Tom Hirano April 2012 SGMP-SF Bay Area Chapter- Lessons from the $16 Muffin 1 Lessons from the $16 Muffin, plus Over the Top Lessons

Tom Hirano April 2012

SGMP-SF Bay Area Chapter- Lessons from the $16 Muffin

1

Lessons from the $16 Muffin, plus

Over the Top Lessons



2

A $16 muffin? Justice

Dept. audit finds

‘wasteful’ and

extravagant spending

Washington Post

$16 Muffins? Actually, No,

Officials Say

ABC News

Muffingate's Sad Story: 178 Articles Perpetuate

DOJ Myth, 37 Correct It Huffpost Politics

US justice department paid $16 for muffins BBC News

$16 muffins, $8 coffee served in Justice audit Reuters

Muffin update: Not $16. Coffee still $8.24 per cup

Bangor Daily News



3

GSA head resigns over 'wasteful' Las Vegas seminar CNN

GSA spending under

congressional scrutiny

United Press

Obama livid with GSA: Las Vegas conference cost

thousands newjerseynewsroom.com GSA interns treated to

conference at resort

Boston.com

Colorado GSA workers attended lavish 5-day Las Vegas conference that cost $822,751 9News

GSA official worried in

memo that Las Vegas area

extravaganza wouldn’t be

seen as “substantive”

FoxNews.com



4

Word/Phrase Association

• By Individual – first reaction

• Check either Red Flag or Not so Much

• By Group – 3 or 4 Cards

• Tape to either board – Red Flag or Not so Much



5

Key Findings - DOJ

• Food & Beverage not minimized

• Refreshments appeared excessive

• Contract Planners 37% of cost

• Free meeting space not so free



6

IG Recommendations

• Event Planning (8)Better Time/Cost TrackingExpense Justification

• Food & Beverage (2)Cost benefit analysisApply DOJ guidelines



7

Key Findings - GSA

• Conference Planning Excessive

• Violated Contracting Regs

• Excessive Food Costs

• Questionable Misc Costs

• Not Minimizing Expenses



8

IG Recommendations

• Comply w/ Exec Order 13589

• Justifiable Award Ceremonies

• Compliance w/Procurement Regs

• Recover Funds

• Hold Sr. Officials Responsible



9

New Colored Glasses (personal view)



10


• Consider Perception



11



• It is What It is



12

New Colored Glasses(personal view)


• It is What It is

• Use Project Management Principles



13

New Colored Telescope(organizational view)



14

New Colored Telescope (organizational view)

• Promote Professionalism



15



• Promote/Partake in Education



16



• Promote/Partake in Education

• Promote the Industry



17

Other Resources - Print• Government Meetings in the News

• Demystifying Government Ethics

• Other Education Sources– Subject Matter Network– GovLoop http://www.govloop.com/ – SGMP Network– GSA For Conference & Meeting Planners

http://www.gsa.gov/portal/content/122863



18

http://www.govloop.com/



19

Other Resources - Webinars

– EMC Venues: http://www.emcvenues.com/Education-Connections/Education-Resources

– Meetings Focus http://www.meetingsfocus.com/Webinars/tabid/68/Default.aspx

– Meeting & Conventions http://www.meetings-conventions.com/webcasts.aspx

– Successful Meetings: http://www.successfulmeetings.com/webcasts/



20

“Those that fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it.”

Winston Churchill

Documents

Tom Hirano April 2012 SGMP-SF Bay Area Chapter- Lessons from the $16 Muffin 1 Lessons from the $16 Muffin, plus Over the Top Lessons