And the winner of this year’s Cup is… 

Lathrup Village with its TimeBank project!   

Plante & Moran, the official accountants for the CEA awards, participated in the competitive fun with their “You vote.  We count.  Who will win?” tagline.  Following a quick slideshow overview of each project, all eyes turned to the back of the room as “The Pink Panther” theme song began.  Two of the firm’s accountants walked down the center aisle in “secret service” style—with dark sunglasses and the official briefcase containing the much-anticipated winner’s name.  With seven outstanding projects, it was a real nail biter! 

The city of Lathrup Village was announced the winner for its wonderful TimeBank project as confetti was shot into the air!  TimeBank coordinator Richard Reeves explained the Lathrup Village TimeBank as a "community bartering organization where neighbors earn time performing services for each other.  Each person's time is banked and recorded on an easy-to-use online database to be traded for future services by other members.”  What started in April at the Region 1 meeting culminated in an exciting win and a dramatic finale to the Convention. 

Learn more about the Community Excellence Award and view a list of all seven Regional finalists!

Sam's session on bringing the world to Michigan was both entertaining and inspiring.  You couldn't help but be a little jealous of the stories he told of his travels around the globe.  His trip brought him to big cities and small villages alike, and what was amazing was the global reach of technology and commerce.  There was no better illustration of this than the internet cafe at the second to the last stop on his way to the base camp of Mt. Everest...yes I said Mt. Everest!  We are truly in a global economy and communities that can be open and inviting to partnering with foreign companies will be better positioned for the future.  One thing was clear.  It's a rapidly changing world, and we need to change with it or be left behind.

The Special Awards of Merit are given to recognize outstanding leadership and service to the League and municipal government.  George Basar, Pat Capek and Curtis Holt are recipients of that award this year. 

George Basar, police chief in Howell, is always there when called on by staff, especially when it comes to revenue sharing efforts. 

 Since 1995, Pat Capek has been a tireless supporter of the League as councilmember and former mayor pro-tem from Cedar Springs.  She has been and continues to be a vocal cheerleader for continuing education and the Elected Officials Academy program. 

Curtis Holt has served as the city manager for the city of Wyoming since 2000.  Curtis has supported the league on legislative issues for many years.  His leadership was instrumental in the recent Legal Defense Fund Consumer’s Energy rate case. 

The Legislator of the Year Award is for lawmakers that continuously support the League on issues and legislation to benefit local communities.  This year the award goes to Senator Deborah Cherry (D-Burton), Representative Andy Coulouris (D-Saginaw) and Representative Paul Opsommer (R-DeWitt). 

Senator Cherry has been the most vocal proponent of revenue sharing in the entire legislature. She pushed amendments the League advocated for in the Appropriations  committee, which would have guaranteed additional funding.  In addition to revenue sharing we have worked closely with her on the transportation funding. 

Representative Coulouris has been a strong supporter of cities during his time in the legislature.  He has assisted the League with revenue sharing efforts, talking to his leadership about minimizing proposed revenue sharing cuts, and working to get the restoration of those cuts out of the House- which was successful.

Representative Opsommer, an active supporter of the League, introduced legislation to amend the Urban Cooperation Act last session.  He also worked with the League on a bill last session to grant core community tools to rural townships.

The Michael A. Guido Leadership and Public Service Award was created to honor a chief elected official who personifies professionalism and leadership. 

Mayor Al McGeehan, of Holland has received this distinguished Award.  It’s not easy to follow in mayor Guido’s shoes but if anyone deserves this award it is mayor Al.  Staff can call on him at the last minute (and I have) to present a program for newly elected officials or to testify at the Capital.  He’s always there and happy to help.  In addition, in his role as Michigan Association of Mayors President, he has served as a mentor to mayors across the Michigan. 

The Jim Sinclair Exceptional Service Award was formed to celebrate tireless advocates of local government and continuing training for elected officials. There were two recipients of the award this year, each of whom is active in furthering the cause of educating elected officials so that communities may benefit from the education and experience that their elected officials have gained.

The first recipient, Carol Sheets, mayor of Wyoming, was one of the first people that I met when I started at the League.  She was part of a group of officials that met with my department to discuss a credentialing program for elected officials.  That program then became the Elected Officials Academy.  Right away I could see the passion that Carol had for service. Carol went on to serve as an EOA board member and president, and was in the very first class of graduates in 1997. 

I got to know LaVern Dittenber, mayor of Au Gres, and his wife Alvinia at a Mayors Summer Workshop in 1998.  They are the sweetest couple whom are compassionate about their life’s work.  LaVern believes that part of his duty on earth is to give back.  He believes that every elected official should be educated so that they can do the best possible for their community and state.  LaVern has been a constant presence at League activities for many years.  He has been very involved in the Elected Officials Academy, having obtained the highest level, Level 3, and to put it simply, LaVern loves the League, which is what the spirit of the Jim Sinclair Award is all about.

A former League president and councilmember in Madison Heights, Margene Scott, received the League’s highest honor, an honorary life membership.  We are thrilled that Margene has received this award.  Not only has she been very active in the League since joining the council in 1993, but she has always appreciated the League and its staff and has never failed to mention and show that appreciation. From participating in Michigan Women in Municipal Government events, to attending Michigan Black Caucus of Local Elected Officials meetings, Margene is always there to support the League and its affiliate organizations, with her husband Jack following close behind her.

Thanks to all of the 2009 award recipients for your years of service and for helping to make our jobs as staff easier!

It was a typical legislative update—you know, the good, the bad and the ugly—until Weinfeld got the mic . . . After 25 years working on state and federal issues, I guess he finally snapped. The man jumped up on a table, his larger-than-life shadow on the wall behind him, and started flailing his arms and raising his voice in “frustration.” The entire exercise was totally out of character and over-the-top, I absolutely loved it! Arnold’s point, and the message from the entire panel of League staff, rang loud and clear: Stand up, stand way, way up where they can see you, and get loud and passionate about the changes we need to see from our legislators. And then, they turned it over to the audience. I watched as local officials new and experienced took out their phones, dialed their lawmakers and said: Please fight to preserve revenue sharing and oppose SB 245 if it makes drastic cuts to public safety. How will you vote, with us or against us? Now it’s your turn. Remember these tips: Be specific; insist on being patched through to your legislator on the floor (you are a local leader for crying out loud, you should not have to wait when they CAN connect you directly) and; get a YES or NO right then and there – don’t let ‘em off the hook so easy. When this budget is all said and done, personally and publicly thank your lawmakers who listen. Personally and publicly reveal the damaging actions and empty promises of those who don’t.