07/29/2009 Lawton Concludes Ambitious Term as NLGA Chair
7/31/2009
07/29/2009 Concludes Ambitious Term as NLGA Chair
Lt. Governor Lawton was in Baltimore, Maryland this week to chair the 2009 National Lieutenant Governors Association (NLGA) annual meeting.
The NLGA unanimously elected Lt. Governor Lawton Chair in 2008. During her one-year term, Lawton brought new focus to the organization on bringing jobs and 
strengthening economic development in the states by building opportunities with an expanded network of international relationships and focus on public and cultural diplomacy.
Left) Lt. Governor Lawton and members of the NLGA convene in Baltimore for the annual NLGA conference
"Lieutenant Governors across the nation provide critical leadership to effectively confront challenges before their states," Lawton said. "It was a tremendous honor to be elected by my colleagues to lead the NLGA in times that call for bold vision and innovative collaboration in our bi-partisan work."
Among her other accomplishments as NLGA Chair was leading an unprecedented eight-day trade and cultural mission to China. The mission resulted in a student exchange agreement between the University of Wisconsin-Madison and Tsinghua University and the formation of a Global Manufacturing Institute exploratory committee with representatives from both institutions.
Lt. Governor Lawton also secured the organization’s first US-AID grant for a partnership between the NLGA and counterparts in Mexico.
Left) Lt. Governor Lawton delivers closing remarks of the annual meeting and her tenure as chair.
Lt. Governor Lawton has long been active in the NLGA. In 2008 she authored the “Health Care for All” resolution as well as the NLGA Energy Independence and Climate Protection Resolution. In 2006, she initiated the organization's partnership with Americans for the Arts and creation of the Lieutenant Governors Leadership in the Arts Award.
The NLGA works to enhance the effectiveness of the country’s lieutenant governors, updates members on policy research and provides a forum through which members can discuss issues that affect citizens across the country.
The meetings in Baltimore included discussions about economic recovery, health care reform, electronics recycling and water management, among others.
