Who is a member?
Our members are the local governments of Massachusetts and their elected and appointed leadership.
Trevor Work, a sixth grader at Nathaniel Wixon Middle School in the Dennis-Yarmouth Regional School District, told more than 350 local officials about his town’s access to renewal energy during the MMA Annual Meeting on Jan. 21 in Boston.
“I would like to see the town of Dennis become a rising star in Massachusetts with regard to renewable energy,” he said, showing remarkable poise as he read from his winning essay in the MMA’s fifth annual sixth grade student essay contest. “It would help our community grow in so many ways.”
Beverly Mayor William Scanlon, in one of his final duties as the president of the MMA, presented Work with a certificate of achievement and a $500 savings bond. Work and his family also won a complimentary overnight stay from the Sheraton Boston Hotel.
Work’s essay was chosen from nearly 2,200 entries in the statewide contest, which had 97 participating communities. The student essays covered a range of local issues, including healthy living, improved recreational services, civic engagement, wildlife protection, enhanced public safety, and electronic communications.
Beverly Councillor Pat Grimes, one of four essay contest judges, said, “It was a great pleasure to read such informed and articulate essays. The students showed knowledge, creativity, and an overall excitement about local government and public service. Our future looks bright with young people such as these.”
The contest was also judged by Halifax Selectman Kim Roy, Wayland Town Administrator Fred Turkington, and Westborough Assistant Town Manager Kristi Williams.
“The students suggested some innovative strategies to improve their city or town and recognized the importance of balancing the wishes of all citizens,” said Turkington. “It was gratifying to see students so articulately expressing the passion for the improvement they wished to bring to their communities.”
Judging criteria were creativity, clarity, proper use of grammar, and an understanding of local government. All of the student essays began with the line: “If I were elected leader of my community I would make a difference by …”
Second place in the contest went to Norfolk’s Michael Sullivan, a student at the Freeman-Centennial Elementary School. Sullivan will receive a $250 savings bond.
The third-place finisher, Noah Shepardson from the Herberg Middle School in Pittsfield, will receive a $150 savings bond.
Sullivan and Shepardson will receive their awards in ceremonies in their respective town or city hall.
All 2,200 students received a small participation gift, and every participating teacher was entered into a drawing for a special gift.
The teacher of the contest’s first-place winner will be awarded a set of books for their classroom from Boston-based textbook publisher Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
The essay contest is made possible through the support of the Massachusetts Interlocal Insurance Association and Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
First Place: Trevor Work
Nathaniel Wixon Middle School, Dennis-Yarmouth Regional School District
If I were elected leader of my community, I would make a difference by helping businesses and residents in my town use renewable energy and further help them by making it more accessible in the town of Dennis.
As a Dennis selectman, I would promote the passing of a warrant at Town Meeting that would allow businesses and residents who install wind turbines or solar panels to get a substantial reduction on their property taxes. In addition to receiving the rebate, they will benefit from lower energy bills, which will allow them more money to put back into our community both in new jobs and in consumer spending.
I would encourage my fellow selectmen to petition the school board to consider installing wind turbines to reduce our school’s energy costs. I would further help our town by writing a grant to the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center and try to get funds to install wind turbines at town hall and other Dennis locations.
If Dennis wants to be a leader in renewable energy, why not entice a company that builds and installs solar panels and wind turbines to relocate to our town? To do this, I would ask our town to consider special tax benefits to this company.
I would like to see the town of Dennis become a rising star in Massachusetts with regard to renewable energy. It would help our community grow in so many ways. First, people would be proud to live here. Second, we would reduce our carbon footprint. And finally, with all the money saved, we could invest in better parks, schools, town services and tourism.
Finally, it takes a lot of people to make things happen; no one person can change a community. As a leader in Dennis, I would surround myself with the most talented residents, community leaders and local volunteers to make this all a reality.
Second Place: Michael Sullivan
Freeman-Centennial Elementary School, Norfolk
If I were elected leader of my community, I would make a difference by raising taxes. I would raise them just enough so that we could afford nicer public places like schools, public transportation, libraries, playgrounds and community centers. These are all benefits that anyone in the community can and should enjoy.
When you pay your tax bill, you are not only helping the government, but all the people that the government helps. The government gives money to people that might not be able to go to college. The more people that graduate from college, the more those people can give back to the community.
Also, when community centers are built, kids have a place to go and do activities. If you they don’t have a place to go, they could get into trouble and cause problems for everyone else.
Another benefit to higher taxes is better schools. Building better schools helps kids that might want to be able to go to college be prepared to go. Even if they don’t go to college, better-educated kids help them be smarter adults.
Public transportation also helps everyone. The people that use it might not have to buy a car to get to work. It’s also better for the environment for fewer cars to be on the road.
I know that when people hear that they have to give more money out of their pocket, everyone gets mad. I think that if you use the services that are being offered, you will understand that everything costs money. I also think that even if you don’t use the services, you are living in a safer community and that is something everyone can enjoy.
We are lucky to live in such a great country that actually helps their people to live their best life.
Third Place: Noah Shepardson
Herberg Middle School, Pittsfield
If I were elected leader of my community, I would make a difference by doing my best to represent the desires, needs, and concerns of everyone in the city. I would serve the people’s best interests by giving my community a voice and advocating for the programs that would improve their lives.
I would address such issues as: education, bullying, and the need for more doctors in the local area. As a strong leader, I would work my hardest to make positive changes to enhance the lives of as many people as possible.
A city with a better school system produces a more productive community. Higher graduation rates will allow young individuals to have choices in their future. As a leader, funding for education would be one of my top priorities.
Bullying in schools is a serious topic. If elected, I would start up an anti-bullying program for families in their homes before their children even entered school. Children would learn acceptance and tolerance for others at an early age. I believe a program like this could prevent many problems for schools in the future.
There currently is a shortage of doctors in Pittsfield. Many doctors are moving to larger cities to work because they are able to get more patients and earn a better salary. In a position of leadership, I would make Pittsfield a place where no one would ever want to leave.
A community leader has many responsibilities to ensure that a city is run well. Good leaders take pride in their city and its people. They have passion and motivation to make the city a better place. If I were elected leader of my community, I would do the same, and make Pittsfield proud!
