Recent Editions of the Weekly NewsFax

June 12, 2008

SAVE THE DATE:
-  JUNE 1/2 - LITTLE ROCK
CEA DINNER

~~~~~~

Please respond ASAP:
- Will you be attending the NACo conference in July?
- Are you interested in joining CEA for dinner July 13th?
- Are you interested in a CEA excursion to the Truman Presidential Library in Independence, MO?

Please respond to Kelly Griffin
via e-mail: kgrif@optonline.net

May 28, 2008

County Executives of America

Board of Directors Meeting
and Policy Session

Sunday, June 1 – Monday, June 2, 2008
Little Rock, Arkansas
Home County of
CEA President F.G. “Buddy” Villines,
Pulaski County Judge

Itinerary

Sunday, June 1, 2008

CEA Board of Directors Meeting 5:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Board members only
The Capital Hotel - Baxter Parlor
111 Markham Street
Little Rock, AR 72201
(501) 374-7474

CEA Reception and Dinner 6:30 p.m. – 10.00 p.m.
All County Officials welcome to attend
The Capital Hotel – Cherokee/Quapaw Parlors

Monday, June 2, 2008

CEA Policy Session 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
All County Officials Welcome to Attend Monday Events
The William Jefferson Clinton Presidential Library & Museum
Great Hall
1200 President Clinton Avenue
Little Rock, AR 72201
(501) 374-4242

Meeting Agenda:

8:30 a.m.  Departure from Capital Hotel Lobby to Clinton Library

• Transportation provided

9:00 a.m.  Continental Breakfast available upon arrival

9:00 – 9:15 a.m.  Welcome and Conference Overview

• F.G. “Buddy” Villines, Pulaski County AR Judge and CEA President
• Michael G. Griffin, CEA Executive Director

9:15 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.   Keynote Speaker

• Skip Rutherford, Dean, Clinton School of Public Service, University of Arkansas

10:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.   Building Livable Communities

• Panel discussion on innovative programs for your county including transit alternatives and innovative energy programs
• Whatcom County WA Executive Pete Kremen, former Harris County TX Judge Robert Eckels and Fred Brunk, Vice President, Strategic Marketing, SIEMENS Building Technologies

12:30 p.m.    Luncheon in Meeting Room

1:00 p.m.     Meeting Adjourns

1:00 p.m. – 2:15 p.m.    Guided tour of Clinton Library

2:15 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.   Guided tour of Little Rock’s Heifer International Project

• Located next to Clinton Library)
• Transportation provided back to Capital Hotel from Heifer after tour

6:30 p.m.   Departure from Capital Hotel Lobby to Dickey/Stephens Baseball Park

• Transportation provided

7:10 p.m.    Arkansas Travelers Baseball Game

• Hosted by North Little Rock Mayor Pat Hays
•  Food and Beverages provided
• Transportation back to hotel after the game

  ---

January 31, 2008

County Executives of America
Board of Directors Meeting
And Legislative Conference

Sunday, March 2 – Monday, March 3, 2008
Washington D.C. 

GUEST ROOM EXTENSION:
LAST WEEK FOR GUEST ROOMS
MAKE YOUR ARRANGEMENTS NOW!!

 For your convenience, a block of guest rooms has been reserved for the evenings of Sunday, March 2 and Monday, March 3 at The Phoenix Park Hotel. Please call

202-638-6900 or 1-800-824-5419 or visit their website at www.phoenixparkhotel.com  for reservations. To obtain a special government rate of $201 per night, you must mention our group, County Executives of America or group code 11852. It is imperative you make your reservations on or before February 8, 2008. After that date, our room block will be released and we will be unable to assist you in securing accommodations. If you have not done so already, please R.S.V.P. your attendance to CEA Deputy Executive Director Kelly Griffin by phone at 1-800-296-8438 or via email at: kgrif@optonline.net

Itinerary

Sunday, March 2, 2008

CEA Executive Committee Meeting 3:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Board members only
The Phoenix Park Hotel
520 North Capitol Street, NW
Washington D.C. 20001
(202) 638-6900

CEA Board Dinner 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Bistro Bis
The Hotel George
15 E Street, NW
Washington D.C. 20001
(202) 347-4200

Monday, March 3, 2008

Board of Directors Meeting and Legislative Conference 8:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
The National Rural Water Association
101 Constitution Avenue, NW
Chamber Room, 9th Floor
Washington D.C. 20001
(202) 742-4350

January 1, 2008

Special News Item

County Executives Hear from Mayors against Illegal Guns
Bi-partisan Group Forms Strategies to Get Illegal Guns off the Street

The County Executives of America welcomed John Feinblatt, New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s Criminal Justice Coordinator, to their meeting in Washington D.C. November 16 to discuss the Mayor’s initiative to reduce the trafficking and use of illegal handguns throughout the nation. In 2006, Bloomberg, a Republican, and Boston Mayor Thomas Menino, a Democrat, formed a coalition with a small number of other big-city mayors in an effort to exchange strategies for stopping the flow of illegal guns into America’s cities. In less than one year that coalition grew to include over 240 mayors from more than 40 states.

The bi-partisan group of mayors is not advocating for an overall weapons ban but rather “common sense gun legislation.” The mayors further strive to call for and provide “national leadership in the war on gun violence.” They are primarily concerned with the trafficking of illegal guns and the powerlessness of individual cities to enforce their own weapons laws because of loopholes in federal rules and because criminals can easily obtain weapons in jurisdictions with looser regulations.

Westchester County NY Executive Andrew Spano is now working with Mayors Against Illegal Guns to support and expand this initiative at the county level. He, along with colleagues from around the country, is urging fellow county executives to follow suit by joining County Executives Against Illegal Guns. Much like the Mayors’ coalition, this group has put politics aside and will work together to: advance state, local and federal initiatives that punish – to the maximum extent of the law – criminals who possess, use, and traffic in illegal guns, target and hold accountable irresponsible gun dealers who break the law by knowingly selling guns to straw purchasers, and demand access to trace data that is critical to law enforcement efforts to combat illegal gun trafficking.

Spano stated that he will commence an effort in January to make more county executives aware of this new coalition and request their participation. The County Executives Against Illegal Guns initiative will also be discussed by Spano and others at the February 2008 CEA Board of Directors meeting.

Mayors Against Illegal Guns offers several services to help member mayors in their fight against illegal guns. It highlights successful strategies from across the country. It keeps them updated not only on successful local legislation, but also on relevant bills as they are consolidated in state capitals and in Washington. It also connects members to experts in the field who can help develop new initiatives and legislation. For more information, link onto the Coalition’s website at www.mayorsagainstillegalguns.org

September 12, 2007 (*updated 11/12)

County Executives of America
Board of Directors Meeting
and Political Roundtable

Thursday, November 15 – Friday, November 16, 2007
Washington D.C.

Itinerary

Thursday, November 15, 2007

CEA Executive Committee Meeting 3:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Board members only
The National Rural Water Association
Conference Room
101 Constitution Avenue, NW
Washington D.C. 20001
(202) 742-4350

CEA Board Dinner 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
CP Steak D.C.
101 Constitution Avenue, NW
Washington D.C. 20001
(202) 547-8100

Friday, November 16, 2007

Board of Directors Meeting and Political Roundtable 8:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
The National Rural Water Association Conference Room
*Click for Agenda Details

July 29, 2007

Dear County Executive,

On behalf of The County Executives of America (CEA) and MetLife Resources (MLR) it is a pleasure to extend an invitation to you to attend the Kentucky CEA benefit's conference.  This event is being held on August 10th, 2007 at the Griffin Gate Marriott Resort in Lexington.

This one day event will consist of several informational seminars detailing the benefits of being a CEA member as well as how your county can take advantage of the new endorsement between the CEA and MLR.  Following the informational seminars will be opportunity to get more acquainted at a complimentary golf outing hosted by MLR at Marriott's Griffin Gate Golf Club.

Breakfast will be served before the information sessions begin and a box lunch will be provided at the golf outing.  For those who would like to stay the night either before the conference or after golf a block of rooms has been reserved at the Griffin Gate Marriott Resort to accommodate.

Please make attendance at this event a priority so you can take advantage of the opportunity to learn more about some of the benefits available to your county through the CEA and MLR as well as being able to meet with fellow Kentucky County Executives.  I look forward to seeing you there.

Sincerely,

Mike Griffin
Executive Director
County Executives of America

More information below:

Kentucky CEA Benefits Conference
Griffin Gate Marriott Resort
August 10, 2007

The County Executives of America (CEA) and MetLife Resources (MLR) are pleased to invite you to the Kentucky CEA benefits conference which is being held at the Griffin Gate Marriott Resort located in Lexington, KY.  In order to register for the conference please contact Christopher Loomis at the number or e-mail below by August 3, 2007. 

Registration Contact:
Christopher Loomis
720-239-2010
cloomis@metlife.com

8:00 – 9:30  Registration & Breakfast 9:30 – 9:45 Introduction 9:45 – 10:15  Overview of CEA Benefits 10:15 – 10:45 CEA/MLR Endorsement 10:45 – 11:00 Break 11:00 – 11:45 457(b) Deferred Compensation plan and Worksite Benefits overview 11:45 – 12:00 Wrap up 12:00 – 1:00 Head to golf course for box lunch 1:00 – 6:00 Golf Speakers will include:  Michael Griffin Executive Director  County Executives of America Scott Vensor Divisional Marketing Director MetLife Resources Doug Peters Director of Worksite Benefits MetLife Resources

There is no registration fee for the conference.  If you wish to spend the night the cost of the hotel room is $149.00/ night.  To reserve a room call the Griffin Gate Hotel at (859) 231-5100, please state that you are staying at the hotel for the MetLife conference and need a room for August 9th or 10th, 2007.  A block of rooms has been reserved to accommodate conference attendees.  The Griffin Gate Hotel is located at – 1800 Newtown Pike, Lexington, KY 40511.  For more information on the resort please visit their website - http://marriott.com/hotels/travel/lexky-griffin-gate-marriott-resort/

May 30, 2007

1100 H Street NW
Suite 910
Washington, DC 20005

Dear County Executive/Judge:

In late January, the County Executives of America decided to endorse MetLife Inc. as our preferred provider of financial products.

Members of my staff met with representatives of MetLife and were very impressed with their products.  I anticipate working with them to provide our employees with an opportunity for increased benefits.

As President, I whole heartedly endorse this new arrangement.  MetLife is the industry leader in so many products that our employees need.  I believe MetLife can be a great service to your county, your employees and their families, too.

I hope you will entertain a meeting with MetLife representatives as soon as possible.

Sincerely,

F.G. “Buddy” Villines
President
County Executives of America

May 11, 2007

SAVE THE DATE

County Executives of America
Board of Directors Meeting and Dinner

Sunday, July 15, 2007
Richmond, Virginia

(For CEA members attending the Annual Meeting of the
National Association of Counties (NACo)

Itinerary

Sunday, July 15, 2007

CEA Executive Committee Meeting 3:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Board members only
The Jefferson Hotel
101 West Franklin Street
Richmond, Virginia 23220
(804) 788-8000

CEA Board Dinner 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
T.J.’s Restaurant
The Jefferson Hotel
(804) 649-4672

Please R.S.V.P. your attendance to CEA Deputy Executive Director Kelly Griffin by phone at 1-800-296-8438 or via email at: kgrif@optonline.net

INVEST IN YOUR COUNTY!
INVEST IN CEA!
INVEST IN YOUR COUNTY!