The 8th Annual Mississippi River Cities & Towns Initiative Organizational Meeting
MRCTI ANNUAL MEETING Sept 17-19, 2019
M E M P H I S The Mississippi River, Heart & Soul
Draft Agenda Title Sponsor: Unless otherwise noted, all sessions and events are open to all mayors and other officially invited attendees. Meeting services are located within the Bass Pro Pyramid, 1 Bass Pro Drive, Memphis, TN 38105 Check www.mrcti.org frequently for Annual Meeting Agenda updates.
September 16 Special Mayoral Event, Press Conference: Deployment of First Mississippi River Nutrient Sensor 3:00pm – 4:00pm, Beale Street Landing (Dock Side), 251 Riverside Dr, Memphis, TN MRCTI Executive Committee Members will join officials from the U.S. Department of Interior and executives from American Queen Steam Boat Company as they launch the first private-carry nutrient sensor for the River. Mayors and guests may gather in the store lobby of the Bass Pro Pyramid at 2:30pm to load buses for the dock. Presiding: Frank Klipsch, Mayor of Davenport, IA, MRCTI Co-Chair Lionel Johnson, Mayor of St. Gabriel, LA, MRCTI Co-Chair
Welcome: HON. JIM STRICKLAND Mayor of Memphis, TN
Introduction: SCOTT MORLOCK Midcontinent Region Acting Director U.S. Geological Survey
Partnership: JOHN WAGGONER COL ZACHARY MILLER President & CEO Commander, District Engineer HMS Global Maritime U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Memphis District
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September 17 Registration 10:00am – 6:00pm, Bass Pro Pyramid, Main Lobby, 1st floor
Welcome Reception & Opening Ceremony Welcome Reception, Sponsored by American Cruise Lines [Attire: Business Casual] 6:00pm – 6:30pm, Beale Street Landing (whole venue) 251 Riverside Dr, Memphis, TN The Landing is one of the Mississippi’s premier river-side venues as it is a cruise vessel dock, a riverfront park, entertainment space, and an example of cutting-edge adaptive design. Mayors and guests may gather in the main lobby of the Bass Pro Pyramid at 5:30pm to load buses. Presiding: Frank Klipsch, Mayor of Davenport, IA, MRCTI Co-Chair Lionel Johnson, Mayor of St. Gabriel, LA, MRCTI Co-Chair
Welcome: HON. JIM STRICKLAND HON. MARCO MCLENDON Mayor of Memphis, TN Mayor of West Memphis, AR
Opening Ceremony and Exclusive Bridge Light Show 6:30pm – 8:00pm, Beale Street Landing (whole venue) 251 Riverside Dr, Memphis, TN Join Mayor Strickland as he and the MRCTI Co-Chairs open the 8th Annual Meeting of the Mississippi River Cities & Towns Initiative by recognizing Memphis’ Bicentennial followed by a light show for MRCTI along the Hernando de Soto Bridge and the Harahan Bridge Opening: THE HON. LIONEL JOHNSON THE HON. FRANK KLIPSCH Mayor of St. Gabriel, LA Mayor of Davenport, IA MRCTI Co-Chair MRCTI Co-Chair
Ceremony: Procession of Colors
Introduction: THE HON. JIM STRICKLAND Mayor of Memphis, TN
Greetings: REPRESENTATIVE American Cruise Lines
Light Show: CAPTAIN DOUGLAS MCGOWEN Chief Operating Officer City of Memphis
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September 18 Registration 7:30am – 5:00pm, Bass Pro Pyramid, Main Lobby,1st floor
Opening Breakfast Plenary: The 2019 Flood – Economic Equality, Vulnerability, Risk 8:00am – 9:30am, National Civil Rights Museum, 450 Mulberry St, Memphis, TN Mayors and guests may gather in the Bass Pro Pyramid store lobby at 7:15am to load buses for the venue. Presiding: Sharon Weston Broome, Mayor of Baton Rouge, LA Rick Eberlin, Mayor of Grafton, IL
Welcome: TERRI LEE FREEMAN HON. DARRELL GRENNELL President Mayor, City of Natchez, MS National Civil Rights Museum
Presentation: The 2019 Flood Season: Resilience, Recovery, and the Path to Systemic Solutions
MAJOR GENERAL RICHARD (MARK) TOY PAUL A. OSMAN Commander, Mississippi Valley Division Chief, Statewide Floodplain Programs U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Illinois Office of Water Resources
DR. DAVID MAURSTAD Deputy Associate Administrator Federal Insurance and Mitigation Federal Emergency Management Agency
Mayors’ Press Conference 10:00am – 10:30am, Beale Street Landing Overhang, 251 Riverside Dr, Memphis, TN Mayor Strickland, Mayor Klipsch, and Mayor Johnson will convene a press conference to make announcements regarding the work of the Mayors along the Corridor. Presiding: Frank Klipsch, Mayor of Davenport, IA, MRCTI Co-Chair Lionel Johnson, Mayor of St. Gabriel, LA, MRCTI Co-Chair
Introduction: THE HON. JIM STRICKLAND Mayor of Memphis, TN
SESSION: INFRASTRUCTURE – PROJECTS, RESOURCES, AND NEXT-LEVEL PARTNERSHIPS 10:45am –12:20pm, Halloran Center for the Performing Arts & Education Reception Hall Moderating: Jacob Frey, Mayor of Minneapolis, MN (invited) Chuck Cariker, Mayor of Tunica, MS (invited)
Greetings: JILL PIETRUSINSKI Past District Governor Rotary Club
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Projects: THE HON. TIM KABAT ROSALIE A. SCHNICK Mayor of La Crosse, WI Rotary Club, La Crosse, WI
Partnership: SHARON SPIES (invited) Director of Sustainability Cargill Agriculture
JON RADTKE Manager, Water Sustainability Program Coca-Cola, North America
Lunch Plenary: Developing a New Partnership with Rotary International 12:30pm – 1:50pm, Halloran Center for the Performing Arts & Education Center Main Lobby Presiding: Jim Strickland, Mayor of Memphis, TN Errick Simmons, Mayor of Greenville, MS
Welcome: BRETT BATTERSON President & CEO The Orpheum Theater Group
Keynote: BARRY RASSIN Immediate Past President Rotary Club International
Greetings: ANGELINE ROGERS Executive Director Lower Mississippi River Conservation Committee
2020 Mtg THE HON. RITA ALBRECHT Preview: Mayor, City of Bemidji, MN
SESSION: BUILDING OUR TRASH FREE FRESHWATER ECONOMY 2:00pm – 4:00pm, Halloran Center for the Performing Arts & Education Reception Hall Moderating: Rita Albrecht, Mayor of Bemidji, MN Belinda Constant, Mayor of Gretna, LA
Introduction, BARBARA HENDRIE, PHD Grant Director, North America Announcement: United Nations Environment Program
Remarks: GIULIANA TORTA Counsellor Environment and Maritime/Fisheries Policies European Union Delegation to the U.S.
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Overview: REPRESENTATIVE DYLAN MCDOWELL National Caucus of Env. Legislators Deputy Director National Caucus of Env. Legislators
Introduction: THE HON. CHRIS LAIN Mayor of Savanna, IL
Corporate REPRESENTATIVE JON RADTKE REPRESENTATIVE Roundtable: Federal Express Manager ElKay Water Sustainability Program Coca-Cola, North America
Discussion: HON. JOHN HOFFMAN HON. G. A. HARDAWAY Minnesota State Senator Tennessee State Representative National Caucus of Env. Legislators National Caucus of Env. Legislators
Break, 4:00pm – 5:00pm
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Host City Showcase & Dinner Memphis Bicentennial Performance Barbeque & Bourbon Tours • MRCTI Awards Ceremony Night on Beale Street
Brought to you by the City of Memphis, this will be a showcase dinner like none other. Join Mayor Strickland for an emersion into the best of Memphis and Tennessee beginning with a live musical performance followed by barbecue and bourbon tours at historic Old Dominick Distillery. Then, explore world-famous Beale Street.
Host City Showcase Opening Performance [Attire: Business Casual] 6:00pm – 6:30pm, Old Dominick Distillery, 305 S Front Street Mayor Strickland will welcome everyone to an evening guaranteed to make an impression as things begin with a drum performance by the nationally recognized Memphis Grizzline. Buses will begin loading at main entrance of the Hotel Blackhawk at 5:30pm to transport mayors and guests to the dinner venue. Buses will return guests to the Hotel Blackhawk beginning at 8:30pm. Presiding: Jim Strickland, Mayor of Memphis, TN Frank Klipsch, Mayor of Davenport, IA, MRCTI Co-Chair Lionel Johnson, Mayor of St. Gabriel, LA, MRCTI Co-Chair
Welcome: ALEX CANALE Owner, Old Dominick Distillery
Greetings:
Host City Dinner: Memphis Barbeque and Tennessee Bourbon Tours 6:30pm – 8:00pm, Old Dominick Distillery, 305 S Front Street The City of Memphis invites Mayors of the Mississippi River to tour the historic Old Dominick Distillery sampling the tastiest Barbeque in the region as well as the finest, smoothest bourbon the State of Tennessee has to offer. Greetings:
Recognition Of the MRCTI COLIN WELLENKAMP Exec Comm: Executive Director, MRCTI
Beale Street 8:00pm – 9:00pm, Beale Street After you’ve sampled barbeque and bourbon at Old Dominick, join us for the fantastic sights and sounds of world-famous Beale Street. Explore Blues music’s heart and soul destination. Buses available until 9:00pm.
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September 19 Registration 7:30am – 10:30am, Bass Pro Pyramid, Main Lobby, 1st floor
Corporate Advisory Board Breakfast: Bringing Industry to your City, Reducing Risk, Attracting Tourism 8:00am – 10:00am, FedEx Forum Main Lobby, 191 Beale Street Buses will begin loading at the Bass Pro Pyramid at 7:30am to transport mayors and guests to breakfast venue. Presiding: Tim Kabat, Mayor of La Crosse, WI Bob Gallagher, Mayor of Bettendorf, IA
Greetings: REPRESENTATIVE FedEx Forum
Keynote: The Mississippi River’s Crucial Role in International Trade HONORABLE ROBERT HOLDEN Former Governor of Missouri President, United States Heartland-China Association
Announcement: Chair, Vice Chair, and New Members of MRCTI Corporate Advisory Board
Transition: JEREMY TRAVIS DUPLE TRAVILLION Manager of Operations Senior Gov. Affairs Representative Tetra Tech, Inc. Federal Express MRCTI CAB Chair Incoming MRCTI CAB Chair
Remarks: ALEXANDER LOUCOPOULOS CHARLES ROBERTSON RAGHUVEER VINUKOLLU Partner Vice President Senior VP Sciens Capital American Cruise Lines Nat. Catastrophe Solutions Munich Reinsurance America
Break, 10:00am – 10:15am
MRCTI Business Meeting 10:15am – 12:00pm, FedEx Forum Main Lobby, 191 Beale Street Mayors will meet in an open-door session to discuss new business brought before the Association. Mayors interested in hosting an annual meeting may also officially list their city as a candidate for the 2023 meeting. Presiding: Frank Klipsch, Mayor of Davenport, IA, MRCTI Co-Chair Lionel Johnson, Mayor of St. Gabriel, LA, MRCTI Co-Chair
Presentation: Findings and Conclusions of the National Drought Forum REPRESENTATIVE National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration U.S. Department of Commerce
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Presentation: Updating and Improving the Mississippi River Economic Profile BRYAN HOPKINS Missouri Department of Natural Resources Chair, Lower Mississippi River Conservation Committee
Elections: MRCTI CO-CHAIRS EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEMBERS
Remarks: NEWLY ELECTED MRCTI CO-CHAIRS
Nominations: MRCTI 2023 ANNUAL MEETING HOST CITY CANDIDATES Note: Every five years, the MRCTI Annual Meeting is hosted in our headquarter city of St. Louis which is where the 2022 10th Anniversary Meeting will take place. Thus, nominations will be accepted for upper stem cities to host the 2023 Annual Meeting.
12:00pm – Adjourn
Excursion: Tour of Graceland, TN [Attire: Casual; RSVP at [email protected]] 1:00pm – 5:00pm, Graceland, TN
MRCTI has partnered with the Memphis Convention & Visitors Bureau and Graceland USA to escort up to 20 mayors (including spouses) on an excursion touring the legendary home of Elvis Presley, Graceland. This is a first-come, first-serve opportunity. Please RSVP to Tiara Lumas, MRCTI Operations Manager at [email protected] . Lunch is provided at Vernon’s Smokehouse in Graceland. Buses will depart the Bass Pro Pyramid at 1:00pm.
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