Tuesday, April 18
Concurrent Educational Sessions
1 to 2:15 p.m.
Beyond the Conflict: Building a Better Board with Consensus
Building consensus is often confused with compromise. If only consensus were that easy! Explore what it takes to build the series of small agreements necessary to reach consensus, resulting in win/wins for your board and your community. Forget giving in a little and instead focus on how you can approach issues “differently” to assure all stakeholders are united with One Voice!
Speaker: Nancy Ohle, President, Professional Training & Development Resources
OR
The Pursuit of Great Township Governance
Good governance does not just happen because you are in charge! It requires a board culture that creates consistency and transparency in your processes. Effective township governance goes beyond operating within the law and practicing Robert’s Rules of Order. It includes how you talk to each other, how you connect with your community and how you advance the township. It also includes how you delegate and hold people accountable. This session will focus on creating an intentional governance culture that serves your community.
Speaker: Susan Radwan, Owner, Leading Edge Mentoring
Concurent Educational Sessions
2:45 to 4 p.m.
Here Comes the Sun: What Your Township Needs to do to Prepare for Solar Energy
As the state’s climate plan continues to drive renewable energy standards, it’s important that you understand both opportunities and challenges for your community. From siting and taxation to ensuring your zoning decisions weigh all the options, we’ll help you get a handle on all the considerations and why you should plan now. Walk away with practical, first-hand advice from our panel of experts.
Speakers: Catherine Kaufman and Seth Koches, MTA Legal Counsel, Bauckham, Thall, Seeber, Kaufman & Koches, PC; and Sarah Banas Mills, PhD, Senior Project Manager, Graham Sustainability Institute, Lecturer, School for Environment and Sustainability, University of Michigan
OR
Keep Calm and Carry On
It’s happening everywhere and with increasing frequency. Angry individuals unleashing their opinions with profanity and aggression—in your board meetings, your office, even in the parking lot. Often, the bullies come armed with a video camera (or worse!) and attempt to goad you into bad behavior. Next thing you know, it’s all posted on social media. Maintaining your composure in the heat of the moment can be challenging, to say the least. Listen in as our experts break down this troubling behavior and offer techniques for handling these heated and uncomfortable situations, including what the law allows when constitutional lines are crossed.
Moderator: Nancy Ohle, President, Professional Training & Development Resources; Panelists: Steven Joppich, Shareholder, Rosati, Schultz, Joppich & Amtsbuechler, PC; Allie Walker, Vice President, Truscott Rossman; and Mike Wierenga, Co- founder, Two The Rescue LLC
Wednesday, April 19
Plenary Educational Sessions
10:45 a.m. to noon
BONUS! BREAKOUT SESSION
A Leader Worth Following
The world is starving for leaders who make a difference—those willing to step up to implement positive change and who are worthy of following. Our 2023 keynoter will explain various ways of approaching problems that allow people to come together, set aside misunderstandings, and utilize their own individual gifts to manage issues with vision and unity.
Speaker: MTA 2023 Conference Keynoter Randy Fox
OR
Elections Update
Hear directly from the Secretary of State’s office and state Bureau of Elections on the hot issues in Michigan elections. Learn more about key topics for the 2023 election cycle, the changes and challenges that Proposal 2022-2 brings, legislative changes and so much more. Bring your questions!
Speakers: Representatives from the Bureau of Elections, Michigan Department of State
Concurrent Educational Sessions
1 to 2:15 p.m.
Road Relations: Stay in Your Lane
Explore the options and benefits of partnering with your road commission
to fix the damn roads. We’ll share practical strategies and stories of collaboration, and offer insights into what works and what doesn’t!
Speakers: Joanna Johnson, Managing Director, Road Commission of Kalamazoo County, and Chair, Michigan’s Transportation Asset Management Council; Rob Thall, MTA Legal Counsel, Bauckham, Thall, Seeber, Kaufman & Koches, PC; and Jennifer Tubbs, Manager, Watertown Charter Township (Clinton Co.), and Board Member, Michigan’s Transportation Asset Management Council
OR
The Township Board Has One Voice—How Does it Sound?
Whether you have a five- or seven-member board, every member has the same power … one vote. A majority of those votes becomes the decision—and voice—of the board. Explore the importance, and power, of your board speaking with One Voice and walk away with tips to ensure your board’s voice is loud and clear, instead of quiet and muffled.
Speaker: Mike Selden, MTA Director of Member Information Services
Concurrent Educational Sessions
2:45 to 4 p.m.
Providing a Safe Township Workplace
Whether it’s a tornado, freak blizzard, fire, or active shooter, every employer—and that includes townships—has a legal duty to create and maintain a safe workplace. In today’s world, that means taking reasonable steps to protect every township team member in crisis situations. That obligation means every township needs to develop, and update, a disaster plan. Join us as we review the key steps to develop your unique plan and identify where you can get support. You can’t afford not to have an updated disaster plan in place to protect your township’s most valuable asset, its people!
Speaker: Karen Kienbaum, Founder and Principal, and Genevieve Adel, Associate Attorney, The Kienbaum Law Group, PC and Justus® Programs
OR
What Every Township Needs to Know about Investments
You won’t want to miss this discussion on municipal investments, including a basic overview on strategies for rising and falling interest rate environments. We’ll review investment options available to townships, potential changes to Public Act 20 and more!
Speaker: Jeff Anderson, Director of Investment Services, Michigan CLASS, and former Finance Director/Deputy Treasurer for Delta Charter Township (Eaton Co.)