Delaware Association for Public Administration DAPA Public Service Reader
President’s Message
Dear Fellow Public Administrator:
Welcome to the Delaware Association for Public Administration (DAPA), Delaware’s professional association for those interested in, involved with, or committed to promoting public service!
With the new federal and state backdrop, there couldn’t be a better time to reconnect with colleagues or build a new support network to exchange ideas on important issues facing our national, state, and local governments, nonprofits, and private entities. If you’ve recently joined DAPA, I look forward to working with you very soon and learning about your interests and ideas. If you’ve been a longstanding member, I appreciate your dedication to the organization and embrace your suggestions on ways to best carry out our mission.
Since its inception, DAPA has provided a strong organizational network for those concerned with public administration in Delaware. DAPA’s resurgence has led to exciting new programs and ideas from a diverse group of our state’s practitioners, academics, and students. Our most recent programs included an annual Dinner Meeting on October 7, 2008, which featured a debate between Delaware’s candidates for lieutenant governor, and a winter networking event on February 26, 2009, with Dr. Paul Posner, the incoming president for the American Society for Public Administration (ASPA).
As we move ahead, the council and committee chairs will continue engaging its members through a variety of social activities, networking events, and educational presentations. Our goals for the upcoming months are to reach more students through planned mentoring and scholarship opportunities and develop an annual program schedule.
In closing, I thank all those who have been involved in reinstating DAPA, whether by serving on our advisory committee, attending and/or co-sponsoring events, or providing feedback on programs. We look forward to your continued participation and interest in promoting public service here in Delaware.
Julia O’Hanlon, MPA
President