By Christine Burns
Well, friends…as we wrap up another Pure Michigan summer, I hope you can all take a moment and sit in gratitude for just a moment for all the things you have been able to check off your list the past few months. Be those things large or small, your community is better because of the work you are doing. I have moments where I get bogged down with the “to do” list that lives on my white board. It seems as though we rarely take a moment to reflect on the things we’ve actually accomplished; we immediately move on to the next big thing.
With gratitude in mind, I would like to thank the Professional Development Committee (and the MML staff) for all their hard work on the Summer Conference. They barely get one conference behind them, and they immediately start planning the next one. Thank you to those of you who were able to travel to Frankenmuth, and much appreciation to the 44 of you who filled out evaluations. Your comments help the PDC pivot, if need be, before they lock in sessions for the Winter Institute. Your praise is what keeps them motivated to continue with their mission.
The MME Board did hold a regular board meeting while in Frankenmuth. It was a light agenda, but the Board unanimously agreed to continue the practice of not allowing non-MME members to register for and attend conferences (i.e. think elected officials as the driving argument behind this topic). We also approved Marquette as the summer conference venue in 2024. Mark your calendars for July 16–19; it’s a great location to take the family for a U.P. getaway! The Board also welcomed Matt Fulton, Midwest Regional Director for ICMA via Zoom.
In more recent news, the Nominating Committee has been selected and will commence their work shortly. The Board will be addressing the Nonprofit Spot contract for next year, as well as working on the budget.
My last moment of gratitude is for Matt Bach. Matt has been a fixture at the League for so long, it’s hard to remember a conference without him! Matt is just one of the League staff that regularly assists MME (and keeps me personally on track). Matt has accepted a position with the C.S. Mott Foundation and will be missed by many. We wish you well on your next adventure Matt!
Christine Burns
President, MME
Manager, Spring Lake
Chris has more than 30 years of experience in local government. She has been the village manager in Spring Lake since 2012. Chris graduated from Central Michigan University (CMU) in 1990 with a BS in Business Administration, majoring in management and then went on to earn her MSA in Public Administration from CMU in 2006 (Fire Up Chips!). She is a member of Michigan Municipal Executives (MME) and the International City/County Management Association (ICMA). She has served on the MME & MML Board of Directors and has been on the Michigan Municipal League’s Workers’ Compensation Board of Directors since 2010, serving as its vice chair in 2017 and 2018 and its chair in 2019 and 2020. She and her husband Bill have two children and one grandchild. In their free time, they enjoy flying, home renovations, and time with their grandson. She can be reached at christine@springlakevillage.org.