Regional Meetings

 

While there are certainly major benefits to ICMA and MLGMA membership, many man-agers find the most day to day value the regional groups of managers that have formed around the State. We tend to interact most with those we work with on a local and regional basis and the regional associations are a place where close friendships are de-veloped and where colleagues can most readily offer useful insights when asked. As you can see with the following list, familiarity sometimes breeds humor and some of the names of the regional associations are certainly creative.

 

U.P. City Managers

The U.P. City Managers meet twice per year on Thursday and Friday of the 2nd week of May and the 2nd week of October. Ray Anderson, City Manager of Norway is the Chair and contact person for the U.P. Managers.

 

Northern Michigan Managers Association

The Northern Michigan Managers Association meets at the Sugar Bowl restaurant in Gaylord at noon on the last Thursday of each month.

 

Central Michigan Local Government Management Association

The Central Michigan Local Government Management Association meets every other month on the third Friday of the month at 11:00 a.m. with lunch following. They are trying a new rotation for meeting locations. The first 2009 meetings so far include: February 20 in Big Rapids; April 17 in Midland at Dow Diamond; and June 19 in Scotville. The contact person is Roger Elkins, City Manager of Evart.

 

“Middle of the Mitten Managers”

The “Middle of the Mitten Managers” meets the third Wednesday of every other month for lunch beginning in February at different locations around the region. Richard Watkins, Delta Charter Township Manager, is the 2009 contact.

 

“Thumb Nuts”

The “Thumb Nuts” have three meetings scheduled have three meetings scheduled for 2009: Friday, March 13th at the Bavarian Inn Restaurant in Frankenmuth; Friday July 17th at Zehnder’s Restaurant; and Friday November 6th at the Bavarian Inn Restaurant. The meetings typically are held from noon to 2:00 p.m. The contact person is Charlie Graham, City Manager of Frankenmuth.

 

West Michigan Local Government Management Association

The West Michigan Local Government Management Association meets each Wednesday of the month (with the exception of June, July and August) at the Calvin College Prince Center at noon. Al Vanderberg currently serves as President and con-tact person. Attendees hail from Ottawa, Kent, Ionia, Montcalm, Muskegon, Newaygo and Oceana counties.

 

Southwest Michigan Manager’s Association

The Southwest Michigan Manager’s Association meets the third Tuesday of each month except September which is when their annual golf outing is held. The group serves county, city, township and village managers in Allegan, Berrien, Cass, Kalamazoo, St. Joseph and Van Buren counties. Larry Nielsen, Village Manager of Paw Paw, is the President and contact person.

 

Down River Area Managers Association

The Down River Area Managers Association (South of Detroit) meets the first Thursday of each month at the Big Boy Restaurant in Riverview at 8:00 a.m. Bob Cady, City Manager of Trenton is the contact person.

 

St. Clair County Managers (Plus)

The St. Clair County Managers (Plus) meet at noon on the first Friday of each month at the Voyaguer in the City of St. Clair. Attendees come from as far north as Lexington and as far south as New Baltimore. That is the reason for the “plus” in the name as regular attendees from New Baltimore and Richmond (both from Macomb County) are welcomed with open arms! The contact person is Marc A. Levise, City Manager of Marysville.

 

“Border Bandits”

The “Border Bandits” (South Central Michigan) meet quarterly, usually the 3rd or 4th Friday of the month and the location rotates from community to community. Meetings begin at 11:30 a.m. Chris Olson, City Man-ager of Marshall, is the contact person.

 

Southeast Michigan Managers Group

The Southeast Michigan Managers Group, or SEMIGODS, meets for lunch every 3rd Wednesday of the month at Paesano’s in Ann Arbor. Patrick Sullivan from Northville is the contact person. Pat says to allow two hours for “maximum fraternization.”

 

Oakland County City Managers Association

The Oakland County City Managers Association meets for lunch the 2nd Tuesday of the month in differ-ent communities, starting at 11:30am, with adjournment by 1:15pm. Melissa Place from Novi is the contact per-son. All are welcome to attend.

 

If we have missed a group, please send your groups name, meeting times and contact to Al Vanderberg at avanderberg@miottawa.org .

 

 

 

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Michigan Local Government Management Association, P.O. Box 1487, Ann Arbor, MI 48106