At its June meeting, the ICMA Executive Board selected the Midwest Region (Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio, Wisconsin) to host ICMA’s 2022 Annual Conference. State association leaders in the Midwest Region are invited to submit proposals to host the 2022 conference on behalf of their associations.

The Executive Board has adopted the following procedures for selecting a conference site:

• Determine the region in which the conference should be held (board). By tradition, the board provides for a rotation of conference sites among ICMA’s vice-presidential regions.
• Invite members in the region to partner with convention and visitors bureaus to submit proposals to host the conference (staff).
• Evaluate proposals (staff) and narrow to two finalists (board).
• Visit finalist sites and prepare a recommendation (staff).
• Select conference site (board).

The criteria normally used for selection of a conference site, as adopted by the board, are: the general and logistical strengths of competing sites, including hotels, meeting facilities, and transportation factors; the highest and best financial commitment from competing convention and visitors bureaus; and the expressed commitments of prospective host committees. 

In preparing proposals, it is important to refer to two documents, “ ICMA Annual Conference Site Selection Proposal Guidelines ” and “ ICMA Annual Conference Host Committee Guidelines. ”

The convention and visitors bureau in the proposed city should be contacted early on in the preparation of a proposal. Since it is their job to attract conference business, they will prepare most of the materials once you have expressed your wishes and provide a members’ perspective on an ICMA conference. Note that ICMA has engaged the services of Experient, Inc. , a multi-management and consulting company that will work closely with ICMA throughout the site selection and contract negotiation process.  It is essential that you mention this relationship to the convention bureau during your initial conversation with them.

Express your intention to submit a proposal in writing by  November 1, 2013 ; final proposals are due by December 2, 2013 . If you have questions about submitting a proposal, contact conference planner Karen Rader ( krader@icma.org ; 602-268-8380) or conference director Ross Hoff ( rhoff@icma.org ; 202-962-3646).