KNOXVILLE – State employees were able to spend quality time with their local legislators during TSEA’s Legislative Dinner on Thursday.
Held at Pellissippi State Community College in Knoxville, TSEA last week kicked off the first of a series of state-wide Legislative Dinners turning out more than 70 state employees as well as seven state lawmakers. Representatives Harry Brooks, Bill Dunn, Ryan Haynes, Kelly Keisling, Bob Ramsey, Eddie Smith, and John Mark Windle were all in attendance for the two-hour event.
To begin the evening, TSEA Executive Director John Summers led a 45-minute pre-meeting for state employees covering lobbying “do’s and don’ts” and discussing, in detail, the association’s legislative agenda items. Afterward, as legislators arrived and sat with groups of their constituents, dinner was served. Members were able to spend valuable time with their local elected officials, building relationships and discussing state employee concerns.
After the meal, TSEA President Bryan Merritt, Executive Director John Summers and Government Affairs Director Randy Stamps briefly covered TSEA’s Legislative Agenda with legislators before concluding the event.
The TSEA Legislative Dinner program provides opportunities for TSEA members to spend more time with their local legislators than is possible during a traditional lobby day on Capitol Hill. This Thursday, TSEA’s legislative dinner will be held in Memphis followed by dinners in Jackson, Nashville, Chattanooga, Cookeville and the Tri-Cities.
Dinners will be held throughout the state each Thursday through March. Click Here for more information, or to RSVP for a dinner in your area.
