Canadian-American Relations Committee Minute 11/2002

Last revised January 2003

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Canadian-American Relations Committee

(Minutes - November 2002)
ALSCS WINTER MEETING -- NEW ORLEANS, LA

The meeting was called to order by chairman, J.R. Rodrigue. The following were present:

Mardi Alexander, TX
Sharon Carter, TX
Judy Hall, OR

Also attending were:
George MacMinn, B.C

Dave Avant, AL
Denise Weeks, NC

and Deborah Deller, Ontario

Minutes of the Meeting in Portland were approved as printed. Meeting discussion with input from the Canadian contingent pertained to a theme for the joint meeting in Wilmington, Delaware in 2003. A theme and development of panel discussion topics will continue to be developed throughout this year.

It was decided that the committee would solicit US host states to participate in the exchange program. The committee will present the list of host states at the next CATS meeting on Quebec, August 2003. The meeting was adjourned.

PROPOSAL FOR EXCHANGE PROGRAM

CANADIAN AMERICAN CLERKS AND SECRETARIES

WHEREAS, it is in the best interests of the American Society of Legislative Clerks and Secretaries and the Clerks-at-the-Table to enter into an exchange program, thereby enhancing the participants' experience in the legislative process,

NOW, THEREFORE
BE IT RESOLVED that

×The program shall be open to participation by both principals and associates; and

×The visit should be no more than a week to ten days in length; and

×The visiting clerk or secretary shall pay all travel expenses; and

×The host clerk or secretary shall provide local transportation as well as room and board preferably in a private home - or, if not feasible, free accommodations elsewhere; and

×The visit should definitely be made while the host state (province) is in session, thereby giving the visiting clerk or secretary the best picture of the legislative process; and

×The visiting clerk or secretary should plan to "walk in the host's shoes" for the visit; and

×The host shall prepare and submit in advance a work plan to cover the period of the exchange The work plan may be modified by mutual agreement between the host and the exchange participant; and

×The participants shall maintain a journal to be filed with the ASLCS and the Clerks-at-the-Table for the use of future participants; and

×The Canadian-American Relations Committee of the ASLCS shall be the clearinghouse, maintaining a list of American Clerks and Associates who are interested in participating in the pro-gram; and

×Upon the finalization of arrangements for an exchange to take place, the Presidents of the respective organizations shall be asked to designate the participants to represent his/her respective society; and

×The host or visiting clerk or secretary should not be made to feel obligated in any way to reciprocate, some states and/or provinces may be willing to host but not willing to allow their clerk or secretary to visit and vice versa; and

×A report from American participants in the program to The Legislative Administrator should be strongly encouraged; and

×AII States and Provinces should be surveyed annually to determine willingness to either host or participate in an exchange

Resolution adopted in 1997 by the American Society of Legislative Clerks and Secretaries.

For more information about ASLCS, write or call:

Joan Barilla
National Conference of State Legislatures
7700 East First Place
Denver, CO 80230
Phone: 303/856-1349
FAX: 303/364-7800
E-mail: joan.barilla@ncsl.org

Canadian-American Relations Committee

(Minutes - November 2002) ALSCS WINTER MEETING -- NEW ORLEANS, LA

(Minutes - November 2002)
ALSCS WINTER MEETING -- NEW ORLEANS, LA