April 7, 2006
DT-06-009
MEMORANDUM
TO: Designated Agency Ethics Officials
FROM: Carolyn W. Chapman
Associate Director for Education
SUBJECT: Dallas Regional Ethics Symposium
The U.S. Office of
Government Ethics will conduct an ethics symposium in Dallas, TX, May 9-11, 2006. This symposium is being offered to ethics officials in and around the Dallas area. The symposium consists of plenary courses. Please disseminate the attached
symposium announcement and agenda to your ethics officials as soon as
possible.
Attachments
 |
U. S. Office of Government Ethics
FY 06 Ethics Training |
Dallas Regional Ethics Symposium
May 9 - 11, 2006 |
Symposium
Overview
The
U.S. Office of Government Ethics is pleased to invite you to attend a three-day
ethics symposium in Dallas, TX on May 9-11, 2006. The symposium is intended for ethics officials in and around the Dallas area and consists of plenary
sessions that will provide you with an understanding of the ethics rules and
regulations.
Course
Descriptions
Analyzing Gift Issues
This course helps ethics
officials determine whether employees may accept or give gifts to each other or
accept gifts from outside sources. Participants also identify instances where
gift exceptions may be applicable. Course format includes lecture, practical
exercises, brainstorming, discussion, independent reading, and case studies.
Financial
Interests: Is There a Conflict? Parts I and II
This
Part 1 session explains how to identify disqualifying financial interests as
identified in 18 U.S.C. § 208. The course uses examples to illustrate concepts
and real-world exercises to increase skills. The second part explains how to
handle disqualifying financial interests by suggesting remedies to resolve
conflicts, referring cases to the Inspector General and/or the Department of
Justice, and notifying OGE of referrals.
Fundraising
Fundraising in the Federal
workplace raises a number of issues. This session will examine the interplay
of regulations promulgated by the Office of Personnel Management involving the
Combined Federal Campaign, regulations by the General Services Administration
regarding soliciting in Federal buildings, and regulations by the Office of
Government Ethics on fundraising issues. A question and answer session to
discuss actual situations will assist ethics practitioners in understanding the
complex issues.
Hatch
Act
While
most Federal employees may engage in political activity while they are
off-duty, the Hatch Act continues to prohibit employees from running for public
office in partisan elections, from raising money for partisan candidates, and
from engaging in political activity while on duty. This session provides
information on how employees may be politically active without violating the
Hatch Act.
Impartiality-In
Whose Eyes?
It isn't
enough that employees avoid conflicts of interest under 18 U.S.C. § 208. They also must avoid even the appearance of
a conflict of interest. This session examines the various factors that ethics
officials should consider when determining whether a reasonable person would
question an employee's impartiality. Participants learn why it is important
that they determine whether the employee's participation in a particular matter
is defensible. They also examine the circumstances under which they can authorize
an employee's participation despite an appearance problem.
Post
Employment
This
session provides an overview of the post-employment statute, 18 U.S.C. § 207,
as well as a step-by-step methodology for analyzing post-employment situations.
Session format includes lectures and practical exercises.
Prohibited Personnel Practices: A Primer on the Do's and
Don'ts of Supervising Employees
An
introduction to the elements of Prohibited Personnel Practices (PPP) and the
relevant questions that will help identify times when supervisors or Ethics
Counsel should seek additional guidance.
Widely Attended Gatherings
(WAG)
This session
helps participants analyze invitations under the widely attended gatherings
gift exception.
Please see attached
agenda.
Symposium
Location
Adams Mark Hotel
400 North Olive Street
Dallas, TX 75201
TEL: 214-922-8000
The Adams Mark Hotel will accept the local Government per diem rate of $95, if reservations are made before Friday, April 14, 2006. To ensure that you receive this rate, please mention that you are
attending the Dallas Regional Ethics Symposium. There is no guarantee of room
availability or Government rate after Friday, April 14, 2006.
Registration
Information
To register for the Dallas
Regional Ethics Symposium, please visit the Training Workshops and Seminars
section of OGE's website at www.usoge.gov
and complete the online Registration
Form.
The registration deadline is five
(5) days before the symposium or until the event is full, whichever occurs
first. E-mail confirmations are sent to registrants prior to the symposium.
For information regarding the
registration process or about general OGE course information, please contact:
Kaneisha Cunningham
Education Training Specialist
E-mail: ktcunnin@oge.gov
Phone: 202-482-9228
|
Dallas Regional Ethics Symposium
May 9-11, 2006
Adams Mark Hotel
|
Tuesday, May 9, 2006
| 8:00 - 8:15 |
Welcome |
| 8:15 - 11:30 |
Conflicting Financial Interest (Parts I and II) |
| 11:30 - 12:30 |
Lunch |
| 12:30 - 1:45 |
Conflicting Financial Interest (Parts I and II) cont. |
| 1:45 - 2:00 |
Break |
| 2:00 - 3:45 |
Hatch Act |
Wednesday, May 10
| 8:00 - 11:30 |
Post Employment |
| 11:30 - 12:30 |
Lunch |
| 12:30 - 1:45 |
Impartiality |
| 1:45 - 2:00 |
Break |
| 2:00 - 3:30 |
Prohibited Personnel Practices |
Thursday, May 11
| 8:00 - 9:15 |
Fundraising |
| 9:15 - 9:30 |
Break |
| 9:30 - 12:00 |
Gifts |
| 12:00 - 1:00 |
Lunch |
| 1:00 - 2:00 |
WAG |
| 2:00 - 2:15 |
Closing Remarks |