December 2021 | Issue 2
Member Events
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2021 Class Biographies
Congratulations to the Western Legislative Academy Class of 2021
The Western Legislative Academy (WLA) Class of 2021 convened December 7-10 in Colorado Springs, where 33 members completed three and a half days of intensive skill building for state legislators.

Hosted at the El Pomar Foundation’s historic Penrose House, class members engaged with WLA faculty and one other to become more effective leaders, develop insight into the impact of personality styles, and employ strategies that support consensus building and negotiation, among other goals.

Wyoming Representative Mike Yin was selected by his peers as this year’s WLA Class President. As class president, he will have an opportunity to facilitate a training session during the annual meeting in Boise, serve on the CSG West Executive Committee, and will return to Colorado Springs to welcome next year’s WLA class.

Stay tuned for a full recap of this year’s WLA in the first Regional Roundup issue of January 2022.
Congratulations, Class of 2021!
Five Western Officials Honored with the CSG 20 Under 40 Leadership Award
CSG West congratulates the five Western officials who were among the 2021 recipients of the CSG 20 Under 40 Leadership Award during the recent CSG National Conference in Santa Fe, New Mexico. They are:


This annual honor recognizes the outstanding work of 20 up-and-coming elected and appointed officials from across the country who exemplify strong leadership skills and have demonstrated a true commitment to serving the citizens of their states. To learn more about the 20 Under 40 Leadership Award, visit web.csg.org/20-40/.

The current issue of CSG Capitol Ideas spotlights each of this year’s recipients, and features Alaska Senator David Wilson on the cover. Please click below to access this content.
Member Resources
Researchers Examine “Low-to-No Snow” Trends & Water Implications in Western States
As policymakers grapple with water challenges across the West, access to informational tools, modelling, and technology has grown increasingly critical.

A recently published study examined the possibility of a low-to-no snow future in Western states. The authors, who are from academia, government and key stakeholders, noted several takeaways. Click to below to learn more.
State Leaders Discuss Western Water Needs and Tribal Engagement
“We have a saying out West about water,” said New Mexico Senate President Pro Tempore Mimi Stewart during a 2021 CSG National Conference session, “‘Whiskey is for drinking; water is for fighting.’”

Hosted by CSG West, the session explored how to meet today’s water needs while fostering effective tribal engagement.

Forty million people in seven U.S. states and in Mexico depend on water from the Colorado River, while 29 federally recognized tribes depend on the river for a variety of purposes. In this context, how can states foster collaboration to address challenges?
Sponsorship Opportunities
CSG West 2022 Sponsorship Guide Now Available
In partnership with the Idaho Host Committee and CSG West Chair, Representative Clark Kauffman, we are honored to host the CSG West Annual Meeting in the great state of Idaho. Next year’s conference will convene in Boise, July 19-22, marking the 75th anniversary for CSG West.

Based on feedback from our private sector partners, we have enhanced the sponsorship offerings to allow our sponsors to customize their experience. Please take a moment to review the Sponsorship Guide to examine opportunities.

If you are interested in supporting the 2022 Annual Meeting, please contact Edgar Ruiz, Director of CSG West, at eruiz@csg.org or (916) 501-5070.

We hope to see you next summer in Idaho’s capital city.
CSG West is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization serving western state legislatures. All active legislators are considered members of our organization and included in organizational correspondence regarding news and events. While we hope you find this information of use, we also understand the need for a tidy inbox. If you do not wish to receive email updates from us, please unsubscribe below to be removed from our email list.