LMR July 2023

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DIRECTOR’S VIEWPOINT Our 86th Annual Convention – The Place to Connect It’s almost time! Our 86 th Annual Convention (August 3-5) is coming up quickly, and we’re busy putting final touches on making this a memorable event. Early registration has been a fruitful one, but there are still spaces available. If you’re new to the LMA, I encourage you to attend as a way of getting a feel for all the resources available to you. This edition of our Louisiana Municipal Review gives you all the information necessary for a successful registration. If you’re a veteran attendee – welcome back. We sure are glad to have you. We have an engaging array of educational and informational workshops on offer, including Fight the Blight, Adjudicated Property and Tax Sales, and Public Records and Open Meeting Laws. Speakers from organizations including LITACorp, the USDA, and ETEC, will expand upon how they can assist you with advice and technical assistance. The City of Pineville will once again host our annual Prayer Breakfast. An enormous thank you to Pineville Mayor Rich Dupree and his staff for continuing this most welcome tradition. And we’ll have a gubernatorial candidates forum this year – just in time for voting season. The convention will feature luncheons on Friday and Saturday, our kick-off reception on Thursday evening, the Host City Reception on Friday night, and our pinnacle Annual Banquet. I look forward to seeing you all there, and I appreciate how gracious and helpful Alexandria Mayor Jacques Roy has been, as he makes plans to host us this year. The convention will feature luncheons on Friday and Saturday, our kick-off reception on Thursday evening, the Host City Reception on Friday night, and our pinnacle Annual Banquet. I look forward to seeing you all there, and I appreciate how gracious and helpful Alexandria Mayor Jacques Roy has been, as he makes plans to host us this year. You can check out his welcome letter on page 15. It takes a village to get these events off the ground, so a huge thank you also to the entire LMA staff, and a specific thank you to our Events Director Nikki Samrow. This is no easy task, and you’d never know that by her calm composure, and those of the entire LMA team. Last month, we held our ten district meetings. My hat is off to our 2022-23 District Vice Presidents for their service on, and their dedication to, the LMA Executive Board. Congratulations to all of our 2023-24 District Vice Presidents who will officially be confirmed at our Annual Business Meeting on Friday, August 4 in Alexandria. I ask you to also take time to read Charlotte Smith’s feature on the City of Alexandria. Apart from being the host city for this year’s convention, there is a tremendous amount of Louisiana Municipal Association history with Alexandria, stemming as far back as 1926. It’s a welcome feeling that an organization is doing something right when backed by a city so pivotal in the state for so long. Charlotte also delves John Gallagher, Executive Director into a bit of Alexandria’s military history, as The Hotel Bentley paid host to the Louisiana Maneuvers and housed Generals Bradley, Eisenhower, and Patton, in the process. You can also check out some ideas from the Louisiana Office of Tourism om “Things To Do” when you’re in the area. In closing, I wanted to also remind you that our August and September LMR editions will be one combined, keepsake issue packed with convention coverage, and will be available online and in your mailboxes in September. We look forward to continuing this path of coverage for upcoming conventions as well. I am very excited about seeing so many of you so soon. Our conventions are about more than simply meetings and education – they are a space for us to form friendships, to find collaborators, and to revitalize ourselves. Here’s to August in Alexandria, and here’s to staying #LMAStrong. Page 4 LMR | JULY 2023
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE A Loving Farewell As I reflect on my presidency, the first thought is…where has the time gone?! It seems like it was just yesterday when I received the LMA gavel at the eloquent banquet gala at last year’s annual convention in Lafayette. Your love, attendance, and support at that historic event is stamped indelibly in my memory for the rest of my life. Shortly after the convention concluded, we went to work preparing for a busy fall season that included moving the entire LMA/ RMI/LaMATS staff to a new headquarters building in Baton Rouge. Shortly after the furniture, phones and computers were in place, we took time to recognize the extraordinary contributions of three (3) individuals by naming board and conference rooms after the former long-serving Baker Mayor, statesman, and LMA Past President, my dear friend, Mayor “Pete” Heine. RMI’s founding General Manager, the late Jerry Cronin, will be forever remembered for his professional and dedicated service to members of our risk pool. And former Carencro Mayor Glenn Brasseaux’s name was placed on the wall to recognize his numerous years of service as past LMA President and board member. The new building was a prudent investment that gives a real sense of “home” to the membership, staff, and affiliated organizations that reside there as tenants. We helped to rollout and launch two (2) initiatives that will forever change internet connectivity in our communities through historic broadband programs and funding. The joint LMA-Police Jury Association of Louisiana initiative now known as LITACorp, provides technical assistance, grant writing, and essential local matching funds directly to municipalities and parishes developing critical infrastructure projects. These programs simply would not have happened without the steadfast commitment to local government that our generous and compassionate Governor John Bel Edwards continued to provide. Over the course of this past year, we have visited many communities and their leaders to get a better sense of their needs. Unfortunately, several experienced catastrophic damage from severe weather, while others struggled mightily to provide their residents basic resources. What we did NOT find were communities that had lost all hope given their What we did NOT find were communities that had lost all hope given their circumstances. People of our great state are not just resilient, but they are resourceful and bighearted, even under the most difficult times. I have known and experienced this throughout my over 40 years of public service, but this past year has renewed my spirit and devotion to our state. circumstances. People of our great state are not just resilient, but they are resourceful and bighearted, even under the most difficult times. I have known and experienced this throughout my over 40 years of public service, but this past year has renewed my spirit and devotion to our state. I choose to believe that PEOPLE ARE GOOD and generally want what is Jennifer Vidrine, LMA President Ville Platte best for their neighbor and community. Leaders, LIKE YOU, are the key ingredient that makes a real difference in people’s lives. Always remember, “IT’S NOT ABOUT THE TITLE, IT’S ABOUT THE PEOPLE.” Care about the people. Have a heart for the people. People want to follow a leader with a heart, not a title. You’ve probably not heard the last, “Whooooo” or “Girl Power” from me because Every Goodbye Ain’t Gone, but the time has come to pass the gavel. I wish the entire LMA Membership great success. Until our paths cross next, please remember that if we pray without ceasing, love and respect one another, the LMA will ALWAYS BE BETTER because WE ARE BETTER TOGETHER! All of my heart (and hats) will forever be connected to the LMA MEMBERSHIP! Yours in Public Service and a Heart For The People! Jennifer LMR | JULY 2023 Page 5
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