SLC S TAT E SERVICE PROFILE 2 0 16-17
RESOURCES FOR STATE GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS AND STAFF SPEAKER PHILIP GUNN, SLC CHAIR, MISSISSIPPI, ACCEPTS THE GAVEL FROM PAST CHAIR, SENATE PRESIDENT ROBERT STIVERS, KENTUCKY SLC CENTER FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF LEADERSHIP SKILLS PROGRAM SESSION ON STRATEGIES FOR ADAPTIVE LEADERSHIP 2016 SLC/MARK NORRIS CAMPAIGN AGAINST HUNGER FOOD PACKAGING EVENT RESEARCH Rely on the Southern Office to provide timely and unbiased reports, issue briefs and inquiry services on a wide variety of issues tailored to your needs and deadline. Call one of our professional, knowledgeable staff for: Policy information requests Targeted research Contextual reports Comparative data analysis of critical issues in state government SLC EDUCATION COMMITTEE MEMBERS MEETING WITH U.S. SENATOR LAMAR ALEXANDER LEGISLATIVE STAFF EXCHANGE PROGRAM ON IDENTIFYING CODE CONFLICTS POLICY The Southern Office provides numerous opportunities to discover and share policy and practice development at both the regional and national level. Stay connected on the critical issues facing state government and the region through: SLC standing committees State Transformation in Action Recognition (STAR) Program National Center for Interstate Compacts ISSUES IN FOCUS Policymakers benefit from learning about policy innovations and emerging issues. Opportunities for legislators and legislative staff to explore in-depth the most pressing issues of the day include: International legislative delegations Issue-specific, state-tailored legislative staff programming Policy fly-ins DELEGATION OF SLC MEMBERS TOURING CRIMINAL JUSTICE AND MENTAL HEALTH MODEL PROGRAM IN SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT The Council of State Governments and its regional offices provide valuable opportunities for individuals in public service to understand and expand their skills. Professional development training is available to elected and appointed state officials and their staff through: The Center for the Advancement of Leadership Skills (CALS) Legislative Staff Exchange Programs SouthTrain The Henry Toll Fellowship Program SLCATLANTA.ORG Visit our website to find out more about the programs and services available to you, register for meetings and events, and stay up-to-date on: Policy research and publications Online learning opportunities Registration and preliminary agendas for the SLC Annual Meeting SLC officer, committee, and program profiles Committee and state liaison staff assignments Information from CSG national and regional offices The CSG Knowledge Center
ANNUAL PROGRAMS THE CENTER FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF LEADERSHIP SKILLS The Center for the Advancement of Leadership Skills (CALS) seeks to create skilled, educated and confident state leaders by developing and enhancing core competencies that play a vital role in the service of public officials, in both professional and personal arenas. Through activities and instruction focusing on the leadership program s four central components communication, conflict resolution, consensus building, and critical decision making CALS scholars have an opportunity to reinforce and refine these critical skills. The Southern Office of The Council of State Governments recognizes the need for state officials to learn from one another. To encourage dialogue, the leadership program provides participants a unique opportunity to foster connections, engage in conversations and take part in sessions designed to explore individual boundaries and perceptions in a strictly nonpartisan environment. Each year, applications are sought from state government officials throughout the 15 member states and full scholarships are provided. To learn more or apply for the CALS leadership program, email Ms. Lori Moore, director of operations and programs, at lmoore@csg.org or visit slcatlanta.org/cals. CLASS OF 2016: CENTER FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF LEADERSHIP SKILLS STATE TRANSFORMATION IN ACTION RECOGNITION The Southern Legislative Conference recognizes that state employees work hard, not only to provide outstanding services, but also by striving to develop and adapt new and improved programs to make their states a better place to live and work. Such efforts should be recognized, and innovative ideas should be shared among colleagues. The Southern Office has identified and promoted exceptional state government programs for nearly 40 years. Through the State Transformation in Action Recognition (STAR) program, the SLC affirms that states are the best problem 2016 STAR RECIPIENTS: SUPERINTENDENT OF EDUCATION CHRISTOPHER COLVILLE AND EDUCATION PROGRAM COORDINATOR CLEON ROSS II OF THE VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS solvers by distinguishing creative, impactful, transferable and effective state government solutions. Applications are accepted from a wide array of state agencies, departments and institutions operating within the executive, legislative, and judicial governmental branches. Following a review process, six finalists are invited to present at the SLC Annual Meeting, and two exceptional programs are selected as models 2016 STAR RECIPIENT: NICK DONOHUE, DEPUTY SECRETARY OF TRANSPORTATION, VIRGINIA of efficiency and effectiveness in state governments in the Southern region. This year s deadline for submissions is May 26, 2017. For more information and to become part of this regional initiative to share the most creative and effective programs in the SLC member states, visit slcatlanta.org/star or contact Mr. Nick Bowman, research and publications associate, at nbowman@csg.org or (404) 633-1866.
CONNECT WITH THE SOUTHERN OFFICE Staff from the Southern Office are available to assist you in your work on state policy. For more information on our staff, visit www.slcatlanta.org. Contact us by phone at 404-633-1866, or directly by email: COLLEEN Cousineau slc@csg.org Director, SLC; Director, Southern Office, CSG SUJIT M. CanagaRetna scanagaretna@csg.org Fiscal Policy Manager LORI Moore lmoore@csg.org Director of Operations and Programs MIKKO Lindberg mlindberg@csg.org Senior Communications and Research Associate ANNE Roberts Brody aroberts@csg.org Policy Analyst ROGER Moore rmoore@csg.org Policy Analyst NICK Bowman nbowman@csg.org Research and Publications Associate LILY Schieber lschieber@csg.org Logistics and Administrative Coordinator NEIL Johnson njohnson@csg.org Operations Coordinator ALABAMA ARKANSAS FLORIDA GEORGIA KENTUCKY REGIONAL VIEW LOUISIANA MISSISSIPPI MISSOURI NORTH CAROLINA OKLAHOMA SOUTH CAROLINA TENNESSEE TEXAS VIRGINIA WEST VIRGINIA NATIONAL REACH Founded in 1933, The Council of State Governments (CSG) is our nation s only organization serving all three branches of state government. Regional by design, CSG is a national community with six offices across the United States. This structure invites participation from members on a more intimate, regional level, while also providing unparalleled national and international opportunities to network, collaborate and form professional partnerships. Opened in 1959, the Southern Office of The Council of State Governments fosters intergovernmental cooperation among its 15 member states, predominantly through the programs and services provided by its Southern Legislative Conference (SLC). Legislative leadership, members and staff utilize the SLC to identify and produce solutions for the most prevalent and unique state government policy issues facing Southern states. Meanwhile, SLC member outreach in state capitols and coordination of domestic and international delegations, leadership development and staff exchange programs, meetings, and fly-ins by the Southern Office support state policymakers and legislative staff in their work to build a stronger region. Established in 1947, the SLC is a member-driven organization and the largest of four regional conferences of CSG. The Annual Meeting of the Southern Legislative Conference, convened as the focal point and apex of its activities, is the premier public policy forum for Southern state legislators and the largest regional gathering of legislative members and staff. The Annual Meeting and a broad array of similarly well-established and successful SLC programs focusing on both existing and emerging state government challenges provide policymakers diverse opportunities to ask questions of policy experts and share their knowledge with colleagues.
Dear Colleagues, I am honored to serve as both the Chair of the Southern Legislative Conference (SLC) for 2016-2017, and as host to the 71 st Annual Meeting of the Southern Legislative Conference, convening July 29 through August 2, 2017, in Biloxi, Mississippi. During the year ahead, and especially at our annual meeting, we have a great opportunity to forge alliances and bonds which, collectively, strengthen the mission of the SLC. While many variables shape the trajectory of our success as states, both from a regional and national perspective, I believe state legislatures stand at a pivotal moment in our nation s history. SPEAKER PHILIP GUNN, MISSISSIPPI, AT THE 2016 SLC/MARK NORRIS CAMPAIGN AGAINST HUNGER FOOD PACKAGING EVENT In the coming year, the member states of the SLC will face a number of opportunities and challenges, all requiring resiliency, resourcefulness and innovation traits so common to our region. Building consensus and finding solutions call for shared experience and expertise in both the best and worst of times. The path forward reinforces the vital role the Southern Legislative Conference of The Council of State Governments can play in assisting policymakers. As Chair of the SLC, I encourage you to take advantage of the programs and services provided by our Southern Legislative Conference, both during and outside our legislative sessions, and I urge you to work through the SLC, with your colleagues from across the region, to find practical and cost-effective solutions to the common challenges that face our region. Sincerely, Speaker Philip Gunn Mississippi House of Representatives SLC Chair, 2016-2017 Find out more about the Southern Legislative Conference and the 71 st Annual Meeting at slcatlanta.org and slc2017.org The Annual Meeting of the Southern Legislative Conference provides policymakers with an opportunity to share their experiences with others facing similar issues across a broad spectrum. Regional and national policy experts address an array of topics germane to the Conference s six standing committees, which serve as the foundation for policy discussions. SOUTHERN LEGISLATIVE CONFERENCE ST. LOUIS JULY 21-25, 2018 In addition to the substantive programs, the Annual Meeting shines a spotlight on the Host State s year-long planning to accommodate members from across the region with special activities and events unique to both the host city and state.