September 10, 2014
Special WCA Annual Conference Edition
76th WCA Annual Conference Kicks off Sunday September 14th in Sauk County

The 76th Wisconsin Counties Association (WCA) Annual Conference begins on Sunday, September 14th and runs through Tuesday, September 16th in Sauk County.  All conference meetings and activities are being held at the Kalahari Resort & Convention Center in Wisconsin Dells.

This year's agenda is packed full of national and state speakers, timely breakout sessions on critical county issues and educational meetings. View the 2014 WCA Annual Conference Program here, which includes all concurrent workshop titles and times, as well as speakers. 
 
Registration will be held at the Kalahari Resort & Convention Center.  It opens Sunday at 11:30 a.m. and goes until 7:00 p.m. On Monday, September 15th, registration is from 7:00 a.m.-6:30 p.m., as well as on Tuesday, September 16th from 7:15 a.m.-3:45 p.m.

Listen to a WCA Podcast here from WCA Marketing and Events Manager Cheryl Fleck discussing the highlights of this year's event.

If you haven't registered yet for conference, you can still register on-site.  For additional questions, contact Cheryl Fleck, WCA Marketing and Events Manager at 866.404.2700. 

Note: All media are encouraged to attend the 2014 WCA Annual Conference in Sauk County.  Please check in at the WCA registration counter at the Kalahari Resort & Convention Center. Contact Michelle Gormican Thompson at 608.577.9405 with questions or comments both before the event and on-site.
Event Kicks Off with Sunday's Annual Business Meeting

The WCA Annual Business Meeting will be held this year on Sunday, September 14th at 1:00 p.m. in Suites DE at the Kalahari Resort & Convention Center.

The presiding officer is WCA President Marty Krueger and the annual business meeting establishes policy positions through the adoption of official resolutions.  Member counties submit resolutions to be considered at the meeting and this year, 15 resolutions are under consideration.   

Strong Slate of Speakers for General Assemblies
 
The foundation of the three-day WCA Annual Conference is the general assemblies, held Monday and Tuesday.  

Monday's First General Assembly will be held in Suites ABGH at the Kalahari Resort & Convention Center from 10:00-11:45 a.m.  (NOTE: Gubernatorial candidate Mary Burke will speak in the WCA Marketplace at 9:00 a.m.)

Speakers include Aaron Brower, Chancellor, UW Colleges and UW Extension; Riki Hokama, President, National Association of Counties and keynote speaker David Maraniss, Associate Editor, "The Washington Post," Author of six best selling books.

Tuesday's Second General Assembly, from 8:30 a.m.-10:15 a.m., will be held in Suites ABGH at the Kalahari Resort & Convention Center.

Speakers include Stephanie Klett, Secretary, Wisconsin Department of Tourism; Richard Klemme, Dean and Director, UW-Extension and Cooperative Extension; Mark O'Connell, Executive Director, Wisconsin Counties Association; Susan Happ, Jefferson County District Attorney, Candidate for Attorney General; Brad Schimel, Waukesha County District Attorney, Candidate for Attorney General; Craig Thompson, Executive Director, Transportation Development Association of Wisconsin.

Tuesday's Third General Assembly, from 2:30-3:45 p.m., will be held in will be held in Suites ABGH at the Kalahari Resort & Convention Center.

Speakers include Willie Johnson, Jr., Milwaukee County Supervisor, Presidential Address and keynote speaker Malcolm Kushner, America's Favorite Humor Consultant, Malcolm Kushner and Associates.

NOTE: While members of the media are encouraged to attend the WCA Annual Conference and all sessions and assemblies, the event is closed during the two keynote presentations.
Workshops Monday and Tuesday Deal with Timely and Broad Range of County Issues

The WCA Annual Conference hosts concurrent workshops held Monday, September 15th and Tuesday, September 16th and deal with a broad range of county issues.

Featured sessions at this year's conference include such topics as effective juvenile justice programming, the county role in economic development, implements of husbandary: new regulation of agricultural vehicles, and treatment alternatives and diversion (TAD) programs.   

To view a complete listing of this year's workshops, click here.
Remember: Your Name Badge IS Your Ticket!

null 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 presidential celebration.  If you don't have your name badge, you will have to get a new one from the WCA registration desk.
Be Sure to Visit the WCA Marketplace on Monday!

The companion event to the WCA Annual Conference is the WCA Marketplace, which will be held on Monday, September 15th at the Kalahari Resort & Convention Center, Suites I-VIII, from 8:45 a.m.-6:00 p.m.

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.

In addition, the WCA Marketplace features an exhibitor luncheon on Monday from 11:45 a.m.-1:30 p.m. and exhibitor reception from 4:30-6:00 p.m.  All registered conference attendees are invited to attend these events.  

Wisconsin Women in County Government Holding Lunch Meeting

This year Wisconsin Women in County Government will hold a luncheon meeting on Tuesday, September 16th from 11:45 a.m.-12:45 p.m. at the Kalahari Resort & Convention Center, Tamboti, Aloeswood Rooms.

This year's event features special guest speaker Angela Russell, Health Equity Coordinator, Public Health Madison & Dane County. 

County Groups Gather During WCA Annual Conference

During the WCA Annual Conference, several county-related meetings also are occurring in Sauk County.  All county-related meetings take place in the Kalahari Resort & Convention Center.

Monday, September 15th
Wisconsin County Executives & Administrators Association
Suites EF
8:00 a.m.-10:00 a.m. 

Wisconsin County Clerks Association
Bamboo Room
8:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m.

Tuesday, September 16th
Wisconsin Association of County Corporation Counsel (WACCC)
Crown Palm Room
8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.

Wisconsin County Clerks Association
Bamboo Room
8:30 a.m.-12:00 p.m.

Wisconsin Women in County Government
Tamboti, Aloeswood Rooms
11:45 a.m.-12:45 p.m.


Be Sure to Follow Us on Facebook and Twitter and Tag Your Posts with #wcaconf

Twitter We will be updating our social media sites throughout the WCA Conference and urge you to do the same for your accounts.  Be sure to tag your posts with the official hashtag of the 2014 WCA Annual Conference: #wcaconf.

If you haven't already, be sure to "Like" the Wisconsin Counties Association on Facebook and follow us on Twitter at @wiscounties.

For questions, contact Michelle Gormican Thompson at WCA at 866.404.2700 or onsite at 608.577.9405.

Share Your Experience! Sample Media Release

Each year, we encourage attendees to send a media release to their local media outlets sharing their experiences, breakout sessions they attended, etc.

For questions, please contact Michelle Gormican Thompson via email or at 608.577.9405.  To view the 2014 WCA Annual Conference sample media release, click here. 

Transportation Shuttles

null Complimentary shuttle service will be provided on Monday and Tuesday between the participating conference hotels and the Kalahari Resort & Convention Center. 

Look for a transportation schedule at your hotel's front desk and the WCA registration desk. 

IN THIS ISSUE
76th Annual Conference Kicks Off Sunday
Sunday Business Meeting
Speakers for General Assemblies
Workshops Deal with Timely Issues
Remember Your Name Badge
WCA Marketplace Monday!
Women in County Government Lunch Tuesday
County Groups to Gather
Tag Us on Social Media!
Transportation Shuttles
THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS!

WCA would like to thank all of our sponsors for their generous assistance in making the 2014 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, Inc. 

 

Gold Sponsors
American Transmission Company

Nationwide Retirement Solutions

Silver Sponsors

Axley Brynelson, LLP

 

H & H Energy Services, Inc.

 

Public Financial Management, Inc.

 

Bronze Sponsors
AECOM

Ayres Associates

Balestrieri Environmental & Development, Inc.

Crivello Carlson, S.C.

Ehlers & Associates, Inc.

Motorola Solutions, Inc.

Robert W. Baird & Co.

Schenck SC

Scott Construction, Inc. 

Stifel Nicolaus

Weld, Riley, Prenn & Ricci, S.C.

Event Sponsors
PMA Financial Network/Forecast5 Analytics

The Samuels Group Environments

Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board, Inc.

UMR, Inc.

Phillips Borowski, S.C.

Kalahari Resorts

WCA Services, Inc.

Wisconsin County Mutual Insurance Corporation

Wisconsin Counties Association

General Sponsors
Stafford Rosenbaum LLP

By the Numbers Actuarial Consulting, Inc.

U.S. Bank National Association

Waterman & Associates

Wells Fargo Bank

Holiday Inn Hotel & Convention Center

A FEW HOUSEKEEPING ITEMS

Download Our App!
Download our free 2014 Conference Program and Marketplace App for iOS, Android, Windows Phone, Windows 8 or iPhone/iPad by clicking here.

You will have access to the full schedule, floor plans, conference news and more right at your fingertips.

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.

No Smoking...
Smoking is prohibited in all meeting rooms and at meal functions. The Kalahari Resort & Convention Center is a non-smoking establishment.

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. 
SAVE THE DATE!

The 2015 WCA Annual Conference will be held in La Crosse County September 20-22, 2015.

For questions, please contact WCA Marketing and Events Manager Cheryl Fleck at the WCA office at 866.404.2700 or via email at fleck@wicounties.org.