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OPEG Spring Exchange Mailing with Program and Registration
Although we mailed the Spring Exchange Program and Registration to nearly 700 people on the OPEG database in early April, a few of you had addresses that could not be bar-coded by the post office. We are working to update those addresses. In the meanwhile, if you missed the mailing, here it is in its entirety.
Spring Exchange (Friday, May 16, 2008) Program and Registration
To be held at the Fawcett Center in Columbus on May 16th, this year's theme is "Policy Evaluation: What is it, who is doing it, and how?" Dr. Mary Lou Rush, Executive Director of the Center for Students, Families, and Communities at the Ohio Department of Education, and Dr. Ann McCracken, Director of Evaluation at the Health Foundation of Greater Cincinnati, are the keynote speakers. These distinguished professionals will discuss frameworks, best practices, and challenges related to policy evaluation. During breakout sessions, OPEG members will share strategies, resources, and lessons learned from their experiences with policy evaluation as well as general evaluation practice. The program and registration form are available on-line. Mail the completed registration form with payment (check or agency purchase order) by April 25th for the lowest conference rate to:
OPEG
c/o Randy Leite, OPEG Treasurer
172 Dabill Pl.
Lima, OH, 45805
Make checks payable to OPEG. OPEG does not accept credit cards or on-line payments at this time, as the high cost would require us to increase fees. We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience.
Please address any questions about the upcoming Spring Exchange to Nancy Hood, OPEG Vice-President.
Membership Renewal
Please consider joining OPEG or continuing your existing membership. See letter from Rob Fischer, OPEG President, that highlights the benefits of participating in Ohio's evaluation community.
Members Only Section
Please note that we have updated the user name and password. We periodically e-mail those to current members, but if you are a current member and have difficulty accessing this restricted section, contact Jan Upton. We have loaded available presentation materials and resources from OPEG's 2007 Fall Workshop, Excel-lent Tools for Communicating Results featuring Dr. Naomi and Marsha Zabecki (OPEG Board Member). We are in the process of adding presentations from prior OPEG events to this web. In addition, the OPEG Member Directory is on this restricted web page.
Upcoming Non-OPEG Conferences of Possible Interest
Community Research Partners' Change Happens conference is scheduled for Monday, April 28th at COSI. More information is available on their website.
OPEG PowerPoint Presentation, Handout, and Letter from OPEG President
We have prepared additional information about OPEG and evaluation (Powerpoint, Handout) that members are welcome to use. In addition, if you would like an OPEG representative to speak to your group or agency, please contact Debbie Crawford . We also encourage you to read the letter from OPEG President Rob Fischer inviting your active participation in OPEG.
OPEG Service Opportunities
There are a variety of opportunities for OPEG members to become more involved in the organization's activities. See the new Service page for details about available committees, their activities, and contact people. We currently need assistance with the Membership Committee (Contact Debbie Crawford) and we also like to have 2-3 photographers at each event (Contact Jan Upton ). We encourage all members to consider becoming more active in OPEG. It is a great way to build your resume, get to know other evaluators, and promote quality evaluation throughout the state.
Case Western Reserve University Announces Part Time Ph.D. Program in Social Welfare
The Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences (MSASS), Case Western Reserve University, one of the oldest and most established doctoral programs of its kind in the United States, announces the availability of a part time format for doctoral level education in social welfare, in addition to its traditional full time format. The curriculum for the part time format is identical to that for the full time format and prepares students to develop skills needed for critical thinking and applied research. Students in the part time program take a minimum of three courses each year. Courses typically meet on Fridays allowing students who choose to or must maintain their employment to continue with their education. The part time format is structured to maximize interaction among students as well as among students and faculty. Direct hands on learning opportunities are also provided in both teaching and research with individual mentorships from MSASS faculty. For more information, or to apply, please email the program at swphd@case.edu.