Public servants doing public service

Every day, procurement professionals support their communities by being good stewards of public funds. Just doing the job of procurement supports the community where procurement professionals work every day. Additionally, procurement professionals are giving back to the local community where NIGP Forum is being held simply by attending. Meetings and conventions generate more than $11 billion in state and local tax revenue in the United States, which helps communities thrive and keeps people employed.

Here are several additional opportunities for NIGP Forum 2012 attendees to “give back:”

Communities in Schools of Seattle (CISS). NIGP is committed to supporting the local communities where Forum is held, and this year is partnering with Communities In Schools of Seattle (CISS). CISS works in public schools to close the achievement gap and bolster graduation rates for students with high dropout risk factors such as low academic achievement and poor attendance. Seattle public schools face a 30 percent dropout rate. For youth of color and low-income youth, the dropout rate is even greater. The average yearly cost of school supplies for a child is more than $60. This burden forces many families to decide between feeding their family and purchasing school supplies. With the help of CISS, this struggle for families is eliminated.

Backpack Drive. NIGP will be conducting a backpack drive at Forum in Seattle. Attendees can bring a new backpack and fill it with pencils, erasers, crayons, and paper and help a child in need be prepared for the first day of school. This year’s Forum falls two weeks before the start of school in Seattle – perfect timing. Anyone who cannot bring donations to Forum can take advantage of several office supply stores within walking distance of the Washington State Convention Center. Donations will be accepted at the NIGP Registration Center Saturday, August 18, through Monday, August 20. On Tuesday, August 21, the donation box will be located in the exhibit hall near the Communities In Schools’ booth. Donations will be transported directly after the close of the exhibit hall. Exhibitors can also participate by donating leftover trade show items, gift cards, cash and items included on the schools’ wish lists.

Northwest Harvest. The mission of Northwest Harvest is to provide nutritious food to hungry people statewide in a manner that respects their dignity, while fighting to eliminate hunger. Their vision is to have ample nutritious food available to everyone in Washington State. Forum attendees are devoting time on Saturday, August 18 (noon to 4 p.m.) to work in their warehouse to package items for their food banks. Transportation, lunch and a t-shirt are provided to each volunteer.

Let’s gather together to show Seattle what our NIGP community is all about.

Cheral Jones is procurement unit manager of Washington state’s Department of Enterprise Services, Contracts and Legal Services, Master Contract and Consulting, Olympia, Wash.; and Carrie Rawn is director of conferences and meetings for NIGP: The Institute for Public Procurement, Herndon, Va.