Who is a member?
Our members are the local governments of Massachusetts and their elected and appointed leadership.
The power of partnership and the strength of local governments as innovators and problem solvers carried through as themes during the MMA Annual Meeting & Trade Show on Jan. 22 and 23 in Boston, an event that set yet another attendance record and offered an exciting selection of speakers.
Keynote speaker Guy Raz of “TED Radio Hour” started things off, recognizing that the work of local officials is often underappreciated and discussing the power of narrative to build support for and understanding of local government.
Gov. Charlie Baker announced during the opening session that cities and towns would see an increase in discretionary local aid in the coming fiscal year and asked for continuing support for his “municipal modernization” bill.
During the Friday night dinner, Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito discussed the administration’s Community Compact initiative to help develop best practices for communities across the state.
At the Women Elected Municipal Officials Luncheon, Attorney General Maura Healey reminded local officials that her office is available for consumer issue “open forums” within communities at request. Healey also reiterated her commitment to battling the opioid crisis, a topic discussed by a number of speakers, including U.S. Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Ed Markey, as well as during workshops throughout the two-day meeting.
Sens. Warren and Markey addressed the MMA Annual Business Meeting on Jan. 23.
“It’s your jobs that are the hardest jobs in government,” Sen. Warren said. “You’re the folks who are on the front lines.”
The senators reiterated their role as fighters for local government at the federal level.
During the closing session on Saturday, Politico’s chief White House correspondent Mike Allen offered his insights on Washington politics.
Former Red Sox announcer Don Orsillo shared stories from his time with the team during the Friday dinner, and, to everyone’s delight, took numerous questions from the fan-filled crowd.
Comedian and Massachusetts native Paula Poundstone had Saturday night’s banquet crowd in hysterics, making light of small-town politics and problems.
Both Orsillo and Poundstone met and took photos with many attendees.
Workshops and seminars across the two days explored topics ranging from the public records law to capital planning. Emerging issues forums addressed the future of electricity needs, managing data, and the impact of a new sharing economy.
Attendance at this year’s annual meeting was 1,175, an all-time high. The Trade Show featured 201 exhibitors, including a number of environmental consulting, energy and technology groups, the MV-1 of Massachusetts, and the MIIA Safe Driving Simulator.
The 2016 Annual Meeting theme was People, Places and Partnerships: Communities at Work.
Next year’s MMA Annual Meeting & Trade Show will be held Jan. 20-21, 2017.