Register now for PSBA 2008 Legislative Advocacy Conference

May 18-19 in Harrisburg

Making Lemonade Out of Lemons

On April 23, PSBA learned that the Senate decided to cancel its session for the week of May 18, meaning that neither the House nor the Senate will be in session for PSBA’s originally scheduled “Day on the Hill” on Monday, May 19, as part of the Legislative Advocacy Conference. With that decision from the Senate, PSBA quickly moved into action to cancel that part of the conference program that would have been at the Capitol and offer a completely revised format that now includes for Monday a full morning of sessions at the Hilton and a closing luncheon and program, with no change in the cost of the conference.

While the cancellation of the session by both the Senate and House was an unforeseen and unfortunate occurrence, PSBA remains committed to presenting a Legislative Advocacy Conference that keeps the focus on the same issues, but delivering information to you differently in a completely revised format. Like the former Legislative Leadership Conference, this conference will be packed with useful information and training that you will be able to use in your future meetings and communications with legislators. And like that conference, you will be able to share ideas and suggestions with your fellow board members.

While we are still finalizing the details, the new confirmed schedule is as follows:

Sunday, May 18

• 1-2:30 p.m.         Welcoming Lunch    
• 2:45-4 p.m.      General Session: The State Budget and the Pennsylvania School Funding Campaign
• 4:15-5:45 p.m.    General Session:  Interactive Advocacy Training
  Speaker: Chris Kush, Soapbox Consulting
• 6:15-6:45 p.m.    Reception
• 6:45-9 p.m.      Dinner & Program: “Insights Into the ‘08 Presidential Elections and the Political Landscape in PA”
  Speaker: James Lee, president, Susquehanna Polling and Research

Monday, May 19

• 7:30-9 a.m.      Hot Buffet Breakfast
• 9:15-10:30 a.m.           Three concurrent breakout sessions   
  • Pension Reform Update
  • Mandate Reform Update
  • Inside the Education Committees
• 10:45 a.m.-noon          General Session: Graduation Competency Assessments
• 12:15-1:30 p.m.           Closing Lunch with Sen. James Rhoades (R-Schuylkill), chairperson, Senate Education Committee

If you have any questions about the content of the conference sessions, please call PSBA’s Office of Governmental and Member Relations at (800) 932-0588, ext. 3325.

If you have questions about your registration, or wish to register, call PSBA’s Seminar and Events coordinator at (800) 932-0588, ext. 3339. You can also download a registration form from PSBA’s web site and fax it to PSBA at (717) 506-2496. The deadline to register for the conference with PSBA is May 15. After that date, all new conference registrations or changes must be handled on site at the registration desk.

• Get the PDF Registration Form
• See the Conference Schedule

Hotel Reservations

Contact the Hilton Harrisburg by phone (717) 233-6000 for housing reservations (REGISTRATION CODE: PSC). You may send your requests on school district stationery. Identify yourself as a PSBA registrant. The deadline for housing reservations is April 27. AFTER May 15, all new conference registrations or changes must be handled on site at the registration desk.

Fees:

• Members: $275 per person        
• Nonmembers: $687 per person

(Fee includes lunch, dinner on Sunday, full breakfast buffet, lunch on Monday (if selected),
beverage breaks and all materials.)

Earn:

7 PSBA points for Sunday program PLUS 3 PSBA points for legislator visits on Monday.