This is the sort of information request that should be easily searchable, but any search terms I’ve thought to use have yielded a load of dross. So I’m turning to the collective brainpower of CT’s readers.
My beneficent employer, ICANN, has just opened an office in Washington D.C. (I’m still based in L.A., mope, boo, hiss). I’m here for a few days and just realised I don’t know what the authoritative source is for D.C. organizations is. Strikes me it’s the sort of thing we should have around the office.
When I worked in Brussels, it was easy enough to find comprehensive directories of trade associations, member state delegations, lobbyists, NGOs and the rest of the ragtag of organizations that gather around centres of political power. Does anyone know of a publication, ideally paper-based, with this info for Washington-based organisations? And where I might purchase such a tome?
{ 12 comments }
Steve Laniel 08.26.08 at 4:03 pm
How about the Lobbying Disclosure Act Database?
Hat tip to my friend Andrew, to whom I passed this question. He writes, “As for the rest of it, I’m pretty sure there are public relations firms that collect all that in one place, but they do it for $$$.”
Mary Kay 08.26.08 at 4:18 pm
The Gale Company produces a range of publications in it’s Encyclopedia of Associations series which would probably give you what you need. They seem to be available both in hard copy and online, and some in cd-rom. Of course, none of them are cheap, but back in the days when I was a librarian, they were our go to source for this sort of info.
MKK
geo 08.26.08 at 4:47 pm
I’m still based in L.A., mope, boo, hiss
Don’t the palm trees make you happy?
Jim 08.26.08 at 4:48 pm
The Leadership Directories
Delicious Pundit 08.26.08 at 4:55 pm
I’m with Geo. Don’t be a hater. Come to the Sunday Farmers’ Market in Hollywood and get some avocados and strawberries (Gaviotas, the kind that don’t ship), some tamales, and maybe some watermelon lemonade from the nice people who come down from Solvang.
Maria 08.26.08 at 5:34 pm
Too right. Down with haters. Life’s too short.
I was thinking this morning of a post of things I like about L.A. Maybe I’ll give that a lash now.
Maria 08.26.08 at 5:35 pm
Thank you very much for the info, Steve and Mary.
Maria 08.26.08 at 5:40 pm
Thanks, Jim.
cpareader 08.26.08 at 8:11 pm
The best thing about LA is that it’s between Venice and Pasadena; the worst that it’s between Orange County and Malibu.
Plenty of nature in Griffith Park. ditto the San Gabriels. Burbank Airport is small enough to be fun to travel to and from. Many farmers’ markets with delicious produce all year round. Also excellent large ethnic grocery stores, Korean, Mexican, Armenian.
The great drawback is transportation. “I gotta get off of those LA freeways without gettin’ killed or caught.” When I worked in Glendale I eschewed living in a really pretty area in favor of being able to walk to my office.
Another plus, perhaps is that apparently no one is old. In the 16-story building where I worked, there were only two women with gray hair, one of whom was me.
cpareader 08.26.08 at 8:12 pm
Sorry for the misplaced comment.
Maria 08.26.08 at 8:13 pm
No problem, cpa reader. I’ll delete from this thread if you re-post it on the other.
Charlie 08.26.08 at 9:32 pm
Maria, there are a series of books called the “yellow books” — News Media Yellow Book, Federal Yellow Book, Congressional Yellow Book, etc. I think they put out separate directories on NGOs, Associations, Law firms, etc. I think they’re the best by far, but they are expensive. The upside, however, is that you get a new book every quarter with a yearly subscription, meaning that they keep pretty up-to-date.
Comments on this entry are closed.