"There is no more effective lobbying tool than the presenceof municipal officials in the Legislative Building." —NCLM General Counsel Andy Romanet

 

Town Hall Day, the League's annual legislative action day, is Wednesday, June 4, 2008.

 

 

Click here to register online.

Click here for a pdf of the Town Hall Day mailer.

Registration deadline is May 16, 2008.

NCLM Town Hall Day is a legislative rally and one-day conference held during the General Assembly session. Municipal officials visit the General Assembly, attend legislative committee meetings, House and Senate sessions and meet with their legislators to discuss municipal issues. In the afternoon, there is a legislative briefing on the status of key issues, and legislative leaders address the municipal officials. This is the primary opportunity for municipal officials to advocate together for municipal issues during the 2008 session of the N.C. General Assembly.

This year's Town Hall Day on June 4 will follow a different schedule, but one that is somewhat familiar to veteran municipal officials. Rather a League-sponsored lunch, the 2008 NCLM legislative action day will include a reception honoring legislators. The late afternoon reception was a staple of Town Hall Days until 2002. Town Hall Day activities begin with at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, June 4 and end with a 5 p.m. reception.

The change is being made to allow municipal officials more time to meet with legislators, observe the House and Senate in session and to provide more time for legislative briefings. The briefings and the reception will be held at the Local Government Federal Credit Union Conference Center at the Quorum Center, 323 W. Jones St., across from the League offices.

Legislative briefings will be held from 10:30 a.m. until noon and again from 1:00 – 2:30, at the LGFCU Conference Center at the Quorum Center.

Officials will make their own arrangements for lunch. Options include eating at the Legislative Building or at a nearby restaurant. Information on downtown restaurants will be available at onsite registration.

“We expect this 2008 session to include discussion of several issues of importance to municipalities including annexation and funding for critical infrastructure,” said NCLM Executive Director S. Ellis Hankins.

“Although we need municipal officials working with legislators on a daily basis, gathering in Raleigh on June 4 is especially important. Legislators need to see their municipal officials in the halls of the Legislative Building, attending the committee meetings and sessions and discussing the issues,” said Hankins.

He added that the best way to ensure that officials from your city or town will have time with their legislators is to make an appointment, make arrangements to have lunch or take them out to dinner. “Legislators have very busy schedules, so just dropping in sometimes means you will not see your legislators,” Hankins said.

Registering

Register online by credit card here by May 16 or use the registration form in the Town Hall Day brochure that was mailed to all cities and towns. All those who advance register will receive a packet with name badge, complimentary parking placard and a map to the Quorum Center parking deck. Onsite registration will be limited.

Parking

Parking will be available free at the Quorum Center, 323 W. Jones St. This deck is located at the corner of Harrington and Jones streets with an entrance on Harrington Street. Those who advance register will receive a parking placard to put on the dashboard of their vehicle.

Room reservations

A limited block of rooms has been reserved at the Clarion State Capital Hotel, 320 Hillsborough St., (rates, $63.75, single, $73.75, double plus tax). The hotel offers free parking for all guests. Room reservation deadline is May 9, 2008. Call the hotel directly at (919) 832-0501 to make reservations and tell them you will be attending Town Hall Day. You must use a credit card to make your reservation by phone and to pay for incidentals at checkout.

Constituency group meetings

N.C. Black Elected Officials will hold a breakfast meeting on Town Hall Day, June 4, beginning at 8:00 a.m. at Shaw University. NCBEMO members will receive additional information and registration forms by mail.

N.C. Women in Municipal Government will hold a luncheon on Town Hall Day at 12:30 p.m. at the Capital City Club, 21st Floor, Progress Energy Building, 410 S. Wilmington St., Raleigh. Cost is $30 per person and seating is limited. Register for this luncheon on the Town Hall Day advance registration form or as part of the online registration for Town Hall Day at www.nclm.org. Space is limited.