Issue 3
Inside this issue
Newsletter May 2013
Nevada Senate
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2013 session recap
WELCOME FROM THE SECRETARY
senate fun facts
virtual visit program
volunteer opportunities
senarts attracts donors
senarts spotlight series
nevada youth legislature
youth legislature roster
five questions with...
Putting the
Wraps on a
Successful ‘13!
The 2013 Senate Staff put the finishing
touches on a highly successful session,
ensuring the smooth functioning of the
body and the successful implementation
of several new programs.
The 2013 Session was unique in many ways.
But one way in which it was typical was this:
the Senate staff rose to every challenge,
exceeded every expectation, and maintained
its high standards of professionalism and
excellence.
This session was a challenge, as the
continuing impact of term limits created a
large freshman class. Four Senators were
brand new to the legislative process, and six
others were Assembly veterans new to the
Senate. But these ten new Senators all did
their homework and brought a new energy
and different perspectives to the body. By all
accounts, they were a pleasure to work with.
Southern Nevadans, who typically miss
out on visiting the Legislative Building.
You will meet the new members of
the Nevada Youth Legislature, high
schoolers appointed by their Senators to
represent the youth of Nevada. And you
will meet a couple of the extraordinary
people who comprise the Senate staff.
The Senate staff were instrumental to
the success of all of these programs.
From the Committee Secretaries to the
Legislative Assistants to the Committee
Managers, from the Proofreaders to the
Copy Room, from the Sergeants at Arms
to the Front Desk and Front Office, the
staff of the Senate have a variety of job
The 2013 Session also brought a variety
titles, but they all share a
of new programs to
common goal: to support
the Senate. In these
Nevada’s 21 Senators and
The
Senate
staff
rose
to
every
pages, you will read
maximize
their ability
challenge,
exceeded
every
about the Senate’s
expectation,
and
maintained
high
to
create
good
public
new arts initiative,
standards
of
professionalism
and
policy
for
the
citizens
of
dubbed SENarts. You
will learn about new excellence
this state. This newsletter
efforts to bring the
is devoted to these
legislative process to
outstanding Nevadans. 
Welcome
It seems like just yesterday we were
swearing in the new members of
our body, but here we are at Sine Die
bidding a fond farewell to another
session of the Nevada Senate.
I am so proud to lead the fine
people who work here and devote
themselves for 120 days to a
common mission. To say that our
Senate staff go “above and beyond”
would be an understatement.
Thank you for taking the time to
read this newsletter and learning
more about our staff,
our programs, and this
institution we all love so
dearly.
David A. Byerman
Secretary of the Senate
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“Fun Facts”
Suggested by the
Senate Staff
Early this Session, we asked
the Senate staff if there were
topics they wanted addressed
in the next newsletter. Here
are a few of their questions:
Who is this Wallie Warren
whose name is on all of the
clocks in the Legislative
Building? The LCB Research
Library has the answer: Wallie
Warren was a lobbyist back
in the 70s and 80s. It appears
from a set of Legislative
Commission meeting minutes
that a memorial fund for Mr.
Warren was the source of
the money for the clocks. It
also sounds like Mr. Warren
was respected by many folks.
Who is the youngest
Senator?
The oldest?
What is the average age
of the Senators, and is the
average Senator older than
the average Assemblyman?
Again, the Research Library
has you covered: Senators
range from age 32 (Kihuen)
to 69 (Parks and Gustavson).
The average age for Senators
is 51.7 and the average age for
Assemblymen is 50.7. The
median age of Senators is 49.
Thanks to the LCB Research
Library, we have learned that
it looks like the Senate is the
“upper house” in terms of age
as well. Send in your own
questions and trivia inquiries;
we will try to answer them
in
future
newsletters!
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an opportunity for new audiences to experience the senate
“Virtual Visit” to Bring Senate
Tours to Southern Nevada Students
It’s been no secret that Southern Nevada
Senators regularly envy their Northern
Nevada counterparts, who get to
welcome far more student guests to the
Senate Gallery. Beginning in 2015, the
Southern Nevada Senators will have their
own opportunity to invite students to
“virtually” participate in sessions of the
Nevada Senate.
with the Senate @NVSecSenate... an
amazing opportunity... thank you for having
us! Teacher @MCFreeman tweeted: “My
students were surprised how fast business
gets done in the Nevada Senate!” And the
Senate’s own @RubenKihuen even devised
a new (and very apt) hashtag: #MegaSkype.
The “Senate Virtual Visit Program” was
The timing of Mr. Freeman’s classes’ “Virtual
tested out on May 29, 2013, Day 115
Visit” to the Nevada Senate was fortuitous,
of the 2013 Session. The U.S. History
for Day 115 just happened to be the day that
classes of Mr. Charles Freeman of
the Senate took up the topic of legalizing
Rancho High School were introduced
dispensaries for medical marijuana in the
via videoconference from Las Vegas, and
state. Mr. Freeman perhaps summed up
had the opportunity to observe the Senate
what many were
proceedings. The “virtual visit”
thinking when he
was preceded by an orientation
Beginning in 2015, Southern joked that he might
by the Secretary of the Senate,
who spent about ten minutes Nevada Senators will have have some “budding
before Session began explaining their own opportunity to entrepreneurs” in his
the process to the students, and “virtually” invite students classes. We assume
informing them about some of to participate in sessions of the play on words was
intentional.
the jargon and terms that they the Nevada Senate.
would soon be hearing as the
In 2015, look for the
Senate Session got underway.
Virtual Visit program
to
be
a
regular
feature
of the Nevada
Feedback to the program via social media
Senate.
Plans
are
already
underway to
was immediate and overwhelmingly
develop
a
standard
introductory
video
positive. After the Secretary of the Senate
to
be
shown
to
all
classes;
to
do
advance
invited students to tweet their questions
testing of videoconferencing facilities to
and feedback during Session, several did
pre-determine which schools will be able
so. @Steveo24 tweeted: “I’m glad to be
to support the program; and to conduct
webcaming with @NVSecSenate! It’ll be
outreach through the State Department of
probably once in a life time! Thank you!”
Education to encourage participation. The
@Justme_Guera tweeted, “Webcaming
test went well, but our work has just begun!
Volunteer
Opportunities
Abound in 2013!
It seems a shame that the 93 employees of the
Nevada Senate only get to work together for 120
days every two years. The friendships that are
made in service to the Senate last throughout the
interim between legislative sessions. But thanks
to some new initiatives undertaken by the Senate
in recent years, there are ample opportunities to remain engaged in the Senate’s educational
programs, whether or not the Nevada Legislature is in session. Here are a few examples:
The Nevada Senate will resume its uLegislate program in the Fall of 2013. uLegislate is a legislative
simulation for adults and children alike. Participants play the roles of Senators, Sergeants at Arms,
and officers of the body. They take up several pieces of model legislation during a scripted exercise
that leads them into ten minutes of unscripted debate. The best part is that when the legislation is
up for vote, the participants see their own names light up on the Senate vote tote board! Volunteers
are needed to help organize and staff sessions, and recruit groups and promote the program.
The Nevada Senate will be undertaking a new program during the interim to develop
educational materials about the legislative process for children in primary grades. Dubbed
Nevada Senate EduK-8, the Senate’s initiative will be planned during the coming interim for
deployment in time for the 2015 Session. A working group during the 2013 Session researched
successful programs across the country, and volunteers will be needed during the interim to
develop educational materials such as coloring books, guide books, and multimedia activities.
The Nevada Senate continues its outreach to the arts community in the coming biennium,
as the SENarts Program will continue its efforts to develop new and innovative ways
to promote the arts in the Legislative Building and to implement new strategies to
build and expand the Senate’s permanent arts collection. Volunteers are needed to
conduct outreach, follow up with potential donors, develop informational signage, and
create a new master database and online catalog of the Nevada Legislature’s artwork.
The Nevada
introductory
for many of
looking for
Youth Legislature will convene its 21 members in early August for an
seminar and leadership training.
This will be the first opportunity
these high school students to meet one another. The Senate will be
volunteers to help serve as chaperones, mentors, and tour guides.
Members of the public and Senate staff alumni are invited to join these efforts. Contact
the Office of the Secretary of the Senate at (775) 684-1400 for more information.
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PROMOTING PARTICIPATORY DEMOCRACY
Secretary of State
Honors Five with
Jean Ford Award
Secretary of State Ross Miller recently honored five Nevadans with
the Jean Ford Democracy Award, honoring excellence in promoting
participatory democracy.
Steven Parker, Ph.D. (not pictured) is an associate professor
and internship coordinator in the Department of Political
Science at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. He has
taught and influenced many students who have gone on
to become community and policy advocates in Nevada.
contribute to the senate’s cultural programs
SENarts Program
Attracts Art Donors
The Nevada Senate has begun an ambitious effort to
attract private sector donations of artwork, for the
enjoyment of the public in the halls of the Legislative
Building.
And already, the effort is paying rich dividends. A
variety of banks, law firms, and businesses have begun
donating artwork, and the effort is hoped to snowball in
the years to come. Umpqua Bank, McDonald Carano
Wilson, and Mary Kay Knobel are among the early
donors.
Deborah Berger is an educator at the Clark
County School District and teaches a Civil
Rights program, “We the People – The Citizen
and The Constitution.” She mentors teachers and
uses a variety of interactive teaching techniques
during “We the People” Summer Institutes.
Shane Piccinini has been a volunteer for
more than 20 years for the Center for Civic
Education’s “We The People” curriculum and
Project Citizen curriculum. He organizes
events and coordinates resources from the
federal level to 16 of Nevada’s 17 school
districts, and coaches students and teachers
to engage them in civil responsibility, the
importance of voting, and all layers of being
involved in public policy.
Rozita Lee is a familiar face in Southern Nevada,
being heavily involved in civic engagement,
voter registration and voter education in the
Asian and Pacific Islander community. She has
organized voter education, registration and
mobilization programs to increase the number
of registered Asian and Pacific Islander voters,
who finding a unified force and increasing their
political influence.
David Byerman has
served as Secretary of the Nevada Senate
since 2010 and initiated a variety of programs
to engage the public in the legislative process,
such as uLegislate, a hands-on legislative
simulation in the Senate Chamber; Channel
21, an information network that delivers
operational information in the Legislative
Building; and SENarts, a partnership with
the Nevada Division of Museums and Nevada Arts Council that
includes arts competitions, programs, and a campaign to build the
Senate’s permanent art collection.
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Pictured above, the painting “Paris-Las Vegas” by the
noted painter Jerry Blank was loaned in April of this
year by the law firm
of McDonald Carano
SENarts is a partnership Wilson. The work
between the Nevada currently hangs on
the south side of the
Senate, the State of second floor. Special
Nevada’s Division of thanks to NDOT,
Museums, and the which transported
Nevada Arts Council. the piece from Las
Vegas to Carson City.
Umpqua Bank, which has three branches in Reno,
donated six framed Ron Walter photographs, entitled,
“Pinenut Mountains 1995,” “Pinenut Mountains 1996,”
“Lenticular Cloud 1998,” “Washoe Lake 1999,” “Washoe
Lake 2003,” and “Untitled 2006.” These Ron Walter
photographs currently hang in the main hallway of the
Legislative Building on the first floor.
SENarts
Donations
(cont’d from page 4)
Mary Kay Knobel loaned two
framed paintings by Hans
Meyer-Kassel,
depicting
Pyramid Lake and a Nevada
desert scene. She also loaned a
large framed painting entitled,
“Pops on the River.” The
Meyer-Kassel paintings hang
in the office of the Secretary of
the Senate, and the “Pops on
the River” piece hangs in the
Senate’s central lobby on the
second floor. These paintings
were formerly displayed in the
law firm of Mark W. Knobel.
Special thanks also to Robert
Luce, husband of the Senate’s
own Gail Herstead, who
donated the beautiful 12x44”
framed photo that hangs in the
Office of the Secretary of the
Senate. This piece is actually
comprised of nine separate
photos, stitched together! A
beautiful panorama.
These artistic philanthropists
have donated this artwork
to the Nevada Senate, and
by extension to the residents
of our great state. We thank
them for their support of the
SENarts program. The Nevada
Senate continues to solicit
artwork from philanthropic
organzations throughout the
state. Charitable contributions
to governmental units are
tax-deductible under section
170(c)(1) of the Internal
Revenue Code. For more
information or to arrange a
donation, contact the Office of
the Secretary of the Senate at
(775) 684-1400.
FOUR ACCOMPLISHED ARTISTS SPOTLIGHTED DURING THE 2013 SESSION
SENarts Spotlight Series
Promotes Local Artists
The Nevada Senate played host to four very
talented artists on May 30th who should be
no stranger to members and constituents
of the Nevada Senate and Assembly. After
a competitive process, these four artists
were selected to exhibit their artwork in
the halls of the Senate throughout the 77th
Session of the Nevada Legislature.
Amelia Currier of Reno (monograph
prints), Susan Kotler of Carson City
(mixed media inkjet prints), Richard
Massey of Yerington (photographs), and
Nanette Oleson of Reno (oil paintings)
were selected by a panel of judges,
including Senate Majority Leader Mo
Denis and Senate Minority Leader Michael
Roberson, as part of the SENarts Spotlight
Series. Using different media, these four
artists explored a variety of themes that
relate to the State of Nevada, its heritage
and diversity.
These four exhibits were on display in the
halls of the Senate throughout the 77th
Legislative Session. Staff, lobbyists, and
reporters alike marveled at the beauty and
distinction of these four exhibits.
The SENarts initiative is a partnership
among the Nevada Senate, Nevada
Division of Museums, and the Nevada Arts
Council. Among other things, the SENarts
initiative has dramatically increased the
artwork on display in Senate areas, with
new signage developed showing the artists’
names and the titles of each piece. The
biannual “Senate Arts Show,” produced in
partnership with the Brewery Arts Center,
has been dramatically expanded, with
more artist participation than ever. The
Senate has also received several generous
donations of artwork, bolstering the
Senate collection.
This reception was the culmination of
the “Work of Artists” Series, talks and
demonstrations with some of Northern
Nevada’s finest folk, traditional, and
contemporary artists. These events are a
new staple at the Legislative Building.
“Capitols and Legislative Buildings across
the country serve as a showcase for the
creativity of the citizens of each state,” said
David Byerman, Secretary of the Senate.
“We are thrilled with the community
support for this initiative and look forward
to welcoming these four outstanding artists
so they can receive the recognition they
deserve.”
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Nevada Youth
Legislature Day
Shines Spotlight
on Program
March 26th was Nevada
Youth Legislature Day at
the Nevada Legislature,
an
opportunity
for
the program to shine.
The day began with an
8AM joint hearing of the
Assembly Ways and Means
Committee and the Senate
Finance Committee for
a hearing on SJR6, the
legislation proposed by the
Nevada Youth Legislature.
SJR6 sought to enshrine the
Kenny C. Guinn Memorial
Scholarship in the Nevada
Constitution, and to protect
the funds allocated for the
Millennium
Scholarship
so they could not be used
for any other purpose.
The
hearing
was
an
opportunity for the Youth
Legislators to demonstrate
their mastery of the subject
matter and of the legislative
process itself. They deftly
answered
all
questions
presented to them and
earned the admiration of
the assembled legislators.
Legislators
showed
no
hesitance to quiz the Youth
Legislators on the merits of
their proposed legislation,
and in fact SJR6 was not
approved by the 77th
Session. Nonetheless, this
day was an opportunity
the
Youth
Legislators
would not soon forget.
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REPRESENTING THE BEST AND BRIGHTEST OF YOUNG NEVADANS
New Nevada Youth Legislators
Diverse, Accomplished
After a highly competitive application
process, the Nevada Senate recently
announced the composition of the Nevada
Youth Legislature for the 2013-2015
biennium. This dynamic group of young
people includes five incumbent Youth
Legislators reappointed to new terms by
their Senators, providing some continuity
to the body.
represent the residents of the Lake Tahoe
Basin. The group includes six students from
magnet schools; two students from private
high schools; and two students from charter
schools. There are five seniors, seven juniors,
seven sophomores, and two freshmen for
the upcoming 2013-2014 school year. The
Nevada Youth Legislature is one of only
two such bodies nationwide to empower
its members to propose actual legislation
before its state legislature. Members of the
Youth Legislature meet monthly, hold town
hall meetings, receive trainings and hold
hearings on topics relevant to the youth of
Nevada.
On May 9th, 2013, former Senator Valerie
Wiener (founder of the Nevada Youth
Legislature and Chair of the Nevada Youth
Legislature Foundation Board of Directors)
and Secretary of the Senate David Byerman
(who serves in a volunteer capacity as
Executive Director of the Nevada Youth
Youth Legislators can represent either Legislature) held media availabilities in
the district in which they go to school Las Vegas and Carson City with Youth
or the district in which they live. This Legislators Miranda Rosen and Christiana
provision has created an unprecedented Cabrera, who were re-appointed by
Senators Rosen and
development for this term: one
Smith, respectively,
set of fraternal twins, Megan
The
group
includes
six
students
for a new term on
and George Thompson of Las
from
magnet
schools;
two
the Nevada Youth
Vegas, have been appointed
students
from
private
high
Legislature.
Youth
by two different Senators
schools;
and
two
students
from
Legislators
Rosen
and
(Senators Atkinson and Denis)
charter
schools.
Cabrera spoke of the
to represent two different
positive impact of the
districts (Districts 4 and 2,
program on their leadership development,
respectively.)
and professed great optimism of the year to
The 2013-2015 Youth Legislators (pictured come.
on the next page) represent all 21 Senate
Districts, ensuring representation for both
Northern Nevada and Southern Nevada.
Lorenzo Pinon of Amargosa Valley, who
attends Beatty High School, will represent
rural Nevada. Katherine Krolicki
(daughter of Lt. Governor Brian Krolicki)
attends Whittell High School and will
The Nevada Youth Legislature will formally
organize itself over the coming summer,
with a two-day training to be held in Carson
City in early August.
For more information on the Nevada Youth
Legislature, visit bit.ly/NYL-Info.
Welcome Nevada Youth Legislators!
Term: June 1, 2013 - May 31, 2015
Photo
Unavailable
Dale Major Jr.
District No. 1
District No. 12
Torrey Barber
George Thompson
District No. 2
District No. 13
Christiana Cabrera
Ryan Lim
District No. 3
District No. 14
Lucas Bickford
Megan Thompson
District No. 4
District No. 15
Scott Sax
Yujin Seo
District No. 5
District No. 16
Madeleine Welch
Nicholas Nielson
District No. 6
District No. 17
Katherine Krolicki
Amanda Lok
District No. 7
District No. 18
Rose Asaf
Eliza Fellows
District No. 8
District No. 19
Lorenzo Pinon
Sheldon Wong
District No. 9
District No. 20
Miranda Rosen
Miranda Raymond
District No. 10
District No. 21
Ian Walsh
Amelinda Futsum
District No. 11
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AT THE CENTER OF THE ACTION
Five Questions
with the Leadership
Receptionist
Sheri Carlsen has just wrapped up
her second Session as the Majority
Leader Receptionist. In this role,
she serves as the gatekeeper for the
busiest office in the Nevada Senate.
In the waning days of Session, we
caught up with Sheri to ask her a
few burning questions about her
experience.
Working in the Senate
Leadership Office puts you
in unique position to create an
open and accessible environment
for the public but also serve as a
gatekeeper for the Majority
Leader and Assistant Majority
Leader. How do you keep the
balance? Working in the Senate
Leadership office you meet many
wonderful people and many are
already familiar with the demands
on the Majority and Assistant
Majority Leaders. You also quickly
learn to know the persons who the
leadership needs to see on a
particular subject/bill. Others we fit
in as we can or provide them with
another staff member who can
knowledgeably speak on the
subject, take notes for the Senator
and relay all pertinent information.
Empathy, patience, congeniality
and flexibility are all virtues that
serve this position well.
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The sheer number of people
that walk through your door
must call for an almost encyclopedic
memory of people’s names and
faces. What’s your secret in
managing to keep everyone
straight? I was worried about that
when I came back this session but the
Lobbyist directory really helps as do
the staff badges, Nevada Legislature
brochures, and Legnet as a resource
as well. When all else fails, I just
apologize for not remembering
someone’s name and they are very
nice about refreshing my memory.
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“Having just come to the West from
New England 4 years ago, I love
learning about Nevada’s history and
the history of those that came before
and served in Legislative positions. “
You’ve come to be quite
legendary for your ability to
predict accurate start times for
Senate Floor Sessions. Any chance
you’d be interested in pursuing this
“over/under” work professionally? I
am still looking to buy a really good
crystal ball but you do get to know
the habits of the Senatorial process
working in this position. All I can do is
make a “best estimate” but by the end
of the session, you do get much better
at it!
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In the next issue
ƒƒWe want your help as we
publish our next newsletter
this fall! Submit stories,
photos, or anything else to:
newsletter@sen.state.nv.us
Given the high profile office
you work in, how often do
you witness situations that you
wish you could tell others about
but can’t? It really doesn’t happen
much at all. Any “sensitive
conversations” happen in the
Senators’ offices and I am not privy to
those. I do enjoy very much listening
to the people waiting in the
Leadership office lobby such as
lobbyists and others who are either
Nevadans or have lived in Nevada for
a long time. Having just come to the
West from New England 4 years ago,
I love learning about Nevada’s history
and the history of those that came
before and served in Legislative
positions.
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Finally, it’s time to name
names, who is always the
last person to show up caucus
meetings? I love all the Senators,
but Senator Mark Manendo has
definitely secured his place as the
Senator who most often arrives last
to Caucus … and I love to tease him
about it all the time! 
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This newsletter is brought to you by:
The Nevada Senate
David A. Byerman
Secretary of the Senate
401 S. Carson Street
Carson City, NV 89701-4747
Phone: 1-775-684-1400
Follow us on Twitter!
@NVSecSenate
Check out our Blog, “From the Well”
NVSecSenate.blogspot.com