By Mitch Foster
As the Member Success Committee has evaluated our role in the organization over this first year in existence, we have heard from a number of our peers regarding first-timers and how we can better integrate them. We all remember back to our first conference, or even first job in the profession and the questions and nervousness associated with it; we wanted to figure out how to make that transition easier.
At the upcoming conference, we have worked with the Professional Development Committee to add a “first-timer” or “newcomer” coffee break to the first morning to make introductions, we are adding the “newcomer” introduction to the first session, and members of the Member Success Committee will be reaching out to those “first-timers” before and during the conference. Our hope is that we can create a welcoming environment for all members when they first interact with our association so that they in turn can better support their communities!
Outside of that focus moving forward, the Member Success Committee has the following items on going:
- Members in Transition:
- For those members who have transitioned out of a position and are searching for something new, the MIT group are a veteran group of managers who can help you through these difficult and confusing times. Please contact either myself or Frank Walsh (walsh@meridian.mi.us) to get in touch with MIT for yourself or a peer. Additionally, here is a great resource the MIT group put together for members: http://www.mme.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/MME-MIT-Guide-Final-1-23-19.pdf
- Senior Advisors Program (ICMA/MME):
- The ICMA Senior Advisor program is a joint activity of ICMA and MME established by the ICMA Executive Board in 1974 to make the counsel, experience, and support of respected, retired managers of the profession available to members. They are able to meet with you regularly, help you through difficult times, or simply be a sounding board.
- Mark Wollenweber: mewollenweber@icloud.com
- Lifeworks Wellness Program:
- Don’t forget to take advantage of the Lifeworks Wellness Program that is made available to you as a member of MME!
- https://login.lifeworks.com/ (Professional Members will need to provide your name and MME membership email)
- Please see the linked resources from Lifeworks as well.
Finally, the association used to highlight managers who were successful with specific initiatives or projects through the blog post item on our website. The Member Success Committee hopes to bring that back in order to help highlight those amongst us who need praise, but also give the rest of us a contact for when we are in a similar circumstance.
Thank You!
Mitch Foster
Chair, Member Success Committee
Ludington City Manager
Mitch Foster has been the city manager for the waterfront community of Ludington since 2019. Prior to that, he was the village administrator for the Village of Winneconne, WI, as well as the village manager for the Village of Kingsley, MI. He is an active member of the International City/County Management Association and Engaging Local Government Leaders. Mitch and his wife, Becky, have one son, Otto, and enjoy living the lake life with spare time filled with hiking, golf, and good books. He can be reached at (231) 233-9871 or mfoster@ci.ludington.mi.us.