bryan November 16th, 2010

As the pressure of being a volunteer at POGO mounted, my wife and I sought to seek relief and flew off to sunny Spain where we had a fun, relaxed vacation.

We landed in Madrid, taxied in to downtown where our Paris-based son was to meet us, only to find out he misunderstood when we were planning on arriving, so the hotel had us booked for the next week.  Hmmm!  What to do.  So we called Paris, he arranged to fly down that night, and the hotel provided us accommodations for that evening.

Things went more smoothly after that.  We visited the famous art museums (including the Reina, my wife’s name), managed to sample as many tapas bar as our stomachs would permit, and walked the streets and parks of Madrid.  The architecture was wonderfully varied and exciting, so I was compelled to take scores of photos.

Next we hopped a fast speed train down to Seville and stayed in a quaint hostel in an out-of-the-way alley.  In Seville the sun was extreme, the sky crystal blue, the people charming, and the food sumptuous.  We walked the crowded, friendly streets, visited the beautiful cathedral and palace, and toured the Alcazar—a phenomenally beautiful mosque.  While in Seville, we rented a driver and explored the surrounding countryside and mountain hill towns, their homes all white-washed and tiled in red, some built into the hillside rock formations and caves.  The beauty of these towns and countryside compelled me to again take an uncommon number of photos.

Continue Reading »

• Uncategorized
• Comments(0)

bryan November 3rd, 2010

It’s official: fall has arrived at POGO. POGO Director of Operations Keith Rutter issued a memo today announcing that the POGO compost bin—which POGO uses to mark the turning of the seasons—is going into hibernation:

Some POGO staffers lamented the removal of the compost bin.

“It’s always a sad, sad day when the compost bucket is retired for the year,” said POGO Editor Danni Downing. “Not only does it mark the end of another year, but so much compostable material will be going into the garbage instead of feeding gardens. Seems like such a waste!”

For his part, Keith echoed Danni’s sentiments. “It is a little sad,” he said. “I hate to see a good apple core go to waste.”

Keith acknowledged, however, that there is one upside to the move. “The one bit of good news,” Rutter said,  “is that I’ll carry five fewer pounds of cargo on the way home each day.”

We look forward to the return of the compost bin in spring.

• Uncategorized
• Comments(0)

bryan October 29th, 2010

Many thanks to all who joined us for the Whistleblower Film Series earlier this month. We were thrilled with all of the support, interest, and thoughtful discussion surrounding this incredibly important issue.

We’ve put together a quick slide show of some of the highlights from the Series. We hope you’ll join us next time—but meanwhile, we hope you’ll continue to help us push for legislation to create enhanced and credible whistleblower protections.

Part of the 10th annual DC Labor FilmFest, the Whistleblower Film Series showcases films that explore the valuable role of whistleblowers at a critical time in the effort to restore and modernize protections for federal government employees.

—Bryan Rahija

Read about last year’s Whistleblower Film Series.

• Uncategorized , Whistleblower Film Series
• Comments(1)

bryan October 28th, 2010

In early October, I visited the Philippines to hold seminars on how to improve the partnership between the government and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) like POGO in the procurement process. The program was sponsored by the U.S. Embassy in the Philippines and Procurement Watch, Inc. (PWI), which fights to reduce—if not eliminate—graft and corruption in government through procurement reform.

The flight was long (approximately 28 hours), but I was excited and very interested in our flight path, which carried me through Canada, Alaska, and Russia before landing in Tokyo, Japan. After a short layover and a relatively brief four-hour flight to Manila, I was met at the airport by Joseph Tordella, the Assistant Cultural Affairs Officer, who does a great job of spreading democracy and cheer around the world. My hotel was in the busy Pasig neighborhood (did you know that Manila is one of sixteen cities that make up Metro Manila?), which at midnight was locked in standstill traffic and bustled with people still roaming the streets. I was seriously shocked at the amount of traffic (cars, buses, jeepneys, motorcycles, scooters, bicycles, and pedestrians). It was a little overwhelming. After figuring out that the electricity and AC in my room required that I keep my access key in a port near the door, I was ready for a good night sleep after a long day of traveling.

After traveling such a far distance, I expected to sleep in, but due to a cat who wakes me at home each morning at 4:27 a.m., I was up very early on October 7. After eating breakfast (no eggs and pancakes for me, I went right for the local Filipino dishes and fresh fruit), I was also able to get in a good workout before heading to the local USAID office for a briefing about POGO and some of the issues that plague the procurement system in the Philippines. The briefing was great and it allowed me to refine my presentations that would follow in Manila, Cebu, and Davao. The traffic returning to my hotel from the briefing was at a standstill. In an effort to avoid the rush-hour mêlée, my Embassy driver cut through many of the upscale villages, providing me with a feel for how many foreign residents live—those villages were guarded, clean, and the homes appeared to be very luxurious. On a side note—the Embassy motor pool did a great job getting me around the city and to the airport early (thanks Superman, Green Eyes, and a few other call-signs that I missed).

My first seminar was held on Friday, October 8 with approximately 45 attendees. My briefing consisted of informing the participants about POGO, our government system here in the States, some of the tools that allow POGO to do its work, and how we partner with whistleblowers and insiders, government officials, the media, and other NGOs to promote a good-government message. My presentation wasn’t focused on how great our system is—I mentioned many problems that sometimes allow policies and programs to benefit personal or private interests rather than the public’s interest. The Manila group was on their toes and very concerned about the lack of Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and whistleblower protection laws, a court system that was very slow in holding people and companies accountable, and a media that isn’t all that free. One participant mentioned that only 25 percent of each procurement Peso gets to its intended target. That means the rest is skimmed off by government officials or others. The dialog was very open and I enjoyed the general questions as well as learning about contracting abuses (outrageous contracts for hand dryers and motorcycle helmets, which I was keen to point out should be highlighted like the hammers and coffee pots that POGO exposed so many years ago).

I was happy to learn that there are anti-corruption measures that have been added to the procurement process. Bid and Award Committees have been created to oversee the contracting system. Additionally, groups like PWI are selected to participate in the bid and award process and submit reports reflecting actual observations on the bidding activity monitored. Despite that openness, the system is still subject to infiltration by those who place personal gain before good government. Public perceptions of a corrupt procurement system didn’t fade as I moved around the Philippines.

As soon as that seminar ended, I was off with Mr. Tordella and Mr. Ascaño (the Embassy Cultural Affairs Specialist who kept us on time and on budget) to Cebu. The seminar was held in a very large hotel and casino, that was really buzzing—vacationers, weddings, a culinary convention, and Scott Amey. The seminar was on Saturday the 9th, and I was surprised by the 30 or more attendees who gave up a Saturday to hear about POGO and discuss anti-corruption measures. I also met Ms. Gloria, and later the lovely Husin family, who provided me with an insiders’ tour of Cebu, which included a trip to the mall, dinner, and visits to local attractions, including a beautiful monument of Magellan and Lapu-Lapu (who killed Magellan for trying to spread Christianity—although the country is 80 percent Roman Catholic) and a scary ride on some contraption called the Edge Coaster—a 38-story ride that tilts toward the ground at a very steep angle. (Sorry Mrs. Husin if that brought back bad memories!)

The trip finished in the southern portion of the country in Davao City. The presentation and interactive dialog with the participants were tremendous. There are many groups and people in the Philippines who are tired of the culture of corruption that has existed for years and they are trying to fix it at the national and local levels.

I have to commend all the attendees, the Embassy, and Procurement Watch for a wonderful trip. I hope that my presentation causes someone inside or outside government to question the policies and programs that impact public funds and to work together to prevent, expose, and prosecute corruption. And I thank all of them for a very fulfilling life experience for me personally—the country was beautiful, the food was delicious, the culture was refreshing, and the Filipino people were very welcoming. I enjoyed many of the personal and professional discussions that I had during the seminars and those that followed with all who shared in my travels.

Overall I would rate the trip a 9.9 out of 10 and the remaining .1 will be added when the Congress of the Philippines finally passes a FOIA bill after so many years of effort!

—Scott Amey

• Uncategorized
• Comments(2)

bryan October 22nd, 2010

A vintage POGO hat was recently spotted in Arkansas:

The hat-wearer writes:

Recently I took my POGO hat to Arkansas.  We went fishing my Grandmother! Can you tell it is the POGO hat? Spreading the word of POGO throughout the country!

Be sure to send us any photos you have of POGO paraphernalia.

Would you be interested in POGO gear?  Tell us what you would wear in the comment section.  If we have enough interest maybe we can stock some new POGO gear in our e-store!

• Uncategorized
• Comments(0)

bryan September 27th, 2010

Government Executive asks: should the office be fun? POGO might not have an official “chief fun officer,” rock-climbing wall, or zip-line to the coffee shop down the street, but we’re no strangers to good times in the office.

As proof, the Watercooler offers these photos from last week’s taco lunch:

And sure, Red Bull might have a slide for employees in its London office—but do they have an eight-hole putt-putt golf course? (Remember, the Aquarium* is slanted so the ball hooks left.)

For more POGO fun, be sure to follow our “Overheard at POGO” Twitter feed.

— Bryan Rahija

*For the uninitiated , Aquarium is the name for the office that houses the POGO golf gear.

• Uncategorized
• Comments(0)

bryan September 10th, 2010

With Congress in recess, the Watercooler was finally able to catch up with and interview the intrepid Angela Canterbury, POGO’s first Director of Public Policy. Angela joined POGO earlier this summer, and has been busy on Capitol Hill and in the policy community working to advance POGO priorities on financial reform and the Gulf oil disaster response, as well as fighting for whistleblower rights and against government secrecy.

WC: Why POGO?

AC: I’ve long been a fan of POGO—the quality of investigations, the policy impact, and the facility with which POGO works with diverse stakeholders are all well-known in Washington. While at my previous organization, I had a wonderful experience working in coalition with Beth Daley and Danielle Brian on whistleblower protections. When Danielle approached me about the possibility of coming on board at POGO, I was thrilled!

WC: What’s the last great meal you had at a restaurant in the District?

AC: Just the other week! I had lunch with POGO pals at Oya—an extraordinary indulgence because it was Restaurant Week in DC!

WC: Which parts of your kids’ personalities do you enjoy/learn from most?

AC: Both of my kids are crack ups. Sophie’s got a great wit, and Charlie likes to goof. I’m learning a lot right now about tweenhood…anybody?  But I think the thing I’m most challenged with in parenting is trying to keep my kids grounded. We are really fortunate to live in a part of the planet that enjoys extraordinary privilege and indulgence, but I do not want to raise people who feel entitled.

WC: In your opinion, what are the biggest areas of the federal government in need of reform/oversight/transparency?

AC: The challenge is that all of the federal government needs reform/oversight/transparency. That’s why whistleblower protections, open government initiatives, and other systems for watchdogging, like the Inspector General system, are so important. Clearly, spending, conflicts of interests, and industry capture of regulators are systemic issues in need of reform. But the area of the federal government with the least amount of oversight is the intelligence community.

Continue Reading »

• Uncategorized
• Comments(0)

bryan September 7th, 2010

I wanted to let you know how touched we all are here at POGO by your recent outpouring of thoughts, prayers, and donations. Saturday’s service to celebrate the life of our colleague Beth Daley was very hard, and yet I think it was also a very nice and meaningful time. I was especially touched by the number of POGO alums and family who attended. While there were too many of you there to mention everyone, I did want to just highlight these folks in particular :

-Seth Morris, who left POGO in 2003, might have had the oldest connection of the POGO alums.

-Kevin Phelps, who practically lives in Pennsylvania, probably drove the farthest of the alums.

-Lisa Driskill was a consultant with us for just a short period of time several years ago, so she probably had the briefest connection with POGO.

-Marthena Cowart brought ham and biscuits—even with a great caterer, they were one of the favorite food items.

-And then there’s Eric Miller and his wife Susan, who stayed until 8:30 and were a big help in cleaning up.

-Michael Smallberg stayed and cleaned ’til the very end, but that’s almost expected, because that guy’s a saint.  He’s also still on staff.   (You know if you help clean up your going to get a special shout-out.)

This is new territory for POGO so I don’t know what the future will bring. The last two weeks . . . last six weeks-have been extremely difficult for us. As someone at the memorial service said, “There will be a new normal,” and POGO will have to adjust to that new normal.

Thank you again for all your support and love,
Keith Rutter

Below is a look at the tribute card that was distributed at the event (click to enlarge). Other helpful links:

• A Tribute to Beth Daley
• Beth Daley Memories and stories
• The Beth Daley Memorial Impact Fund
  

• Uncategorized
• Comments(0)

bryan August 23rd, 2010

Most people who know POGO know Beth Daley. For ten years, Beth played a vital role in all of our work. Beth was POGO’s first Director of Development and Director of Communication, helping to build a small non-profit into the institution it is today. She completed her career as the Director of Investigations. Everything that went out the door had her imprint.

Beth died in her sleep after a seven-year battle with breast cancer on Sunday, August 22, 2010. She is survived by her seven-and-a-half year old twin girls Ginger and Traci, of whom she was so proud, her husband Steve Holmer, mother and father Steve and Georganna Daley, sister and brother-in-law Gwen Daley and Brett Best, mother-in-law Terry Holmer, and sisters-in-law Chris Cofield and Kathy Holmer.

Beth’s soul will always be central to POGO. You can find more information about her work and impact here.

If you have any stories or memories you would like to share about Beth, we would encourage you to leave them in the comments below.

A celebration of Beth’s life will take place on Saturday September 4th at 122 Maryland Ave NE, from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that contributions to honor Beth’s life and work be made to the Project On Government Oversight. You may make a contribution in Beth’s honor here.

• Uncategorized
• Comments(76)

bryan August 11th, 2010

POGO was able to accomplish a whole lot more this summer due to having three powerhouse interns in the office: Alex Bland, Jimmy Budnick, and Rick D’Amato. The POGO Watercooler took a few minutes to find out what the interns learned this summer, who is the best golfer, and what tips they have for future POGO interns.

Alex Bland

How much golf did you play in the POGO office this summer?

A lot, but only in the intern room.

I’ve heard stories about a POGO PGA tourney, and hope it comes to fruition.

What was your favorite experience at POGO this summer?

I was really happy that I was allowed to spend so much time researching and writing various things. Both of the other internships I’ve had involved a lot less actual work, and the work I did do was far less interesting than Area 51 and the other issues POGO deals with.

Where is your favorite place to eat in DC?

I found this little seedy diner “Lincoln’s Waffle Shop” around the corner that has great banana pancakes.

How has this internship shaped your future plans?

It solidified my government major. POGO showed me just how much work needs to be done to fix our government.

Jimmy Budnick

What was your favorite experience at POGO this summer?

My favorite experience was getting to see Danielle testify before Congress, especially at one of the MMS hearings where she was testifying right after the Secretary of the Interior, Ken Salazar. Also, Breakfast Day was a lot of fun—everyone was a lot more excited for the staff meeting since there were waffles.

How much golf did you play in the POGO office this summer?

Enough to know that I should stay in college and not try to go on the PGA tour.  A helpful hint for future interns is that the floor in the aquarium (the room where POGO interns set up shop) is slanted so the ball hooks left.

What surprised you at POGO?

I was really surprised by how laid back the office is. One day you could be in business attire because you’re going to a congressional hearing, and the next day you could be in flip flops and a polo. And it’s definitely easier to get work done when you’re comfortable.

What not-free DC activities did you like best?

Going to the congressional baseball game after work was a lot of fun.  The stadium was split with Democrats on the left and Republicans on the right, and it was amusing to watch all the old Congressmen try to play baseball.  Some of them were actually pretty good.

What advice would you give to a future POGO summer intern?

Take advantage of the city, especially if you’re not from the area.  DC is a relatively cheap city for tourists with free museums and a relatively cheap metro system, so get out there and see the city.

Rick D’Amato

How much golf did you play in the POGO office this summer?

Enough to become a POGO PGA champion as soon as Chris sets up the tournament.

What was your favorite experience at POGO this summer?

My favorite experiences have been going to a bill signing at the White House and going to POGO’s Muckraker Happy Hour and meeting so many interesting journalists, staffers, and non-profit workers.

What surprised you at POGO?

I was surprised by how everyone who works at POGO manages to be relaxed and fun while simultaneously being so passionate and dedicated in working toward good government. That combination really helps create an ideal work environment.

How has this internship shaped your future plans?

This internship has given me a greater appreciation of how government works, and in particular, given POGO’s nature, how much influence citizens really can have with enough teamwork, passion, motivation, and effort. Working at POGO has given me a firsthand look at how non-profits, Congress, and government agencies all work together to make changes that impact our world. The internship has inspired me to continue pursuing a career in government or public service in order to have a positive impact on my community, country, and world.

What advice would you give to a future POGO summer intern?

Take the initiative in asking for work, always say “yes” to projects (you’ll learn a lot and they’ll usually turn out to be interesting), and practice your putting game before you start your internship.

• Uncategorized
• Comments(1)