Chuck Bean named as COG’s new executive director [News, 11.15.12]

The Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments has named Chuck Bean as it’s next executive director, effective December 13th. Chuck currently leads the Nonprofit Roundtable of Greater Washington. Frank Principi, chair of COG’s board of directors, says of Bean (WaPo, 11/14):

He’s got a decade of experience of doing what COG does — bringing together the public, private, nonprofit, military and academic communities . . . and then proposing solutions to some of our most pressing problems, like traffic, water and homeland security.

WRAG’s Tamara Copeland says,

“As president of the Nonprofit Roundtable, Chuck has been a key leader in the region’s nonprofit community. I am thrilled that Chuck will continue to be part of the 8 Neighbors community as the head of COG, and especially pleased to hear of his commitment to the Region Forward initiative. I look forward to working with him in this new role.”

Congratulations, Chuck!

Related: Following the announcement, Chuck sent this message to the community.

WRAG | Thank you to everyone who came out to our 2012 Annual Meeting yesterday. We had a blast, and hope you did too! If you missed it, we’ll have photos and videos to share soon. Paul Schmitz, CEO of Public Allies, gave an inspiring keynote speech on leadership. Last month, Gretchen reviewed his book Everyone Leads: Building Leadership from the Community Up.

JOBS
- D.C. Mayor Vincent Gray has announced a comprehensive and wide-ranging plan to create 100,000 new jobs within the next five years.  (Examiner, 11/15)

Related: Digging into the plan, Greater, Greater Washington says, Gray sets out solid vision for economic development (GGW, 11/15)

HEALTH
- Kaiser Permanente‘s Community Ambassador program, which matches physicians with safety-net clinics in the region, was profiled on NBC4. (NBC4, 11/14)

- Health exchange law gives area officials a headache (Examiner, 11/15)

EDUCATION
- On Tuesday, Chancellor Kaya Henderson revealed a list of 20 D.C. public schools throughout the city that are slated to be closed due to under-enrollment. The final decision to close the schools will be made by the mayor after a series of public meetings. (WTOP, 11/14)

- Needless to say, the proposal is already being met with significant resistance from parents and teachers. (WaPo, 11/15)

HOUSING
- Montgomery County lawmakers want specifics in affordable housing plan (Examiner, 11/5)

- Arlington Board to Vote on Controversial Year-Round Homeless Center (Patch, 11/15)

PHILANTHROPY
- Happy National Philanthropy Day! This is now an actual holiday…in Canada. (AFP, 11/5) Given the sector we work in, I’m not quite sure why I’m in the office today.

- A recent study shows that the down economy negatively affected charitable giving in the first six months of 2012. (Chronicle, 11/13)

TRANSIT | High-speed ferry service for the region? (WTOP, 11/15) Yes, please!

Fortunately, the awkward situation in the recurring nightmare I have about important events did not come to pass at the Annual Meeting yesterday. The same can’t be said for David Cameron earlier this week.

-Rebekah