Welcome!
The 2008 RACSS fall seminar offers programs to bring out your best as a legislative employee. We’ll explore career issues, including flexible schedules, problem employees and multi-generational workplaces. We’ll cover team building and technology innovations, and explore how we learn.
The seminar is being held at the Westin Tampa Harbour Island, located on one of the channel islands in Hillsborough Bay, on the beautiful Gulf Coast of Florida. Surrounded by inland channels and tropical beauty, the location promises to renew your spirit. It’s a short ride on the local streetcar to historic Ybor City where the area’s Latin roots are evident along colorful streets lined with shops and restaurants.
Tampa Bay is Florida’s most populous and affluent area, and offers the vibrancy of an exciting urban center in the relaxed atmosphere of a tropical setting. Nearby are glistening waterways and sparkling white-sand beaches, museums, aquariums, sports venues, shopping and entertainment complexes. Tampa also is within an easy drive of the theme parks and attractions of central Florida.
Join us for a great learning experience in a memorable setting. You’ll leave renewed, with new skills and tools to do your best work for your legislature. |
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The Agenda
| Sunday, October 5, 2008 |
| 3:00 – 5:00 pm |
Registration |
| Monday, October 6, 2008 |
| 7:30 – 8:15 am |
Rise and Shine Morning Workout - optional |
| 8:00 – 5:00 pm |
Registration |
| 8:30 – 9:00 am |
Continental Breakfast |
| 9:00 – 9:15 am |
Welcome and Introductions
Presiding: E.M. Miller, Director, Division of Legislative Services, Virginia; Immediate Past RACSS Chair
Phil Price, Committee Staff Administrator, Bureau of Legislative Research, Arkansas, RACSS Chair |
| 9:15 – 12:00 pm |
Bringing Out the Best In Team Members
More organizations are relying on teams to solve problems and manage programs. How are you at working with teams? Does your personality or work style help or hinder you, especially when you’re working closely with colleagues on teams or projects? Learn how to use your strengths and deal with hurdles to become a better team member.
Moderator: E.M. Miller, Director, Division of Legislative Services, Virginia
Speaker: Nancy Barger, Consultant, BargerKirby Consulting, Colorado |
| 12:00 – 1:15 pm |
Plenary luncheon |
| 1:30 – 3:15 pm |
Can Flexible Schedules Work for Legislative Staff?
With short deadlines, last minute demands, and lots of necessary interaction, is it possible to work from home when you work for the legislature? With the price of gas these days, no doubt we’d all like to! This session looks at how some legislative agencies are experimenting with telecommuting, flexible hours and flex time.
Moderator: Phil Price, Committee Staff Administrator, Bureau of Legislative Research, Arkansas
Speakers: E.M. Miller, Director, Division of Legislative Services, Virginia
Pepper Sturm, Chief Deputy Research Director, Legislative Counsel Bureau, Nevada
Patrick Cushing, Staff Attorney, Division of Legislative Services, Virginia
Byron Brown, Chief Legislative Analyst, OPPAGA, Florida
Mike Christiansen, Director, Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel, Utah
Terea Tiller, Director of Legislative Services, House of Representatives, Mississippi |
| 3:30 – 5:00 pm |
Creative Uses of Technology for Legislatures
Online seminars, podcasts, webinars, CDs and blogs are some of the most recent technology tools states and businesses are using to provide staff training, share research, solve problems, and develop new products and services. This session showcases technology innovations states are considering.
Moderator: E.M. Miller, Director, Division of Legislative Services, Virginia
Speakers: John Rappa, Principal Research Analyst, Office of Legislative Research, Connecticut
William Odeen, Director, Government Relations, Thomson Rueters/West, Minnesota
Marti Harkness, Director, Criminal Justice, OPPAGA, Florida |
| 5:30 – 6:30 pm |
Reception – Sponsored by Thomson Reuters/West
Moderator: Walker Reagan, Staff Attorney, Research Division, North Carolina
Remarks: Gary VanLandingham, Director, OPPAGA, Florida; 2008-09 NCSL Staff Chair |
| Tuesday, October 7, 2008 |
| 7:30 – 8:15 am |
Rise and Shine Morning Workout - optional |
| 8:00 – 5:00 pm |
Registration |
| 8:30 – 9:00 am |
Continental Breakfast - Announcements and Drawing |
| 9:00 – 10:30 am |
Innovative New Member Orientation Programs
New member orientation programs have grown beyond a basic briefing book on legislative rules and procedures. Some legislative agencies stage mock sessions, use role playing, conduct issue briefings, conduct one-on-one training for legislators, or go to district offices to train members and staff. Learn what creative programs other states offer to help new legislators become comfortable with their roles.
Moderator: Mark Mtichell, Committee Staff Administrator, Legislative Research Commission, Kentucky
Speakers: Mary Quaid, Executive Director, House Legislative Services, Louisiana
Patrick O'Grady, Executive Director, Legislative Research Unit, Illinois
Scott Maddrea, Deputy Clerk, Committee Operations, House of Delegates, Virginia
E.M. Miller, Director, Division of Legislative Services, Virginia |
| 10:45 – 12:15 pm |
Navigating (and Celebrating!) the Multi-Generational Legislative Workplace
The typical legislative staff agency has staff at many different points in their career paths, from seasoned veterans to recent college graduates. Learn about the unique perspective each generation brings to the workplace, how to deal with conflicts arising when work is approached from different generational perspectives, and ways to take advantage of each generation’s strengths.
Moderator: E.M. Miller, Director, Division of Legislative Services, Virginia
Speaker: Kate Herbst, SPHR, Human Resources - Sr. Decision Support, RD&E, Altria Client Services, Virginia |
| 12:15 – 1:30 pm |
Lunch on your own |
| 1:30 – 4:00 pm |
Employment Law 101 (CLE)
Think you’ll snooze your way through a program on FLSA, FMLA, WARN and other ominous acronyms? Not in this session! Two Virginia staff attorneys bring stand-up to employment essentials. Whether you’re an employee or a manager, you’ll learn and laugh a lot.
Moderator: E.M. Miller, Director, Division of Legislative Services, Virginia
Speakers: David Rosenberg, Senior Attorney, Division of Legislative Services, Virginia
Amigo Wade, Senior Attorney, Division of Legislative Services, Virginia |
| Wednesday, October 8, 2008 |
| 7:30 – 8:15 am |
Rise and Shine Morning Workout - optional |
| 8:30 – 9:00 am |
Continental Breakfast - Announcements |
| 9:00 – 10:30 am |
The Bad Attitude Survival Guide
Are you working with someone who’s burned out, bummed out or retiring in place? Colleagues with performance or attitude problems can create a negative environment for everyone and present a challenge for managers. Whether you’re staff or a manager, this session will give you practical advice on dealing with difficult employees. Two experienced managers and two senior staff will participate in the discussion, based on The Bad Attitude Survival Guide by Harry E. Chambers.
Moderator: Jerry Bassett, Director, Legislative Reference Services, Alabama
Speakers: Karl Aro, Executive Director, Dept. of Legislative Services, Maryland
Karen Holliday, Legislative Analyst, Bureau of Legislative Research, Arkansas
Charlotte Carter-Yamauchi, First Assistant, Legislative Reference Bureau, Hawaii |
| 10:30 – 12:00 pm |
Researching on the Run
“You need that 50-state survey by yesterday?” Welcome to the legislature. Completing a 50-state survey under these circumstances is difficult when it’s a topic you know about; it’s almost impossible when it’s a new topic. This session shows how you can approach this task in a way that reduces stress and the time needed to complete it. Learn how to identify your learning style and process the information you gathered to accommodate that style, overcome writer’s blocks by seeing the writing process as a continuation of the learning process, and convey the information you gather so your audience can process it quickly and easily.
Moderator: Pepper Sturm, Chief Deputy Research Director, Legislative Counsel Bureau, Nevada
Speaker: John Rappa, Principal Research Analyst, Office of Legislative Research, Connecticut |
| 12:00 – 1:30 pm |
Lunch on your own |
| 1:30 – 5:30 pm |
Networking on the Water – Dolphin Cruise
What better way to end the seminar than with a cruise with your colleagues to watch dolphins off the coast of Clearwater Beach. |
The Details
Registration Information
Registration fees are listed on the enclosed form. The seminar registration deadline is September 24, 2008. After that date, please register on-site. Cancellations must be made in writing by October 5, 2008, and faxed to (303) 364-7811 or e-mailed to registration@ncsl.org, to receive a refund, minus a $50 processing fee. Sorry, no onsite substitutions or cancellations.
Hotel Reservations
A block of rooms has been reserved at the Westin Tampa Harbour Island, 725 South Harbour Island Blvd., Tampa, Florida, 33602. Please call the hotel directly at (813) 229-5000 to make your room reservations and indicate that you are attending the “NCSL Conference” to receive the room rate of $179, plus tax. The deadline for making hotel reservations is September 22, 2008, but we recommend booking early, as our room block may sell out before that date. Website: www.starwoodhotels.com/westin/property/overview/index.html?propertyID=1764. You also can register on the hotel website at ncslsrc="http://www.starwoodmeeting.com/Book/NCSL">www.starwoodmeeting.com/Book/NCSL.
NCSL Travel Connection
Please book your flight through Andavo Travel, NCSL’s official travel headquarters, by calling (800) 825-3283 or (303) 7694-4344.
Ground Transportation
The Tampa International Airport is approximately 20 minutes from the Westin Tampa Harbour Island hotel. Ground transportation options include:
Blue One Transportation – $12 one way; reservations: (813) 226-0022 or www.blueonetransportation.com/
Super Shuttle – $19-21 one way; reservations: (800) 282-6817 or www.supershuttle.com/
Taxis: approximately $22 one way; www.tampaairport.com/ground_transportation/taxi_services.asp
General Information
Business casual attire is appropriate for all seminar events. Be sure to bring your business cards to share with colleagues from other states. Pack a sweater, as meeting rooms may be cool.
Questions?For more information, call (303) 364-7700 or e-mail jeanne.mejeur@ncsl.org or erica.fox@ncsl.org or visit the RACSS homepage at www.ncsl.org/racss/.
Tampa Area AttractionsWithin 1 mile....
Nearby....
For more information, visit www.visittampabay.com/
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