2010 IRS conference featured 'happiness expert,' $17K art session

The now infamous 2010 Internal Revenue Service conference in California — where goofy, expensive video parodies were shown — also featured $135,000 in spending on outside speakers like a "happiness expert" and a session titled "Leadership Through Art," congressional sources briefed on an upcoming inspector general's report told NBC News Monday night.

The IRS hired 15 speakers to present at the conference in Anaheim, Calif., including $11,430 for positive psychology guru Shawn Achor — referred to as a "happiness expert" by the sources — to lead a 90-minute workshop and $17,000 for artist Erik Wahl to hold a session that used painting as a learning tool, said those familiar with the report.

During his presentation, Wahl painted a portraits of Michael Jordan, Abraham Lincoln, Bono, and the Statue of Liberty, according to the sources. Wahl also lists the National Security Agency and U.S. Chamber of Commerce as clients on his website.

Two of these paintings were given away to conference attendees, at least one of the paintings was auctioned to benefit the Combined Federal Campaign, and one was lost, according the report by the U.S. Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA), the sources said.

In addition to that, tens of thousands of dollars were spent so that IRS employees could also hear from an "innovation expert" and a "diversity and inclusion expert."

Working as a Program Manager for private industry, I’ve planned or assisted planning dozens of events. Some were quite important. Everything purchased was carefully reviewed to ensure it met a strict criteria. Was it moral? Was it a gift? Was it too expensive? Was it excessively elaborate? Was it too expensive?

None of these criteria apparently apply to government. (Nor do they apply to the company CEO when he says they’ll have a meeting at a golf resort. I guess they only apply to the rest of the business. I never dealt in the highest company sphere. But I gather events at this level are a write-off.)

The Combined Federal Campaign?

First I've heard of this boondoggle. According to the website getting a copy of the 'charities' is somewhat difficult for a citizen who pays for this crap!

The mission of the CFC is to promote and support philanthropy through a program that is employee focused, cost-efficient, and effective in providing all federal employees the opportunity to improve the quality of life for all.

To request a CFC Charity List and/or a pledge form, please contact your local CFC office. Our Campaign Locator will assist you in identifying the CFC office where your official duty station is located.

CFC is the world's largest and most successful annual workplace charity campaign, with almost 200 CFC campaigns throughout the country and overseas raising millions of dollars each year. Pledges made by Federal civilian, postal and military donors during the campaign season (September 1st to December 15th) support eligible non-profit organizations that provide health and human service benefits throughout the world. The Director of OPM has designated responsibility for day-to-day management of the program and to its CFC office.

This website will be of interest to anyone interested in workplace giving. It is tailored to meet the particular needs of the Federal donor, CFC Campaigns, and charities participating in or considering participation in the CFC. Campaigns, donors and charities can enter through a portal above or navigate by topic with the sidebar links on your left. If you have comments or questions, please contact the Office of CFC at cfc@opm.gov.

Smell a rat? Perhaps it's a way to funnel money into Democrat campaign chests, or donations to the CPUSA?

http://www.opm.gov/combined-federal-campaign/

RE :”The now infamous 2010 Internal Revenue Service conference in California — where goofy, expensive video parodies were shown — also featured $135,000 in spending on outside speakers like a “happiness expert” and a session titled “Leadership Through Art,” congressional sources briefed on an upcoming inspector general’s report told NBC News Monday night. “

I have Friends who work directly FOR agencies here (Maryland) like social security and NSA and they been doing stuff like this for Decades , although under Bush they did hire contractors rather than direct government employees.

One single Mom I know who is a direct government employee (protected civil servant) here used to say to me ;”I would never go back to a real job. Working is terrible, it has deadlines and limited leave and they can lay you off or fire you. Here I can concentrate on my personal life without worries..”

I've sat through a few company meetings where the bosses brought in some half-assed motivational speaker or "entertainer". I didn't know of a single employee who wouldn't have just rather had that time off or even be back working at their desks. The most common response seemed to be a variation of "well that's an hour of my life I'll never get back." I wonder if the IRS employees who had to attend this crap felt the same way or if they just loved the speakers.

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