We did not have any interns last year because our budget tightened just as did everyone else’s. We missed having them in the office.

You should know we have a great program. First, we pay our interns, which the students love. Second, we pay a bonus at the end of the summer based on the number of hours they work, which their parents love.

Christina Dickos is working with me on business issues in the office. Christina will begin college this September studying English at The Ohio State University.

Emily Kesler is working with Joe May on our social media program. Emily is a junior at Northwestern majoring in Political Science and Psychology.

Zachary Koozer is assisting Ken Kelewae with computer upgrades and updates. Zachary will begin college this September at the University of Akron.

We welcome our summer interns and look forward to a great summer!

Once again, we had the pleasure of honoring a colleague who has been with State and Federal Communications, Inc. for 10 years.  Nicolette Koozer is the in-house graphic designer who makes sure everything we create looks like it came from the same parents.  As it happens, she and I do; Nicolette is my kid sister.

She is a graduate of the Art Institute of Pittsburgh.  She came to us after spending 18 years in the D.C. area doing technical illustration and graphic design work for the military.  In fact, she was also the freelance designer with our predecessor company, State and Federal Associates, Inc. She has been at State and Federal Communications, Inc. since 2001 creating our corporate identity, conference prep, marketing pieces, and maintaining our intranet.

In acknowledging her history with the company, Nicolette shared her joy of working for a company where she appreciated having the privileged of working part-time and being active in her son’s school district in PTA and Music Boosters.

I love that our employees maintain their active life in their own school communities as well as being a part of my outstanding staff.

Congratulations to Nicolette as she joins our previous 10 year achievers–Nola Werren, Ren Koozer, and Jim Sedor.

Here is a video we made to celebrate Nicolette’s anniversary:

State and Federal Communications, Inc. is overseeing the planning of Ohio Night at Biga on the Bank, next to the Westin on the Riverwalk. We will have a great space with a fabulous view to interact with the Ohio legislators attending the event. My assistant with this event is none other than Former Ohio Senate President Finan, now with Calfee Halter.

The event will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, August 10 at Biga on the Bank. If you are interested in joining, please complete the form, and we will include you in our austere group of sponsors.  [Click here for Ohio Night form.]

For more information about the NCSL Legislative Summit 2011, go to their website for details.

Until next month, check out the meetings being held all over the country and plan on joining us at the event of the summer, Ohio Night at NCSL.

While attending the 35^th Annual Public Affairs Council PAC Conference in Miami last week, there were many questions about the impact of Citizens United in the states.

Last year, State and Federal Communications prepared a report, and we continue to update it, for our clients to understand how it has been applied.

Follow this link for the report. If you have any further questions, don’t hesitate to send an email to our Research Manager John Cozine.

In 1998, State and Federal Communications worked with Akron Mayor Don Plusquellic’s blue ribbon committee reviewing campaign contribution limits. Unfortunately, city voters approved very low contribution limits and it has taken 12+ years for a charter change to increase them.

On Monday, city council approved legislation increasing the limits for contributions from individuals for mayoral and at-large council candidates from $300 to $450 and ward council candidates from $100 to $200.

The city will continue to study other potential changes to Akron’s campaign finance guidelines.

Those attending Amy Showalter’s Innovate to Motivate conference in San Antonio had the fortune to hear Herman Cain this morning. His program, Being CEO of Self, is exactly the professional development we expect from I2M.

He started by talking about the dreams/goals his parents had to change their lives and that of future generations. Cain emphasized that CEOs, who are successful, have dream and goals—and those two things are not the same. A goal he had was to graduate from college. The dream of his grandparents was to see him graduate from college. Faith connects goals and dreams.

And, following up on happiness, it is the key to success and not the other way around. Happiness is:

1.      Something to do;

2.      Someone to love; and

3.      Something to hope for.

Learn more about Herman Cain at www.hermancain.com. On top of his successes in the business and association industries, he is now exploring the possibility of running for president in 2012.

I am a proponent of professional development. Sitting in front of a computer all day long can help in the knowledge department, but getting out and meeting folks is the best way to show initiative and sharpen your skills.

One of the best is the Annual Meeting from the State Government Affairs Council. This year, the program will be held March 30^th to April 1^st (no foolin’) in Austin, Texas. Sessions include:

• Secret Language of Success: The Importance of Nonverbal Communication;
• Effective Advocacy Tools;
• Challenging the Myth of Work-Life Balance: How to have the Time of your Life and Get Work Done Too;
• Social Media in Action;
• Associations and Members: Working as Partners;
• Achieving Success with Coalition Advocacy;
• Navigating the New Legislature with Texas Senator Leticia Van de Putte; and
• Election Law and Government Ethics with former FEC Commissioner Michael Toner.

You can obtain information about the program, SGAC, and its new lobbying certificate program at www.sgac.org.

As we bid goodbye to 2010, we are also saying goodbye to Research Associate David Dobo, Esq. He is leaving to work for newly elected Congressman Jim Renacci.

Congressman-elect Renacci won the seat from Congressman John Boccieri who only had it for two years after Congressman Ralph Regula retired in 2008.

David came to State and Federal Communications after working as a District Aide for Congressman Regula. He is returning as a Constituent Service Representative for the 16^th District. His past 15 months at the company have helped us increase the information posted on our website.

We will miss his knowledge on government history.  We wish him all the best as he returns to a role that is in his DNA and that is helping people in Ohio.

It is our way of saying hello and thank you to our clients and friends across the country.

We have fun each year deciding where to gather for the photograph. This year, the staff had a treat when they rode the Akron trolley to the University of Akron.

We gathered at the Polymer Building, in front of the beautiful Dale Chihuly sculpture. How should we pose? Our instructions were to make one serious pose, and one fun pose.

So from all of us at State and Federal Communications, we wish you a healthy and prosperous year and say:

Exercise your right to vote! It is your personal opportunity to be heard across the nation!

Elizabeth Z. Bartz
President and CEO of State and Federal Communications, Inc.

Thank you to Akron Mayor Don Plusquellic for the use of the trolley and to the University of Akron President Luis Proenza for allowing us on campus for the photos.

Dear Clients:

The date of our utility company’s planned power outage has changed from Friday, August 20, to Friday, August 27, and I want to let you know immediately.

I sent you an e-mail late on Monday about our office closing this Friday, August 20, due to a planned power outage in our section of the City of Akron. Just today, however, our local electric utility company told us the forced outage will be one week later than originally planned.

Please note: the outage will begin Friday, August 27 at 1 p.m. and last until Sunday. We must shut off all electric-powered devices in our building during this time.

Those of you who use our online compliance information services through our website will not be able to access those services from 1 p.m. on August 27 until Sunday, August 29.

Additionally, this planned blackout will affect our telephone system. If you have routine business to conduct with us over the phone, I ask you call us either before 1 p.m. on Friday, August 27, or beginning at 8 a.m. on Monday, August 30.

If you have an emergency and need to talk to us during this time, please call our main telephone number at 330-761-9960. I will have our main number forwarded to my cell phone and will take your call.

Any e-mails you send to us during the power blackout will go to an outside computer server and will be saved on this server. We will review your e-mails on August 30, and respond to any of your needs.

Once again, I apologize for this inconvenience—and also for having to tell you about it twice. This situation, including the utility’s scheduling of the planned outage, remains beyond our control. If you have questions or concerns, please call us.

Thank you.

Elizabeth Z. Bartz, President and CEO
State and Federal Communications, Inc.

To our valued clients:

Our office will have to close Friday, August 20, at 1 p.m. and this will affect your computer and telephone access/communications.

Our local electric utility company informed us it needs to do some important work on its main underground service line near our offices. Because of this, the utility will shut off electricity to our part of the City of Akron beginning Friday afternoon, August 20.

We must shut off all electric-powered devices in our building during this time.

Once our office closes August 20 at 1 p.m., those of you who use our online compliance information services through our website will not be able to access those services until Sunday, August 22.

Additionally, this planned blackout will affect our telephone system. If you have routine business to conduct with us over the phone, I ask you call us either before 1 p.m. on Friday, August 20, or beginning Monday, August 23, at 8 a.m.

If you have an emergency and need to talk to us during this time, please call our main telephone number at 330-761-9960. I will have our main number forwarded to my cell phone and will take your call.

Any e-mails you send to us during the power blackout will go to an outside computer server and saved on this server. We will review your e-mails Monday, and respond to any of your needs.

I apologize for this inconvenience, but the situation is beyond our control. If you have any concerns before the planned power outage occurs, please call us.

Elizabeth Z. Bartz, President and CEO
State and Federal Communications, Inc.

State and Federal Communications, Inc. is your compliance information source for campaign finance, lobbying, and ethics laws. We are pleased to introduce our new blog – LobbyComply.

State and Federal Communications is always seeking new ways to serve our clients and to reach out to the larger community. Along with what we offer on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn, we believe LobbyComply will give us a great opportunity to connect with all of you.

On LobbyComply, you can expect to find news and information regarding lobbying, ethics, and compliance. Feel free to leave comments and questions, or contact us by e-mail. Enjoy the blog!