FCW was on the party circuit this weekend at the 8th annual Connect for a Cure Gala benefiting the Capitol Chapter's Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, and this was a classy event. (Here are photos from last year's event.)
From this year's event, there were some moments when I wished that I had a camera such as seeing and hearing Charles Havekost, the CIO at the Department of Health and Human Services, on stage playing his guitar and singing – and doing it well! I mean, he's really good!
It also is a very good cause. Yes, I know there are many good causes out there, but is was touching to hear young victims of juvenile diabetes talk about their plight. They do it with poise. They aren't complaining, but one person was talking about repeatedly having to get blood sugar level counts and inject insulin several times a day. As an owner of a diabetic Beagle -- yes, animals can be diabetic too! -- I know it can be quite an issue.
But, given that this is an event hosting the government IT community, there was some shop talk going on. Much of the buzz was about GSA, needless to say. Despite the mixed metaphors in this week's issue (shattering glass on the cover and then 'righting the ship' on the inside), the GSA problems are a huge issue that just doesn't seem to be gripping the attention of leaders either at the White House, OMB, or on Capitol Hill.
The feeling out there is that GSA still does not have its arms around the full scope of the problems. We hope that people are wrong about that.
I have covered Marty Wagner for years. I have never worked for him, of course, but there is a sense that if anybody can fix the problems, it would be him. He knows the organization very well, and he seems to be a very talented leader who is able to galvanize people to a cause and who seems ready to tackle the big issues and making the big decisions. But the agency sure faces some big issues.
The real question is what is the role of GSA these days?
Thoughts?
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