Ethics Guidance

U.S. Office of Government Ethics
1201 New York Avenue, NW.
Suite 500
Washington, DC 20005

202.482.9300

USA.govE.govRegulations.gov
OGE Logo and Address:  U.S. Office of Government Ethics, 1201 New York Ave., NW, Suite 500, Washington, DC  20005-3917

April 21, 1997 DO-97-020

MEMORANDUM

TO: Designated Agency Ethics Officials

FROM: Stephen D. Potts Director

SUBJECT: 1997 Annual Government Ethics Conference, September 15-18, 1997


The 1997 Annual Government Ethics Conference will be held September 15-18, 1997 at the Williamsburg Marriott, in Williamsburg, Virginia. We at the Office of Government Ethics (OGE) are looking forward to returning to the Williamsburg Marriott which hosted our very successful 1995 annual conference and received high praise from the attendees.

NOMINATING CONFERENCE ATTENDEES:

As for past conferences, Designated Agency Ethics Officials (DAEO) are required to nominate conference attendees from their agencies. All registration forms must have an authorized agency DAEO signature to be accepted. Additionally, attendee slots are allocated based on agency size to ensure equitable representation of all executive branch agencies.

Agency Size (Employees) Available Slots 100 (or less) 1 101 - 6,000 2 6,001 - 25,000 7 25,001 - (or more) 10

If you would like to send more attendees than your agency is allotted, you may submit alternate names (listing in priority order), to attend the conference. Please use a separate registration form for each attendee specifying that he/she is an ALTERNATE ATTENDEE. Space permitting, alternates MAY be accepted and contacted sometime AFTER the registration deadline. Alternates should NOT forward payment unless notified to do so.

CONFERENCE FEE:

This year's conference registration fee is $250 per attendee. The conference fee includes: registration, materials, and most meals. (See attached preliminary conference schedule.) NOTE: The conference fee does NOT include lodging.


REGISTRATION PROCEDURES:

Because registrations are accepted on a first-come basis, it is important that DAEOs notify nominee(s) as soon as possible of their selection to attend the conference. Please furnish nominees with the attached registration form with DAEO signature and have them fax/mail the form along with an acceptable method of payment (SF 182, DD 1556, personal check, Government check, or money order) as soon as possible to:

Sheila A. Powers Conference Coordinator U.S. Office of Government Ethics 1201 New York Avenue, NW. - Suite 500 Washington, DC 20005-3917

Phone: 202-208-8000, ext. 1104 Fax: 202-208-8039 (8038)

OGE will confirm all attendees' registration promptly via fax, but not later than two weeks after receipt. Due to the large volume of registrations, we ask attendees NOT to follow up on confirmations.

REGISTRATION DEADLINE:

DEADLINE FOR REGISTRATION FORMS AND PAYMENT TO BE RECEIVED AT OGE IS: FRIDAY, JULY 11, 1997. Please note that even though agencies are given attendance quotas, EARLY registration is highly recommended since the demand for attendance is great and space is limited. Once the registration deadline has passed, unused slots will be distributed to alternate attendees from other agencies.

BILLING PROCEDURES:

OGE's preferred method for collecting the registration fee is the On-line Payment and Collection (OPAC) system. If your agency is serviced through OPAC, it is important to include on SF 182 or DD 1556 forms:

* 8-digit agency location code (ALC) and billing address in blocks 24 and 25 (SF 182 only);

* attendee's Finance Office's fax number;

* attendee must note on payment form that approval has been granted for "ADVANCE PAYMENT."

Failure to provide this billing information will delay the registration process and the attendees' form will be returned as INCOMPLETE.



Your budget officer should be able to furnish your agency's ALC number. If your agency is not serviced through OPAC, please provide the name and phone number of the budget officer (or a contact person) who can resolve any billing questions.

OGE will NOT send invoices to collect conference fee payments. It is the responsibility of each conference attendee to ensure that payment is received BEFORE the conference deadline.


LODGING:

Please make your hotel reservations directly with the Williamsburg Marriott at 757-220-2500. When the Marriott becomes full, it will refer overflow lodging requests to the Courtyard Marriott. When the Courtyard Marriott becomes full, it will refer lodging requests next door to the Quality Inn. The Marriott is providing a shuttle van service to/from the Courtyard; Quality Inn guests may also use this service by meeting the shuttle at the Courtyard. The recommended conference hotels are:

Conference/Host Property: Williamsburg Marriott 50 Kingsmill Road Williamsburg, VA 23185 757-220-2500


First Overflow Property: Courtyard Marriott 470 McLaws Circle Williamsburg, VA 23185 757-221-0700


Second Overflow Property: Quality Inn 480 McLaws Circle Williamsburg, VA 23185 757-220-1100

All lodging registrations will be accepted on a first-come basis and MUST be reserved before Thursday, August 14, 1997. After August 14, rooms will be released and there will be NO lodging guarantee. All hotels will provide attendees with a reservation confirmation number. Please be sure to identify your affiliation with the Government Ethics Conference to ensure receiving the Government rate.

TRAVEL/TRANSPORTATION ALLOWANCES:

The current Government per diem rates and travel information will apply for the Williamsburg area:


Maximum lodging amount: $ 91. Meals and incidental expenses: $ 34. Maximum not to exceed: $125. Driving distance from Washington 165 miles to Williamsburg (approximate)

Mileage rate: $.31/per mile

Parking rate: FREE (all hotels listed above)

CANCELLATIONS/REFUNDS/SUBSTITUTIONS:

OGE does NOT have the ability to return conference fees once they have been submitted. Therefore, under NO circumstances can OGE provide refunds for cancellations or conference "no shows." However, in the event of an emergency situation the conference attendee, after being confirmed and submitting payment, may send a substitute attendee by completing a separate registration form and noting that he/she is a substitute attendee. Please notify Sheila Powers at 202-208-8000 ext. 1104, of this change and fax the new form to Ms. Powers at 202-208-8039 (8038), as soon as possible.

SUMMARY OF 1997 CONFERENCE DEADLINES:

July 11 Conference registration forms and payment due to OGE

August 14 Cutoff for hotel lodging reservations with: (1) Marriott, (2) Courtyard Marriott, and (3) Quality Inn

September 15-18 Annual Government Ethics Conference in session at the Williamsburg Marriott


We look forward to seeing you and/or your nominee(s) in September in Williamsburg. If you need further information or clarification, please contact Sheila Powers, OGE's Conference Coordinator, at 202-208-8000, ext. 1104.


Attachments: Conference Registration Form Preliminary Conference Schedule Marriott Hotel Information