August 2018
State Academy (SAPA) News
There are still plenty of summer days left, but the SAPA Board of Directors is busy planning our 2018-19 program schedule. SAPA's theme for this year is to recognize and promote Public Administration not only as topic to study, but as a community of professional public servants. We hope you'll join us by participating in one or more of SAPA's programs.
SAPA's Annual Meeting to Be Held on Wednesday September 12th
Our 2018 Annual meeting will take place on September 12th beginning at 5:15 in the Arthur Levitt Meeting Room at Rockefeller College of Public Affairs and Policy, Milne Hall, 135 Western Avenue
Albany, NY 12203. The Levitt Room is located next to Page Hall. The meeting will be followed by a SAPA Board meeting. All Fellows in good standing are invited to attend both meetings.
New Fellows
The SAPA Board and membership approved a by-law amendment for two (2) new categories of membership in addition to our Fellow membership level:
  • Associate Fellow (5 or more years of progressively responsible professional experience in public service)
  • New Professional (Newly employed in public service, seek to enter public service, or are currently enrolled in a public service related academic program).

This change has already produced significant results. We'd like to welcome our new 2018 Fellows!
  • Tydie Abreu - New Professional
  • Angelica Martinez - New Professional
  • David Howard - Associate Fellow
  • Jake Egloff - New Professional
  • Theresa Sweeney - New Professional
  • Robert Plattner - Fellow
  • Wesley Nishiyama - Associate Fellow
  • Matthew Ramnes - Associate Fellow
  • Brian Thomas - Associate Fellow
  • Sarah Davis - Associate Fellow
  • Kelly Sommerman - Associate Fellow

For nomination information visit the State Academy's website: https://stateacademy.org/joining-sapa/
Remembering Dennis Rapp
Dennis Rapp, who was a longtime member of SAPA and a devoted public servant passed away recently. Dennis could frequently be seen at SAPA's Candid Conversations. SAPA board member Sorelle Brauth, upon hearing of Dennis' passing commented, "I had the good fortune of working with Dennis, when he was a member of the State Energy Commission, appointed by Governor Mario Cuomo. I was DOB’s Assistant to the Commission then and loved both the work and opportunity to work for Dennis. He was a stellar (& smart!) government professional and terrific to work for."

Dennis held various posts at the state and federal levels of government. His obituary in the Albany Times Union can be viewed here. A memorial service is being held Sunday, August 26th at the University Club in Albany, 141 Washington Avenue from 1 to 3 pm.
Fellows Sought for New Mentoring Program
For those of you who responded to our call for mentors, you'll be hearing from us shortly. The mentoring program will be a part of the New Essentials Program (See below) which we expect to start in January 2019. The mentoring component of this will be very important. If you are interested in being a mentor, send a short note to Paul Shatsoff at [email protected]. This is not expected to be time consuming and is a way for you to lend a hand to public administrators who are new to their profession.
New Essentials Program
SAPA's New Essentials Program is presently being finalized. The Program will provide new public administration professionals an opportunity to network with one another and with mid-career and senior public administrators. Six times a year, participants selected for the New Essentials Program will meet in a two-part evening. During the first part, for one hour, participants will learn from and interact with a senior practitioner or panelists who will speak on a topic that relates to a particular theme associated with public administration. The second part of the program will afford an opportunity to discuss the evening's topic and allow participants to network informally with one another and designated SAPA mentors over food and beverage in a restaurant near the lecture site.

Those who successfully complete the program will receive a Certificate of Completion and become eligible to join SAPA. Additional information will be posted shortly on the SAPA website. Stephen Schechter, SAPA's program chair and a member of the Board of Directors is the contact for the New Essentials Program and can be reached at [email protected]
Fellow Accolade - Barbara Zaron
Congratulations to Barbara Zaron, a longtime SAPA Fellow, who this spring received the Pillars of the Community award from the Sidney Albert Albany JCC. Barbara has served as the long-time President of the Board of Directors for the New York State Organization of Management/Confidential Employees (OMCE). She also is a former SAPA Board member.

Note: We like to acknowledge accomplishments of SAPA Fellows. Don't be modest. Send an email to Paul Shatsoff at [email protected] if you or a Fellow that you know has a noted accomplishment.
Tentative Program Schedule Announced
SAPA's 2018-19 program schedule has been posted on the website. Though there are still details to be worked out, please take a look at the topics. If you have suggestions for other topics or a particular spin that you would like to see on the topics posted, please let us know at [email protected]. To view the tentative program schedule, visit the event page on our website.
SAPA Dues
It's unfortunate this year that we lost about 18 Fellows who knowingly or unknowingly failed to pay their dues. After some consternation and much conversaton the Board felt that they gave everyone ample opportunity to pay dues which are required to pay for SAPA's programs. If you are receiving this newsletter, you paid your dues or are new to the organization (the balance of the year for the latter category of Fellows is dues free). So thank you for continuing to support SAPA.