The Congressional Management Foundation, in collaboration with the House Chiefs of Staff Association, invites congressional staff to a webinar on
Improving DC-State/District Relations
The Joys of Harmony, the Perils of Disunion, and the Path to Collective Serenity (almost)
Thursday, April 18, 2024
3:00-4:00pm ET/12:00-1:00pm PT
Register here for the Zoom webinar: us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_u4_gZop7Qxy_Il5tFjec8w#/registration
The challenge of creating strong working partnerships between the DC office and the district/state offices is routinely cited by congressional staff as one of the most troubling problems they face. It is also one of the most difficult to solve, because offices are frequently unclear about the cause of the problem.
Members are often bewildered (and disappointed) that their staff don't get along well and allow matters to slip between the cracks due to breakdowns in communication. The assumption is that smart, mature and committed people with the shared goal of promoting the interests and agenda of the Member should be able to develop good working relationships - and solve questions concerning jurisdiction or information-sharing. But the three fundamental obstacles to creating effective interoffice communication and coordination are:
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Distance
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Different core functions
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Drive for efficiency rather than effectiveness
Unless these problems are addressed directly, they are unlikely to go away. The telework environment of the past four years has encouraged some offices to improve DC-District/State Office communications, but for some offices, this may have made it worse.
This webinar will help you overcome any obstacles you may be experiencing.
To register for this event, please sign-up here
Even if you cannot attend, please register and receive a link to a recording of the webinar and download a resource page with helpful links to additional resources.
The Congressional Management Foundation (CMF) is a 501(c)(3) nonpartisan nonprofit dedicated to building trust and effectiveness in Congress. CMF does not employ or retain a registered lobbyist. Our programs comply with both House and Senate ethics rules and laws, allowing staff to attend. www.CongressFoundation.org.
