KreweNews

New 50-State Legislation Database Training

Special training for a new NCSL service that will allow members to search legislation in all 50 states will be available at NCSL's 2008 Legislative Summit in New Orleans. The database contains the full text of legislation in states, the District of Columbia and Congress. This new service, powered by StateNet, is available exclusively to state legislators and legislative staff.

Training will be available every half hour Wednesday, July 23, from 9 to 11:30 a.m., Thursday from 9 to 11:30 a.m., and Friday from 9 to 10 a.m.

Attendees will learn how to find legislation by topic, bill number, state and other categories. It will also allow access to legislative calendars, session summaries and other information.

To take advantage of this special training, register for NCSL's 2008 Legislative Summit today!

Streetcar Lines Return

The New Orleans Times-Picayune reports Sunday that the final leg of the streetcar lines in the city opened over the weekend. The event is being celebrated by the community, local businesses and tourists. The streetcar has long been a symbol of this historic American city.

As the New Orleans Regional Transit Authority announced, "For the first time since Hurricane Katrina, locals and tourists alike will be able to enjoy a scenic ride down the full St. Charles streetcar line—boarding at Carondelete and Canal Street, rolling the length of St. Charles Avenue, down South Carrollton Avenue and ending at South Claiborne Avenue."

Be sure to take a ride on a streetcar when you attend NCSL's 2008 Legislative Summit in New Orleans. Register for the meeting today!

Speaker Spotlight: Alan Haley

by Meagan Dorsch and Janna Goodwin

The National Conference of State Legislatures is honored to have Alan D. Haley as a speaker during the 2008 Legislative Summit in New Orleans, July 22 - 26, 2008.

Haley has been a Preservation Specialist (Senior Rare Book Conservator) at the Library of Congress since 1993. He has been a member of the LC Collections Emergency Response Team for 12 years and been involved in emergency preparedness, disaster response assessments and on-site collections recovery efforts at the Library of Congress as well as in El Salvador after the 2001 earthquakes.  He most recently was in Iraq after the arson attacks on the National Library in Bagdad in 2003.  He has collaborated with colleagues to train LC custodial division staff in emergency response protocol and has given numerous collections salvage workshops at universities and museums in El Salvador, Puerto Rico, Alabama, New Orleans, and South Florida.

Haley will be speaking at the session ""In the Line of Fire and Flood: Protecting and Recovering Collections at Risk" on Tuesday, July 22. He will discuss generally accepted guidelines on preventative steps to minimize risk to institutional collections. He will describe and demonstrate procedures and techniques to minimize loss when disasters have damaged such historical materials. This session at NCSL Legislative Summit is sponsored by the Legislative Research Librarians Staff Section.

There is only one way to see Haley and all of our featured speakers at the 34th annual NCSL Legislative Summit in New Orleans. Make sure to register today!

Session Spotlight: School Choice

For more than two decades, there have been a wide range of experiments in allowing parents to choose the schools their children attend. At one of our breakout sessions at the NCSL 2008 Legislative Summit in New Orleans, we'll take a look at what we've learned in that time.

Sol Stern, a noted writer who focuses on education reform, will be featured in a discussion on how well the choice experiment has worked, and which strategies have been successful in improving student achievement and improving the public school system. The session takes place Thursday, July 24 at 10 a.m.

Stern is a contributing editor to City Journal and a Manhattan Institute senior fellow. His writings on that topic have helped shape the terms of the current debate in New York City. He is the author of Breaking Free: Public School Lessons and the Imperative of School Choice. Aside from his work in City Journal, Stern’s articles have appeared in the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times Magazine, Commentary, The New Republic, the New York Post and the Daily News.

To be a part of this discussion, register for the meeting today.

Speaker Spotlight: Fred Krupp

Mother Earth has been claiming her share of the headlines lately. Every region of the country seems to have a major weather-related story right, particularly the flooding in the Midwest. Our host for NCSL's 2008 Legislative Summit, New Orleans, is still recovering from hurricanes that hit in 2005.

Fred Krupp, president of the Environmental Defense Fund, looked at what was happening to the planet and has written a best-selling book, Earth: The Sequel. The premise of the book is that the nation can build a low-carbon economy while unleashing American entrepreneurs to save the planet.

Krupp has focused his career on developing market-based solutions for environmental issues. He has led Environmental Defense Fund in a series of corporate partnerships with DuPont, FedEx, McDonald’s and others and helped launch the U.S. Climate Action Partnership.

He will join Shell Oil President Marvin Odum at the Summit's general session on Wednesday, July 23. Register today to be a part of this session to learn how can the U.S. maintain the delicate balance between energy, economic and environmental sustainability.

Beignets Anyone?

by Meagan Dorsch

First, I would like to apologize for taking so long before highlighting another great place to visit in New Orleans during NCSL's Legislative Summit. We have been so busy preparing for this meeting, everyone is going 100 miles an hour and loving it!

Having said that, thank you for giving me the opportunity to stop for a second, and remember how wonderful warm beignets are on a humid morning in New Orleans. Throw in some Chicory coffee, and I can't think of a better way to start the day.

Since it's open 24 hours a day, you can start your morning or end your night Cafe DeMonde! It is close to the French Quarter and just a quick tip...there is also a location inside of the RiverWalk Mall...steps away from the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center!

Don't miss out on these fabulous treats or NCSL Legislative Summit in New Orleans. You are going to want to be in that number...register today!

Deadline for Housing, Special Registration Fees is Friday, June 20!

If you've been thinking about attending NCSL's 2008 Legislative Summit in New Orleans, you should be aware of a couple of deadlines that occur this Friday, June 20.

First, if you like saving money, you can save at least 10 percent by registering for the meeting by Friday. Second, the guaranteed rates we have for hotels in New Orleans ends this week. In order to secure your housing at these low rates, you'll need to book your room by Friday, June 20.

The meeting is only five weeks away! We hope you will join us.

Speaker Spotlight: Lee Hamilton

When Lee Hamilton left Congress in 1999, he felt the American public needed a better understanding of how government, and particularly Congress, operates. He founded The Center on Congress at Indiana University that year as a non-partisan educational institution seeking to improve public understanding of Congress and encourage civic engagement.

His reputation as a statesman has led to his appointment to lead several notable U.S. commissions, including co-chair of the 9/11 Commission.  He is the author of two books: How Congress Works and Why You Should Care (Indiana University Press), and A Creative Tension: The Foreign Policy Roles of the President and Congress (Woodrow Wilson Press). He co-authored with former Gov. Kean Without Precedent: The Inside Story of the 9/11 Commission (Knopf).

At NCSL's 2008 Legislative Summit in New Orleans, Hamilton will share the stage with Newt Gingrich on Thursday to discuss what is needed to move America beyond gridlock to solving our biggest issues, including health care, education and the environment, with innovation and originality.

Register today to hear this fascinating conversation between two American legendary public servants.

Webinar Summary of Summit Program Available Online

Looking for a great overview of the 2008 Legislative Summit in New Orleans? Today, we recorded a free, online event highlighting the program, the tours, social events, kids program and some great information about the city of New Orleans.

At only 36 minutes long, the presentation features NCSL staff and a representative of the New Orleans Convention and Visitors Bureau. All you have to do is grab your favorite beverage, go to your computer, turn on your sound and click on the link found on this page that says "encore presentation." The event, called a Webinar, will play out on your screen.

We welcome your feedback. Post a comment below and let us know if you have any questions that we didn't answer at today's event. And, if you haven't yet, go ahead and register for the meeting!

New Orleans: A Family Itinerary

Planning on spending some extra time in New Orleans with your family? The Convention and Visitors Bureau has put together a suggested itinerary for families that you may want to consider. Here it is:

Day 1
New Orleans pancake breakfast at Mothers Restaurant in the Warehouse District can start your day.  Walk to the Aquarium of the Americas which also houses the IMAX Theater.  Enjoy lunch across the street from the Aquarium complex at Gordon Biersch Brewery (good for families). 

After lunch take ferry across the river to Mardi Gras World. You will see where the magic of Mardi Gras is created by the artists who make the floats that are seen around the world.   When you return, take the Red Lady Trolley from the ferry dock to Café Du Monde where you’ll get beignets to go and walk along the Moon Walk (pedestrian walkway along the Mississippi River).  You can rest, eat your treats and watch the action in the 3rd largest port in North America.  International ships, tug boats and paddle wheel boats run continuously on the river.

Day 2
Take the St. Charles streetcar to 2020 St Charles Ave and visit the Tourism Headquarters of New Orleans.  There you will find activity brochures, maps and experts on fun to help you plan your day.  Down the street from the Tourism Headquarters is a shop called Pralines by Jean.  Stop by and see how they are made and enjoy a unique item made only in New Orleans. 

Hop back on the St. Charles streetcar and continue to Audubon Park where you can visit one of the top Zoos in the United States. Don’t forget to see the seal families, the elephant fountains and the butterfly exhibit. You can have lunch at the zoo but don’t feed the flamingos.   Return to downtown on the streetcar or a short cab ride.

Day 3
Walk down Decatur St, have Beignets at Café DuMonde, stroll and shop the French Market, visit Jackson Square and watch the street performers.  You can visit the St. Louis Cathedral, the 1850 House and the Hermann Grimma House to see how life was in New Orleans 100 years ago.

For lunch, have a New Orleans Poor boy at  Fiorella’s  in the French Market or a Mufelletta and a Barq’s Rootbeer at Central Grocery.   In the afternoon take the Canal Streetcar to City Park and enjoy Storyland (for young children), the newly restored antique carrousel and the Bestoff Sculpture Garden.
 

A Great Place to Visit in New Orleans

by Meagan Dorsch

When we traveled to New Orleans a few months ago to create our NCSL video on the places to visit during the 2008 Legislative Summit, I had to do a little research. Of course I had heard of Jackson Square and Cafe du Monde, but for Commander's Palace, I turned to the Internet, the New Orleans Convention and Visitors Bureau and colleagues for help.

The video is now up on NCSL's website and you can see for yourself what options are available to explore. But I am going to attempt to give you some background and insight into these places based on my recent experiences.

Let's start with the first place we feature on the video, Jackson Square. This is the first image of New Orleans that comes to my mind anytime the city is mentioned. It is steps away from the Mississippi River and Cafe du Monde.

Originally called the Place d'Arms (thank you Ms. Brown, my 4th grade teacher), Jackson Square is a historic park located in the French Quarter of the city. I will stop with the history lesson and pass along a tip. If you want a great picture of Jackson Square, make sure to cross Decatur Street and climb up to the Mississippi River boardwalk, also known as the Moon Walk (named after the former Mayor that had it built (thank you Internet). You can see the entire square from this vantage point and it makes for a picture perfect memory of New Orleans. Who else has this picture framed at home? Only me?

Also, this is a great place to buy local art. We saw everything from paintings to jewelry. The prices are reasonable, depending on what you want to buy. Just a note, more artists showed up as the day went on. We started and ended our day in Jackson Square and there was more to choose from in the afternoon compared to the morning.

There is so much to see and do in New Orleans! I can't wait to fill you all in on our adventures in the days to come!

Speaker Spotlight: Marvin Odum

One of the key topics at NCSL's 2008 Legislative Summit is sustainable energy. Shell Oil Company, which has an enormous presence in the Gulf Coast area, has several sustainable development initiatives to integrate economic, social and environmental aspects of energy.

Marvin Odum, Shell's new president, will be featured as the keynote panelist during our opening general session, at 10:15 a.m. Wednesday, July 23. The session will feature a lively discsussion on energy resources, energy security and important factors for policymakers to consider in developing related legislation.

Before assuming his new position, Odum was executive vice president of the company's exploration and production operations in the western hemisphere, contributing to its leadership in addressing the nation's current and future energy needs.

Register today and be part of the sustainable energy discsussion.

Kids Krewe: Carnival Celebration

Ready to fulfill that dream of becoming one of the world's greatest chefs? If you are a member of NCSL's  Kids Crewe at the 2008 Legislative Summit, you can! Not only that, but you'll get a behind-the-scenes look where floats are made for Mardi Gras.

Through hands-on cooking demonstrations with the New Orleans School of Cooking, youth will learn how to create some of New Orleans’ most delicious dishes for lunch, including bananas foster and gumbo.

Campers will enter a sea of imagination and creativity as they tour the workshops at Mardi Gras World where the floats are made for the countless parades during the Mardi Gras season.  Watch the artists at work as they decorate floats more than 100 feet long! Youth can make their own Mardi Gras mask with feathers and glitter to create their own carnival characters!

This special experience is part of the Kids Krewe package. The cost is only $99. Register soon, though. Space is limited!

Annual Meeting vs. Legislative Summit

By Meagan Dorsch

"I know when your Legislative Summit is this year, but when is your Annual Meeting?"

This is a question one of our NCSL policy experts received this week. It made us realize that several of you out there might be a little confused about the term "Legislative Summit."

After 33 years, NCSL decided to take a new marketing approach and change the name from Annual Meeting to Legislative Summit. I will be honest with you, many NCSL staffers have had a hard time calling it "Legislative Summit," but with a little shock therapy, many of us are finally catching on!

NCSL's Legislative Summit will take place July 22-26 in New Orleans. It will be a week packed with intense issue forums, committee meetings and provocative speakers. There will also be three distinct opportunities that will allow you to experience Louisiana and the city of New Orleans at a whole new level as well as to create a lasting impression on the Crescent City.

Does this sound like an Annual Meeting to anyone else?

See you all in New Orleans for NCSL's 34th annual LEGISLATIVE SUMMIT!

Tour: A Taste of the Vieux Carré

If you're a guest attending NCSL's 2008 Legislative Summit in New Orleans, you can take part in a unique experience to explore the heart of New Orleans  and indulge in and enjoy the flavor of Creole Cuisine.

A Taste of the Vieux Carré introduces you to the historic beginnings of the city.  Discover the folklore, customs and unique architecture of this European corner of America.  Stand in Jackson Square and take in the sweep of structures that comprise the largest concentration of historic buildings to be found in North America.

Then, at the New Orleans School of Cooking, learn how to recreate the magic that is New Orleans cuisine. Enjoy highly entertaining patter about life in New Orleans as our lively Chef teaches you the steps in preparing Creole delicacies. Local specialty dishes such as Gumbo, Andouille Jambalaya and Bread Pudding with Whiskey Sauce will be demonstrated. Sample some of these delicacies as you enjoy a relaxing lunch, following the presentation. Pralines and recipe cards to take home are a perfect finish to this cooking delight!

For only $150, guests get our History, Highlights and Hope tour and one of three other offered tours, (such as A Taste of the Vieux Carré) as well as admission to the two social events, access to each day's continental breakfasts and admittance to many of the Summit's sessions.

Space is limited! Register today.

Tour: Perspectives of Antebellum Life

While most antebellum homes evoke images of hoop skirts and white columns, Laura Plantation, built in 1805, presents a different view of Creole life. The plantation is one of two being featured for guests of NCSL's 2008 Legislative Summit in New Orleans. On this tour, Perspectives of Antebellum Life, guests get to visit two unique Southern sites. At Laura Plantation, learn of major events and the day to day lives of the inhabitants; both slave and free. It is here that the first written record of the American fable Br’er Rabbit was discovered.

The other plantation on the tour is Oak Alley. The Southern days of old are captured at one of Louisiana’s most photographed Southern Mansions, which have been brought back to life in numerous Hollywood movies. Its magnificent allée of 28 well spaced Live Oaks form a natural canopy and provide a dramatic setting for the mansion.

For only $150, guests get our History, Highlights and Hope tour and one of three other offered tours, (such as Perspectives of Antebellum Life) as well as admission to the two social events, access to each day's continental breakfasts and admittance to many of the Summit's sessions.

Space is limited! Register today.

Kids Krewe: The Sound of Music

Music and New Orleans are as inseperable as peanut butter and jelly. And if you are between ages 5 and 17, you'll get an international taste of great music by attending our youth program, Kids Krewe.

Kids attending NCSL's 2008 Legislative Summit in New Orleans can take part in The Sound of Music: New Orleans Music History at Tipitina’s & Casa Samba Interactive Performance.

At Tipitina’s, one of the city’s most famous music venues, youth will learn about the amazing history of New Orleans music from the very beginning to the present day including jazz, Mardi Gras Indians and much more! Campers will have lunch at the House of Blues (another famous music venue!) before heading back to the hotel for a one of a kind interactive performance from Casa Samba where they will learn about Brazilian culture, music and traditions at this unique workshop.

This special experience is part of the Kids Krewe package. The cost is only $99. Register soon, though. Space is limited!

Speaker Spotlight: Geoffrey Canada

The New York Times called his project "one of the most ambitious social experiments of our time." In a 60-block area of central Harlem, Geoffrey Canada has created an interlocking network of social service, education and community-building program for thousands of children and families.

Canada is President and Chief Executive Officer for the Harlem Children's Zone and author of "Fist Stick Knife Gun: A Personal History of Violence in America." He's recevied national awards and has been featured on Oprah, 60 Minutes, The Today Show, Good Morning America, Nightline and appeared in several national newspaper and magazine stories.

Legislators, policymakers and researchers will get an opportunity at NCSL's 2008 Legisaltive Summitto learn about Canada's project and his motivation for helping families. He will speak on Friday, July 25. Register today to attend this thought-provoking session.

Bipartisan Bike Ride

Take a seat for democracy. At least give it some wheels.

You may or may not forgive the puns, but you won't forgive yourself if you wait too late to sign up for our annual Bipartisan Bike Ride at NCSL's 2008 Legislative Summit in New Orleans. Louisiana state Representative Patrick Connick and Texas state Senator Rodney Ellis are teaming up to host this year's event, which will take participants through the charming streets and greenways of the Crescent City. They'll provide the bikes, helmets and advice. All you have to do is register.

The ride takes place Thursday, July 24 at 6:30 a.m. It's sponsored by Allied Waste Services and Wal-Mart, and coordinated by NCSL, BikeTexas and New Orleans Metro Bicycle Coalition.

Not sure if this is for you? Look over our photo gallery from the 2007 bike ride and Boston. It sure looks like everyone is having fun. 

Registration is required and space is limited, so sign up today!

Celebrate Louisiana: You'll Have a Super Time!

Our hosts for NCSL's 2008 Legislative Summit have planned an unforgettable opening reception on Wednesday, July 23. The family-friendly event at the Louisiana Superdome will feature the food, music and entertainment that makes New Orleans internationally famous. French Quarter Jazz, Riverboat Ragtime, Mardi Gras merriment are all part of the celebration. A special kids zone will include karaoke, rock climbing, and arts and crafts.

At this fantastic festival of magical music and food, a variety of local musicians including Kermit Ruffins and The Historic Preservation Hall Jazz Trio, will rock your soul with electrifying performances and tributes to some of New Orleans’ greatest musical legends, Louis Armstrong, Fats Domino and more.

The social events on Wednesday and Friday night are included in the low registration fee. Make your plans to join your colleagues from across the nation at these great events.

New Orleans City Tour: History, Highlights and Hope

Whether this is your first or fifteenth trip to New Orleans, we believe the one you take in 2008 will be the most memorable.

If you sign up for NCSL's guest program, you'll have an opportunity to see historic New Orleans and learn how the city is recovering from Hurricane Katrina. This all part of the History, Highlights and Hope: City Tour being offered for guests at NCSL's 2008 Legislative Summit.

Your journey begins downtown in the Vieux Carré, moves past Jackson Square and the old French Market, all virtually untouched by Katrina. Ride through the Upper and Lower 9th Wards, neighborhoods ravished by wind and water. Witness for yourself the inspiration of Harry Connick, Jr. as you tour the Musicians’ Village, a symbol of hope and renewal.

Travel along Esplanade Avenue to visit one of the unique little “Cities of the Dead.” View the sites of major levee breeches in Lakeview, where floodwaters stood for three weeks. Through sheer guts, determination and hard work of the owners, homes and business are springing back to life.

Next, sit back and relax as you journey back downtown via St. Charles Ave., and rejoice in the return of the oldest streetcar line in the county.  All of the stories and facts will leave with you a real sense of New Orleans’ true spirit, its proud history and rich culture. 

For only $150, guests get this and one of three other offered tours, as well as admission to the two social events, access to each day's continental breakfasts and admittance to many of the Summit's sessions.

See New Orleans like you have never seen before. Register today.

Speaker Spotlight: Charlie Cook

When political insiders and the news media want pre- and post-election analysis, they turn to Charlie Cook.

For more than 20 years, the Cook Political Report has offered objective analysis on political races for the president, members of Congress, governors and American political trends. The New York Times called him "one of the best political handicappers in the nation."

Recognizing that about half of Congress is made up of state legislatures, Cook has kept a close relationship with the National Conference of State Legislatures. He'll be at NCSL's 2008 Legislative Summit in New Orleans, taking part in the Redistricing and Elections Standing Committee on Wednesday, July 23 at 8:30 a.m. Chances are he'll be making a few more appearances before the meeting is over.

In order to hear Charlie's analysis, register today and plan on being in New Orleans July 22-26.

Saturday Swamp Tour Fun for the Entire Family

We've got a great treat to close out the 2008 NCSL Legislative Summit in New Orleans.

Kids from five to 105 are encouraged to take part in our "Braving the Bayou: Swamp Tour and Wetlands Restoration Project," which takes place Saturday, July 26.

Voyage deep into the swamps of Louisiana aboard a flatboat that will cruise through  meandering and mysterious bayous (once the site where the infamous Pirate Jean Lafitte stored his booty!) See egrets, raccoons, water snakes and of course, alligators!

After the excursion on the open water, the group will head back to solid ground for a picnic lunch. Enjoy the beautiful outdoors and help preserve the wetlands--one of the most important ecosystems in America--by planting vegetation in a nearby national park. Home to many species of animals and plant life, the coastline and wetlands play an important role in protecting civilization against various natural disasters, including hurricanes.

The tour is part of NCSL's Kids Krewe youth program, but also may be purchased as an option for adults and families. 

Visitors Continue to Flock to New Orleans

  The number of visitors to New Orleans nearly doubled last year, according to statistics released last week by the city's covention and visitors bureau.

More than seven million tourists came into the city, nearing the 8.5 to nine million who came to New Orleans prior to hurricane Katrina. There are actually more restaurants open in the city now than before the storm. Hosting the National Basketball Association's All-Star Game, the college football championships and Mardi Gras, the city had a strong first quarter in 2008.

Steve Perry, who once worked as a staff member for the Louisiana legislature, is now the president and CEO of the New Orleans Convention and Visitors Bureau. He says the city is ready to host NCSL's 2008 Legislative Summit.

"You're going to find an amazing city." he said. "From your events at the fabulous World War II Museum to just walking around the historic French Quarter, you're going to have the time of your life in New Orleans. We can't wait to see you this summer in the Crescent City."

You can download his 45-second video, in Windows video format, here: Download PerryNCSL.wmv

Speaker Spotlight: Newt Gingrich

The list of people who can list "started a political revolution in America," on their resume is relatively short.

Newt Gingrich, easily one of the most recognized and remembered former speakers of the U.S. House, generated a firestorm of media coverage during his tenure. Time magazine named him "Man of the Year" in 1995. Although he has his share of detractors, the architect of the GOP's Contract With America will forever be remembered as one of the country's primary political figures of the 1990s.

Now, Gingrich is known as one of the nation's strongest voices for health care reform. As his website notes, he has authored several books and stays active in politics and public policy. He is a constant guest on television news programs and political operatives on both sides of the aisle seek his advice.

Gingrich will be one of two key speakers at NCSL's 2008 Legislative Summit on Thursday, July 24. Register today and be a part of a stimulating discussion with great thought leaders on the development of public policy in America.