Tuesday, August 16

 8 am - 5 pm

(At 8 am, bus departs from
the Convention Center to the
Legislative Service Center in
Olympia.  After lunch, the tour
continues to Microsoft in Redmond, then will return
to the Convention 
Center at 5 pm.)

Tours: Washington's Legislative Systems and Microsoft's Center for Information Work and the Microsoft Home
Designed especially for NALIT members, this tour will offer demonstrations of Washington's Legislative Systems, such as the floor activity, chamber, committee, voting, work room, bill drafting, wireless, and administrative/rule making systems.  Lunch and a tour of the Capitol Building will be included.  The group will travel to Microsoft Corp.'s Redmond, Washington campus in the afternoon for a tour of Microsoft's Center for Information Work and the Microsoft Home.

Located on Microsoft Corp.'s Redmond, Wash. campus, Microsoft's Center for Information Work represents a companywide effort to build a prototype of one view of what productivity technology could look like five years out. It uses familiar workplace situations to demonstrate concepts for improving how tomorrow's workers will manage information overload, access important data to make decisions, and stay connected when away from the office.  The Microsoft Home is a concept facility that models technology that might enhance life at home five to 10 years from now. Microsoft uses the facility to research and test future consumer technology concepts and explore how people use technology in the home.

Tour is full.  Those registered should meet at 7:45 am for the bus, which will depart from 'Convention Place' at the Washington State Convention & Trade Center at 8:00 am.

Wednesday, August 17

 8:30 am - 10 am
6 A/B/C - Convention & Trade Center

Opening Plenary: Bill Gates, Chairman, Microsoft Corporation
Bill Gates is Chairman and Chief Software Architect, Microsoft Corporation, Seattle. Gates started the world's leading software company in 1975. His vision and leadership have changed the way the world uses computers. The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, with an endowment of $27 billion, is dedicated to global health and learning.

Sharpening Top-Notch Skills
(Co-sponsored by NALIT and other staff sections)
This session focuses on strengthening the skills and techniques needed to work more effectively in service to legislative institutions.

Part 1: Maintaining Your Tools for Better Legislative Construction
1:15 pm - 3:00 pm
Good communication is essential. This first part of the program will focus on the changing nature of communication and how to harness it effectively in the legislative environment. Presenting complex technical information clearly, navigating a diverse workplace and across generations, and honing your contact with outside stake-holders will all be explored.
Moderator: Judy Hall, Secretary of the Senate, Legislative Assembly, Oregon
Speakers: Delegate Robert Brink, Virginia
John Turcotte, President, Turcotte Public Administration Consulting and Training, Tallahassee, Florida
Panelists: Alice Bolin, Senior Legislative Analyst, Office of Intergovernmental Relations, Clark County, Nevada
Michael Sunseri, Director of Photography, Legislative Research Commission, Kentucky

Part 2: Whistle While You Work
3:15 pm - 5:00 pm
The second part of the program explores techniques for reducing stress in the legislative workplace. Many legislators and legislative staff have methods for maintaining their cool, their political balance, and their high work standards when legislative activity is at its most frenzied. This session will offer an opportunity for attendees to share their professional experiences when tensions are high and deadlines loom.
Moderator: Frank Parisi, Principal Research Analyst, Office of Legislative Services, New Jersey
Speaker: Laura Asbell, Asbell Professional Group, Spokane, Washington
Panelists: Karl Aro, Executive Director, Department of Legislative Services, Maryland
Representative Rosie Berger, Wyoming
Representative Rob Eissler, Texas
Senator Peter Groff, President Pro Tempore, Colorado
David Henderson, Legislative Administrator, Legislative Administration, Oregon
Clarence Russ, Chief Sergeant at Arms, House of Representatives, Louisiana

NALIT Dutch Treat Dinner
Join IT colleagues from around the country for a great evening at a local restaurant.  Spouses and guests are welcome.  Contact Pam Greenberg to RSVP or for more information.

Thursday, August 18

 11:45 am - 1:15 pm
East Ballroom A, 2nd Floor
Sheraton Seattle Hotel

NALIT Lunch and Business Meeting
Presentation of NALIT Legislative Staff Achievement Awards and business meeting.
Presiding: Andy Kraus, Senior Network Administrator, Kansas

Concurrent Session: Technology for Legislators: Manage or Be Managed
(Co-sponsored by NALIT)
Wireless at the capitol, handheld computers and cell phones, web sites and blogs...all this new technology allows legislators available 24/7. This session will help legislators understand these tools and to manage, not be managed by, technology.
Moderators: David Larson, Director, Legislative Computer Services, Kansas
Senator Royal (Mac) McCracken, South Dakota
Speakers: Representative Toby Nixon, Washington
Representative Aaron Pena, Texas
Lee Rainie, Director, Pew Internet & American Life, Washington, D.C.
John Turcotte, President, Turcotte Public Administration Consulting and Training, Tallahassee, Florida

Your Own Personal Trainer...For Technology
(Co-sponsored by NALIT and the Legislative Effectiveness and State Government Committee)
If you have questions about your computer and its applications, this session is for you.  Members of the National Association of Legislative Information Technology (NALIT) will be on hand to provide hands-on assistance with any questions or problems you may have.  Learn how to manage e-mail; deal with viruses, spam, and spyware; use presentation or spreadsheet software, or get help with any other questions or problems you may have encountered.
Facilitator: Rick Johnson, Senior Software Engineer, Legislative Service Center, Washington
Trainers:
Rustynne Dalton, Special Services & Training Manager, Legislative Service Center, Washington
Jim Greenwalt, Director, Senate Information Systems and Administrative Services, Minnesota
Dave Larson, Director, Legislative Computer Services, Kansas Legislature
LuAnn Lawhon, Technology Trainer, Legislative Computer Services, Kansas
Deborah E. Maguire, Executive Director, Senate Democratic Computer Services, Pennsylvania
Tim Rice, Executive Director, Illinois Legislative Information System, Illinois
Sharon Crouch Steidel, Director, Information Systems, House of Delegates, Virginia
Janet Sullivan, Application Liaison, Texas Legislative Council
Ronda Tentarelli, Application Support Group Manager, Legislative Service Center, Washington

Friday, August 19

Plenary Session:
First Amendment Schools Presentation
Sam Chaltain, First Amendment Center, Virginia
Nursery Road Elementary School, South Carolina; Mary Kennerly, Principal
Will Bowman, Madalyn Hazlett, Josh Jenkins, Miller Love, Pooja Malhotra--Students
Health Care Reform and Finance
Speaker:  Dr. Uwe Reinhardt, James Madison Professor of Political Economy, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey

 2:15 pm - 3:30 pm
607 - Convention & Trade Center

Voting Systems and Displays--A View to the Future
As many states are realizing the need to replace their legacy voting systems, this session looks at ways to get the most out of your voting system, including exploring how to leverage your system for expanded use. We will hear from the state of Illinois on their recent reengineering of their voting system, which they developed in house.  In addition, a leading technology expert will discuss the future of display technology, giving practical assessments of the pros and cons of the various display options available to legislatures.
Moderator: Sharon Crouch Steidel, Director, Information Systems, House of Delegates, Virginia
Speakers: Tim Rice, Executive Director, Legislative Information System, Illinois
Gregory Moquin, Senior Associate, Audiovisual, Shen Milsom & Wilke, Inc., Arlington, Virginia

Legislative Staff Luncheon: Carr Hagerman, FISH! Philosopher
Carr Hagerman believes that the principles of the FISH! Philosophy can introduce fun into the workplace, change your perspective and challenge your world view.  He has inspired such companies as American Express, Time-Warner and Wells Fargo, among others.
Presiding: Jim Greenwalt, Director, Senate Information Systems and Administrative Services, Minnesota

Moderator: Andy Harvey, Webmaster, Nevada
Speakers: Mark Allred, Information Systems Manager, Office of Legislative Research & General Counsel, Utah
Scott Darnall, Senior Programmer Analyst, Legislative Research Council, South Dakota