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!