MMA Annual Meeting, “Leading Through Challenge and Change,” continues today

The two-day MMA Annual Meeting & Trade Show is fast approaching! If you haven’t pre-registered, click here to see how you can still attend.

The MMA’s 42nd Annual Meeting is the first to be held virtually, but it is definitely not another Zoom meeting. The dynamic, timely and engaging two-day conference will offer broadcast-quality production values on a highly interactive online platform called Chime.

“I’m really impressed with the platform the MMA is using for the Annual Meeting this year,” says Auburn Town Manager Julie Jacobson, president of the Massachusetts Municipal Management Association. “It’s quite a high-quality production, and they’ve incorporated all the bells and whistles to help the members connect virtually and get the training we need.”

New Bedford Mayor Jon Mitchell, president of the Massachusetts Mayors’ Association, adds, “The MMA’s Annual Meeting will be an especially valuable, high-quality experience this year, and there’s been much work to ensure plenty of opportunities for face-to-face conversations with our colleagues. I’d encourage mayors – and all MMA members – to sign up.”

As always, the conference will feature:
• A range of informative and timely workshops
• Compelling and inspiring speakers
• A robust Trade Show featuring the latest services and solutions for cities and towns
• A general business meeting and important policy updates
• Creative networking opportunities and fun

The 2021 Annual Meeting theme is “Leading Through Challenge and Change.”

For this year’s event, attendees will participate from their homes and offices, eliminating the need for travel and accommodations. And the two-day meeting will be held on a Thursday and Friday, rather than the typical Friday and Saturday.

There’s no app to download; everything will happen right in your web browser. Attendees will have access to the Chime platform for 30 days after the meeting is over, in order to revisit highlights and enjoy content that was missed when it was live.

“I couldn’t imagine skipping the MMA’s Annual Meeting, even if it’s virtual,” says North Adams Councillor Lisa Blackmer, president of the Massachusetts Municipal Councillors’ Association. “I always get so much value out of attending, and I don’t think this year we’ll get any less. I’m looking forward to hearing from the governor – he usually has something new to announce. The price is so low that we can all afford to attend.”

Featured speakers include Gov. Charlie Baker and Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito and keynote addresses from:
• Bestselling author and Robin Hood Foundation CEO Wes Moore: “Evolve, Adapt, Inspire: The Tenets of Transformational Leadership”
• Diversity and bias expert and author Risha Grant: “Get Rid of the BS (Bias Synapse)”

The Women Elected Municipal Officials Leadership Symposium (a separate ticketed event) will feature Framingham Mayor Yvonne Spicer discussing diversity, equity and inclusion in a fireside chat with the Rev. Liz Walker, formerly a longtime news anchor at WBZ-TV.

Fifteen interactive, 45-minute workshops will cover topics including cybersecurity, economic and fiscal outlook, governing remotely, net zero emissions, thriving while working virtually, public health lessons from the pandemic, helping local businesses, municipal and labor law updates, mutual aid in public works, workforce diversity, engaging on equity, pandemic permitting, policing bias, and water resources.

“As always, the workshops at the MMA Annual Meeting will be addressing all of the issues currently important to local government,” says Bolton Finance Committee Member Brian Boyle, president of the Association of Town Finance Committees. “It really helps me to hear about best practices and new ideas, which I think we need more than ever now that we are in a new normal.”

The early registration deadline is midnight on Jan. 6, but those who miss it may still register online at a rate of $105 (though they will not have advance access to the Chime platform). Online registration will close at 5 p.m. on Jan. 20, but members may email amregistrations@mma.org for day-of registration access.

“This year’s Annual Meeting is an excellent value at such a low price,” says Milton Select Board Member Katie Conlon, president of the Massachusetts Select Board Association. “The MMA has outstanding speakers and interesting workshops. Everything will be recorded and available to watch for up to a month afterwards, so we won’t have to miss anything.”

Brianna Sunryd, communications manager and community participation officer in Amherst, notes several advantages of a virtual meeting.

“The online format will allow me to attend more sessions than I normally would be able to in-person,” she says, “and provides easy access to the content, speakers and recordings, even after the conference has ended. Not having to travel or pay for accommodations provides flexibility and cost savings that will make the event more accessible than ever.”

The 2021 Annual Meeting & Trade Show is being produced with assistance from the following sponsors:
Platinum: Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts
Gold: Constellation and KP Law
Silver: Beta Group and Cloudphish
Blue Ribbon: Bartholomew & Company; Massachusetts State Lottery; Murphy, Hesse, Toomey & Lehane; Operational Services Division; PARS Public Agency Retirement Services; Santander Bank; and VHB

Registration details
Online registration is available at www.mma.org/am-registration. Registrants may also make reservations for the WEMO Leadership Symposium, which will be held as part of the Annual Meeting on Thursday, Jan. 21, at an additional cost of $15.

Only online registrations will be accepted this year. MMA staff are happy to help anyone who needs assistance. Attendees may use their unique username and password to register. Those who don’t have a username and password, or who have forgotten them, may email amregistrations@mma.org.

Registrants will receive details and log-in information in January.

MMA Partnership Program members qualify for member rates. All Partnership Program members must renew membership with payment by Jan. 1 in order to register for and attend the MMA Annual Meeting & Trade Show. Partnership Program renewals or applications will not be accepted during the Annual Meeting.

For more information on the Annual Meeting, contact Timmery Kuck at tkuck@mma.org. For Trade Show and Partnership Program information, contact Karen LaPointe at klapointe@mma.org.