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Location, Location, Location (For Federal Meetings and Conferences)

Federal Conferences

Fiscally Responsible Fed
Somewhere
Mon Jul 27, 2009 6:45 AM

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The primary purpose should be the topic.

I am not so concerned about location, but one commenter is correct that frequently people will go off for the afternoon and take in sights, gamble, or whatever, and not do what they are there to do.

My particular area, federal labor and employee relations, has virtually NO continuing education available on open-enrollment type courses, particularly in "advanced" topics for those in the field, as I, for over 30 years. Sure, newbies can get everything they need for starters, but highly specialized topics are covered only at conferences.

For example, where are you going to learn about government pay-for-performance cutting edge issues except at a conference. Same for FLRA, MSPB, and federal EEOC case law.

There frequently are several hundred attendees and multiple topic tracks, making VTC and/or Tandberg not a viable option.

Bottom line: conferences serve a purpose because they offer continuing education not available elsewhere.

Conference locations

HR Spec
DOT
Mon Jul 27, 2009 7:36 AM

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Travel time to/from conference sites, as well as local climates (Florida in September?!) would have an effect on my interest in attending, much more so than local attractions. Las Vegas is not an appealing location for me at all, but if I can get someting out of the conference that will make me better at my job, I suck it up and go.

Conferences.

worker
Fed
Mon Jul 27, 2009 8:32 AM

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I am not affected directly because I do not attend these conferences.
I think that cost and attractiveness should be considered. I think that desirable areas that cost a fortune should not be done because of cost. I think that undesirable areas that cost little should not be done because it affects employee morale.
Both cost and desirability should be considered in selecting a site.

location location

Civil Engineer
VHA
Mon Jul 27, 2009 8:39 AM

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Yes....any and all training and conferences should only be held in unpopular, miserable locations that no one wants to visit, after all, our 9-year old federal employeses certainly don't know how to take any responsibility for themselves.

How about a survey to seek the most miserable spot in the country - then we can force all training to be held there. Morons....

Re: location location

HR (labor)
USAF
Mon Jul 27, 2009 12:24 PM
DOD Personnel has already found that place. It is Southbridge, MA in a refurbished textile mill...

Re: location location

Fiscally Responsible Fed
Somewhere
Mon Jul 27, 2009 2:32 PM
I have fond memories of:

Wilkes-Barre, PA

Salisbury, MD

Worcester, MA

Rochester, NY

Kalamazoo, MI

Amarillo, TX

St. Joseph, MO

Ft. Worth, TX

Where the most excitement was on the TV set (three network channels before cable TV).


:-)

Re: location location

IT Spec
VA
Tue Jul 28, 2009 10:24 AM
How about Ohio at the end of December, Michigan in January, or New Jersey in February? Rain, blizzard, slick, icy road condition, and dreadful cold come to mind? Someone is out to punish a federal employee.

Re: location location

Aerospace Engineer
DoD
Tue Jul 28, 2009 8:41 PM
I used to attend an annual weapon system review at Warner Robins, GA. They always held it in the last week of July. They went the extra mile to make sure that wasn't a boondoggle.

Location

Administration
US Govt
Mon Jul 27, 2009 8:49 AM

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Our agency HIGHLY encourages on-line and local training and actually does not cover the cost of elected trainings but only required. As for the location. When there is a "mandatory" training and the information or hands on class work cannot be done via satelite there is months of research and work put into the location of the training. Since we have offices all of the United States air fare, hotel, conference rooms and food costs are all calculated in. Generally speaking there is also one of our offices near by so a tour can be included. Yes Vegas would probably be nice to go to but I have no desire to go there, however for cost conservation it was the better choice for our agency. That has changed now and I believe we are spending more than we would have because we are not getting the DEAL we would have had in Vegas. I work for a frugal agency who has a very tight hold on spending and as a tax payer I am glad of it but because of complaints we have been detoured this year.

Per Diem

Labor Employee Relations Manager
VA
Mon Jul 27, 2009 8:58 AM

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I am confused. Is that not the reason the Per Diem rate is set to allow such meetings? If I am at the meeting from 8-5, who cares what I do after that on my own time and my own money?

I would agree what is good for the Goose is good for the Gander. If rules are publish, then Congress needs to follow the same rules!

But alass, I am just a low level federal employee, why should Congress listen to me.............

Re: Per Diem

IT Spec
VA
Mon Jul 27, 2009 10:27 AM
But the media does paint a different picture. There were report that Social Security held a meeting in Phoenix and some attendee brought their family to the meeting with trips to the local casino, but failed to explain the per diem rule. The public was outraged to the fact that family and casino trip was included in the meeting which is not true for those of us travel under government fund. The per diem allow how much the traveller can claim but the public does not know that. The same report painted the Phoenix trip as fun and relaxing for those who attend. Now, at the VA, I was told that there is an unofficial rule not to plan conference in city such as Las Vegas to avoid publicity, the last conference I attended was at Washington DC where the host hotel charged a rate up to $200 a night. Luckily there was not enough room, we were staying at other hotel at a discounted rate of $150 but shuttle service had to be used.

Federal meetings & conferences

secretary
USACE
Mon Jul 27, 2009 9:33 AM

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Agree with this copied opinion.

'Most are boondoggles. People are spending the tax payers money when they could have meeting via VTC or Tandberg'.

Re: Federal meetings & conferences

Clerk
DOI
Mon Jul 27, 2009 11:22 AM
True story!! Interactive video-/audio-conferencing is markedly UNDERused.
Total Comments: 35
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