National Association of Legislative Information Technology
NCSL Legislative Summit
Kentucky International Convention Center

Louisville, Kentucky

July 25-28, 2010

Agenda and Session Handouts

Last update: August 10, 2010

 July 25 | July 26 | July 27 | July 28

Sunday, July 25, 2010 
 

Registration

NCSL gratefully acknowledges the Louisville Convention & Visitors Bureau for sponsoring the continental breakfast.

Information Anytime, Anywhere
(Co-sponsored by the Communications, Financial Services & Interstate Commerce Committee and the Legislative Effectiveness Committee)
In our fast paced ultra-connected world, the legislative space could benefit greatly from emerging communication technologies. Legislators, policy advocates and staff have come to expect real time access to data and systems that foster communication, effective decision support and efficient operations. This session will explore the systems and technologies available today that allow legislators, policy advocates and staff to remain connected and productive even when away from the office. Topics will include unified messaging (voice, video, fax), unified communications, convergence and mobile technologies. 

Moderator: Rich Beckwith, Director of Information Services, House of Representatives, Missouri

Speakers: 

• Curtis Clothier, Information Services Manager, Legislative Affairs Agency, Alaska
  • Curtis Clothier's presentation
• Kent Cunningham,  Emerging Solutions Architect, Microsoft U. S. Public Sector, Tennessee
• Douglas Young, Chief Information Officer, Office of Administration, Missouri
  • Kent Cunningham's and Douglas Young's presentations (Note: Douglas Young's presentation begins on page 15)

Standing Committees
NCSL’s 15 standing committees will hold informational sessions and policy meetings.  The programs are open to all attendees.

NALIT Dutch Treat Dinner
Join IT colleagues from around the country for a great evening at a local restaurant. Spouses and guests are welcome.  Advance registration required. Contact Pam Greenberg to RSVP or for more information.

Monday, July 26, 2010

Registration

NCSL gratefully acknowledges the Louisville Convention & Visitors Bureau for sponsoring the continental breakfast.

Exhibit Hall Open

General Session: Does Congress Really Care About the States?

U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell headlines the opening ceremony for the 2010 NCSL Legislative Summit. Hear his perspective on key national issues and the relationship between states and the federal government. A welcome from Kentucky’s legislative leaders and a tribute to state legislators and state legislative staff who served in current U.S. military operations overseas will highlight this session.
 

Standing Committees
NCSL’s 15 standing committees will hold informational sessions and policy meetings.  The programs are open to all attendees.

Learn how to adapt your work and communications using the latest social networking and other technology. Participate in an interactive learning experience and explore this new world of communication.

Moderator: Tim Rice, Executive Director, Legislative Information System, Illinois

Speakers:

• Sharon Crouch Steidel, Information Systems, House of Delegates, Virginia
  • Sharon Crouch Steidel's presentation
• Representative Rob Eissler, Texas
• Kae Warnock, NCSL
  • Kae Warnock's presentation

Legislative Staff University: Leadership in Challenging Times
Designing innovative solutions to thorny issues is important in tough budget times, particularly when the public's trust in government is waning. Learn the essential leadership skills to motivate and inspire that can make a difference in policymaking and personnel management. Representative Jay Kaufman, chair of the Massachusetts Revenue Committee and director of the Center for Leadership and Public Life at Northeastern University in Boston will share his ideas and perspective.

Speaker: Representative Jay R. Kaufman, Massachusetts

Social Event: Country, Culture & Cuisine on the Waterfront

The spirit of Kentucky is on parade tonight! Wynona Judd, Loretta Lynn and Patty Loveless—three great champions of country music—star in our private concert on the shores of the Ohio River. You’ll enjoy a delicious Southern dinner and stroll through a crafts village featuring traditional Kentucky arts and crafts. Visit the memorial to one of Kentucky’s most famous natives—Abraham Lincoln—whose inspiration for the Emancipation Proclamation came from these shores—and talk with the sculptor who created it. Warm up for the concert by visiting the Steamer Belle of Louisville, a national historic monument, for dancing and socializing. A night of legends, a night to remember.

NCSL gratefully acknowledges the Louisville Convention & Visitors Bureau for sponsoring the continental breakfast.

Cloud Computing for a Rainy Day

Cloud computing makes it possible to access, store and deliver software and services through remote servers on the Internet, rather than through traditional desktop computers and servers.  It has been touted as an effective, convenient and flexible means of reducing technology costs, but also raises questions about the security and privacy of data stored in the cloud.  Learn about the different varieties of cloud computing and the benefits and drawbacks of this web technology. 

Moderator: Gary Wieman, Network Manager, Legislative Technology Center, Nebraska

Speakers:

• Dave Larson, Director-Legislative Computer Services, Kansas
  • Dave Larson's presentation
• Aaron Sweemer, VCE Architect, VMware, Inc.  

General Session: An Education Success Story

Jeb Bush was governor of a state whose education system ranked at the bottom nationally, but the will to improve and the courageous leadership of the Florida Legislature changed so much in a decade. Hear Governor Bush discuss why Florida didn’t abandon reform during tough times, but focused on the long-term benefits of providing quality education to every student in the state and reversed a generation of decline in public schools.

Issue Forum: Transparent Legislature
(Co-sponsored by the American Society of Legislative Clerks and Secretaries, the Communications, Financial Services and Interstate Commerce Committee, the Legal Services Staff Section, the Leadership Staff Section, the Legislative Effectiveness Committee)
An open government—one that is transparent, participatory and collaborative—is increasingly the new paradigm at all levels and branches of government. How can legislatures provide access and transparency while ensuring that important privacy, security, data integrity and institutional values are not compromised?

Moderator: Paul W. Taylor, Editor-at-Large of Governing magazine and the Chief Content Officer for e.Republic, Inc., Washington

• Paul W. Taylor's presentation

Speakers:

• Senator Pamela Althoff, Illinois
• Jon Heining, General Counsel, Legislative Council, Texas
  • Jon Heining's presentation
• Robert Horton, State Archivist/Director of Library, Publications, Minnesota Historical Society, Minnesota
• Daniel Schuman, Policy Counsel, Sunlight Foundation, Washington, D.C.

A Taste of Texas: 2011 Kick Off Exhibit Hall Luncheon

Visit with our outstanding exhibitors to learn about an amazing range of great products, information and services, while getting excited for next year's Summit in San Antonio. All meeting participants are invited to join the Texas Host Committee for "A Taste of Texas" and enjoy the Lone Star State’s famous barbecue and Mexican food. Come with a hearty appetite and be prepared for Texas-sized hospitality and scrumptious food.

Greening the Legislature
(Co-sponsored by the American Society of Legislative Clerks and Secretaries)
"Going green" is a popular and growing trend, but what do green IT initiatives mean for the legislative environment? Energy-saving computer purchases, virtualization, going paperless and other green solutions potentially can have long term benefits and cost savings for government. Learn about the practicality of green IT policies and strategies for state legislatures.

Moderator: Duncan Goss, Director of Information Technology, Legislative Council, Vermont 

Speakers:

• Duncan Goss, Director of Information Technology, Legislative Council, Vermont
  • Duncan Goss' presentation
• Senator Les Ihara, Jr., Hawaii
  • Senator Ihara's presentation, handouts (Hawaii Senate Paperless and Green Initiative Resource Docs (3.3 MB Zip file) ), Hawaii Senate Paperless Initiative website
• Vincent Riccio, Manager, Office Marketing Operations, Xerox Corp., Connecticut
  • Vincent Riccio's presentation

NCSL gratefully acknowledges the Louisville Convention & Visitors Bureau for sponsoring the continental breakfast.

 General Session: America's Take

Pollsters Peter Hart and Neil Newhouse have different political leanings but they both have a take on how Americans view the economy, the current direction of the country and how today’s politics will play out in November. Hear Hart, a Democrat whose client list includes the Clintons and Kennedys, and Newhouse, a Republican recently named "Pollster of the Year" for his work on Scott Brown’s Massachusetts Senate campaign, dissect Americans’ attitudes in this time of political turbulence.

Salute to Legislative Staff

Just as strong states make a strong nation, strong legislative staffs make strong legislatures. Come celebrate the contributions staff make to their legislatures and to NCSL. Listen to David Landis—-state senator, college teacher and urban planner—-discuss the importance of legislative service as a career, particularly at a time of public distrust of government and the retirement of staff who have been part of the legislature's rise in stature over the years.

Presiding: Nancy Cyr, Legislative Research Division, Nebraska
Speaker: David Landis, Urban Development Department, Nebraska

NALIT Business Meeting and Lunch
NALIT members will hear committee reports, present the Online Democracy and NALIT Legislative Staff Achievement Awards, and elect new officers.

Presiding: Linda Pittsford, Deputy Director, Computer Support Center, Texas, NALIT Chair

• NALIT Business Meeting Minutes (coming soon)

Legislative Staff University: Making Your Point Successfully

In an era of conflict and partisanship, communicating effectively and respectfully with those you supervise and those you serve is essential for success in legislative careers. The spoken and written word have a lasting impact, and the legislative institution benefits when consideration, courtesy and decorum guide communication. Listen to Anna Post with the Emily Post Institute as she discusses techniques that work both on the House floor and in the office workplace.

Speaker: Anna Post, Emily Post Institute, Vermont 

Protecting Legislative Records in the Digital Age
(Co-sponsored by the American Society of Legislative Clerks and Secretaries, the Communications, Financial Services and Interstate Commerce Committee and the Legislative Research Librarians)
Traditionally, legislative documents have survived for decades. Now, legislative records are made up of digital content that represents text, images, audio, video and more. But these digital records are more fragile than paper. Digital materials depend on technology to make them available, and digital content requires active management to ensure its ongoing accessibility. Learn about a proposed model law, technical solutions, and other collaborative efforts to ensure that digital legislative records are authentic, trustworthy, enduring and accessible.

Moderator: Linda Pittsford, Deputy Director, Computer Support Center, Texas

Speakers:

• Dan Dodge, Data Architect, Thomson Reuters, Minnesota
  • Dan Dodge's presentation
• Robert Horton, State Archivist/Director of Library, Publications, Minnesota Historical Society, Minnesota
  • Robert Horton's presentation
• Michael Wash, Chief Information Officer, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C.
  • Michael Wash's presentation

Social Event: Race to the Finish Line, Churchill Downs
Experience the magic of Churchill Downs, the host of “the most exciting two minutes in sports.” You’ll wander the paddock area where the horses, jockeys and trainers will be on hand. You’ll dine in Millionaire’s Row and taste some of Kentucky’s Master Bourbon Distillers’ best offerings. Have your picture taken under the historic twin spires. The highlight of the evening will be live racing exclusively for our guests. You can bet on the race with your $100 voucher, and the person who parlays it into the largest winnings will receive a 2011 Derby Box. It’s a night of champions!