Director’s Notes

We will have wrapped up most of the ten district meetings by the time you read this, and while it will be nice to be home again, we really have a great time visiting the towns hosting the meetings this year. From the farthest corner Northeast to its opposite in the Southwest, we’ve really seen a lot this year, and the warm welcome in every community is so special. We really appreciate the hard work each city put into arranging for the wonderful food and meeting places, door prizes, and entertainment – so to Milbank, Howard, Elk Point, Kadoka, Hill City, Faulkton, Colome, Wessington Springs, Herreid, and Faith –THANKS!

District Meetings always renew a sense of amazement that there are so many bright, dedicated people, willing to serve their communities and give their time. Although we go to each town to present a legislative update, we always come away having learned more than we taught.

Back at the office, our attention now turns to our schools and seminars, culminating with the Annual Conference in Rapid City in October. At the last Conference, we had several general session speakers who all received rave reviews – and every one of them was suggested by a member. If you have thoughts on programs you would like to see at the Conference, please contact us!

The April municipal elections are just around the corner, and along with the excellent incumbents, we will have a whole new group of elected officials we look forward to working with. I would urge everyone to try and take advantage of all the services offered by the League – we have many fantastic opportunities to help you grow in your public service position, and while it is hard to quantify, a knowledgeable, involved council will save you money in the long run. One case in point: a city in South Dakota that reached a pretty dysfunctional level before someone stepped in and even noticed, because it was being quite well hidden by a staff member. A council that had attended even one of our elected officials workshops would have had enough information to have waved a red flag well before it ended up with more than $100,000 in penalties. Make sure to keep an eye on the magazine and website for all the training opportunities this spring and summer.

Please also consider getting involved in the policy committee process. We have four committees, each of which meets in August, and again at the October conference. They will give you a great opportunity to discuss issues with your fellow officials, as well as to direct the activity of the League in the next legislative session.

Until next month, remember we are always available at 1-800-658-3633 or yvonne@sdmunicipalleague.org.

Visit the League’s website!

Spring is a busy time of year for trainings and meetings. Visit the Events section frequently on the SDML website, www.sdmunicipalleague.org, to find out what events are coming up. Yvonne Taylor Executive Director