Updated August 11, 2006
The press room is no longer open on Friday.

How to Work from Opryland During NCSL's Annual Meeting

NASHVILLE – You'll find the tools to write your stories and the content to compose them at NCSL's 2006 Annual Meeting in Nashville. We provide computers and high speed Internet connections in our onsite press room in addition to policy sessions, press conferences and countless experts to interview. Read on for details about the meeting and how to register to attend.

Who:

6,000 state legislators, legislative staff members, policy experts, advocates, government leaders and reporters

What:

The National Conference of State Legislatures 2006 “Strong States, Strong Nation” Annual Meeting

When:

August 15-18, 2006 (Pre-conference seminars take place on August 14.)

Where:

The Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center, 2800 Opryland Drive, Nashville, Tennessee 37214-1297

Registration

If you plan to cover any part of this meeting, you have to register and get a badge from NCSL staff at the main registration desk or in the press room. Badges are free to credentialed members of the press.

Advance registration is closed, but you can register on site. For the shortest line, go straight to the press room in Hermitage A. Or you can go to the main registration desk, which opens Monday, Aug. 14 at 8 a.m., Tuesday and Wednesday at 7:30 a.m., and Friday at 8 a.m.

If you've already registered but haven't received your badge in the mail, you can pick it up at the main registration desk before covering any events. Please bring your media credentials and a business card.

You must wear your badge at all times during the meeting and to get into NCSL-sponsored events.

Press Room

The press room is in Hermitage A, on Level M (Mezzanine).

Hours of operation:

Mon., Aug. 14 7:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.

Tues., Aug. 15 7:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.

Wed., Aug. 16 7:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.

Thurs., Aug. 17 7:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.
What the press room has to offer:

Computers and printers;
Wireless Internet access;
High speed Internet access;
Cable TV for the latest news; and
Coffee and sodas.

Press Conferences and Reports

NCSL plans to release several significant reports during and preceding the Annual Meeting. Press conferences will be held in Hermitage B next door to the press room. The tentative agenda includes:

State Budget and Tax Actions

This report is a quarterly look at states' budget conditions.

Embargoed copies are available. This report will be released on Tuesday, but no press conference is scheduled.

Study Says Legislatures Suffer Under Term Limits

This report includes findings of the Joint Project on Term Limits, a cooperative effort among NCSL, the Council of State Governments and the State Legislative Leaders Foundation. It details the effects of term limits on the strength of legislatures and suggests strategies for coping with them. At this press conference, NCSL experts Karl Kurtz and Jennie Drage Bowser will present the findings. Others involved in the project will be available for questions.

Tues., Aug. 15, 12:45 p.m.

Embargoed copies of this report will be available Friday, Aug. 11 to those who agree not to publish before 12:45 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 15.

Top Ten Statehouse Election Battlegrounds/
Initiative and Referenda Trends for 2006

At this press conference, NCSL elections expert Tim Storey will unveil his list of states and chambers to watch this election season. You'll also hear from the executive directors of the Republican and Democrat state legislative campaign committees. Then NCSL initiative and referendum expert Jennie Bowser will discuss trend for 2006 ballot issues.

Wed., Aug. 16, 11:30 a.m.

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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Contacts

Bill Wyatt
Director of Media Relations
Washington, D.C.
202-624-8667

Nicole Casal Moore
Public Affairs Manager
Denver
303-856-1525

To reach us in Nashville during Annual Meeting Aug. 14-18, call the press room at 615-458-0831.

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