This year’s All Committee Conference for the Southern Association of Workers’ Compensation Administrators (SAWCA) is scheduled for November 13 – 16, 2018, in Colorado Springs, CO. The event “represents an opportunity for state regulators from 22 jurisdictions across the ‘south’ & industry professionals across the nation to discuss the hottest issues facing workers’ comp.”
Of course, we’ve previously discussed here the growth of SAWCA, so we know “south” now includes the “southern” states of Maine, Wisconsin and Colorado. As explained to me years ago by SAWCA Executive Director Gary Davis, “Southern is a state of mind.”
Among the sessions scheduled will be “The Medical & Recreational Use of Marijuana – Where Are We Headed” as well as “The Real Cost Of Presumptions.” There will also be another “Carrier Roundtable,” which gives the regulators the opportunity to hear constituents discuss their challenges and concerns. Of course, as an “All Committee Conference,” there will be a host of committee discussions and presentations as well.
The Keynote Speaker will be Colonel Robert G. Moose, Commander of the 721st Mission Support Group, Cheyenne Mountain Air Force Station, Colorado. He leads a force of 540 military, civilian and contractors in a group composed of three squadrons, providing and operating secure, survivable systems and facilities for North American Aerospace Defense Command, United States Northern Command, United States Strategic Command and Air Force Space Command crews to perform their air defense, space surveillance & missile warning missions. He directs all support operations, maintenance and testing for Cheyenne Mountain’s integrated tactical warning and attack assessment systems.
How cool is that? I wonder if he was in the movie “War Games.” I’ll have to see if I can snag a behind the scenes tour or something – maybe launch a test missile or two.
Secret NORAD tour notwithstanding, the highlight of the conference for me will be the opportunity to once again take the helm in the closing session entitled, “Things That Make Me Go… Hmmmm.” It will be about the 6thtime I have had this honor. SAWCA makes no restrictions on me for these sessions. I get to choose the panelists and can discuss whatever I want. Mostly I get to make fun of whoever left the event early.
Again, how cool is that?
In the past the answers and discussions we have generated in these sessions have ranged from the truly revealing to the masterfully avoided. Either way the results are usually entertaining and informative.
Well, they are entertaining and informative for me. I have no idea how the audience feels. They do however, keep inviting me back, so there is that.
More industry professionals should take advantage of attending events like these. Both SAWCA and another regulators organization, the International Association of Industrial Accident Boards and Commissions (IAIABC) offer private sector participants the opportunity to meet and interact with the regulators that are tasked with overseeing their industry. I have found the opportunity to get to know these folks to be invaluable. They are, by and large, truly dedicated people tasked with doing an extraordinarily difficult job.
SAWCA offers a relaxed and informative environment where each side can interact and learn, and that just helps make the industry stronger as a whole.
If you’re interested, you can get more information here. Bring your mittens, I expect it will be nippy. Of course, even though I was raised in Colorado, after 34 years in Florida anything below 65 is considered nippy. We’ll see you in Colorado Springs.