By Julius Suchy
2020 Virtual Summer Conference Recap
While it was disappointing that the 2020 MME Summer Workshop was cancelled due to COVID-19, the Professional Development Committee was able to put together a virtual conference that was free to the MME membership. The sessions were held over two days and attendance ranged from 25-45 attendees for each 50-minute session. If you were unable to attend, all of the sessions and presentations are available on the MME website for review.
Need Member Input on How to Proceed with 2021 Winter Institute in Grand Rapids
The Professional Development Committee has met and discussed whether the 2021 Winter Institute in Grand Rapids should be held in person, virtually, or not at all. It was clear from the committee members that there is little hope for an in-person conference as soon as January 2021. The two options that were discussed at length were a virtual conference that would bring in some higher-level speakers but potentially charge a registration fee or require the committee to seek sponsorships, or not hold a conference at all.
The committee will be putting together a survey and emailing it to the membership to see what they would like to see for the January conference. The committee thought it would be important to get feedback before investing significant time in planning since our membership turnout for the free virtual summer conference was low.
Keep an eye out for the survey and please share your thoughts so we can do the best job possible for our MME members!
Future Conference Location Shakeup
The Professional Development Committee plans years ahead for conference locations to ensure that the facilities and venue options are desirable for MME conferences. The committee will be recommending to the MME board to add Frankenmuth as the 2023 summer conference location and that the 2023 Winter Institute be held in Grand Rapids due to the cancellation of in-person conferences in 2021. This will be subject to availability of both conference locations and approval by the MME board.
Upcoming Scholarship Deadline
Although in-person professional development is currently on hold, please consider reviewing the scholarship guidelines and looking at opportunities in 2021 and beyond that you may be interested in attending. Visit www.mme.org/scholarship-application-guidelines/ for more information.
Upcoming Conference Locations
- 2021 Winter Institute – TBD
- 2021 Summer Workshop – Rochester/Auburn Hills
- 2022 Winter Institute – Troy, MI
- 2022 Summer Workshop – Holland, MI
- 2023 Winter Institute – Grand Rapids, MI (Tentative)
- 2023 Summer Workshop – Frankenmuth, MI (Tentative)
Julius Suchy, Chair, Professional Development Committee
Village Manager
Sparta
jsuchy@spartami.org