A busy, productive fall for legislative staff.

• Position: National Conference of State Legislatures staff sections - Connections

In cities across the country last fall, legislative staff could be found honing their skills and networking with colleagues during professional development seminars held by NCSL's staff sections. The newest members of the National Legislative Services and Security Association were recognized at a state dinner held in the New Mexico Museum of Art.

Sabrina Lewellen, deputy director and assistant secretary of the Arkansas Senate (left) and Charlotte Carter-Yamauchi, acting director of the Hawaii Legislative Reference Bureau (right), present NCSL's Jeanne Mejeur with a gift commemorating her 25 years of service with the Research and Committee Staff Section.

After touring the Arizona Capitol Museum, Dennis Yoder from Texas snaps a "selfie" with K'Lynn Sloan Harris from Montana and Cory Stewart from Louisiana. All are officers in the staff section for legislative information and communications staff.

Things got interesting for the American Society of Legislative Clerks and Secretaries in Raleigh when the North Carolina General Assembly decided to go back into session during the meeting. North Carolina staff handled the session and the seminar simultaneously with grace and humor. And the approximately 180 attendees had the rare opportunity to see their Tar Heel State colleagues in action as they...