Conferences

Conference Agenda

Pre-Conference Professional Development Seminars and Committee Meetings

Friday, March 13
1:00-5:00 p.m. -- just added
CR&D Committee Briefing

Saturday, March 14

7:30-8:45 a.m.
Legislative and Regulatory Briefing for Board of Governors and Committee Members

8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
Residents and Asset Management Seminar -- This seminar has been cancelled.

8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
Commissioners’ Fundamentals Seminar

8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
Strategic Planning, Agency Development and Policy for Commissioners Seminar

9:00-10:30 a.m.
Professional Development Committee
Housing Committee

9:00-10:45 a.m.
Commissioners Committee
International Committee

9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
CR&D Committee
Member Services Committee

10:45 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
Commissioners Subcommittees
International Subcommittees

10:30 a.m.-3:00 p.m.
Housing Subcommittees
Professional Development Subcommittees

1:30-2:30 p.m.
Joint Meeting PD Subcommittee and Commissions Subcommittee

1:30-5:00 p.m.
Commissioners (Full) Committee Reconvenes
International (Full) Committee Reconvenes

1:30-5:00 p.m.
Budget and Administration Committee

3:00-5:00 p.m.
Housing (Full) Committee Reconvenes
Professional Development (Full) Committee Reconvenes

Conference Events and Committee Meetings

Sunday, March 15

7:45-10:45 a.m.
Board of Ethics and Credentialing Trustees (BECT)

8:00-10:00 a.m.
Legislative Network/Housing America Task Force

8:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.
Commissioners Fundamentals Seminar Continued

8:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.
Strategic Planning, Agency Development and Policy for Commissioners Continued

10:15-11:45 a.m.
Transpire, Inc. Board Meeting -- Will not meet at the conference

11:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
Regional, Chapter and State Association Presidents’ Meeting

1:00-4:00 p.m.
Board of Governors Meeting

2:00-7:00 p.m.
Registration

4:15-5:00 p.m.
Nominating and Election Committee

5:00-6:30 p.m.
Perspectives on the Federal Budget
Arrive early and receive a timely and informative overview of the proposed FY 2009 Federal Budget. Learn how our programs are impacted by budget limitations and constraints. A complete and well-rounded understanding of the budget as a whole will enhance your effectiveness on issues affecting your community generally and will enable you to be a more effective housing advocate.

Budget Panel Participants
Moderator	Chuck Conlon has written and edited CQ’s Budget Tracker since its launch in early 2004, and for nine years before that covered budget and appropriations bills and a wide range of other legislation for CQ's House Action Reports. Prior to arriving at CQ in 2005, he wrote on similar issues with the Democratic Study Group for eight years in the House of Representatives. He also worked in legislative affairs for several years at a DC trade association.
Panelist	James Horney is the Director of Federal Fiscal Policy at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, where he specializes in federal budget issues. He was a Deputy Democratic Staff Director at the Senate Budget Committee from 2001 through 2004. He also served as Chief of the Projections Unit in the Budget Analysis Division of the Congressional Budget Office. He began working on federal budget issues as an American Political Science Association Congressional Fellow in the early 1980s, following two years as an assistant professor in the J.L. Kellogg Graduate School of Management and the Political Science Department at Northwestern University. He then spent eight years working in various positions for the Committee on the Budget and Committee on Rules of the U.S. House of Representatives. Just prior to going to CBO, he was an Assistant Director for Budget Issues at the General Accounting Office.
Panelist	Robert L. Bixby is Executive Director of The Concord Coalition, a nonpartisan, grassroots organization dedicated to fiscal responsibility. He was named Executive Director in 1999, after serving as the organization's Policy Director, National Field Director, and in other capacities since 1992. He frequently represents the Coalition's views on budget and entitlement reform policy at congressional hearings and in the national media. Before joining the Concord Coalition, Mr. Bixby practiced law and served as the Chief Staff Attorney of the Court of Appeals of Virginia.
Panelist	As Director of the Roe Institute for Economic Policy Studies, Alison Acosta Fraser oversees nine Heritage analysts and researchers who produce studies on a wide range of economic issues. Before coming to Heritage, she was deputy director of Oklahoma's Office of State Finance where she supervised the activities of the agency, including the work of the state budget office and the state controller. She was also director of research and policy, developing tax and fiscal policy recommendations for the governor and managing budget and economic research for the state. Prior to becoming deputy director, she was a senior budget analyst at State Finance and was a budget administrator for Orange County, CA.

6:30-7:30 p.m.
Welcome Reception
Now that you’ve gotten a small taste of what’s to come, take some time to reconnect with your colleagues at the Welcome Reception.

Monday, March 16

7:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
Registration

8:30-9:00 a.m.
Continental Breakfast

8:30-10:15 a.m.
Opening Plenary Session – featuring an address by NAHRO's President, a Washington Update and keynote speaker Mara Liasson, National Public Radio and Fox News.

Opening Plenary Session Keynote Speaker

Mara Liasson is the national political correspondent for National Public Radio (NPR). Her reports can be heard regularly on NPR's award-winning newsmagazines All Things Considered and Morning Edition. She provides extensive coverage of politics and policy from Washington, DC—focusing on the White House and Congress—and she also reports on political trends beyond the Beltway.  Ms. Liasson also appears regularly on Fox News Channel’s Special Report with Brit Hume.  She will provide an insider's view of Washington and the new administration.

10:30 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
Concurrent Sessions

• Public Housing Current Issues
  Join us for an interactive panel discussion that is intended to provide participants with a “status check” with regard to public housing, as well as a sense of where the Department may be headed in the immediate and longer-term future. Topics to include asset management, the capital needs assessment, the greening of affordable housing through HUD’s programs, and more.
  
  
• Section 8 Current Issues
  Senior HUD officials have been invited to discuss a variety of issues relating to the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program, including current issues relating to funding, program implementation and reporting, regulatory and administrative reform activities, and other matters.
  
  
• Community Development/Affordable Housing Update
  Officials from HUD ’s Office of Community Planning and Development have been invited to provide updates on the Neighborhood Stabilization Program, CDBG, HOME, and HUD’s implementation of the Housing Trust Fund.
  
  
• Congressional Staff Roundtable
  Staff members from various House and Senate offices have been invited to discuss the issues Congress will face in the year ahead. They will offer insights and perspectives of their Congressional members on issues impacting NAHRO members, and they will discuss their role in a Congressional office, how a Congressional office works, the differences between a member’s Washington, DC and district office, and more. 

11:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
75th Anniversary Planning Committee

12:00-1:30 p.m.
Lunch (On Your Own)

2:00-3:30 p.m. -- Revised Time
Plenary Session
The Honorable Shaun Donovan, Secretary of Housing and Urban Development will speak during the first half of this session.  The second half will feature an interview conducted by Greta Brawner, C-SPAN’s Political Producer and regular host of Washington Journal. 

Afternoon Plenary Session Part I
	On January 26, 2009, Shaun Donovan was sworn in as the 15th United States Secretary for Housing and Urban Development. Secretary Donovan previously served as Commissioner of the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD). Before his service as HPD Commissioner, Secretary Donovan worked in the private sector on affordable housing portfolios, and was a visiting scholar at New York University, where he researched and wrote about the preservation of federally-assisted housing. He was also a consultant to the Millennial Housing Commission on strategies for increasing the production of multifamily housing. Secretary Donovan rejoins HUD after his previous service as Deputy Assistant Secretary for Multifamily Housing, where he was the primary federal official responsible for privately-owned multifamily housing. He also served as acting FHA Commissioner during the presidential transition.  Prior to his first service at HUD, he worked at the Community Preservation Corporation (CPC) in New York City, a non-profit lender and developer of affordable housing. He also researched and wrote about housing policy at the Joint Center for Housing Studies at Harvard University and worked as an architect. Secretary Donovan holds Masters Degrees in Public Administration and Architecture from Harvard University.
Part II - Interview
	Greta Brawner is C-SPAN’s political producer and regular host of Washington Journal, a daily three-hour public affairs program. Behind the scenes, Greta helps plan and edit C-SPAN’s campaign programming, including the presidential and state races. Prior to joining C-SPAN, she covered Senate leadership for CongressDaily.
	Sarah Rosen Wartell is the Executive Vice President at American Progress. One of the original architects of American Progress’ business plan, she has been responsible for building the institution, overseeing its operations, and strategic planning from its founding.  She served in the White House in the Clinton administration, after spending the first term at the Department of Housing and Urban Development. As Deputy Assistant to the President for Economic Policy and Deputy Director of the National Economic Council, she advised the president on banking, government insurance and financial markets, housing and community development, consumer protection, pensions, bankruptcy, e-commerce, and a host of other economic policy issues. Prior to serving at the White House, She was a Deputy Assistant Secretary at the Federal Housing Administration in the Department of Housing and Urban Development. She has served as a consultant to the Millennial Housing Commission and the William J. Clinton Presidential Foundation. She also practiced law with the Washington, D.C. firm of Arnold & Porter and taught law and technology policy as an Adjunct Professor and Visiting Scholar at Georgetown University Law Center.

3:45-5:00 p.m.
Concurrent Sessions
Learn about the Association’s approach to housing and community development issues and how you can use that information to inform decision-makers in Washington and in your own community to advocate for your programs. The following sessions will cover the fundamentals of NAHRO’s 2009 Legislative Agenda in the areas of:

• Public Housing/Section 8
• Community Development
• An Executive Summary and Advocacy Game Plan for Commissioners

Tuesday, March 17

7:30-10:00 a.m.
Registration

7:30-9:00 a.m.
Hill Preparedness Briefing and Continental Breakfast
Receive tips and information that will make your visits on Capitol Hill more productive. 

9:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
Adapting Your HOME Homebuyer Program to Current Market Conditions SeminarFunded through the HOME CD-TA program, this training will address the HOME homebuyer program, challenges, and strategies in the current foreclosure crisis.  Pre-registration required.  Contact Sharon Elliott at selliott@nahro.org for registration information. Open to all HOME staff, participating jurisdictions and state recipients.   

9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
Congressional Visits
Tuesday is Hill Day -- spend this time meeting with your congressional representatives and staff.  Please contact your local representative well in advance of coming to Washington, DC to set up appointments for this important day.

2:00-3:30 p.m. -- Revised Time
Congressional Event on Capitol Hill
NAHRO hopes to again invite representatives from Congress to address NAHRO delegates about the FY 2009 budget and issues affecting the FY 2009 appropriations for HUD and other government agencies.  Don’t miss this chance to hear directly from elected officials.

Hill Event Speakers
	Tom Latham (R-IA, 4th District), a seven term Republican, has represented the people of Iowa since January of 1995. He is the Dean of Iowa's delegation in the U.S. House of Representatives and has established himself in Washington as a champion of fiscal responsibility. His work in Congress has been noted with awards and recognition by several budget, taxpayer, senior, agriculture, small business, and anti-government waste advocacy groups. He is Iowa’s only member of the House Appropriations Committee, considered to be one of the most influential in Congress. Through his work on the Committee Latham has secured millions of dollars in funding for Iowa’s homeland security first-responders, law enforcement, the Iowa National Guard, transportation projects, agriculture, environmental and public education initiatives, health care, community, economic, and small business development. Latham grew up and raised his family near Alexander, IA, a town of 168 people, where he is a farmer and small business owner.
	Congressman Albio Sires (D-NJ, 13th District) serves the 13th Congressional District of New Jersey in the United States House of Representatives.  He is a member of the Foreign Affairs and Transportation and Infrastructure committees.  Prior to being elected to the House, he served two terms as New Jersey Speaker of the General Assembly from 2002 to 2006.  He was serving his fourth term as an Assemblyman for the 33rd District in New Jersey.  He also served as Mayor of the Town of West New York in Hudson County.  As Mayor he created more affordable housing units than any municipality in the State of New Jersey by fostering public-private partnerships and the use of targeted tax incentives. As Speaker, he created a State funded Section 8 program to offset federal cuts in affordable housing funding. In April 2004, the New Jersey Conference of Mayors presented its 12th Annual Mayor of the Year Award to Albio Sires in recognition of his tireless advocacy on behalf of mayors and property taxpayers. In September 2005, the New Jersey State Bar Association and Legal Services of New Jersey awarded its William J. Brennan, Jr., Citation for Justice to Speaker Sires in recognition for his efforts in seeking equal justice for people in poverty.  Albio Sires is the first legislator of Hispanic origin to be named Assembly Speaker, and the first Cuban in the Nation.
	Representative Shelley Moore Capito represents the people of West Virginia's Second Congressional District in the 111th Congress, where she has been an advocate for a range of policies that directly impact her constituents, including energy independence, quality healthcare and the safety and security of our service men and women. She prides herself on being approachable and accessible to her constituents. She is currently the only Republican and the only woman in West Virginia's congressional delegation.  Representative Capito serves on the House Financial Services Committee as the Ranking Member on the Subcommittee for Housing and Community Opportunity. She also sits on the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure  and the House Select Committee on Energy Indepenence and Global Warming. The Congresswoman has proudly served West Virginia for more than 12 years, and looks forward to her continued work to improve the lives of every West Virginia.
	Additional Speakers May Be Announced

6:00-8:00 p.m.
Washington Reception
After a long day of advocating for our agenda, take time to network with your colleagues in this relaxed setting.

Wednesday, March 18

8:00-10:00 a.m.
Closing Plenary Session, Candidates Forum and Advocacy Awards Breakfast
This is your chance to hear from the candidates running for President and Senior Vice President.  The NAHRO Legislator of the Year and the Mary K. Nenno Advocacy Awards will also be presented during this session.  Discover new ideas you can use in your own community to help increase your advocacy efforts.

8:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
Capital Fund Program

8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
Workshop for Executive Directors

8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
Ethics and the Housing and Community Development Commissioner Seminar

12:30-2:00 p.m.
NAHRO Proficiency Exam Retakes

12:30-3:00 p.m.
NAHRO Certification Exam Retakes

Thursday, March 19

8:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.
Workshop for Executive Directors Continued

8:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.
Ethics and the Housing and Community Development Commissioner Seminar Continued

8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
Capital Fund Program Continued

.All conference sessions unless noted and the pre-and post-conference seminars, retake exams, and National NAHRO Committee meetings will be held at the JW Marriott Hotel.

General Information

Conference Sessions
All conference sessions, unless noted, and the pre-and post-conference seminars and exams and the National NAHRO Committee meetings will be held at the JW Marriott Hotel.

Travel Information
Please check with your local travel agent, airline, or online reservation service to make your airline or train arrangements. Washington, DC is serviced by three airports, Baltimore-Washington International (approx. 31.55 miles from the JW Marriott), Washington, DC/Dulles (approx. 26.36 miles from the JW Marriott) and Reagan National Airport (approx. 3.67 miles from the JW Marriott), and by train at Union Station (approx. 2 miles from the JW Marriott Hotel).

• Taxi Information: Estimated taxi fare from Baltimore-Washington International to downtown is $60 one way, from Washington, DC/Dulles it is $45 one way and from Reagan National it is $14 one way.
• Shuttle Information: All three airports offer shuttle service to downtown Washington, DC. Shuttle desks are located near the baggage claim level.
• Subway Information: The Metro, Washington, DC's subway system, is connected to Reagan National Airport via the blue and yellow lines and Union Station is on the Metro's red line. The hotel is located approx. two blocks from the Metro Center Station on the Metro's red line.

Motorized Scooters
NAHRO has arranged for scooter rentals through ScootAround, Inc. To reserve your equipment please call toll-free 1-888-441-7575 or visit http://www.scootaround.com/rentals/n/nahro/. ScootAround accepts Visa and MasterCard for all rentals.

Washington DC
For more information about things to do in our Nation's Capitol, visit the DC Convention and Visitors Bureau web site. Need an easy way to get around in the city - use Metrorail, DC's Subway system DC Metrorail Map