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Minutes of the
Canadian-American Committee
NCSL Annual Meeting
Boston, Massachusetts
August 5, 2007 |
The Canadian-American Relations Committee meeting on Sunday, August 5, 2007 in Boston, MA was called to order by Chair Karen Wadsworth. Vice Chair Norman Moore agreed to serve as recorder.
Committee members in attendance were:
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Steve Arias, NM |
Al Mathiowetz, MN |
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Dave Avant, AL |
Norm Moore, AZ |
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Diane Bell, FL |
Obie Rutledge, OR |
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Ann Cornwell, AR |
Patsy Spaw, TX |
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John Garrett, VA |
Sandy Tenney, UT |
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Greg Gray, WV |
Karen Wadsworth, NH |
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Brad Hendrickson, WA |
Kirsten Waid, AK |
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Steven James, MA |
William Welch, MA |
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Suzi Lowell, AK |
Jeannine Wood, ID |
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Steve Marshall, VT |
Joyce Wright, AL |
Others in attendance included JoAnn Hedrick (DE), Paul Campos (WA) and Bruce Jamerson, Jan Waldrop, Jennifer Parker, Charlotte Mary, Jeff Finch, and George Bishop from Virginia.
Planning for the October 2007 Joint Canadian American meeting continued. Bruce Jamerson presented the draft agenda for the meeting, which is to be held in Richmond, VA, October 11 – 15, 2007. Sessions/meetings will be held at the State Capitol. There are some wonderful events planned, including programs at Historic Jamestown and Colonial Williamsburg. Members of the Committee were enthusiastic in their comments on the draft agenda and very complimentary regarding the work done by the host committee in Virginia.
The task for the Committee at this meeting was to decide on topics for program sessions at the Joint Meeting and to begin the work of identifying presenters for those sessions. Several topics were reviewed, and, on motion by Ann Cornwell, seconded by Steve Arias, those chosen by the Committee were: parliamentary case studies using video clips with explanations; e-democracy, including video conferencing, electronic petitions and web consultation; a mock session, with the focus on process; lobbying the legislature by lobbyists and other external groups; and, a comparison of the role of the Clerk in the two countries. The staff from Virginia agreed to be responsible for the Mock session for the American viewpoint.
With no other immediate business to come before the committee and with plans to put the finishing touches on plans for the Joint Meeting at the ASLCS Professional Development Seminar in September, the meeting was adjourned.
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