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RACSS 2011 Professional Development Seminar

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Portland, OregonOctober 2-5, 2011, Portland, Oregon

The 2011 RACSS Professional Development Seminar brings together legislative research and committee staff from states throughout the country. The agenda includes sessions to enhance your skills as a professional legislative employee and offers time to learn from your counterparts in other states. Sessions will focus on skills-based subjects and legislative management issues. 

View the Preliminary Agenda.  Details such as program descriptions and speakers will be added in the next couple of weeks.

The seminar is being held at the Portland Hilton and Executive Towers, in the heart of Portland’s vibrant city center. Cultural attractions, shops and restaurants are just steps away. Transportation is easy and inexpensive using Portland’s impressive public transit system that includes buses, streetcars and the MAX Light Rail.

RACSS will meet concurrently with our sister staff section, the National Association of Legislative Information Technology. While the two staff sections will have largely separate agendas, there will be several joint sessions where the topics are of interest to members of both groups, including a visit to the Oregon State Capitol in Salem. 

Join us for a great learning experience. You’ll leave refreshed, with new skills and ideas to do your best work for your legislature. 

 

REGISTRATION

Registration Fees

♦ Legislative staff/legislators: 
    • Early bird: $350 
    • After Sept. 2: $375
♦ Spouse/guest: $125
♦ One day fee: $150
♦ All others: $450

Three Ways to Register

Register online
Registration online requires a credit card for everyone except legislators and legislative staff. Confirmations will be sent by e-mail.

Register by fax
Fax the registration form to 303-364-7811

Register onsite
If you are unable to meet the Sept. 18 registration deadline, register onsite at the Hilton Portland.

Spouse/Guest Registration
The $125 fee includes admission to all scheduled meal functions, the Tuesday tour to the Oregon State Capitol and the Monday evening social event.

Cancellations
Cancellations received in the NCSL Denver office by Oct. 1 will be refunded minus a $50 processing fee. Cancellations must be made in writing and faxed to 303-364-7811. Fees cannot be refunded for registrations cancelled after the seminar begins.

Confirmations will be e-mailed if an address is provided. Letter confirmations will be mailed upon request.

Special Needs
To ensure full participation and accessibility for all meeting attendees, please notify Stacy Householder at 303-364-7700, ext. 1352, of any special accommodations you may require.
 

 

HOTEL INFORMATION

The seminar will be held at the Hilton Portland and Executive Towers in the heart of downtown Portland.  

 Hilton Portland & Executive Towers
 921 SW Sixth Avenue
 Portland, Oregon, 97204
 503-226-1611 
 1-800-HILTONS

Each attendee is responsible for making his or her hotel and travel arrangements. Reservations must be held by one night’s room deposit. A major credit card guarantee is acceptable.

Hotel Reservations

You can make hotel reservations online or by phone.

♦ Online: Visit the Hilton Reservations page to make your hotel reservations directly with the Hilton. 

♦ By Phone: Call 1-800-HILTONS.

♦ Note: The NCSL room block is now full so the conference rate is no longer available but the Hilton still has guest rooms available at their going rate.

♦ Other nearby hotels include the Heathman Hotel (1 block), Paramount Hotel and The Nines hotel (both 2.5 blocks), and the Embassy Suites (10 blocks).

Location
The hotel is located in the heart of Portland's vibrant city center and is close to the Portland Art Museum, shopping, Pioneer Courthouse Square and the city's MAX Light Rail and public transit system.

Map of Downtown Portland

 

TRAVEL INFORMATION

Portland, Oregon is served by the Portland International Airport.

NCSL Travel Agency
To make flight reservations through NCSL's travel agency, call Christopherson Travel at:
800-825-3283 or 303-694-4344 (7 a.m. to 6 p.m. MDT).

Ground Transportation
The Hilton Portland is nine miles, or about 20 minutes, from the Portland International Airport. The Hilton Hotel does not have an airport shuttle, although commercial shuttle services are available.  Taxis are available for approximately $35 one way. Or you can take the MAX Light Rail Red Line, for $2.35 for the 40-minute trip.

City Information
Portland's arts community, urban parks and green spaces, lively downtown, and world-class public transportation system are just few of the reasons that Portland has been named one of the country's most livable cities. Visit the Travel Portland and Travel Oregon websites for more information.

Map of Downtown Portland

General Information
The seminar is a relaxed learning experience, and business casual attire is recommended for all seminar programs and activities.

Portland enjoys a mild climate with temperatures reaching around 63° in October. Evenings are cool and rain is possible, so sweaters, jackets and umbrellas are recommended.

Tour and Exhibits
The RACSS and NALIT seminars will include a joint tour and briefings at the Oregon State Capitol in Salem on Tuesday, October 4. Tour the building and learn about legislative staff services and information technology in the Oregon Legislature.

On Monday evening, October 3, RACSS and NALIT will hold a joint reception, with exhibits that will showcase the latest in information technology products and services for legislatures.
 

 

Issues & Resources

Find the NCSLstaff member who handles the issue in which you are interested.

NCSLprovides access to current state and federal legislation and a comprehensive list of state documents, including state statutes, constitutions, legislative audits and research reports.

Members

As legislators and legislative staff, you are part of the nation's largest, most influential and only bipartisan organization of state legislators and staff.Learn about the resources NCSL has for you.

NCSL offers an array of services for legislative staff. Find out what's available.

Denver Office
Tel: 303-364-7700 | Fax: 303-364-7800 | 7700 East First Place | Denver, CO 80230

 

Washington Office
Tel: 202-624-5400 | Fax: 202-737-1069 | 444 North Capitol Street, N.W., Suite 515 | Washington, D.C. 20001

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