The Glenn School presents Jim Landers

This Friday (February 1), we will be hosting, in collaboration with CURA,

Jim Landers, Ph.D.

Senior Fiscal Analyst, Office of Fiscal and Management Analysis, Indiana Legislative Services Agency.

"Estimates of the Price Elasticity of Demand for Casino Gambling and the Potential Effects of Casino Tax Hikes"

Time: 12:00 - 1:30 PM

Location: Room 130 Page Hall (LEC- Leadership Education Center).

Jim is a graduate of our doctoral program. Anand Desai has a copy of his paper. Please let him know if you would like me to send it to you (desai.1@osu.edu).

M. Jarvin Emerson Student Paper Competition

The Mid-Continent Regional Science Association hosts the annual M. Jarvin Emerson Student Paper Competition with the winners presenting to the membership during the conference in June. This competition offers an excellent opportunity for students to have their work evaluated and recognized by professionals in the discipline and it also allows those attending the conference to gain insights into cutting edge research underway.

We are now soliciting entries for the 2008 MCRSA conference to be held June 5-7 in Colorado Springs, Colorado. We ask your help in identifying high quality papers written by undergraduates or graduate students. The papers can be on any topic(s) related to regional science but should meet acceptable research standards with documentation and other professional standards. Please see the attached information and/or the MCRSA web site (http://www.oznet.ksu.edu/mcrsa/student_paper_competition.htm) for complete details. MCRSA conference information is also available on the web site: http://www.oznet.ksu.edu/mcrsa/.

Winners will receive $150 and the M. Jarvin Emerson Award. The winning paper will also be published in the Association's journal, The Journal of Regional Analysis & Policy. Second place winners will receive $100. All papers accepted for presentation at the conference as part of the competition will have registration and membership fees waived. Papers must be submitted electronically by e-mail. An additional copy must be mailed or faxed with a copy of the student’s ID and the publication agreement form available on the MCRSA web site. Please have students send their submissions to:

Gisele Hamm, Manager
MAPPING the Future of Your Community
Illinois Institute for Rural Affairs
524 Stipes Hall
Western Illinois University
1 University Circle
Macomb, IL 61455
GF-Hamm@wiu.edu

Government Accountability Office: Application Tips

The Government Accountability Office provides this helpful list of tips for its applicants:

Understanding GAO

1. Visit GAO’s Web site, www.gao.gov, and click on “Careers.”
2. Familiarize yourself with GAO’s work and mission teams.
3. Review GAO reports and testimonies on our Web site so that you can better understand what we do.
4. CHECK with your career services center to see if there are alumni working at GAO.

Application Process

1. To browse for vacancies, register to be notified of vacancies, or apply for jobs click “Careers” at www.gao.gov (U.S. citizenship required).
2. Print out and read the application before beginning.
3. Note: Submit any required documents, such as transcripts.
4. Allow sufficient time to consider the questions and your answers.
5. Accurately portray your skills and accomplishments, answer narrative question completely and succinctly.
6. Use results-oriented examples to demonstrate how your work and/or educational experience address the competencies described in the job announcement.
7. Draft and save your responses in a separate file, and then copy and paste your responses into the application boxes.
8. Remember to spell-check your responses and update your resume.
9. E-mail or call GAO points of contact listed on the application if you have questions about the application process.

Preparing for the INTERVIEW

1. Be ready to elaborate on your educational and professional achievements noted in the application.
2. Be ready to discuss how your skills and experiences (both educational and work related) are relevant to the competencies and work described in the job announcement.
3. Expect to participate in several interviews, each of which may involve two to four people.
4. Read news articles about the agency to better respond to questions.
5. Express yourself clearly, and practice how you might respond to specific questions.
6. Prepare a list of questions for your interviewers.
7. Request a contact for follow-up questions or information.

New Rural Sociology Course for Spring Quarter!

Rural Sociology 542 (call #18580-8)
Leadership and Community Development
Monday and Wednesday, 1-2:48 PM; Lazenby Hall 0034

This new 5-hour course is focused on effective leadership styles within the context of the American community. It combines an in-depth understanding of sociological concepts of community, power, social capital and social change, and how these help understand the context in which leadership is expressed in a variety of jurisdictions, including counties, small towns and large cities. This course is ideal for anyone interested in politics, working for public service agencies (fire, police, public health etc.) and involvement in community-based volunteer organizations, such as churches, civic groups and local charities. The instructor, Dr. Joseph F. Donnermeyer, is a winner of the OSU Alumni Award for Distinguished Teaching.

RS 542 fulfills a requirement for the Rural Sociology undergraduate minor!

Other great Rural Sociology courses offered during the Spring Quarter.

Rural Sociology 733, Sociology of Agriculture and Food (call #18662-0)
Monday and Wednesday, 10:00 AM – 12:18 PM
Agricultural Administration Building, Room 205

Rural Sociology 766, Environmental Sociology (call #18663-5)
Monday, 6-10:00 PM
Agricultural Administration Building, Room 207

20th Annual Women and Congress Seminar

The Public Leadership Education Network (PLEN) is thrilled to announce the 20th annual Women and Congress Seminar. PLEN is offering TWO sessions of this week-long seminar so all interested students can participate:

SESSION 1: March 3-7, 2008
SESSION 2: March 10-14, 2008

The Women and Congress Seminar is specifically tailored towards students interested in the role women play in the lawmaking process. Participants in this year’s program will have the opportunity to:

• Meet and discuss current issues with Congresswomen, members of congressional committees, legislative staff and representatives of groups that lobby Congress.
• Participate in a hearing simulation on a hot issue debated by Congress after attending committee hearings and sessions in the House and Senate.
• Discover how to get your foot in the door on Capitol Hill.

Through committee hearings, discussions and briefings, students increase their understanding of public policy and Congressional procedure. Students supplement their seminar experience with field visits, observations on the Hill and discussions on policy issues with women leaders.

Recent seminar speakers include:

Senator Susan Collins
Senator Dianne Feinstein
Senator Lisa Murkowski

Congresswoman Lois Capps
Congresswoman Judy Biggert
Congresswoman Marsha Blackburn
Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney
Congresswoman Betty McCollum
Congresswoman Stephanie Tubbs Jones

Amy Walter, Editor, U.S. House, The Cook Political Report, Analyst, CNN

Lisalyn Jacobs, Vice President, Government Relations, Legal Momentum

Cindy Hall, President, Women's Policy, Inc.

The registration deadline is fast approaching, so encourage your students to secure their spot in the program early. Online registration is quick and easy via PLEN’s website at http://www.plen.org/congress_reg.html!

If you have any questions, or would like additional information about this program, please don’t hesitate to contact us at plen@plen.org or 202-872-1585. The PLEN staff is always happy to answer questions about our programs.

MERSHON CENTER EXTENDS DEADLINE FOR GRANT APPLICATIONS

Each year, the Mershon Center for International Security Studies holds a competition for Ohio State faculty and students to apply for research grant funds.

Grants may be used for a variety of research purposes including travel, seminars, conferences, interviews, experiments, workshops and more. Applications must be for projects that relate to one or more of the Mershon Center’s three areas of focus:·

1. The use of force and diplomacy.
2. The ideas, identities and decisional processes that affect security.
3. The institutions that manage violent conflict.

Because the center has not received enough applications from Ohio State faculty and students, the usual deadline in early January has been extended. The new deadline is Monday, January 28, 2008.

For more information, including application forms, please see the Grants section of the Mershon Center website at http://mershoncenter.osu.edu/grants/grants/grants.htm

RootsCamp OHIO 2008

What is RootsCamp OHIO 2008 all about?

It's about Ohioans talking with Ohioans. It's an opportunity for open dialogue between Ohio’s activists, field organizers, leaders, techies, fundraisers, bloggers – the whole team.

We'll share innovations, failures, old wisdom and new discoveries, with an eye toward:
Developing our skills and networking to lead the way in 2008 and beyond
Building organization and sustainability in Ohio's growing progressive movement

WHEN: Sunday, January 13, 2008 9 am – 5 pm

WHERE: The Vern Riffe Center, 31st Floor. At the corner of High St. and State St, Columbus, OH 43215.

PARKING: Under the Statehouse - access from 3rd St. between Broad St. & State St., or in the City Center Mall parking garage - access from 3rd, Main, or Rich Sts.

Click here to sign up to attend RootsCamp 2008.