Move over 'American Idol,' there’s a new contest in town -- FedPitch

It's not American Idol, Survivor, or even The Gong Show, but at the FedPitch 2008 competition you won't have to sing or dance either. To take the stage, all you need is a smart two-minute pitch on how to improve the federal government.

Scott Derrick, the event's architect and the founder of 13L, a group of mid-career federal employees promoting FedPitch, said the contest is designed to inspire better workforce management.

"We don't anticipate having a gong up there. But if people don't get to it in 30 minutes," Derrick warned, "the goal here is for it to be fun."

On May 7, 13L and four co-sponsors will host FedPitch 2008 on the National Mall for Public Service Recognition Week, which kicks off on May 5. The competition is meant to foster "new approaches for retaining, engaging, motivating" the federal workforce, Derrick said. The winner will attend a dinner with judges and key federal employees to strategize ways to implement the idea.

"We didn't want the competition to end, the winner to be announced and that would be the end," he said.

Whether it's a college student or a longtime federal employee, anyone older than 18 is invited to compete. They must submit an original, refreshing and realistic idea that can lead to better government. And if a strong pitch needs sharpening, don't worry.

"Part of this is an educational experience for young folks to be able to present an idea in a short amount of time," said Derrick, who noted that after submissions have been vetted by a screening committee, voluntary practice sessions will be offered to polish 20 semi-finalists for the stage and, well, the real world. "If you've got two minutes -- people's attention spans are very short."

Proposals will be accepted through April 18 at www.FedPitch.org, and finalists will be announced on April 26. Pitches can be submitted by individuals or teams, and contest information soon will be posted on 13L's Web site. The inaugural contest will depend mostly on word of mouth, Derrick said, adding that his group contacted a dozen Washington area universities to help promote the event. Next year, his group would like to expand FedPitch to other cities, through video feeds or even YouTube clips from the event.

"If we can demonstrate that FedPitch has some merit, and the people respond to it, then perhaps next year we can build on that," said Derrick.

FedPitch's co-sponsors include the Council for Excellence in Government, the Partnership for Public Service, Young Government Leaders, and the American University's Institute for the Study of Public Policy Implementation. The contest will be moderated by Timothy B. Clark, editor in chief of Government Executive.

Robert Tobias, director of the Institute for the Study of Public Policy, was pleased to sign on as a judge. "It was an excellent idea to provide individuals an opportunity to make suggestions and to think hard on ideas that would otherwise not be heard," he said.

Judges are seeking proposals that demonstrate a need, and technical solutions are at a premium. Millennials, 18- to 29-year-olds known for their savvy in Web 2.0 technology, are especially encouraged to participate. Overall, the submissions received so far -- which include computer tools to streamline job placement and the application process -- have been encouraging, Derrick said.

FedPitch 2008 offers those who are tired of complaining about federal management a chance to improve it, said Kate Hudson Walker, president of Young Government Leaders and a judge for the competition.

"There's a tendency for people working in bureaucracies to forget that they can institute change, and that change can be initiated at any level of an organization," she said.

With 50 percent of the baby boomer workforce eligible for retirement in the next 10 years, Walker said, getting the voice of the younger generation is important. As for proposals, she offered some bits of wisdom: First, avoid "pie in the sky" ideas; second, rely on the old truism KISS -- Keep It Simple, Stupid.

"You only have two minutes up on the stage," she said. "So you've got to get to the bottom line first."

Walker encouraged greener applicants to talk to leaders in the field, particularly authorities in human resources and professors who once worked in government and retired with "a Ph.D. in life." Proposals vetted by such specialists have a better chance of making the first cut, she said.

"I would talk to somebody at [the Office of Personnel Management]," said Walker, who noted that OPM has a variety of human capital programs to help agencies improve the hiring process and to recruit skilled employees who might also be considering jobs in the private sector. "Don't be afraid of calling someone," she said.

Other FedPitch judges include:

• Tom Fox, director of the Annenberg Leadership Institute at the Partnership for Public Service
• Norm Lorentz, vice president at the Council for Excellence in Government
• Orice Williams, director of financial markets and community investment, Government Accountability Office