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Harvesting Innovative Ideas for Program Evaluation NLPES Fall Training Conference September 24-27, 2008 in Madison, Wisconsin  Hosted by the Wisconsin Legislative Audit Bureau Skills development, issue-oriented sessions, and round-table discussions  in an award-winning city   Preliminary Agenda || Concurrent Sessions || Registration || Lodging & Travel Networking Activities || Online Registration || Visitor Information Printable Registration Form  || Seminar Brochure

The annual NLPES Fall Training Conference offers professional development opportunities for pro­gram evaluators of all skill levels. Presentations by national and local experts will be combinedwith presentations by legislative program evaluators from member states. Roundtable discussions with colleagues from other states offer additional oppor­tunities to sharpen skills, as do the several scheduled networking activities. This year, conference attendees will be “Harvesting Innovative Ideas for Program Evalu­ation” alongside attendees at the NCSL Fiscal Analysts Seminar, which will be held simultaneously in down­town Madison, Wisconsin.

Preliminary Agenda

Concurrent Sessions

Issue-Oriented

• Ensuring the Public Trust
• State Fiscal Conditions (with Fiscal Analysts)
• Fraud, Data Security and Confidentiality
• PK–12 Education
• Health Care Reform
• Water Resources
• Infrastructure – Inspection and Finance
• Native Americans and State Legislatures

Skill Building

• Interviewing Techniques
• Program Evaluation Methods – Findings, Conclusions and Recommendations, and Advanced Methods
• Effective Presentations
• Maintaining Personal Ethics

Roundtable Topics

• Peer Reviews in NLPES Member Offices
• Recruiting and Retaining Evaluators
• Team Building Strategies

Plenary Topics

• Fostering a Respectful Workplace
• The Government Performance Project (with Fiscal Analysts)
• Multiple Generations in the Workplace

Registration Information

$325 Legislative Staff
$365 Government and Nonprofit
$100 Guest/Spouse

Registration On-line

On-line registration is available at: http://www.ncsl.org/public/registration/mtg_reg.htm?mtg=nlpes08, or you may fax a completed registration form to NCSL at (303) 364-7811.

Legislative staff registration can be billed to the state. NCSL cannot bill for spouse/guest registration fees, which must be paid in full at the time of registration. NCSL must receive your seminar pre-registration by Tuesday, September 2, 2008. If you miss the pre-registration dead­line, you can register on-site at the Madison Concourse Hotel. Sorry, no on-site substitutions. Registration changes can be faxed to NCSL at (303) 364-7811. All cancellations must be made in writing and can be faxed to (303) 364-7811 or e-mailed to registration@ncsl.org Cancellations received in the NCSL Denver office by September 22 will be refunded minus a $50 processing fee. Fees cannot be refunded for registra­tions canceled after the conference begins. Registra­tion questions should be addressed to registration@ncsl.org or Layothe Thammasene at (303) 364-7700, ext. 1471.

Lodging and Travel Information

A block of rooms has been reserved at the Madison Concourse Hotel, 1 West Dayton Street, Madison, WI 53703 (www.concoursehotel.com/). Please arrange accommodations directly with the hotel by telephone at (608) 257-6000 or (800) 356-8293. Indicate that you are attending the NLPES 2008 Fall Training Conference to receive a room rate of $124 plus tax. Reservations must be held with one night’s room deposit (credit card guarantee acceptable). NCSL cannot be responsible for guarantees. The deadline for making hotel reservations is Tuesday, September 2, 2008. After this date, reservations will be accepted at the seminar rate based on availability. Complimentary shuttle service to and from the Dane County Regional Airport is available to all hotel guests.

Friday Afternoon and Evening Networking Activities

Estimated costs include transportation! Payment for these activities is to be made on-site at registration.

American Players Theatre
This is a special chance to see a great theatre company in a gorgeous setting perform a George Bernard play, “Widowers’ Houses.”
Cost: $45 – $60 includes dinner and theatre
Location: 45-60 minutes west of Madison in Spring Green
Departure: About 5:00 p.m. from Concourse (8:00 p.m. performance)
Other: 20 theater tickets are available on first-come, first-served basis

Cheese Factory and Brewery Tour
Four Wisconsin icons in one outing: cheese, beer, Friday night fish and farm country.
Cost: $25 without dinner; $50 with dinner at Stamm House
Location: Cedar Grove Cheese in Plain and Capital Brewery in Middleton
Departure: 1:30 p.m.
Return: 8:00 p.m., after dinner
Other: Coach bus space is limited to 50

Betty Lou Seafood Cruise
Madisonians love their lakes, and this cruise will give you another view of the Monona Terrace, site of our Wednesday evening reception. Multiple after-dinner venues await on King Street, East Wilson and the Capi­tol Square.
Cost: $50, Seafood Cruise
Location: Lake Monona; across the isthmus from Concourse; 20 minute walk
Departure: Depart Concourse 5:45 p.m. (be at dock for cruise at 6:15 p.m.)
Return: 8:30 p.m. cruise ends
Other: 25 seats are available on a first-come, first-served basis

Golf at The Legend at Bergamont
Enjoy a fall afternoon on one of southwest Wisconsin’s many fine courses!
Cost: $90 for 18 holes with a cart
Location: The Legend at Bergamont; about 25 minutes from Concourse
Departure: At group’s discretion

Visitor Information

Wisconsin’s vibrant capital city offers natural beauty, outdoor recreation opportunities, stimulating cultural offerings and distinctive restaurants and shops. Five area lakes and more than 200 parks provide year-round outdoor activities, from hiking, biking and fishing to swimming, sailing and golf. Built on an isthmus between lakes Monona and Mendota, the City of Madison consistently appears on many “best” lists, including most livable small city. Its population of 220,000 encourages an attractive combination of city and campus life. Morning and evening, the city’s parks and beaches draw bicyclists, walkers and runners, all in view of the beautiful state Capitol. The University of Wisconsin-Madison on the shore of Lake Mendota is a respected academic institution that also makes Madison one of the better college sports towns in the country.

Visitors can enjoy a variety of activities in this outdoor-oriented city, from the University’s Arboretum to farmers’ markets to the family-friendly Henry Vilas Zoo. The city also is home to numerous museums. You may enjoy “That’s the Ticket! A Parade of Presidential Elections” at the Wisconsin Historical Museum on Capitol Square, or the latest exhibit at the Madison Museum of Contemporary Art. From the comedy clubs on State Street’s pedestrian mall with its unique specialty shops and restaurants to the Olbrich Botanical Gardens, this city has something for everyone. For more information, call the Greater Madison Convention and Visitors Bureau: (800) 373-6376 or (608) 255-2537 or visit the City of Madison visitors’ page at www.ci.madison.wi.us/Visitors .