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Annual Educational Conference November 2009
Created By: Underhill, Tammie On Sun, 25 Jan 2009 04:17 AM
NOVEMBER 2009

As the winter months approach, so does the MTA Annual Educational Conference. With so little time left and still so much to do, MTA wants to be sure everything comes together to make this an unforgetable year for all our members and guests.

From the pre-conference tracks, Auditors Institute and Legal Institute for Township Attorneys on Tuesday, January 26, to the Annual Meeting on Friday, January 29, you will not want to miss out on learning opportunities that will help township officials run an efficient and effective township that Michigan communities can be proud of.

The 2010 MTA Annual Educational Conference is being held in Grand Rapids at the DeVos Center, January 27-29, 2010. This newly designed and updated venue is an excellent facility for a group of people such as the MTA membership.
 
The Grand Rapids Convention and Vistors Bureau (GRCVB) has a great partnership with MTA and are fundamental in helping MTA pull off such a large-scaled Conference. To help promote Grand Rapids, the GRCVB has provided MTA with a GRCVB welcome video showcasing the wonderful features in the Grand Rapids area. Don't miss out on the excitement. There's always something to do. Whether it's shopping, dinner or just a night of casual entertainment, Grand Rapids offers it all.

The Trade Show & Expo will run on Wednesday and Thursday during the Conference. It is a fun place to gather and learn about products of interest to townships. The vendors have devoted time and effort into making this a grand display of products that will meet all your needs.

The deadline for Conference early-bird registration is December 16, 2009. You can register online, download the registration brochure or complete and submit the registration form that was included in the October issue of Michigan Township News.  

For room reservations, visit the MTA Housing Bureau to obtain discounted rates at a nearby hotel. New this year, Community Connection is providing a platform to give you the option of room sharing. To help save money and still allow you to enjoy the Conference, use the Community Connection eGroup "Room Sharing" to post your interest in sharing the cost of a room with another registrant while attending the Conference. The post in the eGroup will explain what you need to do. 

If you have an interest in room sharing and don't know where to start, a listing of registered attendees is available for your convenience. The listing provides the County, Township and person attending. This will allow you to contact an individual to find out if they are interested in sharing a room (and possibly even travel expenses), as well.

If you need assistance to post a message to the group or need additional information, please don't hesitate to contact me by calling (517) 321-6467 or e-mailing me at tammie@michigantownships.org.

I hope to see you there!

OCTOBER 2009

2010 Conference registrations have been sent to our members in the October issue of Michigan Township News. Registration has been open since October 1 and can be completed online, www.michigantownships.org/edconference.asp, or by completing the form in the magazine and submitting it to MTA in whatever manner you wish - mail or fax. NOTE: Payment must accompany your registration in order for MTA to process it. 

If you're looking at creative ways to afford attending and save money at the MTA Conference, Jan. 27-29, 2010, remember to not only register by the early-bird deadline of December 16, but to also consider sharing a hotel room with another attendee.

To facilitate this process a group named "Room Sharing" has been added in Community Connection so members can let others know of their plans and willingness to share the expense of a room while attending the Conference. You must first subscribe to this group by selecting the "Discussion Forums" drop down at the top of this page, then choosing "My Subscriptions." Now select in what manner you wish to receive notices from this group by clicking on one of the radio buttons next to "Room Sharing," then clicking on the "Save" button at the bottom of the page.

All housing is being coordinated through Grand Connection. Hotel reservations will be open to the membership starting at 8 a.m., Thursday, October 15, 2009. To reserve your room online, visit www.grandconnection.com/mta2010; or complete the reservaton form in the Conference brochure in the October issue of Michigan Township News and submit it to Grand Connection by fax at (616) 825-6030, or mail it to: Grand Connection, P.O. Box 1512, Brighton, MI 48116. If you have questions on housing contact Amy at Grand Connection at (810) 623-9008. NOTE: A form of payment is mandatory to confirm a hotel room.

Now that you're subscribed, select the tab named "Discussion Forums" and scroll down to the Annual Conference heading and select "Room Sharing" just below the heading. This process will take you directly to the forum where you can post a message with your information to allow others to contact you or for you to contact them to see about making arrangements to share a room.

We hope to see YOU at the 2010 Conference & Expo!
 
AUGUST 2009

It certainly doesn't seem like it's this late in the year, but 2010 Conference registrations, provided in the October issue of Michigan Township News, will be in the mail in about a month. With budgets being stretched to their limits and beyond, it is totally understandable that members might consider not attending the Conference. 

MTA wants you to know the workshops that are being planned for the 2010 Conference are all thought-provoking subjects to provide members with information on how to create an environment conducive to the economy and  far-stretching budgets, among other interesting topics. 

Don't think of it as 'I can't afford to attend the Conference,' think of it as 'How can I afford not to attend.' 

As the Conference approaches, I will be adding information to my blog on all the excitement. So stayed tuned.....
 
JANUARY 2009

I am getting geared up for the excitement at this year's Annual Educational Conference at the Renaissance Center in Detroit, January 27-30. There will be many members joining us for the first time this year as they settle into their new positions on the township board. And we have members that, year after year, join the ranks of others in their field to come together and socialize, learn, share information and have a good time with friends. Thank you, members. 

This year, at the MTA Media Center, next to Registration in the Ontario foyer - level 3, we will have many updated and revised publications and a few new ones, too. Stop by to take a look. While you're there, have a spin on the "Wheel of Fortune" for an opportunity to win a runner-up prize valued at approximately $500 or a grand prize valued at over $1,100. Every spin is a win, with many nice give-a-ways. Be sure to bring the postcard you received in the mail prior to Conference allowing you one opportunity to spin to win one of these great prizes. 

If you're reading my blog then you have logged into the new MTA networking site, Community Connection. Welcome! I'm happy to have you join us. 

Community Connection is a place where township officials can chat about every day happenings; find out best practices from around the state; share files and photos; meet new people with like interests; and create or join your own network of contacts and egroups.  

Among the many workshops on dozens of topics, MTA is holding a social networking workshop at the Conference on Thursday, January 29, to highlight the newest feature to our family of information the MTA board of directors and staff provides to its membership everyday. With the concept of social networking becoming the norm for everyday conversation among groups with common interests, such as township officials, we hope you will join us to learn a little more about this new feature so you can make Community Connection your place to go to gather together with friend. A place where contacting a township in the next county is the simple click of a button.

So, take a look around and get familiar with a new kind of neighborhood where you never have to leave the comfort of your home or office when visiting with friends, co-workers and peers.  Welcome to Community Connection! We hope to see you at Conference.
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