It has been a month since I became the President of ICMA and it has been a very busy time.  Letters have gone out to all eligible former ICMA Board Vice Presidents to invite them to be a candidate for President-Elect, Regional Vice-Presidents have connected with the leadership of State Associations regarding the new regional nominations process for candidates for the ICMA Executive Board, and the Agenda for the December Board meeting in Fort Lauderdale is nearly final.

One of the first questions anyone asks me is "where have I been lately" or makes a statement like "I bet you are traveling a lot".  Members seem to think that being President is all about the traveling (and based on my first month as Prez, travel is a key element fo this leadership position, but it's also about communciations and connections that don't involve travel). Prior to becoming President I made the decision that I would honor the ICMA governance structure regarding visits to State Associations.  Each Regional VP has the responsibility of connecting with their assigned State Associations; I support their responsibility to be the link between the State membership and ICMA. If there is a compelling, extraordinary, strategic reason that the President of ICMA needs to be present at a State meeting, then I will do my best to be present. 

And, without a single visit to a State Association meeting, I need to be at the four ICMA Executive Board meetings, four ICMA-RC meetings, five Regional Summits, my two annual Virginia meetings, and a visit to an International Affiliate (Australia). Those are the basics. In addition, I have accepted speaking engagements with Springsted, a long-time supporter of ICMA and the Oregon Emerging Leaders.  And, I am very committed to making the Boston Conference in September 2013 the best conference ever so I will attend the Boston Conference Planning Committee meeting next week. I am also expected to represent ICMA at the Brownfields Conference and at the National Forum for Black Public Administrators conference. Lastly, as ICMA is a partner with the Alliance for Innovation, I think it is appropriate for the President to attend the annual Big Ideas event and the Transforming Local Government Conference. At the same time, I have a "real job" as Deputy City Manager in Lynchburg, Virginia. Kim Payne, my City Manager and my staff are incredibly supportive colleagues!  

Since the ICMA Conference I have attended ICMA - RC Board Orientation (information overload!), journeyed to Minneapolis to speak at the annual Springsted Forum on "The Conundrum of Local Government Management" and where it was great to connect with the leadership of the Minnesota City/County Management Association, attended the Big Ideas Conference in Williamsburg (it was awesome!), and attended my first ICMA-RC meeting as an ex-officio member in San Antonio (quite a learning experience!). 

So.....that's my first month. Until we meet again, either personally or virtually, thank you for your commitment to making your communities the best places to live, work, play, and visit and for your membership in ICMA.  

Best regards,

Bonnie