Extending Your Stay?

Planning to stay any additional time in the Old Dominion following this year's Professional Development Seminar?  There's so much to see and do!

Listed below are a few suggestions:

The Carytown Food & Wine Festival
Sunday, October 7, 12-6PM
With hundreds of locally owned shops, boutiques, restaurants and specialty stores, there's something for everyone in Carytown!

The Food and Wine Festival spotlights not only the great wines of the region, but the incredible food that is prepared by area restaurants.

For more information, or to purchase tickets, click here.

The American Civil War Center at Historic Tredegar

The American Civil War Center at Historic Tredegar is located on 8 acres on the historic James River in downtown Richmond. A National Historic Landmark, the Tredegar site contains five surviving buildings illustrating the Iron Works era. The National Park Service operates the Richmond National Battlefield Park Visitor Center located in the restored Pattern Building.

The Museum & White House of the Confederacy

“One of the outstanding strengths of The Museum of the Confederacy is that it humanizes and personalizes this seminal event in our national life. In its exhibits, programs and publications, the Museum allows the participants in this terrible struggle to speak for themselves, to tell their own storied in their own voices and in their own way. The Museum of the Confederacy is a national treasure, an unmatched resource for anyone who wants to understand this nation in the twenty-first century.” -Ken Burns

Supreme Court Chief Justice John Marshall's House, ca. 1790

818 East Marshall St., Richmond, VA 23219

Listed on the National and Virginia historic registers, the John Marshall House has undergone remarkably few changes since Marshall’s lifetime.  The property remained in the Marshall family until 1911 when it was sold to the City of Richmond.  Preservation Virginia has operated the John Marshall House as a museum since 1913 and is celebrating a century of preservation.

Attractions outside Richmond:

Colonial Williamsburg - the restored 18th-century capital of Britain’s largest, wealthiest, and most populous outpost of empire in the New World. (Less than one hour Southeast of Downtown Richmond)

Thomas Jefferson's Monticello - Situated on a mountaintop outside Charlottesville, Virginia, Monticello, a 5,000-acre plantation, was the home of Thomas Jefferson, author of the Declaration of Independence, third president of the United States, and founder of the University of Virginia. (Less than one hour West of Downtown Richmond)

George Washington's Mount Vernon - George Washington’s plantation on the banks of the beautiful Potomac River offers visitors a chance to understand America’s first hero and the fascinating world in which he lived. Over 1 million visitors come to walk in Washington’s footsteps each year, making Mount Vernon the most popular historic estate in America.

Washington, D.C. - Our Nation's Capital, located approximately two hours North of Downtown Richmond.

Have a question about a Virginia destination?  Just ask some one from the Host State staff!

A few points of interest you'll see while in Richmond

While in Richmond, this year's Professional Development Seminar will offer several opportunities to see a glimpse of just some of the places that we Virginians feel make our Capital city so special.

The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts:
Wednesday, October 3, 6:30-9:30PM
Your Virginia hosts welcome you to Richmond with a reception in the newly expanded Virginia Museum of Fine Arts (VMFA), a world-class, state-supported and privately endowed educational institution.  The permanent collection contains works by many of the world's greatest artists and several of the stunning galleries will be open for you to view.  Museum docents will be on hand to talk about the various collections, including the European, French, American, Pre-Columbian, Mid-to-Late 20th Century, and British Sporting collections.  In the grand Marble Hall of the Museum, you will enjoy food, beverages and conversation, with music provided by the Eastern Standard Time Jazz Trio.

Mr. Jefferson's Capitol:
Thursday, October 4, 9:30-noon; 6-8PM
Conference attendees will have two opportunities to visit Virginia's State Capitol. Thursday morning, our staff break-out sessions will be held in meeting rooms in the newest addition to the building. We will end our day with a reception on the second floor of the Jefferson-designed home to America's oldest continuously operating, English-speaking legislative body in the Western Hemisphere.  As you dine, you’ll learn of the history that has occurred in this treasured landmark – from the ratification of the Bill of Rights and trial of Aaron Burr to the visits by Queen Elizabeth II and other dignitaries, as well as last year’s filming of Spielberg's soon-to-be released movie “Lincoln."  Capitol tour guides will be on hand to discuss the historic spaces, while state lawmakers and members of the House and Senate staff will be in the chambers to give you a peek at how we operate when the General Assembly is in Session.

St. John's Church:
Friday, October 5, 6-7PM
St. John's Church became famous as a living memorial to American liberty when over 100 Virginia colonial leaders, including Patrick Henry, George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Richard Henry Lee, and Peyton Randolph met here in March of 1775 to avoid the wrath of Royal Governor Lord Dunmore in Williamsburg. St. John's Church was the only building in Richmond suitable to hold the delegates. Patrick Henry's famous "Give me Liberty or Give me Death" speech was delivered on 23 March 1775 inside the church. Henry's timely resolutions passed by a narrow margin and the American Revolution began the following month when shots were fired at Lexington and Concord.

It's almost time...get ready for your stay in Richmond!

Your Virginia host-state staff can't wait to greet you!

The Omni Richmond is the destination for the 69th Professional Development Seminar of the ASLCS. Located at 100 S. 12th Street in the heart of downtown in Richmond's historic Shockoe Slip, this year's conference hotel is two blocks south of the State Capitol.  For more information on the Omni's guest services, please visit their site.

For those flying into Richmond International Airport, more information on flights, baggage claim, and ground transportation options is available on their site.

If you are using Amtrak for your travels, Richmond has two stations in close proximity to the Omni Richmond Hotel.  The Amtrak Northeast Regional train serves downtown Richmond (RVM) at 1500 East Main Street.  The other Richmond train station (RVR) at 7519 Staples Mill Road is served by Northeast Regional, Carolinian, Silver Service and Palmetto.  Additional information on Amtrak routes and stops may be found on their site.

Again, we look forward to seeing you upon your arrival in Richmond!

Legislative Expo - Tools for a Successful Session

Please consider participating—or encouraging the participation of your cohorts at this year's Legislative Expo, "Tools for a Successful Session".  It really is a great way to share and glean information.  Last year the Missouri Senate featured a database they developed for their boards and commissions confirmation process, which is now inspiring a much anticipated process in Alaska.  We look forward to more of these connections being made in Richmond!

President's Video Messsage

Learn more about how the ASLCS Professional Development Seminar can help you! Here's a message from ASLCS President and Secretary of the Missouri Senate, Terry Spieler about this beneficial meeting

Greetings from Richmond!

Susan and I are so looking forward to seeing you at the 2012 ASLCS Professional Development Seminar to be held October 2-7, 2012 here in beautiful, historic and just plain fun Richmond, VA. 

Being a new member of the Society and attending my first annual conference last year in Branson, I found the plenary and breakout sessions not only informative but really engaging.  Better still, the ability to network with impressive professionals like you has been a huge help to me as Clerk. 

This year, we’re going to provide another impressive and even more memorable PDS in Richmond. 

The Program Development Committee has put together another fantastic agenda, information about which y’all received last week from our society President Terry Spieler. 

We encourage everyone to register today.  The deadline to do so is September 21.

As the host state, Susan and I and our colleagues here are working not just hard but creatively to ensure everyone has a great time learning, socializing and experiencing what fine Virginia hospitality is all about. 

We’ve planned events that showcase our historically exquisite State Capitol that was renovated five years ago – just in time to host Queen Elizabeth II.  We also will be having a reception at the internationally recognized Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, which brings to Richmond great art representing the span of world cultures.  And, we will be traveling to nearby St. John’s Church, a famous living memorial to American liberty where colonial leaders met, including Patrick Henry, who delivered his famous “Give me liberty or give me death” speech.

The 46^th Annual ASLCS Conference lasts only five days.  But, with so much else to see and do around metro Richmond and at other popular and nearby Virginia destinations like Williamsburg and Charlottesville, our mountains, beaches, and Civil War sites, you’ll surely want to come early and stay late. 

Virginia is for Lovers, and Susan and I are sure you’ll love your time in Virginia in the autumn when the leaves are ablaze with color.  We can’t wait to see you here October 2-7.

Paul

----

G. Paul Nardo

Clerk of the Virginia House & Keeper of the Rolls of the Commonwealth

Associate Members – Apply Now for a Scholarship!

Attention Associate Members! Are you seeking trainings that can help you perform your job? Are you interested in connecting with other legislative staff across the country? Do you want to learn more about how other legislatures operate? The 2012 ASLCS Professional Development Seminar  in Richmond, Virginia can help!

Consider attending the PDS with the assistance of the Edward A. Burdick Memorial Scholarship. Due to a generous sponsorship by Thomson Reuters, ASLCS is able to offer two $750 scholarships to allow two Associate members to attend this year’s Professional Development Seminar. Interested Associate members may apply for this scholarship by submitting a letter outlining why they hope to be selected and how attending this year’s PDS will enrich their professional knowledge. Letters must be endorsed by their Principal and sent to Angela Andrews, NCSL liaison to ASLCS (via email at angela.andrews@ncsl.org) by Monday, July 16, 2012.

This scholarship was created in memory of Ed Burdick (1921-2011), former Chief Clerk of the Minnesota House of Representatives. Ed served as Chief Clerk for 38 years and was an employee of the Minnesota House for 62 years. He served as ASLCS President from 1971-1972, was the first recipient of the Joseph A. Beek Distinguished Service Award in 1983 and received NCSL’s Legislative Staff Achievement Award in 2002. You can read a thoughtful posting about Ed Burdick on NCSL’s blog, The Thicket.

46th ASLCS Professional Development Seminar

Welcome to the “Greetings from Richmond” blog. This blog is intended to provide more in-depth information about the 46^th annual ASLCS Professional Development Seminar in Richmond, Virginia (Oct 2-7, 2012). ASLCS is planning a great educational program, with Anna Post, of the Emily Post Institute, and David Witt, with The Ken Blanchard Companies, as the two headlining speakers. The Virginia host state is planning magnificent social events that show off Virginia, Richmond, and the recently renovated Capitol.  Attendees won’t want to miss the reception at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts or touring the restored and expanded Virginia State Capitol.

Follow this blog for all the latest updates regarding this meeting, including a lively invite from ASLCS President, Terry Spieler and cordial welcome from our gracious host state chairs, Susan Clarke Schaar and G. Paul Nardo, and their staff.

We hope to see you in Richmond!