Treasurer will attend convention in Honolulu
Elected official thinks national conventions are valuable experiences
Staff reporter
Conference registrations have been made. Plane tickets have been purchased. Hotel rooms are reserved.
Plans are finalized for Marion County Treasurer Jeannine Bateman to attend the National Association of Counties (NACo) conference in Honolulu, Hawaii.
Bateman is a member of the National Association of County Treasurers and Finance Officers (NACTFO) and is a member of the state board of directors.
The county is a member of NACo.
"The majority of the funds will come from the state treasurer's association," explained Bateman.
The organization will cover convention registration expenses for NACTFO ($100) and NACo, ($415) and airfare.
"We were able to get a group rate at $559 for round-trip from Kansas City," Bateman said.
Funds from the treasurer's department "special auto fund," which is not a part of the county's general fund, will cover lodging and food expenses.
These funds are derived from a portion of revenue when residents purchase vehicle registrations and tags.
Each year, the balance from the fund is turned over to the county to be used in its general fund.
Since this fund is outside of the county's general fund per state statute, the county commission does not have any control over the fund.
She will depart July 13 and return the following Wednesday.
Lodging will be $169 (plus tax) per night because she is sharing a room.
The NACTFO conference will precede the NACo conference.
Bateman previously has attended other national conventions in Phoenix, New Orleans, and Philadelphia.
While in attendance at the conventions, Bateman said she will keep her eyes open for information that may be of value to other county departments.
"Five years ago I picked up information about jails at a national convention," Bateman said. "Now here we are considering one."
Other reasons for attending is to gain state and national certifications. Bateman said she has completed all available programs but still finds the conventions invaluable.
"I've brought back lots of ideas from the conventions," Bateman said.
Convention schedule
During the NACTFO convention, two motivational speakers will address the treasurers in addition to workshops, strategic planning, and human resource information.
District magistrate judge Tom Webb from Haskell County will be a breakfast speaker July 17.
Two to three different workshops are scheduled every hour during the five-day NACo convention.
Educational workshops are divided by categories — community and economic development; health, human, and social services; homeland security and public safety; environment, land use, and quality of life; and county operations.
A large exposition of vendors will provide information to participants about new products and services related to all areas of county business.
Often this information from vendors and from the conference is "cutting edge" which gives Bateman an opportunity to learn and bring back information about upcoming changes.
"I first learned about the treasurer's office providing driver's licenses (at a previous NACo conference)," said Bateman.
Other county treasurers taking the trip with Bateman are from the counties of Haskell, Greeley, and Douglas. They also are either state or national officers, she added.
When Bateman returns, she is confident she will have valuable information for her department and others.
Future conventions probably will not spark the same controversy because they will be held closer to home.
The 2006 convention will be in Chicago, 2007 in Richmond, Va., and 2008 in Kansas City, Mo.
