did -- they really did a tremendous job of making this meeting possible to help organize a regional meeng. in your packets, all of you have the agenda. at the division of research statistics -- she is going to be going next and she will provide the national economic outlook. one panel is focusing on small finance issues, and the second on non-profits, and research and data. the final panel is going to focus on the net step. all of these discussions will accomplish a couple of goals. the first is to share with you and discuss with you, what we shared at the regional meeting, and to look to the next up, that all of us can take, to make certain that we will be able to address this important issue. and this will go to the next speaker. robin will provide perspective on what this information's says, and the outcome of the findings that we have made at the regional meetings. i would like to thank her and her staff for the job that th have done in helping us to plan this meeting, and also give us the inside into the divisional meeting. please join me in welcoming her. >> thank you, joseph. i wou

i like to thank our hts for the annual meeng. as i have noted, it is no easy task to host a meeting of this magnitude, and i want to thank on behalf of all our colleagues, governor patrick and his wife, diane, his great staff of the massachusetts coast committee in hosting the nation's governor and his associate -- in this historic city is a great privilege for all of us. please come out. [applause] >> thank you, jim, and it gives me great pleasure and honor to welcome all my colleagues, fellow governors and spouses and families and staff, all of our guests, members of the diplomatic corps, guests from around the country and the world to this summer's nga meeting in boston. we have done a lot of good work with you and the staff to prepare for you and make sure that the program under jim and joe's leadership is rich and substantive. and that the time outside our meeting time is fun. there is a lot to like about boston and the commonwealth, and we invite you to take advantage with it consistent with your responsibilities inside dur