U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIORBUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT
California

News.bytes, BLM CaliforniaNews.bytes Extra, issue 172

BLM Director presents Award for Innovation in Management, Performance and Public Service to California Web editors

The Director's Award for Innovation in Management, Performance, and Public Service is given out on special occasions to commend BLM employees for service "above and beyond" the call of duty. BLM Director Kathleen Clarke was on hand in Sacramento last week to announce the awards to BLM-California Field Office Webmasters - and to present the awards in person to several recipients who were able to attend.


From left: BLM California State Director Mike Pool; Larry Ames - Ukiah Field Office; Debra Jeffers - Alturas Field Office; Barb Williams - full-time volunteer with Folsom Field Office; Richard Graham - full-time volunteer with Bakersfield Field Office; (partially hidden) Laurie Morrow - Bishop Field Office, BLM Director Kathleen Clarke; Diana Milton - Surprise Field Office; Murl Shaver, Needles Field Office; Jeff Graham - State Office Information Resource Management Webmaster (contractor).

Also sharing in the award but unable to attend the ceremony were: John Price - Arcata Field Office; Robert Raver - Barstow Field Office; Anita Rubio - Eagle Lake Field Office; Valerie Kastoll - El Centro Field Office; Eric Wergeland - Hollister Field Office; Gary Cotterell - Palm Springs/South Coast Field Office; Traci Hallstrom - Redding Field Office and Loretta Pedersen - Ridgecrest Field Office.

These employees - park rangers, public contact reps, system administrators, purchasing agents, interpretive specialists, and outdoor recreation planners - are also "collateral-duty" webmasters dedicated to customer service and expanding electronic government through daily updates to the BLM CA web site. They provide immediate information on land use planning efforts and documents, public meetings, public comment periods, recreation opportunities, volunteer opportunities, visitor services, public health and safety, serving communities through law enforcement, emergency land closures, fire restrictions, regulations, rules, policy and program updates.

They were instrumental in surpassing BLM CA web statistic goals in 2003, achieving almost 31 million hits from public visitors. Our tracking shows these hits come from more than 10,000 unique or separate visitors every week. And the frequent web updates encourages web visitors to come back often. Web updates related to breaking news and key issues are used with BLM CA's e-newsletter, News.bytes, communicating with 50,000 subscribers each week.

"I think all of us recognize the importance of the World Wide Web in serving our BLM customers," Director Clarke said. In presenting the awards, she also noted that:

  • Studies show that visitors to websites want to feel "connected" -- they may want information, they may want a service, or they may want to get involved as a volunteer.
  • Whatever their desires, we want to satisfy them and help them get "connected" to the BLM. Your webmasters here in California are doing that in an outstanding and creative manner.
  • The BLM CA web team is richly deserving of the Director's Award for their hard work and dedication in communicating the BLM's programs and priorities through the Web.


Above: Kathleen Clarke addresses BLM California State Office staff.

Below: State Director Mike Pool addresses the staff.

News.bytes, issue 172 - 9/1/04