NALIT News | Jan. 2025

NALIT's 2025 Joint Professional Development Seminar with LINCS

This one-of-a-kind seminar will take place in Juneau, Alaska, Sept. 8-11, 2025.

Registration is open, but space is limited.

The NALIT and LINCS Professional Development Seminar brings together state legislative IT professionals and communications/information, public relations and press room staff who are interested in advancing the effectiveness and efficiency of state legislatures through technology. The 2025 seminar provides a combination of educational sessions, legislative application showcases, tours and briefings, best practices, a vendors' reception and networking opportunities.

Proposed Topics:

• Productivity for Legislative IT and Communications Staff.

• Shadow IT-Empowering Users While Protecting Systems.

• Cybersecurity-It's Still a Threat, Are you Ready?

• Media Relations.

• Speechwriting.

• Communications Plan Development.

• Five Minutes of Fame.

• Applications Showcases.

• Birds of a Feather Roundtables.

• Teleconferences-40 Years Covering Thousands of Miles in Alaska.

Make a Nomination

• Nominations for the 2025 Legislative Staff Achievement Award from the National Association of Legislative Information Technology are now being accepted.

• Honorees for the 2025 awards will be given their award at the NALIT Business Meeting during the NALIT and LINCS Professional Development Seminar on Sept. 11.

• Make your nominations by Friday, May 9, via this nomination form. Thank you for considering the nomination of a deserving NALIT member.

NALIT's Communication Platform - (NCSL Groups) is Getting an Update!

The primary avenue for information on NALIT meetings and the newsletter is the new NALIT platform. You can also find the latest discussions on BYOD, Chamber technology, ERP systems, chat client, AI tools and much more.

How is the platform changing?

• Emails sent from NCSL Groups to your inboxes will now feature clearer subject headers and sender names, so you won't miss important news from the groups you care about most.

• You'll have greater control over notifications.

Not sure how to use the platform?

1. Make certain you know your NCSL login and password.

2. Visit www.ncsl.org and log in to your account.

3. In the address bar, navigate to groups.ncsl.org. NCSL's server will ask you for permission to access our database to verify you work for a legislature.

4. You should see the NALIT logo. If you don't, please contact Kae Warnock for assistance.

Why is the Legislative Staff Coordinating Committee Important for NALIT Leaders?

By Johnathan Harris

The Legislative Staff Coordinating Committee is the body within NCSL that represents, promotes, oversees and coordinates NCSL legislative staff associations, activities and services. LSCC serves in an advisory capacity to the NCSL Executive Committee.

Being part of the Legislative Staff Coordinating Committee is a fantastic way to make a difference in the legislative world while growing your career. The LSCC helps guide NCSL by shaping programs and services for legislative staff across the U.S. It's also a great platform for building leadership skills and connecting with peers nationwide.

How Do NALIT Officers and Others Join LSCC?

Legislative staff join LSCC in one of these ways:

• The three NCSL staff officers (staff chair, staff vice chair, immediate past staff chair) are members of LSCC.

• The chairs and vice-chairs of the nine professional staff associations, like NALIT, are members of LSCC.

• There are 16 legislative staff members of the NCSL Executive Committee.

• There are six ex-officio members appointed as overall staff co-chairs and staff vice chairs of the NCSL standing committees.

• There are six discretionary appointments made by the NCSL staff chair.

This diverse group ensures everyone's voice is heard, and fresh ideas keep flowing.

Why Do NALIT Officers Join the LSCC?

The LSCC is made up of legislative staff from states, commonwealths, territories, and D.C. Here's what they do:

• Improve NCSL's Services: They make sure NCSL's programs meet the needs of over 33,000 legislative staff members.

• Connect Professional Staff Associations: The LSCC oversees nine staff associations, promoting teamwork across different legislative roles.

• Support Careers: They provide resources and support for those building a career in legislative service.

• Foster Leadership: Members help shape the future of legislative services while growing their own leadership skills.

What's In It for You?

1. Expand Your Network: Meet and collaborate with legislative staff from all kinds of backgrounds, not just your field.

2. Build Leadership Skills: Get hands-on experience in governance and decision-making.

3. Learn and Share: Work with peers to solve challenges and share ideas you can take back to your own office.

4. Understand the Bigger Picture: Learn about other parts of the legislative process, giving you fresh insights into your role.

5. Make an Impact: Help improve services and programs that support legislative staff nationwide.

Why It's Worth It

Serving on the LSCC is your chance to grow, connect, and make a real difference. Whether you join as an association officer, NCSL Executive Committee member, or appointee, you'll come away with new skills, valuable relationships, and a stronger sense of purpose in your work. It's a win-win for you and the legislative community!

Johnathan Harris is Deputy Director/Chief Information Officer for the Kentucky Legislative Research Commission and is the 2024-25 Chair of NALIT.

Application opens March 3 for the Legislative Staff Management Institute

July 9-16

National Conference of States Legislatures Headquarters | Denver

NCSL's premier leadership and management development program, the Legislative Staff Management Institute, will be held July 9-16 in Denver. This program is intended for senior-level legislative staff and staffers on their way to such positions. The curriculum focuses on both self- and social awareness, which are foundational elements of being an effective leader. The week starts with introspective programs and experiences and shifts midweek to focus on group dynamics and challenges unique to the world of the legislature.

Throughout the seven-day program, participants' perspectives are challenged in both content and delivery. While the "home base" is NCSL's headquarters building, a variety of educational and networking experiences take participants outside of the classroom setting.

The Legislative Staff Management Institute is intended for senior-level legislative staff and staffers on their way to such positions. Acceptance is competitive as the program size is limited. Applications will be accepted until Friday, April 11.