Boston is famous as the birthplace of the American Revolution. While this conference is certainly not encouraging you to take midnight horseback rides or throw crates of tea into the Atlantic, we expect you to leave the event with new—perhaps revolutionary—leadership ideas to benefit our rapidly changing communities. Without leadership, a group of colonials would not have stood up against an oppressive government more than two centuries ago. Similarly, without leadership, our communities cannot stand up against difficult economies, evolving social pressures, and increasing demands confronting them today. We urge you to attend this year’s ICMA conference, spend some time finding your inner revolutionary soldier, and then march back home, hang the warning lantern, and lead your community to success against overwhelming odds.

Enough of the metaphor! To encourage a change in thinking, the Conference Planning Committee has worked hard to introduce new elements to the conference. As a result, we will offer two afternoon featured speakers as well as the daily keynote addresses. Recognizing that everyone appreciates change at different speeds, you will also find some faster-paced sessions, different formats for sharing information, and plenty of interactive opportunities, along with the more familiar presentations and discussion sessions. In addition, the conference will feature a “hackathon,” where Boston-area computer programmers and university students will use input from local government professionals to develop new computer applications for solving community problems and engaging citizens in community dialogue. We are excited about presenting you with something a bit different.

Autumn is absolutely the best time of the year in New England, with pleasant weather and beautiful scenery. Boston is the ultimate walking city, bursting with history, culture, dining, shopping, sports, and nightlife all within proximity to the conference hotels in the Back Bay. While there, you can take advantage of many inviting destinations throughout New England, all within a reasonable car, bus, or train ride away.

Channeling Jim Collins, the 2013 Conference Planning Committee has set the Big Hairy Audacious Goal of designing “The Best ICMA Conference Ever!” Join us in September to experience the results. We look forward to seeing you in Boston.

Bill Fraser Conference Planning Committee Chair City Manager Montpelier, Vermont	Bonnie Svrcek  ICMA President Deputy City Manager Lynchburg, Virginia