June 16, 2005
Seattle Summer Meetings Provide Rare Opportunities for Statehouse Journalists
NCSL Strong States, Strong Nation and Capitolbeat conventions overlap in August
DENVER – Let story ideas take root at the National Conference of State Legislatures’ 2005 “Strong States, Strong Nation” Annual Meeting this summer. Let them flourish next door at the Capitolbeat reporters’ convention. These meetings will overlap in Seattle this summer at the Washington State Convention & Trade Center.
At Strong States, Strong Nation, August 16-20, thousands of state lawmakers and experts will explore answers to the policy quandaries of our time. More than 150 sessions will provide background information, examples and candid discussion.
This meeting, which culminates NCSL’s 30th anniversary year, is packed with provocative speakers. Bill Gates will give the keynote address. Other presenters include Carr Hagerman, author and FISH! Philosopher; Uwe Reinhardt, one of the nation’s leading authorities on health care economics; and world-renowned biomedical researchers Lee Hartwell, a Nobel laureate who is president and director of the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, and Leroy Hood, who is president of the Institute for Systems Biology.
“This is the largest gathering of state legislators, staff and policy experts in the country,” said NCSL Executive Director Bill Pound. “Those who join us at the 2005 "Strong States, Strong Nation" Annual Meeting will leave with a vision for the future of America.”
Sessions will cover state budgets, economic development, higher education, No Child Left Behind, renewable energy, electronic waste, obesity, Medicaid, prescription drugs, methamphetamine, Social Security, privacy, term limits, driver distractions and more.
Also at the Annual Meeting, state legislators on NCSL’s 15 Standing Committees will debate and vote on positions that will guide NCSL’s advocacy for states in Washington, D.C.
This is the first year that NCSL’s Annual Meeting will be held at the same place as Capitolbeat’s annual reporters’ convention. August 19-21, statehouse journalists from across America will converge to hear from experts on a range of fiscal, political and social issues, to share Capitol war stories and hone their skills at numerous workshops.
Attendance at NCSL’s meeting is free to credentialed members of the media. More information and registration forms are available online. Send questions to press-room@ncsl.org.
There is a fee to attend Capitolbeat. More information is available online.
NCSL is the bipartisan organization that serves the legislators and staffs of the states, commonwealths and territories. It provides research, technical assistance and opportunities for policymakers to exchange ideas on the most pressing state issues and is an effective and respected advocate for the interests of the states in the American federal system.
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