FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday, July 6, 2015
Contact: Kristen Schulze Muszynski
Work: 207-626-8404/ Cell: 207-441-7638

Nation?s Secretaries of State to convene for summer conference in Portland



PORTLAND ? Maine Secretary of State Matthew Dunlap will be hosting the annual summer conference of the National Association of Secretaries of State (NASS) in Portland, July 9-12.

Lieutenant governors and secretaries of state from 34 states, along with their families and staff members, are expected to attend the conference, which will take place at the Holiday Inn by the Bay. The conference will feature a variety of work sessions, during which attendees will address current programs and state policy topics in elections, business services, state heritage, digital government, international relations and more. 

NASS President and North Carolina Secretary of State Elaine F. Marshall will preside over the meeting.
On July 12, the association will also induct its new slate of officers for the 2015-16 cycle, featuring the installation of Louisiana Secretary of State Tom Schedler as NASS president.

Secretary Dunlap, who is a past president of NASS and current vice president of the Eastern Region on the NASS board, has issued a welcome message for attendees, which outlines some of the social outings and excursions being offered in addition to the conference sessions. A full meeting agenda is available online.

Conference highlights include:

  • Bipartisan discussions on state programming and policy initiatives for 2015-16, including voter registration and digital learning
  • A traveling exhibit commemorating the 800th anniversary of the Magna Carta, sponsored by the Maine State Archives and Maine Department of the Secretary of State, and hosted by the Maine Historical Society, 489 Congress St.
  • Luncheon remarks on Friday by former U.S. Senator and Special Envoy for Middle East Peace George Mitchell; and on Saturday by retired U.S. Army Staff Sergeant Travis Mills, founder of the Travis Mills Foundation to assist wounded and injured military veterans
  • Presentation of the 2015 NASS IDEAS Award, which recognizes excellence in state member office programming, and the announcement of the recipient of this year's Margaret Chase Smith American Democracy Award for political courage
  • A workshop on the future of voting featuring the U.S. Vote Foundation's initiative on End-to-End, Verifiable Internet Voting
  • An expo hall featuring companies showcasing products and services that assist state government agencies, including the latest technology and tools

Members of the press who wish to cover public portions of the conference must submit requests in advance of their attendance for approval. Contact Kay Stimson, NASS director of communications, for more information at nass@sso.org or 1-202-624-3528.

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About NASS
Founded in 1904, NASS is the oldest, nonpartisan professional organization of public officials in the U.S. Members include the 50 states, the District of Columbia, American Samoa and Puerto Rico. NASS serves as a medium for the exchange of information between states and fosters cooperation in the development of public policy. The association has key initiatives in the areas of elections and voting, state business services, digital archiving, international relations and state securities regulation, as well as several well-established awards programs.

Follow NASS on Twitter at @NASSorg. The conference hashtag is #NASScon. Download the free conference mobile app MyEvents2Go, available for Apple, Android or Windows-based mobile devices. Visit the NASS page on Facebook at ?National Association of Secretaries of State (NASS).? The ?Maine Department of the Secretary of State? and the ?Maine State Archives? are also on Facebook.