DorobekInsider

Focusing on six words: Helping government do its job better

Posts Tagged ‘community’

DorobekInsider: Feds making a difference in Nicaragua

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Bridges to Community in Nicaragua

Originally uploaded by cdorobek

For the past three years, about 20 people from the government IT community have taken a week out of their lives to give back. They travel to a small town in Nicaragua to help build a town. It is part of a program called Bridges to Community and it is led by Leslie Barry, vice president of government affairs and business development for GTSI.

On Sept. 22, we spoke to Barry on Federal News Radio’s Daily Debrief with Chris Dorobek and Amy Morris. You can hear that interview here. [.mp3]

There is still time to attend the fundraiser on Thursday. Get information here.

I’ve posted one photo here, but… you can see a slideshow of photos from the 2008 trip. You can also read more about her 2007 trip from FCW, which features a conversation I had with Barry — complete with photos. FCW also spoke to Barry in 2006.

I’ve posted one photo here, but… you can see a slideshow of photos from the 2008 trip. You can also read more about her 2007 trip from FCW, which features a conversation I had with Barry — complete with photos. FCW also spoke to Barry in 2006.

Written by cdorobek

October 1, 2008 at 7:21 AM

Posted in after hours, Circuit, community

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DorobekInsider.com: The 09.16 Marty Wagner update

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I know many of us keep Marty Wagner in our thoughts.

New readers to the Dorobek Insider may not know about Martin Wagner. It is a story that I have been following closely and Wagner is somebody who somebody that the government IT community is keeping in its collective thoughts.

If you don’t know Wagner — I know him as Marty — he is the government IT thinker. As I said earlier this year at FCW:

Wagner has a remarkable combination of talents and skills — he is remarkably honest, and yet never comes across as arrogant, prickly, or in people’s face. That gives him a remarkable ability to question people on issues, and yet not make them defensive. Yet through his questions and by pressing them, he spurs people to go beyond where they could have gone otherwise. He thinks, ponders, and he puts those thoughts into action. Heelicits loyalty, and he builds teams.

So if you don’t know him… get to know him.

Unfortunately, on July 6, Wagner fell off the roof of his Arlington, VA house and has essentially been in a coma since then. Back in July, I wrote how Wagner was only the latest illustration that there is, in fact, a community.

And Wagner’s case has also illustrated the power of the Web to bring people together — and share information.

The family is using a wonderful Web site called CarePages.com, part of Steve Case’s Revolution Health initiative. Care Pages lets people get updated on the status… and I was actually getting a bit concerned because there hadn’t been an update in awhile. But… just as I was getting worried, there was an update…

Martin continues to make some small improvements that are noticeable to visitors and, we hope, are an indication of more to come. The removal of his arm splint and, last week, his cervical collar are definite steps in the right direction. His therapists have focused on helping him develop neck control. This helps since he has been turning his head from side to side for the past few weeks. He is doing well on breathing on his own with histrach plugged. He is building up his endurance and is expected to soon be fully weaned off the trach tube in his throat. He will probably move to a different floor at the Woodbine facility, since he will no longer need supervision by respiratory therapists. His beard is now gone and he looks a lot more like his old self as a result. Small but clear movement on his left side now routinely includes the leg and foot. Staff and visitors alike note that he often seems to track his left eye to voices and commands. Nothing is 100% consistent, however, and his alert periods come and go. He needs a lot of rest in order to heal. His nurses are trying hard to combat the bed sores that come from ten weeks of coma in bed. To the many of you who have visited Martin, thank you so much. The encouragement your presence gives him is highly valuable to his recovery. I also appreciate the observations you provide in emails and notes in his guest book–they help us monitor his condition.

Please keep Wagner in your thoughts. It really does help the family. And it is particularly important now. There was almost too much attention immediately following Wagner’s accident — the family was overwhelmed. But your thoughts now — just a simple note — would be greatly appreciated, I am convinced.

I will continue to be a funnel. You can send something to me at Federal News Radio. The address is here:

Christopher Dorobek
for Martin Wagner
c/o Federal News Radio 1500 AM WFED
3400 Idaho Ave, NW
Washington, DC 20016

I’ll make sure it gets to the family.

And our thoughts are with Wagner’s wife and kids. Hang in there!

Written by cdorobek

September 16, 2008 at 11:00 PM

Posted in Circuit

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DorobekInsider.com: What Deirdre Murray does for her weekends

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So if you wondered what Qwest’s Deirdre Murray does for the weekend, we now know… because we read it on the front page of the Washington Post’s Metro section this morning.

A Social Splash [WP, 09.02.2008]
Group Beach Houses for Over-50 Singles Do a Boomer Business
Mary Lou, Sue, Deirdre, Paull, Joe, Judith and Roy share a group beach house for singles on the Eastern Shore. But it’s not what you think.

This is how the world sees group beach houses: ratty shag carpets and drunken 20-somethings passed out under beer pong tables. Boozy pickups and one-night stands.

This is life at the Cottage, as Mary Lou and the others have dubbed their well-appointed house: tennis matches in the morning and cocktails on the beach in the late afternoon. Their first party this year was a black-tie affair, and a recent dinner featured grilled swordfish steaks and pinot grigio, accompanied by gazpacho served in chilled martini glasses.

And the singles? They’re all over 50. Some are way over 50, though they’d rather not be more specific. ” Nobody knows how old I am,” Cottage member Joe Herbert said.

The Cottage is one of about 10 singles beach houses in Rehoboth and Dewey Beach for the “mature” set. They have names like the Heartbreakers, the Bird House, Sunsations and Summer Dreams. The singles host progressive gourmet dinner parties and take turns throwing the weekly, invitation-only cocktail party.

Continue reading the story here

Written by cdorobek

September 2, 2008 at 9:06 PM

Posted in Circuit, Industry, Off-topic

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