Upcoming events:

  

Please join us for the Minnesota Evaluation Association’s Social and Literature Review

 

International Program Evaluation:

A Conversation with Joan Velasquez about her work in Bolivia

 

Monday, May 11th, 2009, 5:00 – 7:00 p.m.

Salon D, Minneapolis Gateway Hotel (formerly 4 Points by Sheraton),

1330 Industrial Boulevard, Minneapolis


5:00–5:30 p.m.   Social time and refreshments

 

5:30-7:00 p.m.   Interview with Joan Velasquez

 

Joan Velasquez retired from her position as director of Ramsey County's Office of Performance Measurement and Evaluation in 1994, and with her husband, Segundo, co-founded Mano a Mano, a nonprofit, volunteer-driven organization that collects and ships discarded but serviceable American goods to Bolivia.  Last year, the national Peace Corps Association recognized Joan with the Sargent Shriver Award for Distinguished Humanitarian Service.  The annual award is named for Peace Corps founder Sargent Shriver and recognizes returned Peace Corps volunteers who continue to make contributions to humanity.  Please join us in a conversation with Joan as she talks about current issues in evaluation of international aid programs and her own work in Bolivia.

 

Literature Review Article:

Bamberger, M. (2000). The evaluation of international development programs; a view from the front.  American Journal of Evaluation, 21, 95-102.  The article is attached to this email and can also be found on the MN EA website http://minnesotaevaluationassociation.googlepages.com/calendarofevents.

 

 

Author Michael Bamberger has been active with the AEA, serving on the Board and as chair of the International Committee.  He was with the World Bank for 25 years and is currently an evaluation consultant.  In this paper, he gives an overview of different approaches in the evaluation of donor-funded projects and programs in developing countries. In our discussion with Joan Velasquez, we will take Bamberger’s ideas and move to the real challenges of doing an evaluation located in another country.  Joan will discuss her work in Bolivia and how she has conducted the evaluation of a program for which she is accountable.

 

For a map and directions to the Minneapolis Gateway Hotel, click

http://www.starwoodhotels.com/fourpoints/property/area/map.html?propertyID=645

Use the Banquet and Meeting Room entrance to the Gateway Hotel. 

This program is free and open to the public.  Light refreshments provided.  Membership information and applications will be available.  For further information, contact Program Committee Chair Sara Thompson(mneaprogramchair@gmail.com). The article The Evaluation of International Development Programs: The View from the Front can be downloaded here.  

 

American Evaluation Association (AEA) Annual Conference  

The American Evaluation Association (AEA) will hold its annual conference Wednesday, November 11, though Saturday, November 14, 2009 at the beautiful Rosen Shingle Creek Resort in Orlando, Florida, USA.

This year’s conference, themed Context and Evaluation, is broken down into 41 Topical Strands which includes 500+ presentations. Content at the conference will span the breadth and depth of the field of evaluation—from exploring traditional and emerging methodologies, to addressing issues related to working internationally and cross-culturally, to delving into applications of evaluation to a range of disciplines.

Practitioners, academics, students, as well as others from various disciplinary backgrounds with an interest in evaluation, are invited. Past conferences have gained attendance from authors of well-known texts as well as representatives of governmental organizations, academia, foundations, and private and non-profit sectors.

For additional information about either the AEA or the 2009 Conference, please contact Membership Director Heidi Nye via email at info@eval.org or via telephone at (888) 232.2275 or (508) 748.3326.