makeitsafecampaign.org

The Make It Safe Coalition Cordially Invites You to Attend

The Final Countdown: Honoring 10 Years of Commitment

We are pleased to invite you to the 2010 National Whistleblower Assembly, a two-day conference on Capitol Hill in Washington DC, on Monday, May 24, 2010 and Tuesday, May 25, 2010.  Entitled “The Final Countdown: Honoring 10 Years of Commitment,” this year’s conference will act as a collective final push to get the Whistleblower Protection Enhancement Act (WPEA) out of Congress and adopted into law.

The Make It Safe Coalition Cordially Invites You to Attend

The Final Countdown: Honoring 10 Years of Commitment

Co-Sponsored by:                                               

Government Accountability Project  

American Federation of Government Employees   

Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association                    

National Treasury Employees Union               

Project On Government Oversight   

Semmelweis Society International                

Donors:               

The Employment Law Group

Katz, Marshall & Banks

Taylor & Associates Ltd./ Truckers Justice Center

We are pleased to invite you to the 2010 National Whistleblower Assembly, a two-day conference on Capitol Hill in Washington DC, on Monday, May 24, 2010 and Tuesday, May 25, 2010.  Entitled “The Final Countdown: Honoring 10 Years of Commitment,” this year’s conference will act as a collective final push to get the Whistleblower Protection Enhancement Act (WPEA) out of Congress and adopted into law.

The 2010 National Whistleblower Assembly Aims to:

• Establish a cohesive social network between whistleblowers
• Provide an outlet for direct legislative campaigning
• Celebrate ten years of devoted advocacy to strengthen the Whistleblower Protection Act

The Conference Will Feature:

• A plenary session with our congressional allies
• Theme-based workshops led by prominent whistleblowers and good government organizations
• A national security panel with star whistleblowers in the industry
• Street law and update informational sessions
• A meet and greet with the new appointees to the MSPB, OSHA, and ARB
• Lobby training and optional lobbying appointments with congressional offices

Monday - May 24, 2010

Plenary Session (9:00am-10:30am)
Capitol Visitor’s Center, Congressional Auditorium

• Keynote Speaker: Frank Serpico, Retired NYPD Whistleblower
  Introduction by Tom Devine –  Legal Director, Government Accountability Project (GAP)
  
  
• Message from White House: Norm Eisen, Counsel for Ethics and Government Reform
  Introduction by Danielle Brian – Executive Director, Project on Government Oversight (POGO)
  
  
• Message from Congress: Representative Christopher Van Hollen
  Introduction by Mark Cohen – Executive Director, GAP
  
  
• Message from Congress: Lisa Powell – Staff Director, Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs
  Introduction by: Charity Wilson – Legislative Representative, American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE)
  
  
• Overview of the Whistleblower Protection Enhancement Act:
  Tom Devine – Legal Director, GAP
  Michael German - National Security Counsel, American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU),  former FBI whistleblower

Panels/Workshops (11:00am-12:15pm)
Rayburn House Office Building, CVC Congressional Auditorium, Stewart R. Mott House

• Air Safety Workshop (Rayburn HOB Room 2203)
  FAA Whistleblower Alliance
  
  
• Federal Bureau of Investigation Whistleblower Panel (Rayburn HOB Room 2154)
  National Whistleblower Center
  
  
• Media Training (Rayburn HOB Room 2247)
  Project On Government Oversight 
  
  
• Changing Corportate Behavior; Are We Effectively Using Current Whistleblower Laws? (CVC: Congressional Auditorium)
  Voices for Corportate Responsibility
  
  
• Medical Whistleblower Workshop (Stewart R. Mott House)
  Semmelweis Society International, in conjunction with International Association of Whistleblowers
  
  
• Office of Special Counsel Workshop (Stewart R. Mott House)
  OSC Watch
  

Know Your Rights (12:30pm-1:30pm)
Capitol Visitor’s Center, Congressional Auditorium

• Street Law Sessions for New Whistleblower Rights and Current Legislation

Angela Canterbury – Director of Public Policy, POGO
Tom Devine – Legal Director, GAP
Jason Zuckerman – Employment Law Attorney, the Employment Law Group

Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association's National Security Luncheon (2:00pm-4:00pm)
Stewart R. Mott House,122 Maryland Ave NE Washington DC 20002 (Catering provided by: Green Plate Catering)

• Awards
  
  Jack Spadaro, Mine Safety and Health Administration Whistleblower, Lifetime Achievement Award
  Presented by: Celia Wexler – Washington Representative, Union of Concerned Scientists
  
  Daniel Meyer, DoD OIG Director of Civilian Reprisal Investigations, Public Servant Award
  Presented By: Jeff Ruch – Executive Director, Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER)
  
  Bradley Birkenfeld, UBS Swiss Bank Whistleblower – Accepted by Doug Birkenfeld
  Presented By: Jesselyn Radack - Homeland Security Director, GAP
  

• National Security Panel
  

Panelists:   
Franz Gayl, DoD Civilian Science and Technology Advisoor
Michael German, National Security Council, ACLU
Robert MacLean, Former Federal Air Marshal
Coleen Rowley, former FBI and 9/11 whistleblower
Jesselyn Radack, former DoJ Ethics Lawyer
George Sarris, U.S. Air Force Mechanic

Chair: Chris Schoppmeyer, Vice President, Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association (FLEOA)

Lobby Training with the Center for Lobbying in the Public Interest (4:00pm - 5:00pm)
Stewart R. Mott House

• Intensive lobby training will focus around introducing and reinforcing general lobbying skills as well as talking points for lobbying on behalf of the Whistleblower Protection Enhancement Act
  
  Training led by: Larry Ottinger - President, Ceneter for Lobbying in the Public Interest
  Apprearances by: Tom Devine - Legal Director, GAP; Gordon Hamel - Former Congressional Staffer and Federal Whistleblower

Project On Government Oversight - Meet the New Appointments Reception (5:00pm-7:00pm)
Stewart R. Mott House (Catering provided by: Green Plate Catering)

• Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB) Chairwoman Susan Grundmann, Vice Chairwoman Anne Wagner and Member Mary Rose
• Administrative Review Board (ARB) Chairman Paul Igasaki and Vice Chairman Cooper Brown
• Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Assistant Secretary Dr. David Michaels

Tuesday – May 25, 2010

• Opening Remarks/ Light Breakfast (9:30am-10:00am)
  Stewart R. Mott House (Catering Provided by: Green Plate Catering)
  
  
• Lobbying on the Hill (10:30am-3:30pm)
  Congressional Offices
   
• Closing Reception (3:30pm-5:00pm)
  Stewart R. Mott House (Catering provided by: Green Plate Catering)

Closing Speaker: Daniel Ellsberg, former U.S. Military Analyst and Pentagon Papers Whistleblower
Introduction by: Louis Clark – President, Government Accountability Project

Tuesday will focus around intensive lobbying on Capital Hill. If you are interested in lobbying on Tuesday, we encourage you to make lobbying appointments with your congressional representative as soon as possible.

The National Whistleblower Assembly is opened to the public and free of charge; however, we welcome and encourage your financial support. A tax-deductible donation can be made online, or mailed to the Government Accountability Project, 1612 K St NW, Suite 1100, Washington DC 20006. Please write “2010 NWA” in the designation/memo field to ensure your contribution supports the National Whistleblower Assembly.

To RSVP to this event, please send an e-mail to Becky Jones at GAP: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or call (202) 457-0034 ext. 127.