The Texas Municipal League
and Association of Mayors, Councilmembers and Commissioners
Present
Newly Elected City Officials' Orientations
In an effort to assist YOU as a first-time elected official, the Texas Municipal League and the Association of Mayors, Councilmembers and Commissioners have developed an informative orientation program that will answer many of your questions, address issues you will face, and help you assume your new role with confidence!
As a new member of your city's governing body, you must quickly become familiar with a variety of important topics. This program will give you a better understanding of your role on the governing body team and increase your knowledge of the fundamental, critical issues you will face in the challenging months ahead.
- Interact with other newly-elected officials.
- Choose from sessions that appeal to your specific interests.
- Participate in discussions that will make you a more confident policy-maker.
Due to previous overwhelming responses, this workshop will be offered twice in Austin. Choose the date that best fits your schedule!
TENTATIVE AGENDA
7:30 a.m.
REGISTRATION AND CONTINENTAL BREAKFAST
8:30 – 9:30 a.m.
THE IMPORTANCE OF BUILDING A SENSE OF COMMUNITY
Gary McCaleb, Vice President of the University and Executive Director of the Center for Building Community, Abilene Christian University, and TML Past President
9:45 – 10:45 a.m.
FORMS OF CITY GOVERNMENT: UNDERSTANDING THE FUNDAMENTAL DIFFERENCES
11:00 a.m. – Noon
PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURES: BEING AWARE OF THE KEY RULES
Noon – 1:00 p.m.
NETWORKING LUNCH
1:15 – 2:15 p.m.
CONCURRENT SESSIONS
- UNDERSTANDING YOUR FINANCIAL OVERSIGHT RESPONSIBILITIES
- GOVERNING ETHICALLY: UNDERSTANDING YOUR INFLUENCE
2:30 – 3:30 p.m.
CONCURRENT SESSIONS
- COUNCIL-STAFF RELATIONS: BUILDING AN EFFECTIVE PARTNERSHIP
- MINIMIZING YOUR LIABILITY AS A PUBLIC SERVANT
3:45 – 4:45 p.m.
CONCURRENT SESSIONS
- INTERACTING WITH THE MEDIA CONSTRUCTIVELY
- HEALTH CARE—TRENDS AND STRATEGIES
7:30 – 8:15 a.m.
CONTINENTAL BREAKFAST
8:30 – 11:30 a.m.
GOVERNING OPENLY IN TEXAS: HOW THE OPEN MEETINGS ACT AFFECTS TEXAS CITIES
Learn who is subject to the Texas Open Meetings Act, the proper procedures for compliance, and the consequences of a violation. This session will cover the basic requirements of the Act, and it meets the Act’s mandatory training requirement. (Note: The Texas Public Information Act also requires mandatory training. However, that Act allows city officials to designate a “public information coordinator”—usually the city secretary—to take the training on their behalf. The mandatory training for either Act may also be completed by watching videos prepared by the Texas attorney general’s office. To view the videos or to obtain more information, please visit www.oag.state.tx.us.)
8:30 – 9:30 a.m.
PLANNING FOR YOUR CITY’S ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
9:45 – 10:45 a.m.
MEETING YOUR REVENUE CHALLENGES: WHERE ARE THE OPPORTUNITIES?
GENERAL INFORMATION
July 25-26, 2008 - Hotel Accommodations
This workshop will be held at the DoubleTree Hotel, located at 6505 Interstate Highway-35 North in Austin.
Crowne Plaza Austin, located at 6121 North IH-35 is offering a $139 rate. Reservations may be made by calling the Hotel directly at (512) 323-5466 or by calling Crowne Plaza Toll-Free Reservations at (800) 227-6963.
Radisson Hotel Austin North, located at 6000 Middle Fiskville Road, is offering a room rate of $89 single, $99 double. To receive this rate, call 800-333-3333 and ask for the Texas Municipal League's local negotiable rate #30730.
Hampton Inn, located at 7619 North IH-35, is offering a room rate of $99, which includes a deluxe continental breakfast with a hot item each day. To receive this rate, dial 512-452-3300 and mention the Texas Municipal League.
Holiday Inn Express, 512-821-0707, located at 8500 North IH-35, is offering a room rate of $99, which includes a manager’s reception (Tuesday-Wednesday), breakfast bar, and free wireless.
Hyatt Place Austin North Central, located at 7522 North IH-35 is offering a room rate of $119, including a continental breakfast and free WiFi. Meals are served 24 hours a day. To receive this rate, mention the Texas Municipal League when you call 512-323-2121.
LaQuinta, located at 7622 North IH-35, has a room rate of $79 for one person, which includes a deluxe breakfast and a manager’s reception with food and beverage Monday-Thursday (5:30 – 7:00 p.m.). To receive this rate, mention the Texas Municipal League when you call 512-467-1701.
August 8-9, 2008 - Hotel Accommodations
This workshop will be held at the DoubleTree Hotel, located at 6505 Interstate Highway-35 North in Austin. The hotel has extended a room rate of $99 (single/double occupancy). In order to receive this special rate, your reservation must be made by July 3, 2008, for either event. Call the DoubleTree Hotel at 512-454-3737 or 800-347-0330, and refer to the Texas Municipal League room block. To make online room reservations:
- Visit www.austin.doubletree.com. In the “Check Availability” section on the right side of the page, enter your arrival and departure information, and click “Go.”
- Enter reservation details, and in the “Special Accounts” section, enter the following in the “Group/Convention Code” box: TMG for the July event or TLO for the August event. Click “Continue.”
- Click the link next to the desired room type. Click “Continue.”
- Enter name, address, and credit card information. Click “Book Now” to confirm the reservation.
Register early and receive the discounted rate of $155, a savings of $40 off the regular fee of $195.
| July 25-26, 2008 -- Austin | $155 (by July 11) | $195 (after July 11) |
| August 8-9, 2008 - Austin | $155 (by July 25) | $195 (after July 25) |
The registration fee includes course tuition, handouts, refreshments, Friday continental breakfast, Friday lunch, and Saturday continental breakfast. Registration confirmation will be e-mailed if you provide an e-mail address. A workshop badge and confirmation will be mailed to each delegate registered up to one week before the workshop.
If you are registered and cannot attend, we encourage you to send a substitute. If you cannot send a substitute, a $45 registration cancellation fee will be assessed if written cancellation is received more than 14 days before the first day of the workshop for which you are registered.
Elected officials (mayors and councilmembers) can earn Texas Municipal League Institute (TMLI) credits for attending this workshop. Forms will be available on site.
The Texas Municipal League Institute (TMLI) offers a variety of educational programs to help elected city officials strengthen and enhance their leadership and policy-making skills. Throughout the TMLI year (January 1-December 31), elected officials can earn continuing education unit (CEU) credits by attending TML-sponsored educational programs. For further information on the TMLI program, click here or call us at 512-231-7400.
Let us know on the registration form if you need special accommodations of any kind. We want to help. In order to respond to any special requests, we would appreciate as much advance notice as possible.
Please call 512-231-7400, or e-mail newlyelected@tml.org.
- Register online for the Newly Elected Officials Workshop on August 8-9 now.
- Download and fax a .pdf version of the registration form to 512-231-7495.
- Mail the
.pdf version of the registration form to:
TML Administrative Services
1821 Rutherford Lane, Suite 400
Austin, TX 78754-5128