NIGP Buy Weekly - February 6, 2008 (Plain Text Version)
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Greetings Region XII!
Some of you may already be aware that my time on the NIGP Board of Directors is coming to an end.
My term as Immediate Past President ends on June 30 of this year. I have thoroughly enjoyed serving in this capacity these past seven years, and have considered it an honor to represent you. The Forum we hosted in Portland in 2002 is a great memory, and the Tampa Forum where I presided as Institute President (2006) was special as well.
Beginning July 1, 2008, your representative on the NIGP Board will be Dave Davis, CPPO, from the State of Washington. He is the Materials Manager for their Department of Transportation, and has a proven track record of leadership with our NIGP Chapter in Washington. Dave is a long time friend and colleague, and I know he will do a great job for Region XII. I am sure you will afford him the same support you have given me.
What's going on with me?
I am looking forward to doing more teaching and writing, so look for me on the NIGP seminar circuit. Beginning this year, I will also be serving on the Governing Board for the Universal Public Purchasing Certification Council.
All the best to each of you, and I hope to see you around!
Darin
Board Election Slated To Begin February 13, 2008
NIGP did not receive any requests to add additional, eligible members to the ballot via a petition process – therefore, the Institute is ready to move forward with the 2008 Board election. National members will have an opportunity to cast an electronic ballot for regional and at-large elections beginning February 13; and the ballot will be available for fifteen days – through February 27at 5PM EST.
In order to be eligible to vote, persons must be employees of an agency national member who have been designated by the Agency Representative to receive NIGP member benefits as of January 30, 2008. Voting rights are also extended to Individual Members who are either presently employed by a public agency or are classified as a retired member as of January 30, 2008. Additionally, the current President of a NIGP Chapter shall also be considered a voter. While all eligible voters can cast a ballot for the At-Large election, only those voters who reside within a specific region can cast a ballot in a contested election in that region.
All eligible voters will receive a first-class postcard informing them of their right to vote in the upcoming Board election. All eligible voters will also receive an email on the first day of the election that links them to the electronic ballot. Voters can also read an online brief narrative of each candidate prior to casting their ballot.
The election results will be officially announced via the NIGP Buy Weekly on March 5th.
Ballots will only be available for contested elections where the voter has a choice of two candidates. The contested races are:
• Region 9 representing the State of Texas
DeWight M. Dopslauf, CPPB, C.P.M., A.P.P.
Contracts Administrator, Harris County
Houston, TX
Ernest T. Lee, CPPO, CPPB, CTPM
Procurement Manager, Texas Health & Human Services Commission
Austin, TX
• Region 10 representing the States of Colorado, Kansas, Missouri,
and Oklahoma
Keith I. Ashby, CPPO
Purchasing Manager, Arapahoe County
Littleton, CO
Judith E. Meisel, CPPO, CPPB
Purchasing Manager, City of Olathe, Kansas
Olathe, KS
• Region 11 representing the States of Arizona, California, Nevada,
New Mexico, and Utah
John P. Coggins, CPPO, C.P.M.
Purchasing & Materials Manager, Orange County Fire Authority
Irvine, CA
Marcheta E. Gillespie, CPPB, C.P.M., CPM
Deputy Director of Procurement, City of Tucson
Tucson, AZ
• At-Large Seat 14 representing all national members
Keith K. Glatz, CPPO
Purchasing and Contracts Manager, City of Tamarac
Tamarac, FL
Christopher P. Klein, CPPB
Purchasing Administrator, City of Glendale
Glendale, CA
Questions related to the election process should be addressed to Rick Grimm, CPPO, CPPB, NIGP’s Chief Executive, at rgrimm@nigp.org.
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Ladies And Gentlemen, Start Your Engines!
Saturday, July 26 - Wednesday, July 30
Get in the race and find your way to the Winner’s Circle at NIGP's 63rd Annual Forum and Products Exposition. Early bird registration is available, so register now to receive your $50 discount off standard fees. Housing registration is also open.
The NIGP Staff and the host Chapter, Carolinas Association of Governmental Purchasing, have teamed up to plan this memorable event. Here are just a few of the highlights:
• Forum kicks off with a networking reception on Saturday, July 26. Come to the “starting lap” and meet old friends or make new ones. NEW THIS YEAR - the most prestigious NIGP award will be presented during the reception. Be sure to attend and take time to congratulate the winner of the Albert H. Hall Award.
• Plenary sessions will be held each day and begin on Sunday, July 27 with Steve Gilliland, back by popular demand, who will present the keynote address Maximizing Your Potential. Other professional speakers on the schedule include: Lenora Billings-Harris featuring Inclusion and Diversity – The Oz Perspective; Mike Lipkin with Live Above the Line; and our closing general session speaker, Ross Shafer with his hilarious session, Nobody Moved Your Cheese. Don’t miss these inspiring and entertaining speakers! Additional speakers will be announced soon.
• Pre-Forum Seminars start Thursday, July 24th. NIGP is rolling out new preparation classes for both the UPPCC CPPO and CPPB certifications! Both reviews are two-day seminars and will address the new exam material. Folks interested in taking these classes will be preparing for the new computer based tests, the first of which will be offered in October. Additionally, a two-day advanced NIGP seminar, Contracting for Public Sector Services, will be offered on Friday and Saturday. For more information and registration forms visit pre-forum seminars.
• NIGP National committees meet on Friday, July 25 at the Charlotte Convention Center allowing more opportunities for committee members to participate in Saturday’s events including the Chapter Leadership Symposium and the Louis E. Spangler Foundation Golf Tournament. More information on the golf tournament will follow!
• Attention race fans! Don’t miss the host committee social event on Sunday, July 27 at Lowe’s Motor Speedway. You’ll be met with a fine meal and southern hospitality as well as the excitement of a race. Want to take a ride on the track and travel at speeds of 180 MPH? More information to follow on how to become part of the race! Many other activities will be available, including remote control car races, go-karts and even a DJ for those who prefer to dance rather than race.
Workshop and Network session topics will be announced in March. Visit the Forum Website frequently to keep abreast of updates on the schedule, topics, speakers, and other activities.
Early registration is open through April 30. Payment in full must be received by the deadline in order for the discount to apply. Standard registration runs from May 1 through July 13, 2008. A $50 late fee will apply for registrations received after July 13 and for onsite registration. If this is your first time attending Forum, you can take an additional $50 off!
Register online and receive immediate confirmation! Use your Visa, MasterCard or American Express to register and guarantee receipt of the early registration rate. We also accept purchase orders online as long as a copy of the P.O. is faxed to us. A print and fax form is also available. ALL NEW THIS YEAR - reserve your hotel room directly with your preferred hotel simply visit registration and housing.
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NIGP's Belinda Reutter Earns CAE Designation
NIGP's Director, Member Services, Belinda Reutter, CMP, has earned the Certified Association Executive (CAE) credential from the American Society of Association Executives. The CAE is the highest professional credential in the association industry.
To be designated as a Certified Association Executive, an applicant must have a minimum of three years experience in nonprofit organization management, complete a minimum of 75 hours of specialized professional development, pass a stringent examination in association management, and pledge to uphold a code of ethics. To maintain the certification, individuals must undertake ongoing professional development and activities in association and nonprofit management. Approximately 3,600 association professionals currently hold the CAE credential which represents less than five percent of all association professionals.
Belinda began her career with NIGP in 2000 as a Seminar Coordinator in the Education Department. In 2004, she was promoted to the Director, Member Services which is the position she currently holds today. The Member Services department is responsible for member retention, recruitment and the development of member programs.
We hope you will join us in congratulating Belinda.
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Attend NIGP's Annual Knowledge Community Symposium & Get Hit With Tremendous Ideas
You are cordially invited to join NIGP in Charlotte, North Carolina for this year’s TIPPS Symposium, our annual conference which focuses exclusively on matters of importance to public procurement professionals concerned about Procurement technology and purchasing for public schools.
Please take a moment to review the agenda for this three-day symposium which features a series of insightful workshops, panel discussions, joint sessions and case studies.
Registration deadlines are fast approaching:
Hotel deadline is Friday, February 15
Registration deadline is Friday, February 22
Register today and get ready to be hit with tremendous ideas.
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Webinar: Learning How To Handle Protests & Disputes
Introduction To Protests and Disputes
Thursday, February 14
1PM - 2:30PM (Eastern)
Registration Deadline: Wednesday, February 6
Objective:
To understand why protests happen and how to employ solutions.
• Identify a protest
• Learn how to reduce protests
• Tips on resolving protests
Presented By:
Robin Rickard, CPPO
Oregon Secretary of State
Register Today
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Alternative Dispute Resolution: Save Money & Relationships
ADR is all the things litigation is not.
It’s faster, less expensive, creates unity rather than conflict, and provides win-win outcomes.
The use of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) at all levels of government is growing as the time, costs and risks of litigation increase. ADR provides creative and flexible ways of resolving disputes while improving communications and preserving relationships with the involved parties.
NIGP's Alternative Dispute Resolution course provides procurement professionals the basic understanding required to evaluate ADR processes and start your own agency program. Learn how to effectively infuse a dispute resolution methodology into your solicitation and contract, and how to implement the appropriate alternate dispute process to quickly resolve contract-related disagreements.
Course highlights include:
• ADR pros and cons
• When to use ADR
• Major ADR approaches and when each is appropriate
• How to start an ADR program
The next Alternate Dispute Resolution class is March 19 - 20 and will be presented by Kenneth D. Hayslette, CPPO, C.P.M., CPCM in Richmond, Virginia. This class is hosted by the Virginia Association of Governmental Purchasing, Inc. Chapter of NIGP. To register, email ggordon@ci.manassas.va.us.
For a detailed course description, visit Alternate Dispute Resolution.
Experience this two-day course and learn how to save money and relationships! Chapters or agencies that would like to host this course should complete the Seminar Request Form.
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Webinar - FREE: Chapter Awards Process
FREE Chapter Awards Webinar
Tuesday, February 19th
1PM - 2PM (ET)
Registration Deadline: February 13
Objective:
To inform Chapters about the new submission process and criteria for NIGP's annual Chapter Awards program.
• Learn about the new online submission requirements
• Understand how and why supporting documentation needs to be
submitted electronically
• Importance of online entry forms
• Clarification between individual contributions vs. Chapter contributions
• Explanation of the new chapter category size requirements
NIGP’s annual Chapter Awards Program is an excellent opportunity for NIGP chapter affiliates to achieve well-deserved recognition and outstanding individuals to be honored for their dedication to excellence in public procurement.
The program is divided into two categories, individual contributions and Chapter contributions and includes the following award categories:
NIGP Buyer of the Year
NIGP Manager of the Year
NIGP Chapter of the Year
• Large Chapter Category (201 + members)
• Mid-Size Chapter Category (81-200 members)
• Small Chapter Category (less than 80 members)
If you have any questions or would like to attend this FREE Webinar, please email chapters@nigp.org and include your name, chapter name, and contact information. Our Chapter Relations staff is also available at 800-367-6447 x234.
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NIGP is currently accepting 2008 Chapter Award Nominations that meet this new criteria. Award winners will be announced at NIGP's Annual Forum Business and Awards luncheon to be held in Charlotte, North Carolina.
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Education: NIGP Texts On Campus In The U.S. And Abroad
Taking Public Procurement To A Higher Level
"NIGP is committed to providing high caliber course materials intended to educate and grow the profession as well as our members nationally and internationally."
NIGP Education Director, Carol D. Hodes, CAE
As a result of this dedication and the accomplished teams of practitioners and academics who authored the course materials, NIGP textbooks have now become an integral part of public procurement curriculum at Florida Atlantic University. Today, FAU offers two courses that require NIGP textbooks: a graduate level course on public procurement concepts uses Fundamentals of Leadership and Management in Public Procurement and an introductory course requires the NIGP Public Procurement Dictionary of Terms as well as Introduction to Public Procurement.
In Italy, the International Training Centre of the ILO in partnership with the University of Turn offer a Master's in Public Procurement Management for Sustainable Development and use NIGP's Introduction to Public Procurement as required reading. This program uses hands-on expertise as well as the latest literature and cutting -edge research, national and international organizations and think tanks.
Ms. Hodes points out, "This is an exciting time for public procurement and NIGP is on the cusp of making a difference and calling attention to the excellence public procurement professionals demonstrate every day."
In keeping with the concept of lifelong learning, NIGP now offers the Executive Certificate in Public Procurement to certified professionals who wish to realize their learning potential and value through advanced theoretical and practical procurement knowledge.
The Executive Certificate program was developed jointly by accomplished faculty from NIGP and FAU. Candidates successfully completing the program are awarded the Executive Certificate in one of the five specialty areas. For additional information, visit www.nigp.org/ECPP.
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FAU Offers On-line Courses For NIGP Members
Through a partnership agreement with NIGP, FAU (Florida Atlantic University) offers five on-line graduate and undergraduate courses in public procurement for NIGP members. International students are welcome to participate in these classes as well.
FAU is a comprehensive, accredited, research university. All courses taken by students will be reflected on FAU transcripts and are transferable to academic degree programs for those who wish to pursue their education further. Each course is uniquely designed to meet the demands of current professionals in terms of declarative knowledge, critical thinking and advanced practical skill building. The accomplished faculty for the courseware includes NIGP members Darin Matthews, CPPO, C.P.M., Kirk Buffington, CPPO, C.P.M., MBA, and Jack Pitzer, Ph.D., CPPO.
Undergraduate Courses:
• Introduction to Public Sector Procurement
• Administrative Process and Ethics of Public Sector Procurement
• Public Sector Project Management Techniques
• Public Sector Contract Planning and Analysis
• Public Sector Contract Management
The deadline to register for the Administrative Process and Ethics of Public Procurement is Friday, March 7. This course surveys the ethics and law pertaining to public sector procurement, including analysis of the unique features of government contracting.
Graduate Courses:
• Public Procurement Concepts and Practices
• Public Sector Procurement Law and Ethics
• Public Procurement and Project Management
• Public Sector Contract Formulation
• Public Sector Contract Adminstration
Tuition (2007 - 2008)
Undergraduate: $ 875 per course*
Graduate: $1,150 per course*
*The only additional expense a student may incur is the price for books. All other costs associated with each course are covered in the tuition fee, including access to the FAU distance learning portal, on-line course material and project assignments.
For additional information, visit www.fau.edu/pprc or contact Dr. Clifford P. McCue at (954) 235-1352 or email cmccue@fau.edu.
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