Join the County and District Clerks' Association of Texas at the Sixth Annual CDCAT Conference on Sept. 11-13 at the Texas A&M Hotel & Conference Center.
This year's conference theme is "Mission Possible – Going From Surviving to Thriving." You will not want to miss the conference keynote speaker and author, Michael Hingson. A survivor of the 9/11 tragedy, Hingson says we can all learn to live better lives when we focus and don't panic even in the most horrific circumstances imaginable.
Other conference sessions and speakers will offer comprehensive information on popular topics, upcoming changes that affect you directly and areas of high interest in the clerk profession.
County clerks, district clerks and combination clerks can earn continuing education credits to help fulfill their annual requirements.
An important part of this meeting is the opportunity to network with your fellow clerks and exchange ideas that are helpful to you and your county.
Don’t miss this opportunity to learn from great speakers and enjoy this new venue in the heart of Aggieland!
Registration Fees
Full conference registration includes all education sessions, meals and breaks.
DESCRIPTION |
Early Registration
by Aug. 18 |
Registration
After Aug. 18 |
Clerk/Deputy Registration |
$200 |
$225 |
Retired Clerk Package |
$100 |
|
Corporate Attendee |
$500 |
|
On-Site Registration |
$225 |
|
One-Day Registration |
$90 |
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HOST HOTEL
The host hotel is the Texas A&M Hotel & Conference Center. You must register for the conference to obtain hotel reservation information.
Texas A&M Hotel & Conference Center
177 Joe Routt Blvd.
College Station, TX 77840
Room rate: $98 per night plus tax (prevailing per diem rate)
Registration and all meetings will take place at this hotel. If you have a reservation at the host hotel and need to cancel it, please contact Sam Burke at (800) 456‑5974.
Parking at Host Hotel
Garage self-parking: $8 per vehicle, per day (in Cain Garage – covered garage)
Valet parking: $24 per car, per evening for overnight guests and $13 per car, per eight-hour period for day meeting guests
Continuing Education
Application will be made for continuing education credit for county, district and combination clerks. Please check back here for approval updates.
Vendor Information
Please contact Jimi Coplen, events director with County Progress, for questions about exhibitor or sponsorship opportunities, at (325) 673‑4822, ext. 2125.
You can also visit the County Progress CDCAT conference page for exhibitor registration details.
Payment Information
Please make checks payable to the Texas Association of Counties.
Mail checks to:
CDCAT Annual Fall Conference
c/o Texas Association of Counties
P.O. Box 2711
San Antonio, TX 78299
The host hotel is the Texas A&M Hotel & Conference Center. You must register for the conference to obtain hotel reservation information.
Texas A&M Hotel & Conference Center Center (HOTEL FULL)
177 Joe Routt Blvd.
College Station, TX 77840
Room rate: $96 per night plus tax (prevailing per diem rate)
Check-in time: 4 p.m.
Checkout time: 11 a.m.
Host Hotel Room Cancellations
If you need to cancel a room reservation, please do not cancel directly with the hotel. Contact Sam Burke at (800) 456‑5974 to cancel your host hotel room reservation. This will help move fellow attendees off the waitlist. We kindly request that you not post your reservation on the CDCAT listserv because this hinders waitlist management.
Parking at Host Hotel
Garage self-parking: $8 per vehicle, per day (in Cain Garage – covered garage)
Valet parking: $24 per car, per evening for overnight guests and $13 per car, per eight-hour period for day meeting guests
Overflow Hotels
Embassy Suites by Hilton College Station (Does Not Accept Checks) (ROOM BLOCK FULL)
(2.2 miles from host hotel)
*No Checks or Cash accepted, Credit Card Only
201 University Dr. East
College Station, TX 77840
Reservations: (979) 260‑6000
Rate: $139 per night (includes hot breakfast)
Booking Code: CD5
Hyatt Place (2.7 miles from host hotel)
1100 University Dr East
College Station, TX 77840
Reservations: (979) 846-9800
Room rate: $119 per night plus tax (Includes hot breakfast)
Book through the link or call and let them know you are with the County and District Clerks' Association to secure the special rate.
Hampton Inn (1.8 miles from host hotel)
320 Texas Ave South
College Station, TX 77840
Reservations: (979) 846-0184
Room rate: $94 per night plus tax (Includes hot breakfast)
Call and let them know you are with the County and District Clerks' Association to secure the special rate.
If you need special accommodations, please contact Luz Hinojosa at (800) 456‑5974.
Monday, Sept. 11 |
Noon-5 p.m. |
Registration and Information Desk open |
Noon-5 p.m. |
Exhibit Hall Opens |
Noon-5 p.m. |
Store Opens |
1-1:30 p.m. |
Welcome and Announcements - Hon. Julie Smith, Potter County Clerk
Welcome from Brazos County - Hon. Duane Peters, Brazos County Judge
Invocation - Hon. Chuck Konderla, Brazos County Commissioner, Pct. 2
Presentation of Colors - Brazos County Sheriff's Office Honor Guard
National Anthem - Mr. Johnny Saculla
Pledge of Allegiance and Texas Pledge - Hon. Chuck Konderla, Brazos County Commissioner, Pct. 2
|
1:30-3 p.m. |
Turning the Tails on Terror in Our Uncertain and Scary World
Mr. Michael Hingson, New York Times Best-Selling Author and 9/11 Survivor
As a survivor of the 9/11 tragedy, as well as a person who happens to be blind, Michael Hingson has captivated audiences worldwide with his unique perspective on life and relationships. He will provide guidance on exploring how we may sabotage our own efforts, and how fear, courage, denial, trust, beliefs and philosophies have a tremendous impact on our personal lives, on our organizations and our world.
|
3-3:30 p.m. |
Break with Vendors
Sponsored by Certified Payments by Deluxe |
3:30-5 p.m. |
Moving From Diversity to Inclusion: Accessibility and Inclusion For All
Mr. Michael Hingson, New York Times Best-Selling Author and 9/11 Survivor
In this second session, Michael Hingson, a subject matter expert on inclusion and assistive technology for persons who happen to be blind, shows us that diversity is not enough. He illustrates why it is time to move from diversity to real Inclusion on the job and in our lives. Take aways from this session include ideas about how to gain loyal and hard-working employees as well as how to help make the existing workforce more welcoming to those who are different from them.
|
5 p.m. |
Adjourn for day |
Tuesday, Sept. 12 |
8 a.m.-5 p.m. |
Registration and Information Desk open |
8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. |
Exhibit Hall Opens |
9-10 a.m. |
Your Move: Effectively Responding to Inmate Correspondence
Mr. Demetri Anastasiadis, Assistant Criminal District Attorney, Wichita County
Inmates use documents as tools to challenge their judgment and sentence and conditions of confinement. Government officials have an interest in competently processing inmate documents relevant to such disputes. Accordingly, it is important that district and county clerks process inmate communications with diligence and in a manner that instills confidence that clerks are knowledgeable in their duties and administer such duties effectively for everyone including those who are incarcerated.
|
10-10:30 a.m. |
Break in Exhibit Hall
Sponsored by Gov-Pay and Southwest Filing & Storage |
10:30-11:30 a.m. |
HR Session: Ways to Hire the Right People and Keep Them During Tough Times
Dr. Shellie McNabb, Owner, McNabb Enterprises
This session comes with a specific goal of assessing workplace needs, environments, cultures and stakeholders. Hiring good team members is a collaborative effort with long-term goals in mind. It should be the mission of the organization to acquire the right people and guide those team members through all seasons of life, professional and those the world imposes. The objective of this session is to suggest real-world tools that the organization can implement, creating the necessary environment in great teams doing great work!
|
11:30-1 p.m. |
Lunch |
1-2 p.m. |
All Things Service of Citations
Hon. Michael A. Truitt, Denton County Constable, Pct. 2
This class is an overview of what happens with civil process once it is received by a sheriff's office, constable's office or a private process server. This class will discuss the process of receiving civil process, the different ways that civil process may be delivered to a defendant, and how the returns should be filled out and returned to the court.
|
2-3 p.m. |
All Weird Writs
Ms. Jennifer Balido, Assistant District Attorney, Chief, Appelate Division, Dallas County District Attorney's Office
Did you ever get a filing and think, "What in the world is this?" or "What is that lawyer/criminal defendant/civil litigant trying to pull now?" Welcome to the world of All Weird Writs. Dallas County DA's Office Appellate Division Chief Jennifer Balido will try to make sense of the use of these archaic legal vehicles in the modern legal world.
|
3-3:30 p.m. |
Break in Exhibit Hall
Sponsored by Scott Merriman |
3:30-5 p.m. |
Transfers and Senate Bill 41 Cleaned Up
Hon. Sharena Gilliland, Parker County District Clerk
This session will provide updates on implementing House Bill 3474 and Senate Bill 1612, specifically as they relate to transfers and fees.
|
6-9 p.m. |
A Night at the Museum: Reception at the George H.W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum
Sponsored by Kofile Technologies
Access the Presidential Library and enjoy the current displays: "A Century of Aggie Football" and "Honor, Courage, Commitment: Marine Corps Art."
Transportation provided to and from host hotel. First bus leaves at 5:45 p.m.
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Wednesday, Sept. 13 |
8 a.m.-noon |
Registration and Information Desk open |
|
8 a.m. |
Breakfast |
|
9 a.m.-noon |
Education Session Breakouts |
|
|
District Clerk Breakout Sessions
Room:
Moderator: Hon. Laura Hinojosa, Hidalgo County District Clerk |
County Clerk Breakout Sessions
Room:
Moderator: Hon. Brenda McKanna, Moore County Clerk |
9-10:30 a.m. |
9-10 a.m. House Bill 616: Petit and Grand Jury Training
Hon. Sharena Gilliland, Parker County District Clerk
In compliance with House Bill 616, instruction and information in impaneling petit and grand juries, including changes from House Bill 3474.
10-10:30 a.m. District Clerk Roundtable
Hon. Bobbye Christopher, Polk County District Clerk
Hon. Sharena Gilliland, Parker County District Clerk
Hon. Edith Wagner-Harrison, Lampasas County District Clerk
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Dropoff Wills and Wills for Safe Keeping
Hon. Karren Winter, Archer County Clerk
Clerks' responsibilities for the safekeeping of wills. What happens when someone wants the clerk to keep safe a will? What happens when an attorney decides to retire and drops off all the wills she has been safekeeping? Join this presentation to learn the answers to these questions.
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10:30 a.m.-noon |
Texas Rule of Civil Procedure 145 Payment of Costs Not Required - Inability to Pay Court Costs
Mr. Pablo Javier Almaguer, Attorney, Texas RioGrande Legal Aid (TRLA)
Hon. Laura Hinojosa, Hidalgo County District Clerk
Hon. Velva L. Price, Tavis County District Clerk
Ms. Mary Christine Reed, Director, TRLA
Texas Rule of Civil Procedure 145 Payment of Costs Not Required provides low-income Texans access to the courthouse. The Texas Supreme Court updated the Rule and the Statement of Inability to Afford Payment of Court Costs form in 2021. Legal aid attorneys will provide an overview of the Rule, explain what costs are covered and proper procedures for contesting the Statement, highlight recent developments including the Public Information website and Interpreter coverage, and address the common concerns and questions of clerks. They will be followed by district clerks, who will provide their perspectives on the practical aspects of Rule 145.
|
County Clerk Roundtable
Hon. Mary Louise Nicholson, Tarrant County Clerk
Hon. Cathy Jentho, Eastland County Clerk
Hon. JoAnna Blanco, Castro County Combination Clerk |
Noon |
Adjourn conference |
|
Application will be made for continuing education credit for county, district and combination clerks. Please check back here for approval updates.
Continuing Education Type |
Hours |
County, District and Combination Clerks |
13.5 |
Conference registration is transferable to another person within your organization without an additional charge. Cancellation refund requests received in writing (email and fax acceptable) by Friday, Aug. 18, will be granted, minus a $10 administration fee. We are unable to honor refund requests received after Aug. 18.
Please contact Sam Burke for cancellations at samb@county.org or by fax at (512) 477‑1324.
Please contact Jimi Coplen, events director with County Progress, for questions about exhibitor or sponsorship opportunities, at (325) 673‑4822, ext. 2125.
You can also visit the County Progress CDCAT conference page for exhibitor registration details.