Susan Schechter, Chief of the ACS Office at the U.S. Census Bureau, is speaking first, providing an overview of the ACS, covering its history, content, products, and array of uses. She may also discuss future ACS plans, including the proposed increased sample size and internet response test.

Congressman Hoyer and Congressman Clay are the Congressional hosts from the House. Senator Carper has agreed to be a host and Senator Collins has been invited.

To register, or for more information, please contact Juliane Baron or Mary Jo Hoeksema at rsvp.acs@gmail.com or by phone at (202) 669-4834.

The Society of Government Economists is pleased to announce a call for candidates to the Board of Directors. You may choose to run for a specific leadership position or an at-large Board spot.

We recently created several new Board-level positions. Please read the descriptions in the bylaws at http://www.sge-econ.org/2010/06/updated-bylaws/ and consider whether you would like to perform those duties. We have also decided to change the timing of elections. Elections will now take place in February. This makes the terms better aligned with our annual conference schedule, ending shortly after the AEA conference in early January. Therefore, this year’s elections are for a shortened term as we adjust to the new schedule.

The positions up for election are:

• President (1-year term, expiring this cycle in February)
• Vice-President (1-year term, expiring this cycle in February)
• Treasurer (2-year term) The Treasurer position is not up for election this year. Brian Sloboda will continue as Treasurer during the next year.
• Executive Director (4-year term)
• Executive Secretary (1-year term, expiring this cycle in February)
• Membership Director (2-year term)
• Website Director (2-year term)
• Conference Chair (2-year term)
• Outreach Director and Event Planner (2-year term)

The Board of Directors may have up to 15 representatives, and no fewer than nine. All Directors who do not have named leadership positions will fill at-large slots.

If you are interested in running, please send your name, affiliation and title, and a one-paragraph personal statement about why you are a good candidate to elections@sge-econ.org by FRIDAY, JULY 2. Elections will occur the following week.

Thank you, and I hope to see a strong turnout of candidates. It is important to the Society that we have a diverse Board, representing the many career paths, agencies, and backgrounds that SGE represents. Serving on the Board of Directors is a great way to give back to your colleagues by furthering SGE’s mission: to support the professional development of government economists, and those who are interested in public policy economics, by providing them with research, publication, and professional communication opportunities.

If you have any questions about serving on the Board, please feel free to contact me or any of the other current Board members. Our contact information is available at http://www.sge-econ.org/about/.

Please review the new bylaws below. You may download a copy at: 2010-2011 Bylaws.doc

Bylaws of the Society of Government Economists
Amended on June 9, 2010

ARTICLE I. NAME

The organization shall be known as the Society of Government Economists, hereinafter referred to in these bylaws as the Society or SGE.

ARTICLE II. OBJECTIVES AND POLICIES

Section A. Objectives. The objectives of the Society are to:

1. Promote the profession of economics.
2. Encourage discussion, research and education in the field of economics.
3. Promote a greater understanding of economic principles and their application to government decision-making and policy.
4. Promote the status of government economists.

Section B. Policies.

1. There shall be no discrimination as regards to race, religion, sex, or age in any of the Society’s activities.
2. The Society shall not adopt a resolution nor take a public position in support of a political action or candidate for public office.

ARTICLE III. MEMBERS

Section A. Membership.

1. Regular. Any person who has a professional interest in government economic problems may qualify as a regular member.
2. All questions on membership eligibility shall be decided by a majority vote of Board of Directors.

Section B. Applications.

Applications for membership shall be accompanied by the necessary dues and fees as prescribed in the Standing Rules of the Society.

Section C. Class of Members.

1. Individual. Any member who furthers the objectives of the Society, and fulfills the membership requirements as outlined above in Section A.

2. Institutional. Any organization, profit or non-profit, institution, or association desirous of supporting the Society and its objectives may become a member. Institutional members may designate five (5) persons who would otherwise qualify as individual members under Section A.

3. All individual members shall have voting rights and be eligible to hold office.

ARTICLE IV. FINANCING

Section A. General. The Society shall keep itself in a positive equity position. The Board of Directors shall approve all new investment instruments.

Section B. Dues. The annual dues of the Society shall be set by a majority vote of the Board of Directors and recorded in the Standing Rules of the Society’s bylaws.

ARTICLE V. ELECTED OFFICERS

Section A. Composition. The Directors of the Society shall consist of at least 9 and no more than 15 members. Nine of these Directors will hold the following Officer Positions: President, Vice-President, Executive Director, Treasurer, Executive Secretary, Membership Director, Website Director, Conference Chair, and Outreach Director and Event Planner. These officials, known collectively as the Board of Directors, shall perform the duties as prescribed in Article VI of the bylaws and by parliamentary authority adopted by the Society. All Directors shall be members in good standing of the Society of Government Economists at the time of their nomination and election.

Section B. Election.

1. All ballots shall be collected electronically as determined by the Election Committee.
2. The President, Vice President, Executive Secretary, and any Directors who are not serving in an officer position shall be elected for a one (1) year term, or until their successors are elected.
3. The Treasurer, Membership Director, Website Director, Conference Chair, and Outreach Director and Event Planner shall be elected for one two (2) year term or until a successor is elected.
4. The Executive Director shall be elected for one four (4) year term or until a successor is elected.
5. Officers are expected to hold their positions for the full term of their office. However, those holding terms of more than one year, and who must resign prior to the completion of their full term because of unforeseen circumstances, are encouraged to time their resignation (if feasible) to allow for the election of a successor at the same time other elections will be held.
6. No one officer shall hold the same office for more than three (3) consecutive terms.
7. For each officer position, elections shall be by a plurality of votes cast. Election of the Directors shall be on the basis of those receiving the highest totals among the positions being contested. In case of ties, the undecided contests shall be decided by lot under the supervision of the newly elected Board of Directors at its first meeting.
8. The new Board of Directors shall assume its duties on the second Wednesday in February.

Section C. Vacancy. A vacancy in office may be filled by a majority vote of the Board of Directors, with the exception of a vacancy in the office of President, in which case the Vice President shall automatically become President.

ARTICLE VI. DUTIES OF ELECTED OFFICIALS

1. The President shall:
a. Assist the officers in implementing SGE programs.
b. Appoint a Parliamentarian, a Bulletin Editor, and all standing committees as outlined in Article XI with the approval of the Board of Directors.
c. Appoint special committees, task forces, advisors, etc., with the approval of the Board of Directors, subject to reappointment by the succeeding President.
d. Be ex-officio member of all Society committees, except the Election Committee.
e. Conduct meetings in accordance with established parliamentary procedures.
f. Execute contracts and incur obligations as required to carry out Society programs and objectives as budgeted. Non-budgeted items greater than three hundred dollars ($300.00) shall require the approval of the Board of Directors.
g. Present an annual report of the Society at its annual meeting.
h. Organize the annual meeting as a dinner meeting at the end of his or her term, which in include the inauguration of the next President and Board Members.
i. Perform such other duties as may be required.

2. The Vice President shall:
a. Preside in the absence of, or at the request of, the President.
b. Participate in the general management of the Society.
c. Coordinate luncheon activities.
d. Perform such other duties as may be required

3. The Executive Director shall:
a. As the President’s representative, monitor and direct the work assignments and accomplishments of SGE Board Members, Officers, and Volunteers.
b. Indentify any deficiencies or problems, or areas for improvement, in the tasks assigned to Officers, Board Members, and volunteers, and make recommendations accordingly to the President and to all those involved.

4. The Treasurer shall:

a. Record all receipts and disbursements.
b. Deposit funds in financial accounts established in the name of the Society, in accordance with sound financial principles.
c. Pay expenses, within the budget, in a timely manner and pay such other expenses, not within the budget, which are approved by the Executive Board.
d. Prepare and present monthly, quarterly, and annual financial reports or as requested by the Executive Board.
e. Prepare all necessary tax reports by the Society.
f. Have all the books and records available for inspection by the Board of Directors.
g. Submit books for audit by an accredited accountant or auditor, not a member of the Society, at any time that the board or membership demand an audit.
h. Be an ex-officio member of the Budget and Finance Committees.
i. Performs such other duties as may be required.

5. The Membership Director
a. Maintain an up-to-date list of Society members.
b. Supervise the sending of delinquency notices to members when memberships have expired.

6. The Executive Secretary shall:
a. Call the roll at each meeting to establish that a quorum is present.
b. Keep accurate minutes of all meetings of the Society and of the Executive Board.
c. Supervise the publication of all Society publications, notices and correspondence.
d. Supervise the filing of all documents and essential correspondence, maintenance of a current file of bylaws and standing rules.

7. The Website Director shall:
a. Update the current website
b. Maintain the archives of SGE web materials

8. The Conference Chair shall:
a. Oversee all conference planning and development of promotional conference materials.
b. Advise the President and Board of Directors of progress on a regular basis.
c. Maintain an accurate accounting of finances.
d. Recommend the SGE Conference registration fee, that must be approved by the Board of Directors by a two-thirds vote.
e. Organize a committee to help oversee the development of the SGE Conference and Materials.
f. Have the authority to allocate conference responsibilities as needed to streamline all aspects of planning.

9. The Outreach Director and Event Planner shall:
a. In collaboration with the Treasurer, Executive Director, Vice President, President, manage logistics and details regarding SGE events, such as contracting with caterers and renting rooms in facilities where the SGE conference will be conducted.
b. Preside over luncheon events in the absence of the Vice President.

ARTICLE VII. APPOINTED OFFICERS

Section A. General. The appointed officers of the Society, not to exceed the term of the President (unless approved by the succeeding President), and with the approval of the Board of Directors, shall be a Parliamentarian and a Bulletin Editor.

Section B. Duties of Appointed Officers.

1. The Parliamentarian shall:
a. Advise the President on parliamentary procedures when requested.
b. Attend Executive Board meetings if requested.
c. Attend the annual meeting of the Society.
d. Be ex-officio member of the Bylaws and Standing Rules committees.
e. Perform such other duties as may be required.

2. The Bulletin Editor shall preside over the Editorial Board and shall:
a. Compile and edit a Society Bulletin.
b. Report recommendations and actions of the Board of Directors to the membership.
c. Notify the membership of all Society meetings, functions, and official actions.
d. Perform such other duties as may be required.

Section C. Removal of Officers or Directors

The Board of Directors may remove any other Director or any Officer from their position with at least a 2/3 vote of all existing current Directors.

ARTICLE VIII. GENERAL COUNSEL

The Executive Board may select a general counsel who will serve at the pleasure of the President and who shall advise the organization on legal matters.

ARTICLE IX. MEETINGS

Section A. Annual Meetings. The President shall call a meeting of the full membership of the Society at least once a year. Notice of this meeting shall be sent to the membership at least thirty (30) days prior to the date of the meetings.

Section A. Board of Directors Meetings. The Board of Directors shall meet quarterly to conduct Society business. Board meetings shall be called by the President at the request of any other three (3) members of the Board of Directors. At least three (3) days’ notice shall be given to all Board members. The three (3) days’ notice requirement may be waived for any emergency meeting.

ARTICLE X. BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Section A. Composition. The two immediate past Presidents may serve as ex-officio members of the Board of Directors.

Section B. Quorum. A majority of the Board of Directors shall constitute a quorum. Proxy voting is not permitted.

Section C. Chair. By a majority vote, the Board of Directors may elect a chair from among its members; otherwise, the President shall act as the presiding officer.

Section D. Authority. The Board of Directors shall conduct the affairs of the Society, and shall be the chief policy making body. It shall insure that the business of the Society is conducted in accordance with the bylaws and standing rules of the Society.

ARTICLE XI. COMMITTEES

Section A. Budget and Finance Committee. A Budget and Finance Committee shall be composed of the Treasurer and up to four (4) other persons appointed by the President promptly after taking office. It shall be the duty of this committee to prepare a budget for the fiscal year following the election, and to submit it to the Board of Directors. The proposed budget shall include a statement of the Society’s current financial condition, a review of the Society’s recent financial experience, and anticipated revenues and expenditures by type and/or program. It shall require a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the Board of Directors to adopt or amend the budget.

Section B. Bylaws and Standing Rules Committee. The Bylaws and Standing Rules Committee shall study the current bylaws and standing rules of the Society and shall initiate changes as necessary, with the advice of the general counsel. The bylaws committee shall be appointed by the President. A bylaws committee shall be convened at least once every three years. A majority vote of the Board of Directors shall be binding interpretation of the bylaws.

Section C. Conference Coordinating Committee. A Conference Coordinating Committee, under the direction of the Conference Chair shall, with the approval of the President, arrange all the details of the annual conference.

Section D. Nominating Committee. Subject to approval by the Board of Directors, the President shall appoint a Nominating Committee (in early January of each year), consisting of not less than three (3) members, none of whom are candidates for, or voting member of the Board of Directors. The Nominating Committee shall select at least one nominee for each elected position of the Society; whenever possible, more than one candidate shall be nominated for each position. Consideration of experience and qualifications shall be used in making selections. Each candidate shall indicate to the Nominating Committee a willingness to serve, if elected. The Nominating Committee shall forward their nominations to the Elections Committee. Additional nominations may be made by membership petition to the Elections Committee (see rules under Elections Committee).

Section E. Elections Committee. The Elections Committee, consisting of three (3) members, none of whom shall be nominees or members of the Nominating Committee, officers or members of the Executive Board, shall conduct the election. The Elections Committee shall arrange for publication in the Society Bulletin of a notice that includes the nominations by the Nominating Committee and procedures for additional nominations by petition. Additional nominations may be made by membership petition of a least twenty (20) members or three percent (3%) of the members, whichever is less each valid signature on a petition must be a member in good standing on the date of the signature. Petitions must be received by the Elections Committee no later than twenty (20) calendar days after the Society Bulletin containing the above mentioned notice is mailed to the membership. The Elections Committee, in consultation with the Executive Secretary, shall determine that submitted petitions are valid. To be included on the ballot, each candidate nominated by petition shall indicate to the Elections Committee a willingness to serve, if elected. The Elections Committee shall request from each candidate statements on past Society participation and duties, qualifications for office, and goals if elected. The Elections Committee shall provide candidates with guidelines on content, length, and accuracy. The Elections Committee shall attempt to verify the accuracy of statements made by candidates, and shall delete any portions of statements that do not conform to guidelines. The Elections Committee shall prepare an information sheet containing, in the order listed on the official ballot, the name of each candidate, whether the nomination was made by the Nominating Committee or by petition, and candidate statements. The Elections Committee shall prepare and receive the official ballots. the ballot shall indicate procedures for casting the ballot and the final date for receipt of valid ballots by the Elections Committee. The order for nominations for each office shall be randomly selected, followed by space(s) for write-in choices. On the official ballot, the names of all candidates shall be shown without any indication of incumbency or method of nomination; these items will be shown on the information sheet. In conjunction with the Executive Secretary, the Elections Committee shall arrange for printing and mailing of ballots and information sheets to members in good standing. The Elections Committee shall certify ballots as valid, tabulate the ballots, summarize and certify results, submit the results to the Board of Directors no later than one (1) week following the deadline date for receipt of mail ballots, and promptly notify each candidate as to whether each was elected or not.

Section F. Other. Such other committees, standing or special, shall be appointed by the President as the Society or the executive Board may deem necessary to carry on the work of the Society. The President shall be ex-officio member of all committees except the Elections Committee.

Section G. Reports. Each standing and special committee shall maintain appropriate files and records which shall be forwarded to its successors as directed by the incoming president. Each committee shall prepare an annual report.

ARTICLE XII. PARLIAMENTARY AUTHORITY

The rules contained in the current edition of Robert’s Rules of Order, Newly Revised shall govern the Society in all cases to which they are applicable, and in which they are not consistent with these bylaws and standing rules, or with any special rules of order which the Society may adopt.

ARTICLE XIII. AMENDMENT OF BYLAWS

These bylaws may be amended by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the Board of Directors.

STANDING RULES OF THE SOCIETY OF GOVERNMENT ECONOMISTS

1. Regular meetings of the Board of Directors shall be held at a time and place that is mutually convenient to the members. (see article IX, Section 2).

2. Society of Government Economists’ dues shall be affixed on an annual, from the month membership payment is received. The following represents the current dues structure:

3. Dues shall be payable annually, and shall be considered delinquent 45 days after the expiration of the 12 month period for which they were last paid. A reminder shall be sent by the membership director one month prior to expiration and no more than two (2) reminder notices after expiration shall be sent to a delinquent member, after which the delinquent member shall be dropped from the active membership listing, but may be retained on the announcement list.

Join fellow CE microdata users at this year’s 3-day workshop for a series of informative & practical sessions geared to all levels of expertise.

The Workshop is free to all participants.

Sessions designed for the novice user include:

• Basic info about the CE program and data
• Content and organization of microdata files
• Creation of data sets within and across files
• Topcoding and other confidentiality measures

Sessions designed for the more experienced user include:

• Derivation and use of weights for estimation of means and variances
• Using the multiply-imputed income variables properly
• Treating interviews independently vs. linking them across quarters
• How sales taxes are applied to reported expenditures
• Topics suggested by you, the experienced user

Sessions highlighting uses of the data:

• Research presentations by users in academia, government and private industry
• Papers demonstrating uses of both Interview and Diary survey data

Sessions covering special topics such as:

• Tips on publishing your research in the Monthly Labor Review
• “Sneak peek” at future developments in the CE

Sessions devoted to hands-on use of CE microdata

• Projects typifying basic uses of the microdata will be taken up first
• Progressively more complex projects will be addressed in later sessions

AND new this year: Individual appointments with internal experts

• Sign up to meet one-on-one with a CE staff member to answer questions about your project

You will also be able to find the registration form on the CE website at http://www.bls.gov/cex/csxannualworkshop.htm on or about June 9th.

For more information, please contact us by email at CE_Workshop_2010@bls.gov or by phone at (202) 691-6900.

George Washington University
Marvin Center Ballroom, 21st & H Streets, NW, 3rd Floor
Wednesday, May 26, 2010

9:00-5:00

We have recently seen the worst housing and financial markets since the Great Depression. Not all of the analysis of the last few years has been informed by data. The purpose of the conference is to bring together empirical work in an effort sort out what the data do and do not support as causes of the housing downturn and the sharp increase in defaults.
Topics
I. Credit Risk

Stability in Consumer Credit Scores: Level and Direction of FICO Score Drift as a Precursor to Default and Prepayment

* Brent C. Smith, Virginia Commonwealth University

Cream-Skimming in Subprime Mortgage Securitizations: Which Subprime Mortgage Loans Were Sold By Depository Institutions Prior to the Crisis of 2007

* Paul Calem, Federal Reserve Board of Governors
* Christopher Henderson, Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia
* Jonathon Liles, Freddie Mac

Causes of Default: Economic Conditions, Underwriting and Moral Hazard

* Dennis Capozza, University of Michigan
* Robert Van Order, George Washington University

II. Sources

The Subprime Crisis: How Much Did Lender Regulation Matter?

* Robert B. Avery and Kenneth P. Brevoort
* Federal Reserve Board of Governors

The Credit Rating Agencies

* Lawrence J. White, New York University

Lunch Speaker: David Stevens, FHA Commissioner
III. Property Values and Location

What Role Did Piggyback Lending Play in the Housing Bubble and Mortgage Collapse?

* Michael LaCour-Little, California State University at Fullerton
* Charles A. Calhoun, Calhoun Consulting LLC
* Wei Yu, California State Polytechnic University, Pomona

Thy Neighbor’s Mortgage: Does Living in A Subprime Neighborhood Impact Your Probability of Default?

* Sumit Agarwal, Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago
* Brent W Ambrose, Pennsylvania State University
* Souphala Chomsisengphet, Office of the Comptroller of the Currency
* Anthony Sanders, George Mason University

Fools or Crooks: Testing for Fraud in the Residential Mortgage Market

* Paul Carrillo, George Washington University

IV. Panel: The Future of Securitization

* Jay Brinkman, Mortgage Bankers Association
* Andrew Davidson, Davidson and Associates
* Arnold Kling, George Mason University
* Edward Golding, Freddie Mac

Cocktail Reception to follow at the conclusion of the conference.

Attendance is FREE, however we ask you to confirm your attendance by emailing Rob Valero at rjvalero@gmail.com.

We are seeking presentations of up to 30 minutes by users of the CE data for the workshop. There are no limits to the areas of research or degree of sophistication of the papers we seek. They can be descriptive or applied. They can present simple hypothesis testing or elegant model building. Work in progress is as welcome as finished research. However, when preparing the presentation, please note that the emphasis should be on how the data were used, questions or problems encountered, and similar discussion. Results of the research are an important, and perhaps necessary, component of these presentations; nevertheless, the emphasis sought is on application. In fact, previous workshop attendees have cited these sessions consistently among their favorites, not just because of their interest in the topics presented, but because the presentations give practical examples of how the data can be used in research.

While we cannot offer any honoraria to presenters, the workshop is free of charge to all who come. Past workshops have averaged about 50 attendees. If space permits, we will extend invitations to the local professional community to attend the sessions, so you can anticipate a significant audience for your presentation.

By the way, if you have a colleague who might be interested in presenting, please forward this invitation. Also please note that the workshop is an excellent forum for graduate students to gain experience presenting their work, and to get helpful comments on research in development, including dissertation proposals or theses in progress.

If you would like to be part of the 2010 CE Users’ Microdata Workshop program or have any questions about the workshop, please contact us by May 17, 2010 at CE_Workshop_2010@bls.gov, or by phone at (202) 691 – 6900.

Thanks! We look forward to hearing from you.

The 2010 USAID Economic Growth Officers’ Conference is open to USG professionals in the field of economic growth (economists, private enterprise officers, and specialists in agriculture, natural resources management, and engineering). Registration is required for all attendees. Please feel free to forward this message to interested USG colleagues.

We look forward to seeing you at the conference.

Sincerely,

Rachel A. Bahn
Program Economist, EGAT / EG / EPG
United States Agency for International Development
1300 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20523
Tel: 202.712.5543
rbahn@usaid.gov

I am pleased to announce that we have been invited to attend an event at the Brookings Institution on “Measuring Up in a Changing Economy: A Look at New U.S. Service Sector Data and Why It Matters.” It will be held on Friday, March 12, 2010, from 10:00 AM to 11:30 AM at the Brookings Institution.

Through its new quarterly survey of services sector activity, the U.S. Census Bureau is filling an important gap in the nation’s data needs. On March 12, one day after the first census quarterly release on the output of finance and insurance firms, Economic Studies at Brookings will host a discussion on how the new data can better inform economic policy.

To view the full page, go to:
http://www.brookings.edu/events/2010/0312_us_service_sector.aspx

The Brookings Institutions is located at 1775 Massachusetts Ave., NW, Washington, DC 20036

I am pleased to announce that we have been invited to attend a very special event: a Congressional Briefing on “Better Living through Economics: How Fundamental Economic Research Improves People’s Lives.” It will be held on Monday, March 15, 2010, from 12:00 to 1:30 PM at the Rayburn House Office Building.

The event includes a box lunch, and it is being sponsored by the Consortium of Social Science Associations (COSSA). It includes highly distinguished economists who have done research on this general topic, such Lawrence Ausubel (University of Maryland), Brigitte Madrian (Harvard Kennedy School), Alvin Roth (Harvard University), and John Siegfried (Vanderbilt University). Please see the attached flyer: Invitation to Congressional Briefing on the Benefits of Economic Research.

There is no charge for attending, but we are being asked to RSVP as soon as possible to cossa@cossa.org or 202-842-3525.

This briefing will discuss the important benefits that derive from economic research. I think this is a theme that we, who generally perform economic research for the overall benefit of the public, can truly appreciate.

I look forward to seeing you there!

Sincerely,
Steve