President's Perspective - July 11, 2016

Don't miss the chance to go 'mobile' at Annual

We’re just days away from the National Association of Counties Annual Conference & Exposition in Los Angeles County (Long Beach). As you plan your participation in the many activities and sessions, I wanted to highlight a few things for you to consider making part of your conference experience.

In addition to the on-site sessions, take the opportunity to get out in the field to learn about issues from sustainability to project finance to veterans’ services with these five mobile tours:

• The Growing Experience Urban Farm — Healthy produce and education and skills training opportunities for underserved youth and young adults. Thursday, Jul. 21, 2– 4 p.m.
• THUMS Island Tour — Environmentally-conscious offshore oil production. Thursday, Jul. 21, 2–4 p.m.
• The Long Beach Courthouse – A public-private partnership for building construction and operation. Thursday, Jul. 21, 2– 4 p.m.
• Bob Hope Patriotic Hall — A panel discussion on services at the veterans facility plus a museum tour. Thursday, Jul. 21, 2– 5 p.m.
• Los Angeles River Revitalization Project — Restoration of a channelized river and its habitat in an urban environment. Sunday, Jul. 24, noon – 5 p.m.

At the conference venue, listen to a powerful speaker on a pressing topic: journalist Sam Quinones, author of “Dreamland: The True Tale of America’s Opioid Epidemic.” We’ll focus on county efforts to curb drug abuse are part of a luncheon discussion of the opioid crisis (Friday, July 22, noon – 2 p.m.).

Another pressing issue will be the focus of Next Generation NACo’s Community Service Project. Saving Innocence, a nonprofit working to end the sexual exploitation of children, has since its inception in 2010 Saving Innocence helped hundreds of children (Jul. 23, 9:30 – 10:30 a.m.).

Frequent travelers can take advantage of on-site TSA Pre-Check (click for requirements) with processing sponsored by U.S. Communities (Friday, July 22 through July 24, by appointment).

On the Long Beach Convention Center Promenade Plaza concourse, take a behind-the-scenes look at some of Los Angeles County’s largest specialized vehicles, from the Sheriff’s Department Mobile Command Post to the Natural History Museum’s Mobile Museum: An Ocean Experience (Friday, July 22, noon – 4 p.m.).

Finally, Saturday and Sunday morning early risers can begin the day with morning circuit fitness and cycling, respectively, on the Promenade Plaza (Saturday, July 23 and Sunday, July 24 at 6 a.m.)

I look forward to seeing you in Los Angeles County!