Wednesday, December 7, 2011

12:00pm - Golf Tournament Tee-Time

6:30pm - Welcome Reception

·        7:30pm - Dinner and Keynote Speaker: Assessing the Policy-Making Environment in Texas and America Today. Dr. Frank Luntz is America’s foremost public opinion researcher and the bestselling author of WIN: The Principles to take Your Business From Ordinary to Extraordinary. Dr. Luntz will discuss the policy making environment in Texas and America today. What are Americans thinking? What does it mean for policy-makers and for local governments? How can county officials engage more effectively with constituents? Dr. Luntz will address these questions and more.

Thursday, December 8, 2011

·        8:30am - General Session: Why Government Struggles with Change. Mr. Ken Miller, author of Extreme Government Makeover: Increasing Our Capacity to Do More Good and founder of the Change and Innovation Agency, will discuss the pressures government is facing, why government struggles with improvement, and the dysfunctional ways government tries to make change.

·        9:30am - General Session: Senator Kirk Watson will discuss the recent wildfire response, Emergency Service Districts, and related issues.

\     10:30am - Breakout sessions:

o   Mr. Ken Miller will conduct a breakout Q&A session on overcoming the myths that keep government from radically improving.

o   Mr. Richard Kirkland and Mr. Carl Griffith will provide an interactive presentation on successful efforts in reducing jail populations in all sizes of Texas county jails.

·        12:00pm - Membership Luncheon (Registration is not required to attend).

·        2:30pm - General Session: Representative Allan Ritter, Chairman of the House Natural Resources Committee, will discuss water supply issues. Representative Jim Jackson will speak on general legislative issues of interest to counties.

      3:30pm - Breakout Sessions:

o   Mr. Richard Norment from the National Council for Public/Private Partnerships and  Mr. Tim Merriweather will lead a discussion on the critical components of a successful PPP along with the pitfalls that await those who enter into them without proper planning.

o   Ms. Camille Miller, President and CEO of Texas Health Institute, will discuss Health Care Reform and the impact on Texas counties, indigent patients, and the general provision of healthcare in the state.

o    County Administrator roundtable discussion. A county Administrator-specific roundtable discussion of issues facing counties now and into the future. County administrators are encouraged to come prepared to discuss issues of importance to their county or region.

6:00pm - Sponsor's Reception

Friday, December 9, 2011

·          8:30am - General Session: Mr. Robert Knisely, Governing Magazine contributor and Mr. Wendell Cox, with the Heritage Foundation will host a discussion to provide insight into the potential benefits and drawbacks of consolidating local government services and functions in Texas. In addition, they will discuss real-world experiences with consolidation in other states.

·        9:30am - General Session: Legislative update: Representative Garnet Coleman, Chairman of the House County Affairs Committee, will discuss the previous legislative session and the work of the committee during the interim.

Mr. 10:15am - Mr. Fred Hill and Mr. Angelo Zottarelli will provide a discussion on county issues in the Texas Legislature and budget issues facing the state when the legislature next convenes in 2013.

·        11:00am – General Session: Dallas County Commissioner Mike Cantrell will lead an interactive roundtable discussion on issues, including legislative issues, facing counties now and into the future. Attendees are encouraged to participate in developing ideas or raising issues that may need to be addressed to make counties more efficient and effective.

      12:00pm - Adjourn.