Please complete the following ballot and email it to elections@sge-econ.org by 6 PM this Friday, July 30:
President: Andrew Felton ____
Abstain: ___
Write-in candidate: ______________

Vice President: Bryan Roberts ____
Abstain: ___
Write-in candidate: ______________

Outreach Director and Event Planner: Juan Contreras ____
Abstain: ___
Write-in candidate: ______________

Membership Director: Mark A. Ledbetter ____
Abstain: ___
Write-in candidate: ______________

Executive Director: Stephen H. Andrews ____
Abstain: ___
Write-in candidate: ______________

Executive Secretary: Muhammad Faizul Islam ____
Abstain: ___
Write-in candidate: ______________

Conference Committee Chair: Steven Payson ____
Abstain: ___
Write-in candidate: ______________

At-large (choose a maximum of 8, including write-in candidates; the same write-in candidate cannot be chosen more than once)
Leo Sveikauskas _____
Abstain: ___
Norton Francis ____
Abstain: ___
Farhad Niami _____
Abstain: ___
Write-in candidates: ____________________________________

Please email your votes to elections@sge-econ.org by 6 PM this Friday, July 30.

President: Andrew Felton
I am running for President of the Society of Government Economists in order to continue and build on the work that I started last year as the Vice President.
As the Vice President, I was in charge of organizing the luncheon speakers. Last year, the speakers included such economic luminaries as Rebecca Blank, Karen Dynan, and Douglas Holtz-Eakin. I also redesigned the web site, improving its Google rankings and keeping it regularly updated. Since we started tracking visitors at the beginning of the year, we have been averaging almost 400 visits per month with more than 1,000 unique visitors.
In my day job as a financial economist with the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, I spend most of my time developing risk models, stress tests, and deposit insurance pricing systems. I am an active professional consumer of data and research produced by many other agencies and have found SGE to be a great boon to my professional life; I am excited to give back to the community by continuing to serve SGE.
I look forward to working with you to continue the mission of SGE as an organization that supports the professional development of government economists, and all those who are interested in public policy economics. We will do this by putting on a great conference on November 15/16 at George Washington University, continuing our tradition of interesting and important luncheon speakers, and developing other opportunities to promote public policy economists and economic researchers.

Vice President: Bryan Roberts
I have served on the Board of SGE as Membership Director over the past year and have gained familiarity with the many issues and challenges that confront the organization at its present stage of development. Many accomplishments have been made in the recent past, and these accomplishments provide a strong foundation for further development of the SGE institution. As Vice President, I will devote my energies to maintaining the high quality of our monthly luncheons by recruiting quality speakers and sustaining the network of contacts that make this recruitment possible. I will work closely with the President and Board leadership to assist in renewing SGE membership through active outreach to government economists. I will devote time and energy to identifying and implementing special projects that can be carried out that will enhance the visibility of SGE and address issues and questions of particular interest to government economists. The visibility, relevance, and quality of SGE as an institution is already as a high level, and I would look forward to have the opportunity to serve SGE and contribute to its further advancement.

Outreach Director and Event Planner: Juan Contreras
I work at the fiscal policy studies in the macroeconomic analysis division of the US Congressional Budget Office. I studied engineering as and undergrad and finished my PhD in economics at the University of Maryland, College Park in 2006. From the board of directors, I would like to help preserving and enhancing the Society of Government Economists as a place where government economists and others in the profession engage in useful debates about economic policy and its relation with society, academia and other branches of government.

Membership Director: Mark A. Ledbetter
I am a nine year employee of the Bureau of Economic Analysis. During my term hear I have published several papers in the Survey of Current Business, presented a research paper at the ASSA conference in 2008, and provided presentations to several professional groups. My work basically focuses on comparing national account data with that of the IRS. I also compile a Biomedical Research and Development Price Index for NIH. The first two years at BEA were working on International Direct Investment into the US; compiling and creating the published table data. I also worked two years at the Census Bureau and was involved in international negotiations of the NAICS industries and the NAPCS product classification systems. I also have a year’s experience at the State Department as a consular officer.
Outside activities include managing a construction and renovation limited liability company. I have also spent two years as a board member of the SGE and helped manage the peer-review process for paper presentations.

Executive Director: Stephen H. Andrews
I am quite interested in the Executive Director of the Board position of and within the Society of Government Economists (SGE). I believe the SGE is a great venue for raising the awareness and stature of the important jobs our economists conduct for our Government and our country. I am very willing to commit the time and energy on SGE projects, participate in SGE meetings and attend SGE meetings that exhibit and underscore that importance.
My education includes an M.A. in Economics and a B.S. in Business Administration with a concentration in economics, both from Miami University (Ohio) in 1975 and 1974, respectively. My experience has included my last 11 years at the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) as: Coordinator of Source Data for BEA; Assistant Chief of the National Income and Wealth Division (NIWD), overseeing analysis, assembly, and release of the GDP; (currently serving as) BEA representative for OMB’s Economic Classification Policy Committee; and (currently serving as) Assistant to the Chief, NIWD, conducting research on measurement methodologies aimed at improving our economic statistics relied on as critical by so many.
Before this time, I was at the Census Bureau for 23 years, serving as chief of the manufacturing and construction indicator programs, which includes Housing Starts, Value of Construction Put in Place, and Orders for Durables Goods in my last 5 years there. Earlier at Census, I was one of the first members of the Census Bureau’s Center for Economic Studies, researching the confidential micro data and providing results in numerous economic journals; and charged with the responsibility of making these microdata accessible to outside researchers in a secure environment and under strict confidentiality rules, but nevertheless access to these important data.
I strongly believe that we should and can easily show the important work conducted by our Government economists for our agencies and departments and gain an understanding and appreciation for this work from and by our nation’s leaders and people.

Executive Secretary: Muhammad Faizul Islam
I am Dr. Muhammad Faizul Islam, Senior Economist, Office of Inspector General, Department of Homeland Security
I am interested for the ES position because I was appointed in the middle of the election year. My aim is to complete a full term, and to promote the mission and vision of SGE. SGE needs to be resuscitated and I think I can work towards that goal.
As ES since November 2009, I am attending SGE meetings quite regularly and writing down minutes of the meetings. I am also taking an active part in reviewing the papers submitted for the upcoming SGE conference in November 2010 and January 2011.
I want to bring the rich experience to SGE what I have gained from my involvement with other professional organizations, such as, Bangladesh Development Initiative (www.bdiusa.org) and the Association for Economic and Development Studies of Bangladesh (www.aedsb.org).

Conference Committee Chair: Steven Payson
I would be honored to be Chair the Conference Committee of the Society of Government Economists. I have recently completed my term as President of the SGE, and was previously Vice President and Executive Secretary. In these roles I have brought many leading economists to our SGE events. I am currently organizing our upcoming SGE Conference in November 2010; I organized our previous one in September 2009; and I helped organize the one before that in June 2008. You might see what I have accomplished on the SGE website. My interest in the SGE has always stemmed from my belief that economics is one of the most important human endeavors there is, especially when it has bearing on government decision making. One could argue, in fact, that no other field has greater influence over people’s lives. From this perspective I see the work of our Society as critically important, and I am proud to be part of it.
I received a doctorate in economics from Columbia University in 1991, and have over 25 years of work experience as an economist, which includes over 18 years at four federal agencies (ERS/USDA, NSF, GIPSA/USDA, and BEA) and details of four months and nine months at two other agencies (NIST and NIH). I spent the last 7 years at the Bureau of Economic Analysis where I started as a Branch Chief, and since 2008 have been Chief of Research for the BEA’s Government Division. I wrote two economics books (Quality Measurement in Economics and Economics, Science and Technology), and many published articles in a wide range of economic subfields. I have taught as an adjunct professor of economics at Georgetown and several other universities, and taught a training course at BEA on the National Economic Accounts. I am also the Executive Director of the Association for Integrity and Responsible Leadership in Economics and Associated Professions (AIRLEAP®) and have been active in other economic organizations as well. For example, for over 6 years I was on the Advisory Board for the journal Technological Forecasting and Social Change, and for the past 2 years I have served in the Interagency Task Group on Science of Science Policy, commissioned by the National Science and Technology Council of the Executive Office of the President.
Please vote for me to chair the SGE’s Conference Committee. I promise to make our conferences something that we can truly be proud of, and something that will be beneficial to our members, to the economics community, and to society in general.

At-large: Leo Sveikauskas
I am a research economist with the Productivity Research group at the Bureau of Labor Statistics. I have a Ph.D. from Yale University, and have worked at the BLS since the 1970s. I have published in journals such as the American Economic Review, the Quarterly Journal of Economics, the Review of Economics and Statistics, and the Economic Journal on topics such as R&D, productivity growth, international trade, and urban and regional economics.
I think the core of economics is providing better information to our fellow citizens on many issues which are important for our country. I hope to encourage economists working throughout the government as they carry out this important role. Though mechanisms such as seminars, conferences, and participation in national meetings, the SGE can help government economists carry out their important work.

At-large: Norton Francis
I have been in DC government for over a year now as the Director of Revenue Estimation for the Office of Revenue Analysis, I oversee four economists and we compile the quarterly forecast of revenues used for the annual budget and four year financial plan. I also work with the economic research group to prepare presentations and briefings for policy makers and the public. Prior to DC, I was in New Mexico where I was Chief Economist for the NM Legislative Finance Committee. In that role, I was part of the consensus revenue estimating group for the state and advised the legislative members and leadership on economic and finance issues.
I would bring both a state and local perspective to the board as well as a tax policy perspective.

At-large: Farhad Niami
It is my distinct pleasure and honor to announce my candidacy for one of the At-Large positions on the Board of Directors at the Society of Government Economists. While I have not held any positions at SGE, I have had involvements with many other peer groups and societies in the past. To name a few; the National Economic Club (“NEC”), Federation of Tax Administrators (“FTA”), National Association of Regulatory Utilities Commissioners (“NARUC”), American Economic Association (“AEA”), Agriculture & Applied Economics Association (“AAEA”), Western Economic Association (“WEA”), Southern Economic Association (“SEA”), Southwestern Society of Economists (“SSE”). Through many of these professional organizations I have had opportunities to serve in variety of capacities, such as conference chair, session organizer. I have also participated in presentation of many research works. Although I am relatively new to the District and SGE, I am very interested in serving this organization and gain additional experience.
I received a doctoral degree in Resource Economics from Oregon State University in 1988, followed by completing a postdoctoral program at Louisiana State University. I am a resource economist by training and a Public Finance/Public Policy economist by practice. I have about twenty two years of combined managerial, research and teaching experience in the field. Currently, I am serving the DC Office of the Chief Financial Officer (OCFO) as the Director of Economic Affairs Administration and Acting Deputy CFO for the Office of Revenue Analysis. Prior to my involvement with the District Government I served as the State Economist in Louisiana and also as an advisor to the Governor’s Office. Prior to that, I was the Chief Economist responsible for the Office of Economics and Rates Analysis of Louisiana Public Service Commission (LPSC). I also served as the Division Chief for the State’s Wildlife & Fisheries agency responsible for conducting economic impact analysis of alternative policy decisions related to the state’s natural resources. Moreover, I have been an active member of the Graduate Faculty of Economics at Louisiana State and Bowie State Universities. I also have taught economics at both graduate and undergraduate level programs at Western Oregon and Oregon State Universities.
My hope is to be able to share my past experience with you and other colleagues elsewhere while adding value to the services already provided by SGE. For that, I need your confidence and vote for me so I could serve as a Board member at this nationally recognized professional organization.

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.

Our conference features a star-packed lineup of speakers, including the following Distinguished Lecturers:

Rebecca Blank, Under Secretary for Economic Affairs, U.S. Department of Commerce, Douglas Elmendorf, Director of the Congressional Budget Office, Keith Hall, Commissioner of the Bureau of Labor Statistics, David Colander, Christian A. Johnson Distinguished Professor of Economics at Middlebury College, George DeMartino, Associate Professor, University of Denver, Deirdre McCloskey, UIC Distinguished Professor of Economics, History, English, and Communication, University of Illinois at Chicago, and John Siegfried, Professor of Economics, Vanderbilt University, and Executive Director of the American Economic Association.

Please download the SGE Registration Form and Call For Papers for more information on submitting papers to, registering for, and sponsoring the conferences.

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.

To assess Social Security’s fate more accurately under current and alternative policies, Gokhale constructs a detailed simulation of the forces shaping American demographics and the economy to project their future evolution. He then uses this simulation to analyze six prominent Social Security reform packages—two liberal, two centrist, and two conservative—to demonstrate how far they would restore the program’s financial health and which population groups would be helped or hurt in the process.

Arguments over Social Security have raged for decades, but they have taken place in a relative informational vacuum; Social Security provides the necessary bedrock of analysis that will prove vital for anyone with a stake in this important debate.

View the slides from the presentation.