Region Three Education Seminar Highlights

The Region 3 Seminar, held in Cedar Springs on May 9, 2008 was a huge success!   Rob Ferrari, League director of IT/Operations, spoke about utilizing the internet, blogs, pod casts, and other technology-driven tools to communicate with citizens.  He focused on the tools that can take your community from point, click, and view to point, click, and participate.  This is another way to create a sense of place for citizens and show off what’s so great about your community.  Speaker David Wierzbicki of DEQ talked about Michigan’s economic development program and how it is currently at risk due to limited funding.

Representative Tom Pierce (R-Rockford) answered audience questions about current events at the Capitol.  They discussed the gas tax, PEG fees on cable, public transportation, and revenue sharing.  Education was also discussed and how it’s not a one size fits all program. 

Community Excellence Award
The votes are in!  After many excellent presentations by officials across the region, attendees chose the city of Zeeland as the Region 3 Community Excellence Award winner finalist.  This win places Zeeland in the running for the ultimate win—the 2008 Community Excellence Award Cup!  The final competition will be fierce, pitting the winner from each region against each other for the BIG win, which will be announced at the 2008 Annual Michigan Municipal League Convention on Mackinac Island, October 1-4, 2008.  Don’t miss out—register early (June 2) to come out to vote for your favorite project.  Congratulations to the City of Zeeland!