Plain Language: Improving Communications from the Federal Government to the Public


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Past Meetings

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PLAIN Meeting: September 2012
Time: 2:00 to 3:30

   Frank Boland, an attorney in IRS’s Office of Chief Counsel, has been writing and reviewing regulations for more than 20 years.  Join Frank at this month’s PLAIN meeting for a tour of the “sentence assembly line” as he offers tips for clearing out the clutter in our documents, writing understandable rules and regulations, and explaining rules and regulations.

Directions:

The Federal Register Office is located three blocks north of the Union Station Metro at: 800 North Capitol Street, NW Suite 700, Washington DC 20001.  Go through security in the lobby; you must have a government-issued photo id. The Federal Register is located on the 7th floor.  Follow the sign saying public inspection to enter the lobby.

PLAIN Meeting: August 2012
Time:

We are not meeting this month.  Enjoy August vacation!

Directions:



PLAIN Meeting: July 2012
Time: 2-3:30 pm

With the second annivesary of the Plain Writing Act of 2010 coming up this October, PLAIN still has very little data concering how well federal agencies are complying with the law.  Please join us for a brainstorming session on encouraging agencies to collect, share, and use data on their use of plain language.

Directions:

Location: The Federal Register Office is located three blocks north of the Union Station Metro at: 800 North Capitol Street, NW Suite 700, Washington DC 20001.  Go through security in the lobby; you must have a government-issued photo id. The Federal Register is located on the 7th floor.  Follow the sign saying public inspection to enter the lobby.

PLAIN Meeting: June 2012
Time: 2-3:30 pm

This month Dees Stallings' presentation focuses on the potential for three "enablers" of plain writing standards:  writing centers, style guides, and productivity measurements.

Learn how 21st-century writing centers and style guides - especially virtual ones - will allow unprecedented document quality control. Also consider how productivity measurements, including assessment methods and ROI calculators can foster a culture of continual improvement. These topics should be useful for all attendees, including managers, editors, consultants, and writers. Participants will be able to test the concepts with colleagues. Handouts provided.

Directions:

Location: USCIS, 20 Massachusetts Ave, NW, Washington DC.  20 Massachusetts Ave is one block west of Union Station. Take the main Mass Ave exit and walk right towards the U.S. Postal Museum. 20 Mass Ave is adjacent the Sun Trust bank at the corner of North Capitol Street.

Security: Your name will be on a security list. Bring a government-issued ID (if you have a federal gov't badge, please bring that). You'll need to go through security screening and then a PLAIN member will escort you to the room. 

PLAIN Meeting: May 2012
Time: 2-3:30 pm

Peg Hausman, writer-editor at the U.S. International Trade Commission, will speak about grammatical urban legends. Some of these bugbears are fairly harmless, while (or is it "whereas"?) others can get in the way of plain writing. Bring examples of these pesky phenomena from your own workplace—and any tips you have for dealing with them.

Peg has been editing and teaching (writing, French, English grammar, and more) for over ("more than"?) 35 years. See you there!

Directions:

The Federal Register Office is located three blocks north of the Union Station Metro at: 800 North Capitol Street, NW Suite 700, Washington DC 20001.  Go through security in the lobby; you must have a government-issued photo id. The Federal Register is located on the 7th floor.  Follow the sign saying public inspection to enter the lobby.

PLAIN Meeting: April 2012
Time: 2-3:30 pm

Speakers -- 
-- Linda Joy, NOAA public affairs officer -- "Why science needs plain language"
-- Michael French Smith, anthropologist, author -- "Why scientists need plain language"

Special tour: at 1:30, the new NOAA Gateway exhibit will be open for the Plain group -- this is located by the Silver Spring Metro exit leading onto the NOAA campus in 1325 East West Highway -- this small, but informative exhibit is a great way to quickly get a sense of the scope of the science and services NOAA provides every day.


Directions:

NOAA

1311-B East West Highway (follow the signs -- next to the building with the Hand statue - 1315 East West Highway)


Please note: Metro if you can (Silver Spring Metro, exit via the south side entrance OPPOSITE the construction)- a short walk between Buildings 1-2 (NOAA Gateway will be on your left) meeting room is on East West Highway - there will be signs posted and a map at the Gateway.)
Parking is practically non-existent at NOAA -- those parking in the Giant lot across the street WILL BE TOWED.

Security: Your name will be on a security list. Bring a government-issued ID (if you have a Federal Government PIV badge, please bring that). You'll need to go through security screening.  Please arrive no later than 1:50 to clear security.

PLAIN Meeting: March 2012
Time: 2-3:30 pm

Join Nicole Burton of GSA's First Fridays usability testing for a discussion of what usability testing is, what First Fridays tests, what problems usability testing reveals, and how First Fridays can help the plain language effort.


Directions:

Time: 2-3:30 pm
Location: NOMA, Room 901, Constitution Square
Directions: 1275 First St, NE. 

 Nearest metro: New York Avenue/Florida Avenue/Gallaudet University

Security: Your name will be on a security list. Bring a government-issued ID (if you have a Federal Government PIV badge, please bring that). You'll need to go through security screening.  Please arrive no later than 1:50 to clear security.

PLAIN Meeting: February 2012
Time: 2-3:30 pm

Yikes - our compliance plan is due!

Join us in February to get a head start on writing your agency's compliance plan. According to the Plain Writing Act, the head of each agency must publish on the plain writing section of the agency’s website a report on agency compliance with the requirements of this Act.

 

Come prepared to discuss 

 

  • how you're measuring compliance, 
  • what's working, 
  • what's not, and 
  • how you're going to put this report together.


Directions:

Time: 2-3:30 pm
Location: NOMA, Room 1101, Constitution Square
Directions: 1275 First St, NE. 

 Nearest metro: New York Avenue/Florida Avenue/Gallaudet University

Security: Your name will be on a security list. Bring a government-issued ID (if you have a Federal Government PIV badge, please bring that). You'll need to go through security screening.  Please arrive no later than 1:50 to clear security.

PLAIN Meeting: January 2012
Time: 2-3:30 pm

Come join us for an exchange of information and ideas on editing and a discussion of editing problems and solutions. No edit question is too small or “dumb.”

For those who can't attend, we will provide call-in information the day of the meeting. 

Directions:

Time: 2-3:30 pm
Location: VA Office of Inspector General, 801 I Street, NW, TechWorld Building, Room 1105
Directions: We are located two blocks from the Gallery Place/Chinatown Metro station—exit at the big “fan” art and come out beneath the Chinatown Gate. Walk one block up 7th Street (you’ll pass Fadó Irish Pub on your left and Nando’s Peri Peri on your right), turn left at I Street, and walk one block to TechWorld. The VA OIG offices are in the left-side building of TechWorld.

Security: Your name will be on a security list. Bring a government-issued ID (if you have a Federal Government PIV badge, please bring that). You'll need to go through security screening.  Please arrive no later than 1:50 to clear security.

PLAIN Meeting: December 2011
Time: 2-3:30 pm

Come join us for a preview of our redesigned website (www.plainlanguage.gov).  We'll also discuss agency style guides and other efforts to implement the Plain Writing Act. 

For those who can't attend, we will provide call-in information the day of the meeting. 

Directions:

Time: 2-3:30 pm
Location: Office of the Federal Register, 800 N Capitol Street, NW, Suite 700
Directions: We are located three blocks north of the Union Station Metro, on the northwest corner of H street and N. Capitol Street.  The Federal Register is located on the 7th floor.  Follow the sign saying public inspection to enter our lobby.

Security: Your name will be on a security list. Bring a government-issued ID (if you have a federal gov't badge, please bring that). You'll need to go through security screening.  Please arrive no later than 1:50 to clear security.

PLAIN Meeting: November 2011
Time: 2-3:30 pm

Tom Elliott, a Training Program Manager from the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), will be the speaker at the November PLAIN meeting.  In recent years, FHWA has identified writing training as a key priority for engineering and technical staff and developed a new training course, Writing Effective Performance Reviews, which is now being delivered to all FHWA staff nationwide.  The course covers such material as writing for your audience, minimizing the use of jargon, and how to write to move readers to action. Tom will give an overview of how the course was developed and how it is improving technical writing at FHWA.

We will be meeting at the U.S. Department of Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE so everyone (including federal employees) needs to register.  You must RSVP by COB Tuesday, November 8 and you must be at DOT no later than 1:45 pm to get into the meeting room.

There’s a coffee/soda/snack kiosk right outside the conference center, if you want to arrive early enough before the meeting to grab a snack.

For those who can't attend, we will provide call-in information the day of the meeting. 

Directions:

Time: 2-3:30 pm
Location: U.S. Department of Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
Directions:
Green Line metro, Navy Yard stop.  There are signs in the Metro directing you to DOT (take the exit opposite the one to the Nationals Ballpark).  Once you come off the Metro escalator to the street, you will see DOT across the street.  DOT is at the corner of New Jersey Ave. and M Street, SE.  Come in the main entrance which is easy to spot, it has a big sign, columns, and a rotunda.
Security: Your name will be on a security list. Bring a government-issued ID (if you have a federal gov't badge, please bring that). You'll need to go through security screening and then a PLAIN member will escort you to the room (even federal ID holders will need an escort).

PLAIN Meeting: October 2011
Time: 2-3:30 pm

Join us for a discussion on best practices to promote plain language inside your agency. Katherine Spivey, the General Services Administration's Plain Language Launcher, will discuss how GSA is marketing plain language throughout the agency including good ideas, dud ideas, challenges and best practices.

We will be meeting at the Department of Energy at 1000 Independence Ave., SW so everyone (including federal employees) needs to register.  You must RSVP by COB Tuesday, October 11 and you must be at DOE no later than 1:50 pm to get into the meeting room. For those who can't attend, we will provide call-in information the day of the meeting. 

Directions:

Time: 2-3:30 pm
Location: U.S. Department of Energy 1000 Independence Ave., SW
Directions: From Smithsonian metro (Independence Ave exit) Walk east on Independence Ave until you reach L'Enfant Promenade, then turn right. Or from L'Enfant metro, head down C St (behind FAA), take a right on 9th street and a left on Independence and a left on L'Enfant Promenade. 
Security: Your name will be on a security list. Bring a government-issued ID (if you have a federal gov't badge, please bring that). You'll need to go through security screening and then a PLAIN member will escort you to the room (federal ID holders may or may not need an escort).  

PLAIN Meeting: September 2011

Claudette Chagnon and Cindy Bowers from Information Mapping will be our presenters this month.  Join us to find out:

  • What is Information Mapping?
  • Background and history about Information Mapping U.S.
  • How the Information Mapping Method works
    • Six Basic Principles
    • Six Information Types
    • New Units of Information
  • IM Vision for Plain Language

We will be meeting at the General Services Administration (GSA) at 1275 First Street, NE so everyone (including federal employees) needs to be registered.  You must RSVP by COB Tuesday, September 13 and you must be at GSA no later than 1:50 pm to get into the meeting room. For those who can't attend, we will provide call-in information the day of the meeting. 

Directions:

Time: 2-3:30 pm
Location: GSA, Room 1101, 1275 First Street, NE, Washington DC.  Directions are located at http://www.usa.gov/webcontent/wmu/directions/gsa-constitution-square.shtml. 
Security: Your name will be on a security list. Bring a government-issued ID (if you have a federal gov't badge, please bring that). You'll need to go through security screening and then a PLAIN member will escort you to the room (federal ID holders may or may not need an escort).  
Information Mapping Presentation

PLAIN Meeting: August 2011

We will be having an August meeting this year (on Thursday, not our regular Wednesday spot)

Join PLAIN and OMB for a discussion on the implementation of the Plain Writing Act. Come prepared to discuss what your agency is doing to prepare for the Oct 13 deadline.

We will be meeting at U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) at 20 Massachusetts Ave, NW so everyone (including federal employees) needs to be escorted in.  You must RSVP by COB Wednesday, August 10 and you must be at USCIS no later than 1:50 pm to get into the meeting room. For those who can't attend, we will provide call-in information the day of the meeting. 

Directions:

Time: 2-3:30 pm
Location: USCIS, 20 Massachusetts Ave, NW, Washington DC.  20 Massachusetts Ave is one block west of Union Station. Take the main Mass Ave exit and walk right towards the U.S. Postal Museum. 20 Mass Ave is adjacent the Sun Trust bank at the corner of North Capitol Street.
Security: Your name will be on a security list. Bring a government-issued ID (if you have a federal gov't badge, please bring that). You'll need to go through security screening and then a PLAIN member will escort you to the room.  

PLAIN Meeting: July 2011

Hank Wallace will discuss:

Write Like the News: 8 Journalism Skills to Transform Your Business Writing

Here's the discussion booklet -- get a head start on the 8 skills: Write Like the NewsAdobe Acrobat Reader icon

Hank is a graduate of Columbia Law School, and he wrote the FCC's plain-language newsletter -- including the commission's plain-language description of how cell phones work.

Directions:

Time: 2-3:30
Location: GSA, One Constitution Square, 1275 First St NE Washington, DC 20417 
www.usa.gov/webcontent/wmu/directions/gsa-constitution-square.shtml 
Room: 1101 
Security: Your name will be on a security list. Please use the visitor's entrance located to the left of the revolving door. Bring a government-issued ID (if you have a federal gov't badge, please bring that). You'll need to go through general security and metal detector (non-GSA employees) 
Write Like the News external link icon

PLAIN Meeting: June 2011

Mark Starford is the founding director and key consultant of The SCILS Group, a national nonprofit consulting firm dedicated to full and inclusive community participation of children with developmental disabilities and their families. He’ll be talking about his work on Feeling Safe, Being Safe.   Many are unprepared to respond to emergency situations and natural disasters. The Board Resource Center with a California consumer group answered the call by developing Feeling Safe, Being Safe, an effective, easy-to-use webcast training and tools that employ a simple learning strategy, Think–Plan–Do. FSBS serves two objectives: enhancing personal emergency preparedness and creating opportunities for persons with function as access needs to be viewed as community contributors who are prepared themselves and can assist others with their preparations.

Directions:

Time: 2-3:30
Location:
 GSA, One Constitution Square, 1275 First St NE Washington, DC 20417 
www.usa.gov/webcontent/wmu/directions/gsa-constitution-square.shtml 
Room: 1101 
Security: Your name will be on a security list. Please use the visitor's entrance located to the left of the revolving door. Bring a government-issued ID (if you have a federal gov't badge, please bring that). You'll need to go through general security and metal detector (non-GSA employees) 

PLAIN Meeting: May 2011

Training Your Staff: Best Practices on Implementing a Plain Language Program

Join the discussion 2 - 3:30 pm on May 11 when Dr. Bruce Corsino (FAA), Melodee Mercer (VA) and Kathryn Catania (USCIS) share best practices on organizing and running a successful plain language program.

Directions:

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), 111 Massachusetts Ave, NW. USCIS is two blocks down from Union Station. Walk west down Massachusetts Ave (towards Chinatown) until you come to the intersection with New Jersey Ave.  111 Massachusetts is the black, glass building at the corner. You will need government ID or your drivers license to enter the building.  You must RSVP in advance so that we can give the guard desk a list of attendees.  While clearing security, let the guards know you are there for the PLAIN meeting. A USCIS employee will be there to greet and escort you to the meeting room.

 

FAA Program Overview Bruce Corsino's powerpoint presentation
USCIS Plain Language Program Kathryn Catania's powerpoint presentation
VA Plain Language Program Melodee Mercer's powerpoint presentation

PLAIN Meeting: April 2011

April's monthly meeting has been cancelled.  We will reschedule Hank Wallace later this year.

Directions:



PLAIN Meeting: March 2011

Jodi Patterson, from the IRS will discuss the testing process of benefits from rewriting IRS form letters into plain language.

Directions:

The Federal Register Office is located three blocks north of the Union Station Metro at: 800 North Capitol Street, NW Suite 700, Washington DC 20001.  Go through security in the lobby, you must have a government issued photo id. The Federal Register is located on the 7th floor.  Follow the sign saying public inspection to enter the lobby.

IRS Presentation (powerpoint) Our thanks to Jodi for her presentation

PLAIN Meeting: February 2011

Join us from 2 to 3:30 at the Office of the Federal Register.  Solveig Brownfeld will talk about:

Teaching Plain Language to People who Must Interpret Events for Others

How to use verbs, nouns, patterns, tense, and bottom line up front to convey to your reader  what happened, who made it happen, why it is significant, and where it occurred on the timeline.

Directions:

The Federal Register Office is located three blocks north of the Union Station Metro at: 800 North Capitol Street, NW Suite 700, Washington DC 20001.  Go through security in the lobby, you must have a government issued photo id. The Federal Register is located on the 7th floor.  Follow the sign saying public inspection to enter the lobby.


PLAIN Meeting: January 2011

Join us and Nick Fraser from OMB, from 2 to 3:30, for a discussion of the Plain Writing Act of 2010, OMB's preliminary Guidance for the Act, and upcoming guidance.  The meeting will be held at the Office of the Federal Register from 2 to 3:30 on January 12, 2011. 

Be sure to bring your questions.  Please RSVP using the More Information link.  If more people than usual attend we'll have to find a larger room to hold the meeting.

Directions:

The Federal Register Office is located three blocks north of the Union Station Metro at: 800 North Capitol Street, NW Suite 700, Washington DC 20001.  Go through security in the lobby, you must have a government issued photo id. The Federal Register is located on the 7th floor.  Follow the sign saying public inspection to enter the lobby.


PLAIN Meeting: December 2010

Come share some cheer at PLAIN's annual holiday party! 
 
Why: Its the holiday season and the perfect time to reflect on another year of promoting clear communication and network with folks in other agencies.
 
What:  Bring some tasty treats for the group (cookies, fruit, vegetables, juice, etc) and be prepared to share some plain language success stories.  We'll also be showing several short plain language videos.

We will be meeting at the Office of the Federal Register.

Directions:

The Federal Register Office is located three blocks north of the Union Station Metro at: 800 North Capitol Street, NW Suite 700, Washington DC 20001.  Go through security in the lobby, you must have a government issued photo id. The Federal Register is located on the 7th floor.  Follow the sign saying public inspection to enter the lobby.


PLAIN Meeting: November 2010

Join us on November 17, from 2  to 3:30, to celebrate the passage of the Plain Writing Act of 2010.  

At the meeting we will discuss: 
  • PLAIN’s role in implementing the Act 
  • Revising PLAIN’s Federal Plain Language Guidelines (bring your ideas)
  • 2011 expectations for PLAIN and federal agencies
  • Volunteer opportunities     
We will be meeting at the Office of the Federal Register.

Directions:

The Federal Register Office is located three blocks north of the Union Station Metro at: 800 North Capitol Street, NW Suite 700, Washington DC 20001.  Go through security in the lobby, you must have a government issued photo id. The Federal Register is located on the 7th floor.  Follow the sign saying public inspection to enter the lobby.


PLAIN Meeting: October 2010

Join us from 2 pm to 3:30 pm for a historical look at plain language.  Stephen Bess will present The History of Plain Language: Traveling interstate 85.  Stephen will look at references to plain language in early 20th Century America.  Stephen is a writer and plain language consultant for R3i Solutions in Fairfax, VA. 

Directions:

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), 20 Massachusetts Ave, NW. USCIS is two blocks down from Union Station. Walk west down Massachusetts Ave until you come to the instersection with North Capitol St.  Cross the street towards the Sun Trust bank.  20 Massachusetts is the building next to the bank. You will need government ID or your drivers license to enter the building.  Please RSVP in advance so that we can give the guard desk a list of attendees.  While clearing security, let the guards know you are there for the PLAIN meeting. A USCIS employee will be there to greet and escort you to the meeting room.


PLAIN Meeting: September 2010


Join us from 2 pm to 3:30 pm for a discussion on plain language standards.  As you may know, an International Plain Language Working Group has been working on ways to strengthen the institutional structure for plain language.  Annetta
Cheek and Susan Kleimann will be discussing their work with the Group on
on a plain language definition and plain language standards  for an options paper.

Directions:

The Federal Register Office is located three blocks north of the Union Station Metro at: 800 North Capitol Street, NW Suite 700, Washington DC 20001.  Go through security in the lobby, you must have a government issued photo id. The Federal Register is located on the 7th floor.  Follow the sign saying public inspection to enter the lobby..


PLAIN Meeting: July 2010

Join us from 2 pm to 3:30 pm to hear about healthfinder.gov. 

healthfinder.gov's Quick Guide to Healthy Living recently won the Clear

Mark award for best plain language on a public Web site. Sandy Hilfiker

from the HHS Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion will

discuss the style guide for the Quick Guide and how it is maintained as

a living document through a wiki.

Directions:

The Federal Register Office is located three blocks north of the Union Station Metro at: 800 North Capitol Street, NW Suite 700, Washington DC 20001.  Go through security in the lobby, you must have a government issued photo id. The Federal Register is located on the 7th floor.  Follow the sign saying public inspection to enter the lobby..


PLAIN Meeting: June 2010

"The anatomy of a plain language battle: A tactical review"

On June 9th from 2 to 3:30, Bruce Corsino will talk about his attempt to

get a government office to correctly use words of obligation.

He'll discuss his short list of successes and long list

of failures.

He'll talk about the lingering challenges that exist as

the plain language community tries to institutionalize

a proper use of the words "must" and "shall."

.

Directions:

The Federal Register Office is located three blocks north of the Union Station Metro at: 800 North Capitol Street, NW Suite 700, Washington DC 20001.  Go through security in the lobby, you must have a government issued photo id. The Federal Register is located on the 7th floor.  Follow the sign saying public inspection to enter the lobby..


PLAIN Meeting: May 2010

Please join us, from 2 to 3:30 on May 12, in welcoming our presenter Evelyn Fella as she joins us via the telephone from California. Ms. Fella is an independent contractor for English as a Second Language materials and has worked for major educational publishers. She was the lead content writer for USALearns.org. In 2008 the U.S. Education Department funded the development of this popular site to teach English to immigrants. She will discuss that project as well as her current work on preparing students for the citizenship test, and will offer insights into the special needs of non-native English speakers.

Directions:

U.S. Citzenship and Immigration Services is located three blocks west of the Union Station Metro at: 111 Massachusetts Ave, NW, Washington DC 20001.  Attendees will need to check in with security in the lobby and must have a government issued photo id or state driver's license. A PLAIN member will meet attendees in the hall and escort them to the conference room.


PLAIN Meeting: April 2010

Please join us, from 2 to 3:30 on April 7, in welcoming Anne-Marie Hasselrot, Deputy Director, Ministry of Justice, the Kingdom of Sweden. Ms. Hasselrot will be discussing the Swedish approach to clear legislation  lawyers and plain language experts work as a team. She'll also talk about some of the most common plain language problems.  In addition, she'll discuss problems with legal writing in the European Union. Here is a link to Sweden's plain language page.  http://www.sweden.gov.se/sb/d/4409

 

. 

Directions:

The Federal Register Office is located three blocks north of the Union Station Metro at: 800 North Capitol Street, NW Suite 700, Washington DC 20001.  Go through security in the lobby, you must have a government issued photo id. The Federal Register is located on the 7th floor.  Follow the sign saying public inspection to enter the lobby.


PLAIN Meeting: March 2010

Join us in March for a workshop on training best practices.  Bring your favorite training tips to share with the group.  We'll be able to show your Word documents, PowerPoint presentations, and video (as time permits).  The March meeting will also feature a special screening of Invasion of the Space Lobsters! Make sure you don't miss it. 

Directions:

Directions:
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), 111 Massachusetts Ave, NW., Room 3004, 3rd Floor.
USCIS is three blocks down from Union Station. Walk down Massachusetts Ave until you come to the intersection with New Jersey Ave.  111 Massachusetts in the large black glass building on the corner.  You will need government ID or your drivers license to enter the building.  Please RSVP in advance so that we can give the guard desk a list of attendees.  While clearing security, let the guards know you are there for the PLAIN meeting. A USCIS employee will be there to greet and escort you to the 3rd floor meeting room.


PLAIN Meeting: February 2010

Our February  meeting is canceled because of the weather.  Please check back for information on our March meeting.

Directions:

 


PLAIN Meeting: January 2010

Please join us for our first meeting of 2010 on Thursday, January 14 from 2 to 3:30 pm.  Hank Wallace will show us how to "Write & Speak Like the News."
 
Hank, a graduate of Columbia Law School,  wrote the FCC's plain-language newsletter -- including the commission's plain-language description of how cell phones work.
 
Hank will focus on the first of his "9 journalism skills to transform your business communication": "Lead with the future" (rather than with background). For example, an Associated Press headline from last May 8, "Statue of Liberty Crown to Reopen July 4," instantly tells us what we need to know. Your plain-language "lead-ership" will protect your agency from leading with something like "Announcement / Status of Statue of Liberty / The crown of the Statue of Liberty has been closed since Sept. 11 . . .."

Directions:

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), 111 Massachusetts Ave, NW., Room 3004, 3rd Floor.

USCIS is three blocks down from Union Station. Walk down Massachusetts Ave until you come to the instersection with New Jersey Ave.  111 Massachusetts in the large black glass building on the corner.  You will need government ID or your drivers license to enter the building.  Please RSVP in advance so that we can give the guard desk a list of attendees.  While clearing security, let the guards know you are there for the PLAIN meeting. A USCIS employee will be there to greet and escort you to the 3rd floor meeting room.


 
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