This year, North Dakota has a wonderful opportunity as it serves as host for the 70th annual meeting of the Midwestern Legislative Conference. The conference reflects the long-held idea that states should be our nation's "laboratories of democracy."
This is an important conference for North Dakota to host as the organization is led by public policy leaders who represent 80 million people from 11 states and four Canadian provinces. It's a rare opportunity to host many of the Midwest's most influential leaders, and we plan to make the most of it.
Our intense agenda includes a long list of sessions on important issues - from agriculture and health care to education, economic development and energy. For example, how can states reshape their juvenile justice systems to improve the long-term outcomes of young people while also strengthening public safety? How can states use emerging technologies to make government operate more efficiently and effectively?
Plus, my chairman's initiative on the development of policies to better use the senior year of high school and make students more work-ready and college-ready.
We've also assembled an impressive list of nationally renowned speakers and policy experts to help lead and invigorate our discussions. We plan on taking this once-in-a-generation opportunity to showcase the state that we proudly represent and call home. This includes tours of the Bakken region and of some of our nationally recognized agriculture operations.
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After their four days in North Dakota, policy leaders will have plenty of new ideas on how to improve government and advance public policy in their own states. Those leaders will take away a better understanding of the vital role and value North Dakota plays in many areas, including energy, agriculture, technology and education.
I am confident that our guests will leave with a much greater appreciation of what makes North Dakota a national leader in many areas and such a great place to live, learn, and work.
Tim Flakoll
Fargo
