2021 Annual Conference: No Other Virtual Place We'd Rather Be

The 2021 Virtual Annual Conference is behind us and we just want to take a minute to reflect on this chance to come together as a city community for discussion, inspiration, and reflection. There is no other virtual place we'd rather be! Thank you to everyone from over 115 cities across the state who signed in and participated over four days of events.

City presenters

City officials from the Range Area COVID
Response Team reflect on their work.

Cities were the star of the show throughout the conference educational sessions. We love featuring city stories, and city folks love learning from each other's experience!

City officials from Circle Pines, Hastings, the Hastings Police Department, Marshall, Aurora, Biwabik, Hoyt Lakes, the East Range Police Department, St. Louis Park, Bemidji, and La Crescent all presented.

Additional subject matter experts, included presenters from Ehlers, Bolton and Menk, Iverson Reuvers, and Kennedy & Graven, also shared examples and great city case studies from Proctor, St. Paul, and a whole host of GreenStep Cities. 

Remember, you can find session materials on the League website.

Keynotes

Every keynote speaker's unique background offered a fresh perspective on the city issues we face day in and day out. 

• Gopher Football Head Coach P.J. Fleck opened the 2021 Virtual Annual Conference with a motivating keynote speech. Fleck shared his approaches to leadership and how everyone can overcome obstacles to reach their goals.
  

• Former Viking and retired Supreme Court Justice Alan Page answered questions on his approach to public service, equity in education, and leadership during a Q&A with the League’s General Counsel Patricia Beety.
  

• Governor Tim Walz closed the conference with a Q&A covering a broad range of areas including lessons learned from COVID-19. Walz discussed the need to learn from these experiences and how surrounding yourself with the right people strengthens your leadership.

Elections

The annual business meeting was held on Thursday for Board of Directors elections and
remarks from League leadership. Outgoing Board President Brad Wiersum, mayor of Minnetonka, said his thanks and reflected on a term that was dominated by the challenges of the pandemic and discussions about race equity. 

President D. Love addresses the virtual business meeting.
Photo credit: LMC Deputy Director Luke Fischer

Following the nominating committee report and voting, several city officials were named to the board and the board's executive committee: D. Love, mayor of Centerville; Ron Johnson, councilmember from Bemidji; Jenny Max, administrator of Nisswa; Mary Gaasch, mayor of Lauderdale; Jon Lubke, mayor of Jenkins; Chris Volkers, administrator of Oakdale; Clinton Rogers, administrator of Janesville; Wendy Berry, councilmember from West St. Paul.

In his comments, incoming Board President D. Love emphasized that LMC continues to be a unifier, and that while the League building is physically located in St. Paul, the organization itself is made of all the cities it serves — kinda like a giant joint powers agreement, he joked. 

 Congratulations to all the city officials stepping into or continuing their role on the board, and thank you to all the outgoing directors for your service to Minnesota cities.

Networking

Just for fun, city officials could also pop in to a first-time attendee gathering, trivia night, and a morning "coffee and conversation." No, networking via Zoom isn't quite the same as chatting it up with your table at an in-person event. But we do what we gotta do.

See you next year!

City officials are familiar with making the most of what they've got, and this past year of virtual events is no exception. But the cherry on the sundae of this year's conference is announcing that in 2022 we are planning to be back together again in Duluth. And no, it's not too soon to mark your calendars!

Thanks again for being a part of the 2021 Virtual Conference!