State Legistlative Leaders Foundation

2008 Annual Meeting

Newport, Rhode Island

Program Schedule (pdf)

September 17-21, 2008
Hosted by Speaker William Murphy

Annual Meeting Presenters Featured Explorer, Leadership Expert and Political Analyst
The 17th annual National Speakers Conference was an exciting, engaging and educational program. This year’s plenary sessions featured something for everyone, including a discussion by the oceanographer who raised the Titanic, a nationally recognized expert on Abraham Lincoln who is also serving on the Guantanamo Bay Review Tribunal, and one of the nation’s most respected political prognosticators.

Dr. Robert D. Ballard, Professor of Oceanography
University of Rhode Island Graduate School of Oceanography

Having participated in more than 110 underwater expeditions, Dr. Robert D. Ballard is the best-known deep sea explorer in the world. In 1985, he and his research team made their most famous discovery - the wreck of the R.M.S. Titanic. He has written numerous articles and books about his explorations, appeared in many television programs (including three National Geographic specials) and spoken to audiences all over the world.

Dr. Ballard's presentation, "The Hidden America," presented participants with an exciting discussion of America’s new program in ocean exploration and described his mission to "go where no one has gone before" - the more than fifty percent of the United States that is under water! This project will be used to educate America’s children and ignite an excitement for technology and science among American students. Dr. Ballard explained how his discovery of the Titanic led to the exploration and education program described above.

The Honorable Frank J. Williams, Chief Justice
Rhode Island Supreme Court.

Participants enjoyed a special treat when The Honorable Frank J. Williams, Chief Justice of the Rhode Island Supreme Court and nationally recognized expert on President Abraham Lincoln, shared his thoughts on "Abraham Lincoln and the Loneliness of Command." Justice Williams has been a member of the Rhode Island Supreme Court since 1996 and has been the Chief Justice of that body since 2001. A decorated veteran of the United States Army, Justice Williams served two tours of duty in Vietnam and is currently the Chief Judge of the U.S. Court of Military Commissions Review being held at Guantanamo Bay. One of the nation’s leading scholars on the life and times of Abraham Lincoln, Justice Williams is the author of numerous books and papers on Lincoln, including Judging Lincoln.

Mr. Ken Smith, Jobs for America’s Graduates
On Saturday, September 20, the plenary session began with a discussion of job growth and economic development from the perspective of our most vulnerable workers - those completing high school. We heard from the leaders of two organizations that are doing great things in this area: Mr. Ken Smith of Jobs for America’s Graduates and Mr. Gerald Chertavian, founder and CEO of Year Up. Jobs for America’s Graduates is a national program dedicated to making sure students complete high school and then providing experience-based training that will allow for career advancement and post secondary education opportunities.


Mr. Gerald Chertavian, Year Up
In a similar manner, Boston-based Year Up, offers urban young adults a one-year training program that provides a combination of hands-on skills, college courses and corporate apprenticeships to prepare these young people to succeed in today’s economic climate.

To learn more about these outstanding programs, visit their websites:
www.jag.org (Jobs for America’s Graduates) and www.yearup.org (Year Up).


Dr. Larry J. Sabato, University of Virginia’s Center for Politics.
Finally, it would not be an election year annual meeting without a discussion of the political environment and the upcoming elections. This year, we were pleased to have Dr. Larry Sabato, Director of the University of Virginia’s Center for Politics, leading that discussion. Dr. Sabato is the Robert Kent Good Professor of Political Science at the University of Virginia and is described by Fox News as "America’s favorite political scientist." Dr. Sabato has been making regular media appearances since the 1970s and has appeared multiple times on all the major political networks.

If you have any questions about the program, please contact Thom Little at sllfthom@aol.com.