ICMA’s annual business meeting Tuesday morning was very upbeat as association leaders discussed the association’s strongest financial period since the 2007‒2008 downturn.

ICMA President Bonnie Svrcek conducted the meeting. After attendees adopted consent agenda items—the memorial to deceased members and especially to ICMA executive directors Mark E. Keane and William H. Hansell Jr., and receipt of the annual audit—Joan McCallen, president and CEO of ICMA Retirement Corporation, reported on RC’s financial status and achievements of the past year.

Noting a 53% increase in RC’s assets between January 2008 and August 2013, compared to a 17% increase in the Dow over the same period, McCallen attributed the solid performance to the impressive growth in membership and participation. She characterized the current environment as one of sound operating performance, solid investment performance, and strong participation in investment funds. She further noted that the demand for hardship withdrawals and loans was stabilizing for the first year since the Great Recession; that more participants were moving to retirement and distribution; and that client retention was at 99.6%, compared with the industry average of 91%‒92%.

Executive Director Bob O’Neill presented highlights of ICMA’s FY 2013, which had the first solid growth in in-service membership since the downturn. He further discussed the association’s state-by-state strategy to increase membership in partnership with state associations.

O’Neill talked about the Life, Well Run campaign, which ICMA began rolling out nationally this past summer. He noted that ICMA’s investment in the campaign was at $265,000, pledges were at $340,927, and contributions were at $746,712.

The executive director also remarked on the work of ICMA International. After noting some of the achievements of its program in Afghanistan, he announced that a new office has been opened in China, for which expectations are quite high.

He next discussed the new direction being taken by ICMA Publishing as it seeks to position itself in the future by transitioning to e-books, and he informed them that the future of publishing at ICMA would be on the agenda of the next Executive Board meeting.

He also noted ICMA’s incredible rise in the ranks to No. 2 among government organizations in the use of social media.

After calling for any items pertaining to the “Good of the Order,” President Svrcek adjourned the meeting.