What happens in Vegas does not stay in Vegas!

Mike Causey

What happens in Vegas does not stay in Vegas!

Remember when conferences were fun-filled, let-it-all-hang-out events? Those good old days may be gone for good, says Senior Correspondent Mike Causey.

Mike Causey@mcauseyWFED

September 30, 2014 2:00 am

3 min read

Was the last government-related conference you attended like the fun-filled, let-it-all-hang-out events of olden days? As in before 2010.

Or was it more like being ordered to clear a bureaucratic minefield, or to attend a low-budget wake where a handful of nervous mourners kept eyeing the exit? For the past few years, that has been pretty much the drill at once fun-filled events.

Jeff Neely’s wife posted this photo on social media of Neely at a luxury hotel. (Photo: Google+)

Until recently, off-site meetings sponsored by federal agencies or hosted by fed-related groups were fun, fun, fun. Tons of people attended. There were games, prizes and entertainment. And the events were often held in neat places, like Palm Springs, New Orleans, Orlando or Las Vegas. Not in PC D.C.

Usually, the conferences are held in summer when rates are down and where government per diem — plus freebies — is ample. Gone, at least for the foreseeable future, are those days. Because …

Blame the Great Recession, in part. Also, bad (as in stinks bad) publicity over excessive partying and spending for low registrations at once- respected annual training and networking events. Many of the long-running and successful sessions have been canceled or curtailed. Those that continued saw their attendance plummet 60 percent in some instances.

The spit hit the fan in 2012 when Congress and the media zeroed in on a “lavish” official romp in Las Vegas. The western region of the General Services Administration held an $822,000 conference at a plush resort casino.

The then head of the region, Jeff Neely, said he wanted it to be over-the-top. And apparently it was. It may not have been the first, or most lavish in the history of government, but it was a story that grew “legs.” Before it was over, the head of the GSA fired some top aides and resigned, herself.

Last week, Neely was indicted by a grand jury in San Francisco. There were a number of issues, but the Las Vegas romp got the judicial ball rolling.

There have been similar bad bits of publicity since then highlighting lavish spending and a wheels-up-rings-off atmosphere. Not the first in government, to be sure. But maybe the last, at least for a while.

NEARLY USELESS FACTOID:

By Michael O’Connell

The suggested temperature range for a hot tub is between 102 and 104 degrees Fahrenheit. Although many manufacturers set their hot tubs at 104 degrees, that temperature may be too hot for some individuals. That temperature, for example, would be too hot for children. Seniors and those with heart conditions should check with a doctor to determine their ideal hot tub temperature.

Source: Hot Tub Man.

MORE FROM FEDERAL NEWS RADIO:

VA IG unwinds tale of procurement fraud, abuse involving senior agency officials, FedBid
A senior Veterans Affairs Department procurement official and executives at a popular federal government contractor are embroiled in a tale of allegedly committing procurement fraud, lying to investigators, retaliating against whistleblowers and misusing agency resources.

DoD to propose stricter lending protections for military members
The Defense Department is set to propose tighter rules that it says would close several loopholes in current regulations that are designed to protect service members from predatory lenders.

Mike Causey

Mike Causey is senior correspondent for Federal News Network and writes his daily Federal Report column on federal employees’ pay, benefits and retirement.

Follow @mcauseyWFED