MMA prepares for 39th Annual Meeting & Trade Show

The theme of the MMA’s 39th Annual Meeting & Trade Show is “Together for a Stronger Future.”
 
The 2018 event will be held Jan. 19 and 20 at the Hynes Convention Center and Sheraton Hotel in Boston.
 
The MMA’s Annual Meeting is the largest annual gathering of municipal officials in the state. It is a forum for learning, networking, product and service information exchange, and a celebration of the efforts and innovations in community governance.
 
The 2017 Annual Meeting was attended by 1,125 local leaders, and the Trade Show featured more than 200 exhibitors.
 
The MMA encourages new municipal officials, including selectmen elected this spring, to attend the event. The morning of Jan. 19 will feature a special session for first-time attendees to help them get the most from the two-day event.
 
The 2018 MMA Annual Meeting & Trade Show brochure will be included in the October issue of The Beacon. MMA members needn’t wait for the brochure to register, however, as the registration form is available on our website. Online registration will be available very soon.
 
The meeting will feature 26 timely workshops on topics such as economic development, municipal and labor law, recreational marijuana, climate change, social media, housing and zoning, the opioid crisis, municipal finance and budgeting, and intermunicipal agreements. A complete list of the workshop titles will be available on our website shortly.
 
In addition to workshops and a trade show, the two-day event features business meetings, speakers, receptions and other activities.
 
The advance program registration rate is $180 for members and $295 for registrants from other government entities. After the early registration deadline of Jan. 10, all registrations will be done on-site at a rate of $230 for members and $345 for other government entities. MMA Business Partners qualify for member rates.
 
Annual Meeting registration forms must be returned to the MMA, and no registrations can be accepted over the phone. Registrants are urged to return their form with payment. The MMA accepts credit cards for Annual Meeting transactions.
 
Reservations are also being accepted for the Women Elected Municipal Officials Leadership Luncheon on Friday, Jan. 19, and the Friday and Saturday evening dinners, which will feature engaging speakers and entertainment.
 
The Sheraton Boston Hotel, conveniently located adjacent to the Hynes, is the host hotel for 2018. The MMA negotiated a reduced room rate of $174 per night for a single or $184 per night for a double. The reduced-rate rooms are expected to sell out quickly, and reservations must be made by Dec. 22 to take advantage of the special rates.
 
Hotel reservations must be made directly with the hotel. To make reservations, call the Sheraton at (800) 325-3535 or register online through the MMA website using the specific link for the MMA Annual Meeting rates.
 
For more information on the Annual Meeting, contact Kayla Burmeister at (617) 426-7272, ext. 106. For Trade Show information, contact Karen LaPointe at (617) 426-7272, ext. 154.