It’s hard to believe that another CSAC Annual Meeting is right around the corner, and in just three months we will be coming together in Los Angeles County. It’s even harder to believe that this will mark the 118th year that county leaders have been congregating to learn the latest news, discuss issues and challenges, and plan for the year ahead.

Our Annual Meeting is slated for November 27-30 in Long Beach, Los Angeles County, at the Long Beach Convention Center Hyatt Regency. A number of pre- and post-conference sessions are also planned.

The CSAC conference planning committee has put together a strong lineup of speakers and workshops. Featured speakers include renowned leadership expert and author Simon Sinek; Washington Post political columnist Ezra Klein; motivational speaker Mike Staver; and economist/futurist Dr. Lowell Catlett.

A number of policy-oriented and professional development sessions are planned for the Annual Meeting. Workshop topics range from realignment and ethics to pension reform and the Delta. Keynote speakers Sinek and Staver will also hold workshops after their respective General Session presentations.

And, of course, CSAC members will have an opportunity to shape association policy for the year ahead through our five policy committees meetings, as well as our Board of Directors meeting.

This year also marks another round of the CSAC New Supervisors Institute, conducted by the CSAC Institute for Excellence in County Government. Supervisors-elect will have an opportunity to attend this 30 hour-plus course that is covered in three sessions. The first session will immediately precede the Annual Meeting and the additional two sessions will be held in Sacramento after the new year. The CSAC Institute will also hold courses on Crafting and Implementing Effective Strategic Plans, and Intergovernmental Collaboration.

Other pre-conference sessions of interest include a CSAC Innovation Summit, as well as a boat tour of the Port of Long Beach.

This year’s conference theme is “Voyage to Stability: California Counties Weather the Storm.” As our President Mike McGowan said, “It has been a stormy few years. But we are weathering this storm and, as an Association, we are doing everything we can to ensure a more stable future.”

Join us on this voyage; it will be a worthwhile investment. Our online registration system is simple to use. We look forward to seeing you in Los Angeles County in late November.

David Liebler is the Director of Public Affairs and Member Services for the California State Association of Counties. He can be reached at dliebler.at.counties.org.