Tuesday, July 22

1:00pm - 3:15 pm

Welcome to the Trenches: Using Mentors in Legislative Agencies

Mentors help new staff learn the ropes and the unwritten rules of working in a legislative environment.  Some legislative agencies have established programs that acclimate new staff by assigning an experienced staff person to help them through their first few months.  Other states, particularly those with smaller offices, use a more informal process that seeks to provide support to new staff.  This session explores both formal and informal legislative staff mentoring programs.

Moderator: Phil Price, Bureau of Legislative Research, Arkansas
Panelists: Larry Barish, Legislative Reference Bureau, Wisconsin
Patrick O'Grady, Legislative Research Unit, Illinois
Edith Rice, Senate Committee Services, Washington
Lucinda Tiajoloff, Office of Legislative Services, New Jersey

Wednesday, July 23

2:30 - 4:00 pm

LSCC Megasession: Juggling Power, Principle and Professionalism: Ethics and Legislative Staff

4:00 - 5:00 pm

Out With the Old, In With the New: Succession and Retirement Planning in State Legislatures

Cosponsored with the Leadership Staff Section
Just as the baby boomers have redefined every other age range they have moved through, they are reinventing what succession planning and retirement means. In response, the Oregon Legislature developed a program to retain boomers in a manner that allows for an adequate timeline to recruit and train new employees without threatening retirement eligible staff with premature retirement.  Attend this session to learn about their Retirement Management Plan and to discuss how baby boomer retirement will impact legislative staff offices across the country. 

Faculty:  Lore Christopher, Human Resources Director, Oregon State Legislature

Thursday, July 24

Legislative Staff Breakfast: Finding a Balance

Balancing life with work is no easy task. Eileen McCarthy, author and consultant, will draw on her practical business know-how and life's experiences in helping you find an equilibrium that works best.

Speaker: Eileen McCarthy

LSCC Megasession: Millennial Makeover

Jointly sponsored by the NCSL staff sections and the LSCC
Baby boomers, move over: the generation of Millennials (born between 1982 and 2003) have already begun to make over politics, and will make over America, according to authors Mike Hais and Morley Winograd. They see a seismic change occurring with the coming of age of the Millenials, one that can reshape American life and politics. Mike Hais will talk about their book, Millennial Makeover, and the kind of change this generation will bring.

Moderator: Nancy Cyr, Legislative Research Division, Nebraska
Speaker: Mike Hais, Author, California

4:15 - 5:45 pm

Hit Send?  Not So Fast!  Professional and Legal Issues for Legislative E-Mail

Email is a vital tool in legislative offices, to respond to legislators, answer requests and find information.  But it can pose legal and professional risks, when staff use email inappropriately or when email records become subject to legal inquiries.  Learn about best practices other states have adopted to ensure appropriate use and legal compliance.

Moderator: Patrick O'Grady, Legislative Research Unit, Illinois
Panelists: Terry Anderson, Legislative Council, Wisconsin
Maria Everett, Division of Legislative Services, Virginia
Noel Hunt, Human Resources Officer, Louisiana
Walker Reagan, Legislative Research Division, North Carolina

Friday, July 25

12:00 - 1:30 pm

RACSS members hold their annual election of officers and recognize the recipients of the 2008 Legislative Staff Achievement Awards.  Luncheon sponsored by LexisNexis.

Presiding:  Phil Price, RACSS Vice-chair and Chair-Elect
Committee Services Administrator, Bureau of Legislative Research, Arkansas

3:45 - 5:15 pm

Every state has its political stories but few can rival the ins and outs of Louisiana's politics.  This lively and informative session will cover the gamut of political intrigue and larger-than-life characters.

Moderator: Marti Harkness, OPPAGA, Florida
Speaker:  Bob Keaton, University of Louisiana