A Message from the Chair

Dear Colleagues and Friends,

I am honored to serve as the 2011-2012 Chair of the Southern Legislative Conference (SLC) of The Council of State Governments. The structure of the SLC provides opportunities for its members to participate in a variety of ways and to directly benefit from the varied programs, resources and research the organization provides.

Growing up under poor conditions in Wayne County, West Virginia, I credit caring teachers and other school personnel for helping me to be where I am today. I know from personal experience that education is the path to economic prosperity for our children and economic development for our region. To that end, the work of the SLC standing committees on agriculture and rural development, education, energy and the environment, economic development, transportation, human services and public safety assists us, as policymakers, to shape the future of our citizens.  The SLC extends to policymakers a wealth of information, both through the organization’s annual meetings, where policy experts and legislators gather to discuss issues directly affecting our state communities, and through the many services provided by our staff.

As we continue to forge a greater understanding of the complexities surrounding public policy development in an environment of unprecedented economic challenges, I urge you to make full use of the resources available to you through the Southern Legislative Conference of The Council of State Governments. From our leadership development programs to webinars, from meetings and publications, the SLC is a vital resource in every policymaker’s tool kit.

I look forward to serving with each of you as we strive to find consensus in crafting solutions to address the pressing issues facing our region. Do not hesitate to contact me or the staff at SLC if you have any comments or questions.

Sincerely,

Speaker Rick Thompson, West Virginia
SLC Chair 2011-2012