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Research and Committee Staff SectionRACSS NewsletterSummer 1996 Table of ContentsChair's Column: Focus on St. Louis RACSS Annual Meeting Agenda Proposed Revisions to RACSS Bylaws Fall Professional Development Seminar Planning LSCC Professional Development Task Force: Staff Achievement Award 1996 Staff Nominating Committee 1996 RACSS Officers and Steering Committee Members Chair's Column: Focus on St. Louisby Larry Barish I know that you have barely had time to read the Spring newsletter, but the Summer edition has arrived and there is plenty of news to report! Much of it relates to the rapidly approaching 1996 NCSL Annual Meeting in St. Louis, Missouri, from July 27 to July 31. The Annual Meeting is our primary opportunity to meet as a staff section to exchange ideas, brush up on our skills, learn about new approaches to old problems, and hopefully come away feeling re-energized about our profession and the roles that we play in the legislative process. This year's meeting offers some exciting and novel opportunities to do all that and more, and I encourage you to attend if at all possible. Although there is a detailed program description elsewhere in these pages, I want to highlight several programs and events which you won't want to miss. Staff Information Desk at Registration RACSS Dutch Treat Dinner LSCC Concurrent Session on the Role of Legislative Staff RACSS Business Meeting (12:00, Tuesday, July 30) Other topics slated for discussion include devising a process for recognizing outstanding achievements by RACSS members (see the Legislative Staff Achievement Award description) and planning several new programs to be implemented during the coming year. Our steering committee has done an excellent job in planning what I am sure will be a stimulating series of programs. As the 1996 term comes to a close, I want to thank each of the committee members for their contributions throughout the year in making RACSS a useful resource for our over 1,300 members. Our vice-chair, Suzanne Lindamood of the Ohio Legislative Service Commission, deserves special recognition for her work as editor of the RACSS newsletter. Suzanne stepped forward to volunteer for this demanding and time-consuming task and proceeded to do a masterful job (and relieved me of what had been the traditional job of staff chair!). I am truly grateful to Suzanne, not only for her journalistic contributions, but also for the support and hard work she freely gave as a dedicated and involved staff vice-chair. I would be remiss if I failed to acknowledge the contributions of our conscientious and multi-talented NCSL staff person, Jeanne Mejeur. Jeanne was always one step ahead of me, working quietly and efficiently behind the scenes, doing everything from designing our new RACSS logo to drafting a guide for the RACSS steering committee, which has served as the model for all of the staff sections. I also thank you, the members of the staff section, for giving me the opportunity to serve as RACSS chair and represent you on the Legislative Staff Coordinating Committee. It has been a rewarding and valuable experience that has also helped me to do my own job more effectively and given me a broader perspective and deeper appreciation for the integral role that legislative staff play in the legislative process. RACSS Annual Meeting AgendaRACSS is sponsoring a variety of programs at this year's Annual Meeting, and will hold its annual elections and business meeting. RACSS Dutch Treat Dinner Legislative Staff Luncheon Legislative Staff Working as a Team Research Requests: A Prickly Problem or Appropriate Project? RACSS Luncheon and Business Meeting Missouri's Political History & Harry Truman Legislatures on the World Wide Web Legal Research for Non-Lawyers Other Annual Meeting Highlights: Registration Saturday, 11:00 - 5:00 pm, Sunday, Monday, & Tuesday, 8:00 - 5:00 pm. Reapportionment Task Force Meetings Saturday, July 27, 2:30 - 5:00 pm and Sunday, July 28, 9:00 am - 12:00 noon , and 3:00 - 5:30 pm. Opening Plenary Session Speaker: David Hale, Kemper Financial Services. Sunday, July 28, 1:00 - 2:30 pm. Shrinking State Government Speaker: Hal Hovey, State Policy Reports, Inc., Monday, July 29, 10:00 - 12:00 noon. How to Give a Great Speech Monday, July 29, 10:00 - 12:00 noon Social Event: "Meet Me in St. Louis" 1904 World's Fair at the Trans World Dome. Monday, July 29, 6:30 - 10:00 pm. Ballots in the Mailbox: Will You Vote by Mail? Tuesday, July 30, 2:00 - 3:30 pm. Government on the Net: What's Public and What's Private? Tuesday, July 30, 2:00 - 3:30 pm. NCSL Annual Business Meeting Tuesday, July 30, 9:30 - 12:00 noon. NCSLnet and the World Wide Web Continuing demonstrations and hands-on training in the CyberRoom, throughout the meeting. Saturday, July 27 - Wednesday, July 31 Annual Meeting Schedule, 1996-2001: July 27-31, 1996 St. Louis, Missouri Proposed Revisions to RACSS BylawsFollowing are the current staff section bylaws and the proposed bylaws developed by RACSS officers and steering committee members. The proposed bylaws will be presented RACSS members for approval by at the annual staff section business meeting, Tuesday, July 30, 1996, at the NCSL Annual Meeting in St. Louis, Missouri. Current Bylaws (as amended in 1988) (1) NAME (2) MEMBERSHIP (3) PURPOSE (4) MEETING OF MEMBERS (5) STEERING COMMITTEE (6) DUTIES OF STEERING COMMITTEE (7) VACANCIES (8) AMENDMENTS Approved 8/79 Proposed Bylaws (For consideration at the 1996 Annual Meeting) ARTICLE I: GENERAL PROVISIONS NAME- The name of this organization is the Research and Committee Staff Section (RACSS), of the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL). PURPOSES- The purposes of this staff section are: MEMBERSHIP- A staff member employed by a member legislature of the National Conference of State Legislatures and who provides research services, general legislative services, or committee services is a member of the staff section. ARTICLE II: EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEMBERSHIP- The executive committee of the staff section shall consist of a chair, a vice-chair, and five directors, one of whom shall be the immediate past chair. In addition, the staff section secretary and the editor of the staff section newsletter shall be nonvoting members of the executive committee, (unless the editor is also an officer or director). OFFICERS- The officers of the staff section shall consist of a chair and vice-chair. DIRECTORS- Directors of the staff section shall be elected from the membership of the staff section for a term of two years and may be reelected for a second consecutive term. Two directors shall be elected each even-numbered year and two directors shall be elected each odd-numbered year. The immediate past chair shall serve one one-year term. QUORUM- A quorum for transaction of business by the executive committee is a majority of the voting members of the executive committee. MEETINGS- The executive committee shall meet at the call of the chair during the Annual Meeting of NCSL. Other meetings of the executive committee shall be held at the discretion of chair in conjunction with other NCSL meetings, and at such other times as a majority of the voting members of the executive committee shall agree. Meetings may be conducted by conference telephone call at the discretion of the chair. RESPONSIBILITIES- The executive committee shall: COMMITTEES- To assist the executive committee in the performance of its responsibilities, the chair may establish committees comprised of members of the staff section, with the approval of the executive committee. ARTICLE III: ELECTION OF EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE NOMINATING COMMITTEE- Each year no later than 90 days prior to the NCSL Annual Meeting, the chair shall appoint a 3-member nominating committee comprised of the immediate past chair, vice-chair, and a member of the staff section not serving on the executive committee and not a candidate for election to the executive committee. The vice-chair shall serve as chair of the nominating committee. The nominating committee shall encourage members of the staff section to become candidates for the executive committee and place a notice in the RACSS newsletter regarding forthcoming vacancies. Such notice shall indicate the names of those serving on the nominating committee and shall solicit candidates for the executive committee. The nominating committee shall implement an equitable process for evaluating candidates and shall explain that process in the notice of vacancies. At the annual business meeting, the nominating committee shall present for consideration a slate of nominees for vice-chair and for vacant director positions. Additional nominations for staff section officers and directors may be made from the floor. VACANCIES- If a vacancy occurs in the office of chair or vice-chair, the executive committee shall appoint a person to fill the vacancy for the balance of the term. If a vacancy occurs in the office of director, the chair, with the approval of the executive committee, shall appoint a member of the staff section to fill the vacancy for the balance of the term. If at the time of succession the vice-chair is unable to assume the office of chair, the nominating committee shall nominate a person to fill the office of chair. The nomination will be part of the slate of candidates presented for consideration at the annual business meeting. ARTICLE IV: STAFF SECTION BUSINESS ANNUAL BUSINESS MEETING- The staff section shall hold its annual business meeting in conjunction with the Annual Meeting of NCSL. The chair shall preside at the business meeting, and shall be responsible for conducting staff section business and elections. QUORUM AND VOTING- A quorum for the transaction of business by the staff section shall comply with NCSL permanent rules applying to staff sections in effect at the time of the meeting. Legislative staff eligible for membership in the staff section shall be eligible to vote. Business which requires approval of the staff section shall require approval of a majority of staff section members attending the RACSS annual business meeting. AMENDMENT OF BYLAWS- The members of the staff section shall be notified of proposed amendments to the staff section bylaws through the RACSS Newsletter or in a general mailing to all members on the RACSS mailing list. The notification shall be at least thirty days before the annual business meeting and shall include a copy of the current bylaws and of all proposed changes. Amendments shall be considered at the annual business meeting of the staff section. Unless otherwise stated, amendments to the bylaws shall take immediate effect. MEETINGS AND NOTICES- The staff section shall meet as required by the staff section bylaws and at other times as determined by the chair with the approval of the executive committee of the staff section. Notice of the date, time, place, and purpose of meetings of the staff section shall be given in writing to appropriate legislative staff members at least 30 days in advance of the meeting, either through the staff section newsletter, or through a meeting announcement mailed to the appropriate members of the staff section. NCSL ANNUAL MEETING- In accordance with NCSL permanent rules applying to staff sections, the staff section shall meet annually in conjunction with the Annual Meeting of NCSL. The staff section shall present programs for its members, in the time slots designated for staff section activities by the NCSL Executive Committee. ADDITIONAL MEETINGS- The staff section may meet in conjunction with the meetings of the Assembly on State Issues or other meetings of NCSL, at the discretion of the chair. SENIOR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT SEMINAR- The staff section shall present an annual professional development seminar for senior research staff. The date, location, and agenda shall be determined by the chair, in consultation with the executive committee and staff section secretary. STAFF SECTION NEWSLETTER- The staff section shall publish a periodic newsletter to inform members of the staff section regarding RACSS programs, meetings, publications, nominations, elections, and news about legislatures, legislative staff and NCSL, and to provide a forum for discussion of issues of interest. The chair shall be the editor of the newsletter or may designate a member of the staff section to serve a one-year term as newsletter editor. STAFF SECTION DIRECTORY- The staff section shall publish an annual Directory of Key Research Contacts, listing the key research staff and offices in each state. One copy of the directory shall be provided to each member of the staff section. TEMPORARY PROVISIONS Professional Development Seminar Planning ContinuesPlanning continues for the third annual RACSS Professional Development Seminar which will be on October 9-12, 1996 in Madison, Wisconsin. As you may remember, this year's seminar will be held in conjunction with the National Legislative Program Evaluation Society Training Conference, which allows us to pool resources and plan some joint sessions. An exceptional faculty has been recruited, including Alan Rosenthal of the Eagleton Institute of Politics at Rutgers University, George Gopen of the Duke University writing program, and "Dr. Humor," also know as Professor Stuart Robertshaw of the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse. A full slate of concurrent workshops and several unique social events round out a full three-and-a-half days. It promises to be a most stimulating and valuable seminar. Watch for registration materials in the next few weeks. LSCC Professional Development Task Force MeetingThe Legislative Staff Coordinating Committee (LSCC) met in Anchorage, Alaska on May 25-26, 1996. As your representative on LSCC, I am a member of the Professional Development Task Force, which is involved in a number of projects designed to provide legislative staff with training opportunities and support for continued growth and development. The task force had an extremely full agenda which included continuation of planning for the concurrent session on the role of legislative staff being held at the Annual Meeting; a discussion regarding a meeting with attendees at this year's Legislative Staff Management Institute in Minneapolis to ensure that the program continues to meet the needs of legislative staff, and approval of a series of staff section reports prepared by NCSL staff for the benefit of each of the nine staff sections. In addition, a proposal was approved to involve staff section officers in a semiannual performance evaluation of the NCSL staff person assigned to the staff section. Finally, a proposal to recognize legislative staff was approved and forwarded to each staff section for implementation. The details are as follows: Legislative Staff Achievement AwardThe first annual Legislative Staff Achievement Awards (LSAA) will be presented to deserving staff at the August, 1997 NCSL Annual Meeting in Philadelphia. Recipients of the LSAA are selected by their peers from each of NCSL's nine staff sections and the committees of the Assembly on State Issues, and have made various contributions in support of the work of state legislatures. All of those honored share a common bond of commitment and achievement in serving and strengthening the legislative institution. Description of the Award
Nominating Process The Awards Ceremony Other Issues The Professional Development Task Force will need to send a letter to each staff section chair describing the award and outlining the nomination process and a general timeline for soliciting nominations, selecting awardees and notifying the NCSL Staff Chair. The Professional Development Task Force will need to implement a procedure for notifying those selected for recognition so that they can arrange to attend the awards ceremony, if possible. Design and cost of the plaques will require discussion. 1996 Staff Nominating CommitteeNCSL Staff Chair Alfred Speer, Clerk of the Louisiana House of Representatives, has announced the 1996 Legislative Staff Nominating Committee. The task of the Staff Nominating Committee, which meets at the NCSL Annual Meeting in St. Louis, is to nominate a slate of 16 members and three officers of the NCSL Executive Committee for 1996-97. Diane Bolender, who is a member of the RACSS Steering Committee, is serving as chair of the Nominating Committee. The Staff Nominating Committee members are: Diane Bolender, Iowa, Chair Toni Christman, Pennsylvania Connie Johnson, Oklahoma Mary Noble, California John Turcotte, Florida Steve Watson, Nevada Denise Weeks, North Carolina There are seven vacancies among legislative staff positions on the Executive Committee this year. These vacancies exist because three Executive Committee members have reached the limit of three consecutive one-year terms that they are allowed to serve, and four members resigned during the course of the last year. The four vacancies created by resignations were filled by appointment during the year. These appointees must stand for election to full terms and will be considered in the same pool as new applicants. Legislative staff who are interested in serving on the Executive Committee should send a letter no later than July 12, 1996 to Diane Bolender, Chair, NCSL Nominating Committee, 1560 Broadway, Suite 700, Denver, CO 80202. Detailed information on current and past membership of legislative staff on the Executive Committee may be obtained from Karl Kurtz in NCSL's Denver office, at 303-364-7700. 1996 RACSS Officers and Steering Committee MembersChairperson: Larry Barish, Director Vice-Chairperson: Suzanne Lindamood, Attorney Steering Committee Members: Diane Bolender, Director Patricia Chumbley, Legislative Research Analyst Joyce Honaker, Committee Administrator Donald Hunter, Director Darrell Jackson, Director NCSL Research and Committee Staff Section Newsletter NCSL Staff Section Contact for RACSS: Jeanne Mejeur, 303-364-7700, or e-mail jeanne.mejeur@ncsl.org. |
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