This year's National ASTD ALC (
ASTD 
Leadership 
Conference) once again featured a pre-conference workshop on "Congressional Conversations," where ASTD chapter leaders across the country go to Capitol Hill in Washington, DC to meet our federal lawmakers and staff to discuss WLP-related legislation.
  
  Interest in public policy is exploding.  This year 32 chapter leaders signed up for the one-day event.  This is nearly triple the number from a year ago.  The increase reflects the increasing understanding that WLP leaders must get involved to advocate for better and better-funded training legislation to address our nation's serious current unemployment situation and the even greater threat of the skills gap.
  
  Read a summary of the event from the National ASTD public policy council 
here.
  
  If you want to make a difference in your profession and on behalf of your fellow citizens, then consider getting actively involved in ASTDps's public resources efforts.  Contact me for more information at governmentaffairs@astdps.org.