News Briefs

THE DAILY FED

News Briefs

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The following news summaries are from OPM AM, the daily newsletter of the Office of Personnel Management. OPM AM is available on OPM Mainstreet, the agency's electronic bulletin board, at 202-606-4800.

WELFARE-TO-WORK--Vice President Al Gore today saluted the efforts of three OPM employees who are part of an interagency team that helped welfare recipients move off the welfare rolls and into new lives as federal employees. OPM's Janet Cope, Linda Brick, and Diane Tyrrell received the award with employees from other federal agencies from Vice President Gore in a ceremony at the Old Executive Office Building (Office of Communications News Release, 10/8/97).

NPC MEETS--Janice R. Lachance, Acting Director of OPM, Clinton administration officials and representatives of trade unions met with the NPC in Ithaca, New York (The Ithaca Journal, 10/8/97)

THE FEDERAL DIARY--Most federal employees appear to be following a long-term financial plan based on their age, goals and risk- tolerance when it comes to investing in the Thrift Savings Plan. Data showing the 12-month performance of the TSP's three funds will be published in tomorrow's column (The Washington Post).

HMO STUDY--Gauging the quality of health care isn't easy, but a massive study rating services and care provided by health maintenance organizations offers some numbers that might help you decide how well your plan is doing (USA TODAY).

HEALTH COSTS--Business executives and economists fear that employee health care costs are poised to rocket, after almost three years of increases of less than 1% (USA TODAY).

CONFERENCE ANNOUNCEMENTS

Access America Conferences

The National Performance Review (NPR), will launch a series of informational conferences aimed at providing government employees and private industry IT officials with techniques and strategies for implementing the goals of Access America, an NPR report outlining steps to increase access--via the Internet--to government services. The first conference will be held November 3 (changed from September 25) in Baltimore, Md. and then will travel to other cities across the country. Expert panels will discuss IT topics, including Internet/Intranet successes, the future of Distance Learning and collaboration, IT acquisition and procurement reform, and privacy and security.

Industry Advisory Council's Executive Leadership Conference

October 5-7, 1997 Richmond, Virginia. Forty-six hours of exciting and important keynotes, workshops and frank discussions on the topics foremost in the minds of both government and industry leaders such as "How the Internet is changing the way we do business;" "Public vs private competition: Does it make sense?" and "Past Performance of Past Performance." $265 for government attendees and $425 for industry members. Register separately at the Richmond Marriott (804) 643-3400. Contact Mary Ellen Geoffroy, Executive Director of IAC at 703-218-1965.

DTIC Annual Conference

The Defense Technical Information Center is presenting its Annual Users Meeting and Training Conference on Nov. 3-6, 1997 at the DoubleTree Hotel, National Airport, Arlington, Va. The conference theme is Information in the New Millenium. Contact Ms. Julia Foscue at 703-767-8236 or by e-mail at jfoscue@dtic.mil.