By Michael Cain
It’s hard to believe that as I write this that some nine weeks have passed since many of us were together in Troy for our Winter Institute. Again, congratulations to Chairperson Aaron Desentz and the entire Professional Development committee for an excellent conference. I join in expressing the common theme that I heard over and over again that not only were the content and site outstanding, but it was great to be with each other at long last. That personal contact, networking and building off each other’s experiences, insights and knowledge is something that makes ours such a special and worthwhile organization and profession.
I want to also thank all those who stepped up to be part of one of our committees. You will again see the Chairperson’s listed in this newsletter. Even if you aren’t a member of their committee, feel free to reach out to them if you have any comments or suggestions that might be helpful. And, as predicted, a few more members have reached out since the committee assignments were posted on the listserv and I will be following up on those offers shortly.
Wherever I have served throughout my career I have tried, and I believe I have, left things better than the way I found them. I’m sure that’s a personal goal that many of us share. While we’d all like to reach perfection that just isn’t in our human nature. I’m ok with making things as good as we can with the time and resources available to us. We already have a great organization. And we have a vision of how to make it even better and build for a strong future for our association and profession thru our member driven Strategic Plan. We don’t need to reinvent the wheel; we need to continue to move forward with the plan. My pledge to you as this year’s President is to do my best to continue to build on the strong foundations and vision for the future that we already have.
I’ll admit that at heart that I’m kind of an old-fashioned person. I truly believe I got my calling to be a public servant in Scouting. I wasn’t an Eagle Scout; I still am one and hope to be until the day I die (they can take it away). While that organization has had to learn some hard lessons in dealing with its failings (and what that has ever been created by humans hasn’t) I still firmly believe in the core values it taught me and try to practice them when I’m dealing with others. Maybe that’s why our own motto: ‘Ready for anything’ rings so true to me. For a very long time I’ve tried my best to ‘Be Prepared’.
Today, I am asking you to join with me to reach down into your heart and pledge to yourself that each and every day you will do your best to affirm and build up those around you, those in your personal life, your professional life, and your involvement with our association. If we all do the best we can towards that I am confident that there is almost nothing that we can’t accomplish together.
So, going forward, I will try to treat each of you as I try to treat my family and staff. Where I see something going right, I will give praise publicly. Where I see something that I think could be handled better, I will either say nothing but if I do have something constructive to offer, I will try to communicate with that person or persons directly. So, guess what messages you can expect to see more from me on the listserv? I ask you to do the same.
At, and since, our Troy Institute I have received three main comments from other members about becoming MME President, and I paraphrase here. The first was ‘Congratulations’. To that I sincerely say thank you. The second was ‘You’ll do a great job’. To that I say I appreciate your confidence and will do my best to live up to your expectations. And the third was ‘My condolences’. While I can understand the sentiment, no condolences are necessary. I remain truly honored, just as I was on that day when I was asked if I would consider having my name placed in nomination as our Vice-President and begin down the path towards our Presidency. It was humbling then, and it remains so today.
Having had the opportunity to serve and observe John and Rebecca up close during their presidencies and the many, many other leaders of our association during my years as a member of the MCMA, MLGMA and now MME I knew, for the most part, what I was getting into. I know I have some pretty big and impressive shoes to fill.
I believe life is, in large part, what we choose to make it. And with your help and support, Michigan Municipal Executives members, I know this will be a very productive time for our association.
Yours in service.
Mike
231.582.0377 o
231.675.0636 c
Michael Cain
President, Michigan Municipal Executives
City Manager, Boyne City
Michael Cian has served as city manager of Boyne City since 2002 and has more than 38 years of municipal management experience having previously worked for Grand Traverse County, Traverse City, Fenton, Wolverine Lake, Troy, and St. Johns. Cain is a member of the ICMA and has been active with MME for many years serving as a member of its board and several committees. He’s also been very active with the Michigan Municipal League serving on several committees and is a past member of its board of trustees. He is currently on the board of Networks Northwest and served as the chairperson of the Charlevoix, Cheboygan, and Emmet County 911 Authority for several years. Mike is a native Michigander being born in Dearborn then transplanted to Traverse City in 7th grade where he met his wife, Katherine. Together they have four daughters and a cat. You may reach him at mcain@boynecity.com.