President’s Report

I look forward to seeing all of you next month in Rapid City for the annual Conference! It looks like it will be a very busy one with informative sessions. Thanks to everyone who is participating by serving on the four policy committees: general government, public works, public health, safety and welfare, and tax and revenue. You are the guiding force behind the necessary directions our organization must take to be successful. It takes so many dedicated public servants with a can do attitude to make our group successful. Thank you so much!

Most households have a mess maker, as does every town/city. Our job is to clean up the messes made by others, be it previous administrations as well as the citizens within. It is an ever evolving world and what was a solution at the time becomes a mess later. Hind sight is always twenty/twenty and who could possibly foresee the problems that a changing world brings. So instead of criticizing, realize that we continue to change and must find solutions that deal with these problems as our city/towns rotate in growth and success. There are so many good citizens within your city/town, who want to make things better and find the solution to the messes around us. Do not give in to the negativity of the naysayers, instead look at the majority of good people that reside in your city/town. Realize that these citizens are the backbone of any town and their voices matter as much as the greasy wheels. Do not let them down by becoming negative yourself. You must remain optimistic as a leader and public servant remember there is a solution to any problem that comes your way. Remain hopeful and confident that there is a way to solve any mess and that with the help of the optimistic people it will be found. As a public servant have the confidence that the positive always succeeds over the negative. Do not give in to the negative side of citizens, help them to see we can all work together to make our city great. If you lose your optimism you have lost the battle of being a good public servant and become part of the mess. It does not help anyone if we lose our optimistic attitude, especially the people we work with and the citizenry within.

The foundation of a city crumbles when the ones who make up this foundation lose their optimism. I know I could never have remained in this job this long without that all important key. A jewel of a key for your chain “OPTIMISM.”

Respectfully, Meri Jo Anderson President