Welcome Dinner and start your week making new friends and expanding your networking opportunities. 

If you would like to help enrich the experience of a first-time attendee, please contact Belinda Reutter, Director of Member Services, at breutter@nigp.org.




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Join The Team That Makes It Happen

...The Forum Quality Control Team


What is the Quality Control Team (QCT)?
The QCT is an all-volunteer group of flexible, dependable professionals willing to work behind the scenes at all Forum events.

What are the responsibilities of the QCT?
The QCT is divided into two groups: Special Events and Education

Special Events QCT Staff perform the following duties:
•  Assist and direct attendees during meal functions and social events
•  Report to the QCT Special Events Co-Chair for Assignments

Education QCT Staff perform the following duties:
•  Post signage for educational workshops
•  Introduce speakers
•  Distribute and collect workshop evaluations 
•  Hand out speaker gifts 
•  Check A/V Equipment

Workshop assignments are based on QCT workshop preferences, so volunteers are assured that they attend the workshop of their choice.  You must be a registered attendee to particpate on the Quality Contraol Team.

Why should I volunteer?

•  Each QCT volunteer qualifies for one recertification point for the CPPB
   and/ or CPPO designation
•  To be a part of the inner-workings of educational workshops
   and special events
•  To give back to the profession by donating your time and talents
•  To have fun and participate in a rewarding experience

How do I learn more about QCT?

For more information on how to be a QCT volunteer, please contact the NIGP Events Administrator, Patrice Freeman, at 800-367-6447 x276 or pfreeman@nigp.org.

 
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Share Your Vision: 13th Annual NIGP Ethics Essay Contest

This year's NIGP Ethics essay provides an outlet for your creative solutions to situations in our professional life that may not always be as far removed from our reality as we might like.  Read through the following scenario.

We have "shared services" and "green buying" ideas running amok in our agency.  How do we:
1.  Fulfill the lofty goals of our public officials and the demands of an angry public while remaining true to our laws, regulations, and procedures; 2. Look good; 3. Save money even in these bad times?

NIGP invites your response to this personally challenging scenario. Your essay should be less than 1,000 words and examine how this dilemma may develop and how such a situation is best negotiated.


Submitting Your Entry
Entries are limited to five double-spaced pages or less, and must be received on or before Monday, June 29.  Send your entry to Belinda Reutter, Member Services Director, at breutter@nigp.org.  Please include your name, address, phone and fax numbers, email address and  label '2009 Ethics Essay Contest'.  NIGP will publish the winning essay in NIGP publications.  Submission of an entry indicates your permission to publish as outlined above.  Evaluation of submittals is based on originality, format, message, content, focus, clarity, and grammar.

Prizes
The winner will be notified via email and announced at the NIGP Annual Forum and Products Exposition, August 24 in St. Louis, Missouri.  The winning author receives $250, two recertification points toward CPPB and CPPO as well as points toward the National Manager and Buyer of the Year Awards. 


Questions?  Contact Belinda Reutter at breutter@nigp.org or phone 800-367-6447 x231.




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Essay Contest: Special Opportunity for NIGP Code Users

Periscope Holdings, Inc. announces the third annual NIGP Code Essay Contest


Periscope Holdings, Inc. is proud to announce the third annual NIGP Code Essay Contest, giving voice to the many agencies that successfully employ the Code to improve agency effectiveness and demonstrate value back to their communities.

This contest is your opportunity to share your agency’s success, realized through the use of the Code.  The top two submissions will receive a substantial credit* applied to their NIGP Forum registration.

This years essay focus:

How has your agency used the NIGP Code to enable spend analysis and strategic sourcing?

Essays should be a maximum of 1000 words. Submissions must be received no later than Monday, June 15 in an electronic format that includes the author's name, agency name, address, e-mail, and phone number.  Send your entry via e-mail to john@nigp.com.  Should you wish to submit a hard copy essay, mail your submission, along with a CD containing the document file to:  Periscope Holdings, Inc., 211 East Seventh Street, 11th Floor, Austin, Texas, 78701, Attention:  Essay Contest.

A select panel of NIGP Code users and non-users will judge the essays based on originality, message/content, focus, clarity, and grammar. The essay contest winner will be notified by mail and recognized in Periscope and NIGP publications and announced at Forum. Submission indicates your permission to publish as outlined above and use in case studies and promotion of the NIGP Code.

Any questions regarding the essay contest should be directed to John Walters, President of NIGP Code Services, john@nigp.com or call 800-757-6064.


* The winning author will receive a credit of up to $675, which will be applied to their NIGP Annual Forum Registration Fee.


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Call for Submissions: Innovations Award and OA4 Award - NEW CRITERIA

All public purchasing agencies are invited to submit entries for the 2009 NIGP Innovations in Public Procurement Award and apply for the Outstanding Agency Accreditation Achievement Award (OA4).  These programs recognize NIGP member agencies who lead the way in public procurement by enacting policies and practices that have enhanced the efficiency and effectiveness of their agency. 


Innovations Award
NIGP confers this award to a governmental entity that has developed a new, distinct, and forward thinking approach to any aspect of public procurement.  Innovations developed or completed after January 2008 are eligible for submission.  Submissions are due by Friday, May 15 and the winning submission will be selected by June 1.  The winner will have the opportunity to showcase the innovative program during NIGP's Forum to be held August 22-26, 2009 in St. Louis. 

Letter submissions shall be emailed to Tina M. Borger, CPPO at tborger@nigp.org and shall be no longer than 3 pages.  Submissions shall include a summary of the program describing the innovation, how it contributes to the public procurement practice or profession, how it increases procurement’s value to the organization, how it demonstrates procurement collaboration with stakeholders to create innovative solutions, and how it redefines the manner in which public procurement operates.


OA4 Award - New Criteria
Agency accreditation, similar to individual certification, reflects your entity’s achievement of professional competency and earns the immediate respect of all who interact with your procurement department.  NIGP’s OA4 Award recognizes agencies that lead the public procurement profession through the implementation of best practices.  Through a self-evaluation process using the recently updated NIGP Agency Accreditation Criteria Form, agencies meeting the minimum requirements receive accreditation for three years.

We’ve updated the OA4 evaluation criteria to reflect these operational elements:
•  Focus on procurement agency mission, values and mission statements
•  Emergency preparedness and continuity of operations
•  Responsibility for joint operations
•  Formal delegated purchasing programs with mandatory training
•  Procurement authority for architectural, engineering, and construction
   services including involvement in the selection of the project
   delivery method
•  Availability of solicitations online and other web features as well as the
   use of push technology to issue solicitations


Applications are accepted year-round, however, if you would like to receive recognition for receiving this professional agency accreditation at the upcoming Forum, please submit your application by Monday, June 1.  For more information and to download the application and criteria form, visit OA4.

If you have any questions regarding these two awards, please contact Tina M. Borger, CPPO, at tborger@nigp.org or call 800-367-6447 x261.



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