 |
Home | Contact Us | Press Room | Site Overview | Help | Login | Register |
 |
 |
| About NCSL | State & Federal Issues | Legislatures | Legislative Staff | Meetings | Bookstore | Legislators & Staff Only |
| NCSL Home > Legislative Staff: Staff Sections & Networks > RACSS > | Add to MyNCSL |
Research and Committee Staff SectionRACSS NewsletterSummer 1997Table of ContentsChair's Column: Annual Meeting Preview Call for Candidates to Serve in RACSS Offices RACSS Programs at the 1997 NCSL Annual Meeting Planning Underway for the Professional Development Seminar for Senior Research Staff Looking for Regional Corespondents Legislative Staff Coordinating Committee Report Chair's Column: Annual Meeting Previewby Larry Barish, 1997 RACSS Chair The perennial challenge we as a staff section face each year is planning a slate of Annual Meeting programs to meet the needs of our members. RACSS is a diverse group. Our members serve state legislatures in various capacities including committee staff, partisan staff, and central research staff. It is a daunting task to identify topics which are relevant, timely, informative and likely to appeal to a significant proportion of the membership. Traditionally we have used a conference call among members of the executive committee to brainstorm a list of potential topics. Once this list is compiled, the sifting, winnowing and evaluating begins in earnest. Selecting a topic is only the first step. The job then becomes one of identifying and contacting knowledgeable and articulate presenters who are familiar with the legislative environment and are willing to share their expertise for little or no compensation. I believe that our executive committee has succeeded on all counts in planning this year's slate of programs in Philadelphia on August 6-9. The RACSS-sponsored programs promise to be entertaining as well as informative. Sessions cover such topics as staff ethics (observe your colleagues grapple with real life case studies), the Internet (it's impossible to ignore), and dealing with change (change has become the status quo for many of us). You will find complete descriptions of the programs elsewhere in this newsletter. I encourage all of you to participate in the Annual Meeting if you are able. This is our once-a-year 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 we play in the legislative process. Of course, in addition to the RACSS-sponsored sessions, there is an almost overwhelming variety of programs to choose from. In addition, the legislative staff information desk which proved to be so popular last year in St. Louis will be back again in a new and expanded format. In short, this is an opportunity that is just too good to pass up! The annual RACSS business meeting will be held immediately following our staff lunch on Friday, August 8. A major topic on the agenda will be the election of our 1997-98 vice chair and executive committee. You will also be updated on plans for our professional development seminar scheduled for October in Washington, DC. Please take advantage of this opportunity to attend and have a voice in planning staff section activities. Your participation is important! As my term as chair draws to a close, I want to take this opportunity to thank the members of the RACSS executive committee for their support and hard work over the past year. Vice-chair Diane Bolender, who will be next year's chair, offered wise counsel and practical advice and provided invaluable assistance in helping to revise the RACSS by-laws and edit our newsletter. Karl Aro volunteered for the time-consuming and critical job of coordinating our Professional Development Seminar and will host the 1997 event scheduled for this October. The other members of the committee, Donna Davis, Joyce Honaker, Don Hunter, and Bill Montgomery all gave willingly of their time and talents and have contributed much to the operation of the staff section. I also want to single out former RACSS chair David Hite of Colorado, who has always answered my call for volunteers and was one of our members who has made my term so enjoyable and rewarding. I would be remiss if I did not acknowledge the contributions of NCSL staffer Jeanne Mejeur. We as a staff section are fortunate to have Jeanne as our staff contact. She has helped me immeasurably in my capacity as chair, and has labored tirelessly and selflessly behind the scenes on behalf of the staff section. You have my heartfelt respect, appreciation and thanks, Jeanne! Finally, I thank you, the members of RACSS for giving the opportunity to serve as staff chair. It has been a rewarding experience that I will long remember. Call for Candidates to Serve in RACSS Officesby Diane Bolender, Iowa Research and Committee Staff Section (RACSS) members who are interested in serving as a member of the RACSS Executive Committee either as the Vice Chair or as a director, please notify the Nominating Committee. Under the new RACSS bylaws adopted in 1996, the Nominating Committee must present a slate of candidates at the RACSS Annual Business Meeting in Philadelphia. Under the bylaws, the Vice Chair, Diane Bolender, succeeds to the Chair. The Nominating Committee must propose a Vice Chair, two directors for two-year terms and two directors for one-year terms. The immediate past Chair is also a director. Becoming a member of the RACSS Executive Committee is a rewarding and educational experience. The Executive Committee is responsible for planning and carrying out a program for the Staff Section at the Annual Meeting of NCSL and for planning programs for other NCSL meetings as the Executive Committee deems feasible; for keeping the membership of the Staff Section informed of activities relating to the Staff Section, staff activities of NCSL, and topics of interest to members of the Staff Section; for working with the Staff Section Secretary to develop and implement seminars for members of the Staff Section (including the Skills Development Seminar for new legislative staff and the Professional Development Seminar for senior legislative staff); and for recommending actions to the Staff Section at the Annual Business Meeting. In addition, RACSS Executive Committee members network with one another and with other RACSS members. The Chair and Vice Chair of RACSS represent the Staff Section as members of the Legislative Staff Coordinating Committee of NCSL and become involved in the role of legislative staff in NCSL. If you are interested in placing your name before the nominating committee, please write a letter to Diane Bolender, Chair, Research and Committee Staff Section Nominating Committee, in care of Jeanne Mejeur at the NCSL office in Denver, no later than Friday, July 25, 1997. The address is: NCSL In making its selection of candidates for the slate, the Nominating Committee members will review a candidate's prior legislative experience and NCSL activities, including activities relating to RACSS meetings and sessions. A telephone interview with the Nominating Committee may be required. The Nominating Committee will also consider geographic balance on the Committee as well as other factors relating to the diversity of the membership of the Executive Committee. Members of the Executive Committee should be able to travel to at least one of the meetings at which RACSS presents programs: the Annual Meeting or the Fall Assembly on State Issues meeting. Nominating Committee members are: Diane Bolender, Director, Iowa Legislative Service Bureau, Chair; Darrell Jackson, Director, Missouri House of Representatives Research Office, Immediate Past Chair; and David Hite, Deputy Director, Colorado Legislative Council. RACSS Programs at the 1997 NCSL Annual MeetingAugust 5 - 9, 1997 The Research and Committee Staff Section has planned five programs for the 1997 NCSL Annual Meeting, all designed to provide professional development opportunities for legislative research and committee staff. In addition, RACSS will conduct its annual business meeting, including the election of officers. Following are summaries of RACSS activities in Philadelphia: Making Effective Presentations to Legislators Making public presentations to legislators and committees can be intimidating, even for experienced staff. This session offers practical advice on making formal presentations, addressing small groups and effectively communicating with individual members. Don't miss this lively and informative high-tech program. John Turcotte, Executive Director of Florida's Office of Program Policy Analysis & Government Accountability is the speaker. John has presented this program for the RACSS Professional Development Seminar for Senior Research Staff and for staff at NCSL. Moderator for the program is Larry Barish, Wisconsin. The session is cosponsored by the Legislative Staff Coordinating Committee, Legislative Education Staff Network, and National Legislative Security and Services Association. Research and Legal Resources on the Internet There's lots of information and many good sites on the Internet, but how do find those that are useful for legislative research and policy. This session explores the best resources available on the Net, and the most effective ways to conduct research on the World Wide Web. Presenters for the program are still being determined. RACSS Annual Business Meeting and Luncheon RACSS will hold its annual business meeting and election of officers. 1997 RACSS chair Larry Barish, of Wisconsin, will preside, and 1998 RACSS chair-elect Diane Bolender, will discuss future plans for the staff section. Managing Change in the Legislative Environment State Legislatures are facing rapid change due to term limits, leadership shifts, partisan conflict, staff turnover, changing management policies, and ever increasing public scrutiny. This session covers the impact of these changes on legislative staff, and their roles in the legislative process. Presenters include Elizabeth Kersten of California, John Lattimer of Oregon, and Dianne Odrobina of Michigan. Rich Jones, of NCSL, will serve as moderator. Ethical Challenges for Researchers and Bill Drafters This session explores the often conflicting responsibilities that researchers and bill drafters owe to legislators, colleagues and members of the public. A panel of experienced staff members provide guidance on resolving these conflicts and the audience will break into small groups to analyze and discuss case studies. Presenters for the program are Bruce Feustel, of NCSL, Denver; Joyce Honaker, Kentucky; David Hite, Colorado; Marcia Goodman, Connecticut; and John Olsrud, North Dakota. The session is being cosponsored with the Legal Services Staff Section. Pennsylvania's Political History Pennsylvania is known for its tough partisan politics and frequent shifts in control of the Legislature, Governor's office and Congressional delegation. With a history stretching back to the founding of the nation, Pennsylvania has had a rich, and sometimes rocky, political life that saw it through the Revolutionary and Civil Wars, the Industrial Revolution, and the New Deal. In the modern era, its full-time professional legislature has provided leadership for a state almost evenly divided between Republicans and Democrats, continuing its robust and dynamic political traditions. The speaker for the program will be Earl M. Baker, with the Unisys Public Sector Information Services Group, in Pennsylvania. Mr. Baker is a former Pennsylvania State Senator and former Professor of Political Science and Public Administration at Temple University. Diane Bolender will serve as moderator. The program is being cosponsored by the Legal Services Staff Section. Concurrent SessionsNCSL will also be presenting more than forty concurrent sessions at the meeting. Topics include:
Plenary SessionsSpeakers for plenary sessions include:
Special BriefingsNCSL will also present several special briefings on five key legislative issues:
You should already have received registration materials for the Annual Meeting. If not, or if you'd like more information about the meeting, contact NCSL at 303-364-7700, and ask to speak to the Meetings Department. You can also use NCSL's fax-on-demand service to order meeting information and registration materials, by calling 1-800-380-7280. Planning Underway for the Senior Professional Development SeminarOctober 8 - 11, 1997 Washington, DC A ten-member committee is working on plans for the 4th annual Professional Development Seminar for Senior Research Staff. The seminar will be held October 8 - 11, 1997, in Washington, DC, at the Double Tree Suites Hotel, near Embassy Row. The committee is chaired by Karl Aro of Maryland. RACSS Officers and Executive Committee members are joined on the committee by Allan Green of Connecticut, David Hite of Colorado and Darrell Jackson of Missouri. Allan and David planned the 1994 seminar in Hartford, David and Darrell arranged the 1995 seminar in Denver, and RACSS chair Larry Barish planned the 1996 seminar in Madison. This year's program will again feature Dr. George Gopen of Duke University, who will present a program on effective writing skills. Dr. Gopen has been the highest rated presenter each year at the previous senior seminars. Because of the Washington, DC location, the group will be able to take advantage of the resources of nationally known organizations, such as the Congressional Research Services. Programs are being planned to help senior staff enhance their skills in research, writing, decision-making, and negotiating, and in developing effective work products for the legislature. Brochures and registration materials for the senior seminar will be mailed to all staff section members in mid-July. Looking For Regional CorrespondentsLegislative staff members receiving or reading this newsletter are urged to become involved in Research and Committee Staff Section (RACSS) activities. You're automatically a member of the Staff Section if you provide research services, general legislative services, or committee services within your state legislature, and you only have to call NCSL to get on the RACSS mailing list. If you are able to attend meetings at which the Staff Section offers programs or sessions, that's the best way to get involved, but you can also become active in the Staff Section if you can't physically attend out-of-state meetings. One of the best ways to get started within the Staff Section is to volunteer to become a regional coordinator, a new way for RACSS members to become involved. Regional coordinators have the opportunity to become acquainted with legislative staff counterparts in their neighboring states. Eight regional coordinators are needed to assist the editor of the newsletter by soliciting brief articles from other state legislatures in the region. The Regional News features have become one of the most popular articles in the RACSS Newsletter. If you're willing to become a regional coordinator, or would like to serve as a contact for your state, please contact Diane Bolender by telephone at (515) 281-3566 or by e-mail at dbolend@legis.state.ia.us. Regional coordinator volunteers will also be requested at the RACSS business luncheon at the Annual Meeting in Philadelphia. A RACSS contact will be named for each state. The fifty states are divided into eight regions, with a coordinator for each region. The regions are New England, Great Lakes, West, South, Mountain, South Central, Northern Plains and Mid-Atlantic. New England Connecticut Great Lakes Illinois Mid-Atlantic Delaware Northern Plains Iowa Mountain Arizona West Alaska South Central Arkansas South Alabama Legislative Staff Coordinating Committee ReportNewport, Rhode Island by Diane Bolender, Iowa Overview Staff Chair Russ Larson established three task forces this year to carry on the work of the LSCC. The following is a brief summary of the activities of the three task forces at the June meeting. Professional Development Task Force At the meeting, the Task Force heard a report from NCSL staff about the special meetings and receptions that will be held at the Annual Meeting for international visitors. Greg Rosine, Associate Director of the Michigan House Fiscal Agency, is coordinating the staffing at the Annual Meeting for the Staff Information Booth which will be located near the exhibit area. Volunteers are needed in the booth to welcome staff members and answer questions. This year for the first time, legislative staff attending the Annual Meeting will be able to relax in a staff lounge (which will be shared with legislators). In lieu of holding a concurrent session sponsored jointly by all nine staff sections, the Legislative Staff Coordinating Committee will be cosponsoring a session with the Research and Committee Staff Section relating to making effective presentations. At the Legislative Staff Luncheon held during the Annual Meeting, each Staff Section will be presenting staff achievement awards to two of its members. State Legislatures magazine will publish an article about the recipients and their legislative leaders will be notified. The Task Force discussed a proposal to establish a board of directors for the Legislative Staff Management Institute (LSMI) and decided to recommend to the LSCC that an advisory group, consisting of those members of the LSCC who have attended the LSMI and other LSCC members who wish to participate, hold a meeting prior to the fall LSCC meeting to review curriculum, assist in recruitment, and make recommendations regarding the LSMI. The advisory group will report to the Professional Development Task Force. Several members of the Task Force who have attended LSMI plan to visit LSMI during its 1997 session and bring their observations to the Task Force at its August meeting. The establishment of the advisory group was adopted by the LSCC. The Task Force did not have time to discuss the establishment of a 21/2 day seminar for legislative staff executives, but the concept was discussed and adopted by the full LSCC. A seminar for legislative staff executives will be held in December in Tucson, AZ. Information Technology Task Force Recommendations relating to guidelines for Web sites of staff sections were finalized and subsequently adopted by the LSCC. The LSCC discussed and affirmed the proposition contained in the guidelines that the responsibility for development and maintenance of the staff section Web site lies with the individual staff sections and not with NCSL staff. The Task Force has also been developing guidelines for use of the Internet for Legislatures and will present its report to the LSCC at the Annual Meeting. The Task Force has been developing a report relating to chamber automation, including computer, video, and multimedia capabilities, and will present the report at the Annual Meeting. The Task Force is soliciting comments about the NCSLnet online services. If you have comments, you are asked to E-mail either Pam Greenberg or Doug Sacarto at NCSL. (pam.greenberg@ncsl.org or doug.sacarto@ncsl.org) Strategic Planning Task Force The Task Force has been studying the participation and satisfaction with the Assembly on State Issues by reviewing evaluations from the Joint ASI/AFI meeting in Washington, D.C. in December and the ASI meeting in San Francisco in May. The evaluations show that there has been high satisfaction with the meetings. Other observations about the ASI meetings obtained from the evaluations and from NCSL staff interviews indicate that the process of appointing members to ASI committees by state legislative leaders is problematic and not all legislative leaders have made appointments to ASI. Interviews with NCSL staff indicate that committees have set priorities and are working on them; committees have decided upon work products and these are being completed; and although electronic communication is available for members to interact, there has been minimal use of electronic communication to date. The Task Force has been working on refining a set of guidelines for determining whether ASI committees should be continued from one year to the next and will be presenting the guidelines to the LSCC and to the Professional Development Committee of the Executive Committee of NCSL at the Annual Meeting. The Task Force agreed to present as part of its report to the LSCC and Executive Committee a listing of means by which committee members can participate in committee activities without attending meetings. These include using electronic technology, such as list serves, E-mail, and the Web site. 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. |
© 2008 National Conference of State Legislatures, All Rights Reserved
Denver Office: Tel: 303-364-7700 | Fax: 303-364-7800 | 7700 East First Place | Denver, CO 80230 | Map
Washington Office: Tel: 202-624-5400 | Fax: 202-737-1069 | 444 North Capitol Street, N.W., Suite 515 | Washington, D.C. 20001
