Standing Room Only at Annual Meeting Sessions

AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2015 a publication of the municipal association of south carolina Standing room only at Annual Meeting sessions very year, the Municipal Association’s Annual Meeting brings together hundreds of local elected officials and city Estaff for four days of learning and networking. Day one of the 2015 Annual Meeting got off to a great start with more than 200 local officials participating in three preconference sessions. A group of more than 100 officials took a morning field trip to the Town of Bluffton where they learned how this coastal town has grown from a sleepy fishing village to a thriving town of 13,000, attracting high-tech businesses along with tourists and downtown shoppers. Leadership was the theme of the second preconference session. A packed room of officials learned how great leadership Rebecca Ryan gave an impactful and high-energy keynote address on Friday, urging city officials to look multiple decades ahead when planning for comes from the courage to have the dialogues that move toward their city’s future. solutions that unify rather than divide. A third session focused on fine-tuning public speaking skills to help leaders find new 24-hours a day during a major construction project on a tight ways to connect with their audience. schedule. Steven Turner, Rock Hill’s economic development Getting a jump on the educational sessions, officials attended director, illustrated how the city has evolved from a textile-based breakout sessions on Thursday afternoon which focused on community to one with a diverse economic base. topics such as the complexities of implementing the new Friday’s Opening General Session started with the board elec- body-worn camera legislation and lessons learned from recent tion where delegates elected Conway Mayor Alys Lawson as the state and national incidents involving law enforcement. In the 2015-16 president. In her remarks, Lawson reminded officials, restoring public trust in government breakout session, officials “We are truly the backbone of a strong South Carolina.” She identified the necessary elements (e.g., accountability, confi- accepted the challenge of leading the Association and encour- dence, communication) for trust to exist between elected officials aged others to join her in making the Association’s future “just as and their constituents. bright as our past.” Representatives from Hartsville, Hilton Head Island and As part of the celebration of the Association’s 85th anni- Rock Hill shared their cities’ economic development success versary, 21 past presidents attended the meeting and were stories. Steve Riley, city manager for Hilton Head Island, recognized during the Opening General Session. Former spoke about the town having code inspectors available on-call, Annual Meeting, page 3 > In this ISSUE Celebrating the Past, Embracing the Future ............................... 2 Supreme Court ruling affects executive sessions .................... 4 New meeting notice and agenda requirements ............. 37 Lawson shares vision ............... 38 2015-16 Board of Celebrating the Past, Directors ................................ 39 Ten join ranks Embracing the Future of MEO Institute graduates ................... 39 nveiled at the Annual Meeting, the early days of the 20th century to a highly Association’s history book tells the professional and effective association Ustory of how local leaders took it representing all 270 cities and towns, Special upon themselves as far back as 1908 to their 1600 elected officials and more than come together to share best practices, 19,000 staff members,” concluded Roberts. Sections: learn from each other, and advocate on Each municipal official attending 2015 behalf of South Carolina cities and towns. the meeting received a complimentary Annual “It’s interesting to see how many of the copy of “Celebrating the Past, Embracing Report ................................... 5 issues and challenges through the years the Future: A History of Shared Voices, have remained the same, while solutions Shared Knowledge, Shared Solutions.” 2015 to these challenges have changed with the A copy was also mailed to each city hall Municipal Association times,” remarked 2014-15 Association following the meeting. “We hope each city Awards ................................. 21 President Terence Roberts, mayor of will place the book in city hall for council, Anderson. staff, visitors and residents to enjoy,” Through photographs, milestones and explained Executive Director Miriam stories, the book chronicles the evolution of Hair. the Association. Additional copies are available for President: Mayor Alys Lawson “It’s so interesting to see how this sale by visiting www.masc.sc (keyword: Conway Association has matured from a loosely publications) and downloading a publica- Executive Director: Miriam Hair run volunteer organization back in the tion order form. [email protected] Association presidents from Managing Editor: Reba Campbell as far back as serving in [email protected] 1976 attended the 2015 Editor: Mary Brantner Annual Meeting to celebrate [email protected] the Association’s 85-year history of serving South Associate Editor: Carolina cities and towns. Meredith Houck They received the first [email protected] copies of the Association’s Contributing Writers: history book during Friday’s Eric Budds, Casey Fields Opening Session where they and Tigerron Wells were honored for their years of service. 2 uptown: august/september Annual Meeting, from page 1 > Spartanburg Mayor John Baehr was the earliest serving past president in attendance. Baehr, who was the Associ- ation president in 1976, traveled from Pensacola, Florida, to take part in the celebration. Each past president and all municipal officials attending the meeting received a copy of the Associ- ation’s history book that was unveiled that morning. The keynote speaker, Rebecca Ryan, wowed the standing-room-only crowd of more than 600 officials with her ideas about how to plan for the future beyond the basics of strategic planning. Her remarks left officials inspired and awed with her high energy aspirations for South Carolina cities and towns. Ryan explained the nature of economic cycles using the image of seasons. Accord- ing to Ryan, the United States is now coming out of a “winter” season econom- ically and moving toward a “spring” with Delegates pack the ballroom for the Opening Session. Standing-room-only was the adjective describing many of Annual Meeting sessions. improving conditions. She tied these cycles to the work that must be done in each season. In winter, she said, organizations Ryan’s conclusion left attendees the sharing economy, disaster recovery hunker down and gather information to inspired with hope for the future and tools and how to properly account for revenues plan and be prepared for the spring. to help get there. such as victim assistance funds, court fines, She cautioned, however, that planning After the keynote address, Ryan led a payroll taxes and accommodations taxes. must extend beyond the traditional break-out session focusing on the Charles- Saturday morning’s Awards Breakfast strategic planning process where organi- ton metro area’s long-range planning project honored cities and individuals for their zations tend to look only one to five years she led last year with the business commu- inspiring work. Winning entries for the in the future based on what they have nity. In a matter of three days, the Charles- Achievement Awards, Main Street South done in the past. Strategic forecasting, ton Metro Chamber of Commerce pared Carolina Inspiration Awards and the however, looks 20, 30, 40 years into the hundreds of challenges for the future into Risk Management Services safety awards future evaluating trends, looking at what’s two major priorities for the next 15 years received recognition for their efforts. plausible for the future and planning from and created a plan to meet those challenges. Packed meeting rooms from Thursday that perspective. At the beginning of the session, Ryan and Friday continued during Saturday’s Ryan discussed trends from the had a conversation with Mayor Joe Riley breakout sessions. Attendees learned the perspectives of the economy, the environ- who gave his recollection of the first hours pros and cons of consolidating services ment, politics, media and the workforce following the Emmanuel Church shoot- and an alternate way to prioritize accom- noting especially that young people today ings. The room was still and silent as he modations and hospitality tax requests. have values and goals that may no longer recounted how the people of Charleston Small city leaders gathered for roundtable fit into the molds of traditional thinking, quickly came together in a spirit of grace discussions, and the Association’s legisla- and leaders must be prepared to meet their and forgiveness. tive team briefed officials on issues from needs. Whether it’s through more collabo- Riley said he knew his community the 2015 General Assembly. rative work environments, better commu- would react with “love and unity.” He The meeting concluded on Sunday nity spaces, increased access to walking noted that this type of community unity is morning with an inspiring gospel perfor- and biking transportation options, or new important not only in times of tragedy but mance at the Spiritual Breakfast. technology uses, it’s clear that planning for also when things are going well. Handouts and presentations from the the future must be more than just budget Officials spent the rest

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