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Just before I left Federal Computer Week, I came up with an idea of creating a book club for feds. Now that I’m over at Federal News Radio, we’re working with FCW on the book club. But the great thing is that we get to talk to the author of these books.

Before I go through history of it, I want to let everybody know the book that we have selected. The first book club book is The SPEED of Trust: The One Thing That Changes Everything by Stephen M.R. Covey. (I have the Amazon.com Kindle e-book version, of course.)

On Nov. 19, Covey will join us on Federal News Radio’s In Depth with Francis Rose for an hour. Joining Rose and Covey and me will be Dave Wennergren, the Defense Department deputy chief information officer and one of the wisest people that I know… and one of the most avid readers.

This idea is actually borrowed from Wennergren — and Oprah Winfrey, of course. Oprah has been having her book clubs for a few years. As an avid reader, particularly of business books, I think there are lessons that we can share. Wennergren — an avid reader. I often just follow him around writing down titles of books — but he has long used books as a way to build teams. FCW is working on a story about Wennergren as the government IT’s Oprah. Earlier, when he was the CIO at the Department of the Navy, FCW did a story about his leadership style — and we referred to his book clubs, which he refers to as Expanding Boundaries.

So when I came up with this idea, I asked Wennergren if he would be interested in participating… and if he had any good ideas for books. He is the one who suggested The Speed of Trust.

We are going to do this regularly. We’re going to try to have Wennergren involved in a few of these a year — as much as he can, is able, and his schedule allows.

I just started Covey’s book — and, to be honest, I didn’t know anything about it until Winnergren recommended it. It is essentially about how to build trust across an organization so you can accomplish your mission.

We also want to tap your thoughts. What we’re looking for are the books books that would help people in government — or who do business with government — do their jobs better.

So… the specifics…

What: The Federal News Radio Book Club… the inaugural book: The SPEED of Trust: The One Thing That Changes Everything by Stephen M.R. Covey
When: Nov. 19 at 2p ET
Where: Federal News Radio 1500 AM and FederalNewsRadio.com

And yes — you can participate. Go read the book… and then send us your thoughts, insights and comments. What spoke to you and how you do your job? What did Covey leave out?

There are all sorts of ways to reach us.

• Let us know your question before the show. Just leave a message on our new comment line: 877-936-8250. You can be anonymous if that works for you. We can then ask your question or play your comment on the air.
• E-mail me at chris at chrisdorobek.com.
• E-mail Francis at frose at federalnewsradio.com

This is a first. It is an experiment. We welcome your thoughts on this concept. Let us know what works — and what doesn’t. And if you want to suggest future books, you can do that too by just leaving a message here on the blog as well.

Regardless, mark your calendar for two weeks from today… Nov. 19 at 2p ET.