Welcome!
The 2008 RACSS fall seminar offers programs to bring out your best as a
legislative employee. We’ll explore career issues, including flexible schedules,
problem employees and multi-generational workplaces. We’ll cover team building
and technology innovations, and explore how we learn.
The seminar is being held at the Westin Tampa Harbour Island, located
on one of the channel islands in Hillsborough Bay, on the beautiful Gulf
Coast of Florida. Surrounded by inland channels and tropical beauty, the
location promises to renew your spirit. It’s a short ride on the local
streetcar to historic Ybor City where the area’s Latin roots are evident
along colorful streets lined with shops and restaurants.
Tampa Bay is Florida’s most populous and affluent area, and offers the
vibrancy of an exciting urban center in the relaxed atmosphere of a tropical
setting. Nearby are glistening waterways and sparkling white-sand beaches,
museums, aquariums, sports venues, shopping and entertainment complexes.
Tampa also is within an easy drive of the theme parks and attractions of
central Florida.
Join us for a great learning experience in a memorable setting. You’ll
leave renewed, with new skills and tools to do your best work for your
legislature. |
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The Agenda
| Sunday, October 5, 2008 |
| 3:00 – 5:00 pm |
Registration |
| Monday, October 6, 2008 |
| 7:30 – 8:15 am |
Rise and Shine Morning Workout – led by Tomi
Dechant, Virginia |
| 8:00 – 5:00 pm |
Registration |
| 8:30 – 9:00 am |
Continental Breakfast |
| 9:00 – 9:15 am |
Welcome and Introductions |
| 9:15 – 12:00 pm |
Bringing Out the Best In Team Members
More organizations are relying on teams to solve problems and manage
programs. How are you at working with teams? Does your personality or work
style help or hinder you, especially when you’re working closely with colleagues
on teams or projects? Learn how to use your strengths and deal with hurdles
to become a better team member. |
| 12:00 – 1:15 pm |
Plenary luncheon |
| 1:30 – 3:15 pm |
Can Flexible Schedules Work for Legislative
Staff?
With short deadlines, last minute demands, and lots of necessary interaction,
is it possible to work from home when you work for the legislature? With
the price of gas these days, no doubt we’d all like to! This session looks
at how some legislative agencies are experimenting with telecommuting,
flexible hours and flex time. |
| 3:30 – 5:00 pm |
Creative Uses of Technology for Legislatures
Online seminars, podcasts, webinars, CDs and blogs are some of the most
recent technology tools states and businesses are using to provide staff
training, share research, solve problems, and develop new products and
services. This session showcases technology innovations states are considering. |
| 5:30 – 6:30 pm |
Reception – Sponsored by Thomson Reuters/West |
| Tuesday, October 7, 2008 |
| 7:30 – 8:15 am |
Rise and Shine Morning Workout – led by Tomi
Dechant, Virginia |
| 8:00 – 5:00 pm |
Registration |
| 8:30 – 9:00 am |
Continental Breakfast |
| 9:00 – 10:30 am |
Innovative New Member Orientation Programs
New member orientation programs have grown beyond a basic briefing book
on legislative rules and procedures. Some legislative agencies stage mock
sessions, use role playing, conduct issue briefings, conduct one-on-one
training for legislators, or go to district offices to train members and
staff. Learn what creative programs other states offer to help new legislators
become comfortable with their roles. |
| 10:45 – 12:15 pm |
Career Transitions: The Multi-Generational
Legislative Workplace
The typical legislative agency has staff at many different points in
their career paths, from seasoned veterans to recent college graduates.
This session will examine the conflicts that can result as staff from different
generations approach their work from diverse perspectives, explore ways
to take advantage of the strengths of each in the workplace, and discuss
the career opportunities inherent in a multi-generational workforce. |
| 12:15 – 1:30 pm |
Lunch on your own |
| 1:30 – 4:00 pm |
Employment Law 101 (CLE)
Think you’ll snooze your way through a program on FLSA, FMLA, WARN and
other ominous acronyms? Not in this session! Two Virginia staff attorneys
bring stand-up to employment essentials. Whether you’re an employee or
a manager, you’ll learn and laugh a lot. |
| Wednesday, October 8, 2008 |
| 7:30 – 8:15 am |
Rise and Shine Morning Workout – led by Tomi
Dechant, Virginia |
| 8:30 – 9:00 am |
Continental Breakfast |
| 9:00 – 10:30 am |
The Bad Attitude Survival Guide
Are you working with someone who’s burned out, bummed out or retiring
in place? Colleagues with performance or attitude problems can create a
negative environment for everyone and present a challenge for managers.
Whether you’re staff or a manager, this session will give you practical
advice on dealing with difficult employees. Two experienced managers and
two senior staff will participate in the discussion, based on The Bad Attitude
Survival Guide by Harry E. Chambers. |
| 10:30 – 12:00 pm |
Researching on the Run
“You need that 50-state survey by yesterday?” Welcome to the legislature.
Completing a 50-state survey under these circumstances is difficult when
it’s a topic you know about; it’s almost impossible when it’s a new topic.
This session shows how you can approach this task in a way that reduces
stress and the time needed to complete it. Learn how to identify your learning
style and process the information you gathered to accommodate that style,
overcome writer’s blocks by seeing the writing process as a continuation
of the learning process, and convey the information you gather so your
audience can process it quickly and easily. |
| 12:00 – 1:00 pm |
Lunch on your own |
| 1:30 – 5:30 pm |
Networking on the Water – Dolphin Cruise
What better way to end the seminar than with a cruise with your colleagues
to watch dolphins off the coast of Clearwater Beach. |
The Details
Registration Information
Registration fees are listed on the enclosed form. The seminar registration
deadline is September 24, 2008. After that date, please register on-site.
Cancellations must be made in writing by October 5, 2008, and faxed to
(303) 364-7811 or e-mailed to registration@ncsl.org,
to receive a refund, minus a $50 processing fee. Sorry, no onsite substitutions
or cancellations.
Hotel Reservations
A block of rooms has been reserved at the Westin Tampa Harbour Island,
725 South Harbour Island Blvd., Tampa, Florida, 33602. Please call the
hotel directly at (813) 229-5000 to make your room reservations and indicate
that you are attending the “NCSL Conference” to receive the room rate of
$179, plus tax. The deadline for making hotel reservations is September
22, 2008, but we recommend booking early, as our room block may sell out
before that date. Website: www.starwoodhotels.com/westin/property/overview/index.html?propertyID=1764.
You also can register on the hotel website at ncslsrc="http://www.starwoodmeeting.com/Book/NCSL">www.starwoodmeeting.com/Book/NCSL.
NCSL Travel Connection
Please book your flight through Andavo Travel, NCSL’s official travel headquarters,
by calling (800) 825-3283 or (303) 7694-4344.
Ground Transportation
The Tampa International Airport is approximately 20 minutes from the Westin
Tampa Harbour Island hotel. Ground transportation options include:
Blue One Transportation – $12 one way; reservations: (813) 226-0022
or www.blueonetransportation.com/
Super Shuttle – $19-21 one way; reservations: (800) 282-6817 or www.supershuttle.com/
Taxis: approximately $22 one way; www.tampaairport.com/ground_transportation/taxi_services.asp
General Information
Business casual attire is appropriate for all seminar events. Be sure
to bring your business cards to share with colleagues from other states.
Pack a sweater, as meeting rooms may be cool.
Questions?
For more information, call (303) 364-7700 or e-mail jeanne.mejeur@ncsl.org
or erica.fox@ncsl.org
or visit the RACSS homepage at www.ncsl.org/racss/.
Tampa Area Attractions
Within 1 mile....
Nearby....
For more information, visit www.visittampabay.com/
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