SPECIAL WCA ANNUAL CONFERENCE ISSUE
74th WCA Annual Conference Kicks off Sunday September 23rd in La Crosse County
 The 74th Wisconsin Counties Association (WCA) Annual Conference begins on Sunday, September 23rd and runs through Tuesday, September 25th in La Crosse County. All conference meetings and activities are being held at the La Crosse Center and Radisson Hotel La Crosse. This year's agenda is packed full of national and state speakers, timely breakout sessions on critical county issues and educational meetings.
Registration will be held at the La Crosse Center's South Front Lobby. It opens Sunday at 12:00 p.m. and goes until 7:00 p.m. On Monday, September 24th, registration is from 7:00 a.m.-5:30 p.m., as well as on Tuesday, September 25th from 7:15 a.m.-11:45 a.m.
If you haven't registered yet for conference, you can still register on-site. For additional questions, contact Cheryl Fleck, WCA Marketing and Events Coordinator at 866.404.2700. |
Strong Slate of Speakers for General Assemblies
 | | Keynote Speaker Aaron Thomas |
The foundation of the three-day WCA Annual Conference is the general assemblies, held Sunday, Monday and Tuesday. Sunday's First General Assembly will be held at the La Crosse Center, South Hall A, Lower Level, from 2:00-4:00 p.m. Speakers include WCA Executive Director Mark D. O'Connell, Chris Rodgers, President of the National Association of Counties; and keynote speaker Aaron Thomas, who will speak on "My Family's Story: Courage, Passion & Overcoming the Odds." NOTE: While members of the media are encouraged to attend the WCA Annual Conference and all sessions and assemblies, the event is closed during Mr. Thomas' presentation. Monday's Second General Assembly, from 10:00-11:45 a.m., will be held at the La Crosse Center, South Hall A, Lower Level. Speakers include Tammy Baldwin, U.S. Representative and Candidate for U.S. Senate; Tommy Thompson, Candidate for U.S. Senate; Ray Cross, Chancellor, UW Colleges and UW-Extension; Richard Klemme, Dean and Director, UW-Extension; Ben Brancel, Secretary, Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection and Mark D. O'Connell, WCA Executive Director. Tuesday's General Assembly, from 8:30-10:15 a.m., will be held once again at the La Crosse Center, South Hall A, Lower Level. Speakers include Suzy Favor Hamilton, U.S. Olympian; Mike English, President/CEO, Forecast5 Analytics, Inc.; J.B. Van Hollen, Attorney General, State of Wisconsin; Chuck Chvala, former Democratic Senator, State of Wisconsin; Ted Kanavas, former Republican Senator, State of Wisconsin. |
Workshops Monday and Tuesday Deal with Timely and Broad Range of County Issues
The WCA Annual Conference hosts concurrent workshops held Monday, September 24th and Tuesday, September 25th and deals with a broad range of county issues, such topics as frac sand mining in Wisconsin, the future of transportation funding, the impact of the forest industry in Wisconsin, effective juvenile justice programs and the cost of employee benefit packages. To view a complete listing of this year's workshops, click here. |
New This Year: Your Name Badge IS Your Ticket!
 All conference participants must register and wear their name badge for admission to exhibits, social events and workshops. Your name badge is your ticket for breakfast, lunch and the banquet. If you don't have your name badge, you will have to get a new one from the WCA registration desk.
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Be Sure to Visit the WCA Marketplace on Monday!
The companion event to the WCA Annual Conference is the WCA Marketplace. Held at the La Crosse Center, Arena and North Hall, this year's new format features a one-day event held on Monday. The WCA Marketplace features displays of products and services, with familiar vendors that counties have come to rely on, as well as those offering new products and services to help meet the expanding demands of governing Wisconsin's counties. The hours for the WCA Marketplace are Monday, September 24th, 7:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. In addition, the WCA Marketplace features a breakfast from 7:30-8:30 a.m and a luncheon from 11:45 a.m.-1:30 p.m. and exhibitor reception on Monday from 4:30-5:30 p.m. All registered conference attendees are invited to attend these events. |
New this Year: Women in County Government Holding Lunch Meeting
 This year Women in County Government will hold a luncheon meeting from 11:45 a.m.-12:45 p.m. at the La Crosse Center, South Hall B3, Lower Level. The new format is a reflection of the requests of attendees from past 6 a.m. breakfasts.
This year's event features U.S. Congresswoman and U.S. Senate Candidate Tammy Baldwin and Milwaukee County Board Chairwoman Marina Dimitrijevic. As a reminder, lunch will be served at the event, so please go directly to the room, as the meeting will begin promptly at 11:45 a.m. with our speakers. |
County Groups Gather During WCA Annual Conference
During the WCA Annual Conference, several county-related meetings also are occurring in La Crosse County. Sunday, September 23rd Open Discussion-"Ask the Attorney" and WCA Staff La Crosse Center, South Hall A, Lower Level 4:00-5:00 p.m. Conclave of County Board Chairs 4:30-5:30 p.m. La Crosse Center, South Hall B2 and B3 Monday, September 24th Wisconsin County Clerks Association Radisson Hotel La Crosse, Wisconsin Room I & II 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. Women in County Government
La Crosse Center, South Hall B3, Lower Level 11:45 a.m.-12:45 p.m. Tuesday, September 25th Wisconsin County Clerks Association Radisson Hotel La Crosse, Wisconsin Room I & II 8:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. Wisconsin Association of County Corporation Counsel (WACCC) Radisson Hotel La Crosse, Minnesota Room 8:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. Wisconsin County Executives & Administrators Association
Radisson Center, Room A 12:15-2:30 p.m. |
2013 WCA Conference Host: Dane County
 The 2013 WCA Annual Conference is being held September 22-24, 2013 in Dane County. The 75th Annual Conference will be held at the Exhibition Hall at the Alliant Energy Center of Dane County. There will be several fine lodging facilities used to house conference delegates.
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Thank You to Our Sponsors!
WCA would like to thank all of our sponsors for their generous assistance in making the 2012 WCA Annual Conference a success. Please take a few moments at the event to recognize the people that helped bring our event together!
Platinum Sponsors
Aegis Corporation
Phillips Borowski, S.C.
Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board
Gold Sponsors
American Transmission Company
Nationwide Retirement Solutions
PMA Financial Network, Inc.
Whyte Hirschboeck Dudek, S.C.
Silver Sponsors
AAA
BMO Asset Management U.S.
Camera Corner/Connecting Point
Public Financial Management, Inc.
Bronze Sponsors
Ayres Associates
Baird Public Finance
Crivello Carlson, S.C.
Ehlers
Motorola Solutions, Inc.
Schenck SC
Scott Construction, Inc.
Event Sponsors
CDW-G
Radisson Hotel La Crosse
Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board
UMR, Inc.
Phillips Borowski, S.C.
WCA Services, Inc.
Wisconsin County Mutual Insurance Corporation
General Sponsors
Stafford Rosenbaum LLP
Weld, Riley, Press & Ricci, S.C.
Bellin Occupational Health Solutions
By the Numbers Actuarial Consulting, Inc.
Election Systems & Software
Waterman & Associates
Wipfli LLP
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A Few Housekeeping Items....
Be Sure to Wear Your Name Badge!
New this year, your name badge is your ticket to ALL WCA Annual Conference exhibits, social events, food functions and workshops. Please wear at all times and in the event of a lost name badge, please visit the WCA registration desk to get a replacement.
Shhhhhh...
In consideration of all attendees and speakers, please turn off all cell phones or place on silent alert while in meetings, general assemblies and concurrent workshops. We, as well as your neighbors, thank you!
No Smoking...
Smoking is prohibited in all meeting rooms and at meal functions. The La Crosse Center and Radisson Hotel La Crosse are non-smoking establishments.
What to Wear, What to Wear...
The attire for the event is business casual. Please remember that meeting room temperatures do not feel the same for everyone. You may want to bring a light sweater/blazer should meeting room temperatures be too cool for you.
Transportation Shuttles
Complimentary shuttle service will be provided on Monday and Tuesday between the participating conference hotels and the La Crosse Center. Look for a transportation schedule at your hotel's front desk.
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Discover Beautiful La Crosse County!
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