NRA’s 28th Annual Government Affairs Summit

NRA’s 28^th Annual Government Affairs Summit

“The Three R’s of Effective Legislative Advocacy: Relationships, Return on Investment and Results”

March 8-10, 2009
Hilton Alexandria Old Town
1767 King Street
Alexandria, VA. 22314
(703) 837-0440

This year's Summit, the title of which is "The Three Rs of Effective Legislative Advocacy: Relationships; Return on Investment and Results," will be held in beautiful, historic Old Town Alexandria, Virginia, at the Hilton Alexandria Old Town Hotel, located at 1767 King Street (703-837-0440), which is located directly across the street from the King Street Metro.

So much has happened in the Congress since we last contacted you about the Government Affairs Summit, do plan to join us in March and experience first hand from the players on the Hill how all this came about and how the negotations (yet to be determined) were finally determined. What a great time to be in the most powerful city in the world -- The United States Capitol.

Once again, we encourage you to make your appointments with your Representatives and Senators as soon as possible to ensure access to your Members and their staff during your time in Washington, D.C. We also want to impress upon all NRA Members to provide us with your current contact information as soon as possible in anticipation of Legislative Alerts and information that will be important to you and your colleagues.

DRAFT PROGRAM – SUBJECT TO CHANGE

Sunday, March 8, 2009

All events at the Hotel

11.00 a.m. – 11.15 a.m.

Welcoming Remarks

Beverlee Stafford, Executive Director of the National Rehabilitation Association, NRA’s 2009 President Butch McMillan, and NRA's Immediate Past President Ray Feroz

11:15 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.

Pre-Session for First-Time Attendees

Legislative Advocacy 101: The People’s House and Senate

Government Affairs Committee Co-Chairs Dr. Ralph Pacinelli and Kathy West-Evans, NRA's 2009 President Butch McMillan and Patricia Leahy will present on effective legislative strategies and advocacy.

12:30 p.m. – 1:45 p.m.

NRA Luncheon Buffet at the Hotel

Luncheon keynote: Ms. Sallie Rhodes, CESSI, Program Specialist on The Ticket to Work.
Ms. Rhodes will present on the recently-released Ticket regulations and on Partnership Plus

2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Recognition and Appreciation Ceremony for NRA Board Members rotating off the Board

Recognition and Appreciation of our Qualified Rehabilitation Counselors and Qualified Rehabilitation Personnel and Observance of NRA's and Congress' National Rehabilitation Counselor Appreciation Day.

3:00 p.m. – 3:15 p.m.

Break

3:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Presentation on NRA’s Position Papers

Government Affairs Committee Co-Chairs, Members of the Government Affairs Committee and Patricia Leahy will present on NRA's 2009 Position Papers and Principles to Reauthorization of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended.

Monday, March 9, 2009

All events at the Hotel

7:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. - The President's Breakfast for all attendees

8.30 a.m. – 10.00 a.m.

Federal Partners Panel

Representatives of the Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) in the U.S. Department of Education

Representatives of the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitation Services (OSERS), Department of Education

Representatives of the U.S. Department of Labor

10:15 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

Congressional Keynote Speakers:

Connie Garner, Director of Disability Policy to Senator Kennedy, (D.MA.)
(D.MA.), Chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee (confirmed)

Sharon Lewis, Obama Presidential Transition Team for Education; Senior Disability Policy Advisor to Congressman George Miller (D.CA.);
Chairman House Education and Labor Committee (on schedule)

Lee Perselay, Director of Disability Policy to Senator Tom Harkin (D.IA) who will discuss the ADA Amendments Act of 2008 (on schedule)

Gerri Fiala, Staff Director to Senator Patty Murray (D.WA.), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Employment and Workplace Safety (confirmed)

12:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.

Lunch – on your own

1:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.

Business Panel

Ms. Kathleen West-Evans, CRC, Employment Specialist, formerly of RSA's Region X Office, currently Director of the VR Business Network for the Council of State Administrators of Vocational Rehabilitation (CSAVR).
Ms. West-Evans will discuss new and exciting developments in the enormously successful VR Business Network for both consumers and businesses with a focus on collaborative Federal partnerships and the hiring of individuals with disabilities, including veterans.

Businesses to be announced shortly.

3:30 p.m. – 3:45 p.m. Break

3:45 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Tuesday, March 10, 2009

8:30 a.m.

Depart Hotel for Capitol Hill via Metro - Appointments with Representatives and Senators

12 noon to 2:30 p.m.

NRA Congressional Lunch and Presentations

The Congressional Luncheon Buffet and NRA LEAD ON Awards Presentation Ceremony will be held in the Rayburn House Office Building's Banquet Rooms B-339 and B-340.

Among this year's recipients of the LEAD ON Award are: Connie Garner, Senior Disability Advisor to Senator Kennedy; and Sharon Lewis, Senior Disability Advisor to Congressman Miller. Other recipients of NRA's prestigious LEAD ON Award to be announced.

2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Appointments with Representatives and Senators resume

3:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Wrap-up Session

Room 121 Cannon House Office Building. For those members who conclude their Hill visits with their respective Members of Congress before 4:00 p.m., this room will be available to you beginning at 3:00 p.m.

As with past Government Affairs Summits, we encourage you to make appointments with your respective Members of Congress and others, as appropriate, as early as possible to ensure your access to Members and staff.

Additional registration information on the 2009 Government Affairs Summit is on the National Rehabilitation Association's website, which can be accessed at www.nationalrehab.org .

The online registration can be directly accessed at: www.prestoregister.com/cgi-bin/order.pl?ref=NationalRehab&fm=3 .

Register for the 2009 Government Affairs Summit TODAY and take advantage of NRA's Early Bird Rates for your registration, which must be received on or before February 13th. Registration rates will increase after February 13, 2009.

Please also keep in mind the following hotel room rates - $154(Single) / $164(Double), and this special room rate cutoff date is February 13, 2009. To make reservations today, please call the Hilton Old Town-Alexandria Hotel at: 703-837-0440.

We look forward to seeing you at the National Rehabilitation Association's 28^th Annual Government Affairs Summit which promises to be a very exciting and exhilarating experience.

Patricia Leahy, Director of Governmental Affairs and Public Policy

National Rehabilitation Association

633 South Washington Street

Alexandria, VA 22314

1-888-258-4295

NRA Office - 703-836-0850, NRA Fax - 703-836-0848, TDD - 703-836-0849

E-mail - patricia@nationalrehab.org

NRA Website - www.nationalrehab.org