Wichita Hosts Successful SLGA Conference
More than 220 lobbyists, executive officers, builders and staff gathered in America's heartland earlier this month for the twentieth annual State & Local Government Affairs Conference. Several format changes, including featuring more state and local association staff as speakers, made the conference a resounding success.

Conference highlights include:

• A group session that gave associations the chance to share their recent success stories. Government affairs staff from associations in Wisconsin, Seattle area, and Atlanta led the program, and audience members added their expereinces.
• Legislative Pathfinder Awards, which recognized 18 builders associations for their work to pass construction defect legislation. (See full story in this issue at State and Local Associations Receive Prestigious Legislative Award.)
• Fifteen different breakout sessions, most of which featured state and local association staffers as presenters.
• A Friday focus on infrastructure financing with finance experts and real-world examples where innovative solutions have been put in place.
• Jim Morris, a political humorist who reminded attendees of the lighter side of politics with his impersonations of former and present leaders. 
• An opening night Kansas-style hoe-down that gave conference goers a chance to catch up with old friends,  feast on wild game and enjoy live bluegrass music. 
• And last but not least, the rabbits whose meeting space was adjacent to ours and made this year's conference a truly multi-sensory experience.

Thanks to all who made the 2003 event great! The 2004 State & Local Government Affairs Conference will be held November 4-6 in Biloxi, MS.

If you didn't make it to Wichita but are interested in receiving a copy of the conference's CD-ROM resource guide, contact Marie Zenner. [ return to top ]