U.S. Office of Government Ethics 1201 New York Ave., NW Suite 500 Washington, DC 20005-3917 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 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 http://www.usoge.gov/pages/training_wrkshops/training_wrkshps.html 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