Congress of Cities Gives Local Officials Opportunity to Connect

For many cities it is inconceivable not to send someone to the Congress of Cities; recently, some municipalities have even approved resolutions designating NLC’s Congress of Cities and Exposition a must-attend event. The value of this convention lies with its content and its ability to connect colleagues across the country.

“The National League of Cities is a well-respected organization nationally and locally, and NLC conferences are where substance meets action for city officials and staff,” said Ralph Becker, mayor of Salt Lake City. “They are where the people doing the work of cities gather to share and learn.”

For 86 years, NLC’s Congress of Cities and Exposition has been the premier convening of city officials and staff because it delivers on its promise to provide common sense, cost-saving solutions to the real issues challenging America’s municipalities. It is also the place to hear from nationally known speakers who have critical insights into the issues facing city leaders.

For example, influential political author and historian Doris Kearns Goodwin, winner of the Pulitzer-Prize, will discuss leading in a time of crisis during the closing general session on November 14. 

“Attending the Congress of Cities is not time away from your job as a city official or staff member,” explained Donald J. Borut, NLC executive director. “It is part of your job; the heart of the conference is directed specifically at problem-solving that helps cities and city governments thrive.”

At the 2009 Congress of Cities, attendees will get the latest information on how to navigate through economic recovery including hearing from federal agencies, finding real-world examples of successes and lessons learned and participating in peer-based learning that helps cities build on another’s achievements. Attendees will also discover the latest information about what cities are facing in the areas of public safety, economic development, public finance, infrastructure and sustainability.

Through content-based learning opportunities such as workshops, mobile workshops and general sessions as well as experiential learning opportunities including conversations with exhibitors and networking events, attendees will short-cut the problem-solving process.

Learning from someone else is the fastest way to learn, say social scientists, and conferences, like the Congress of Cities and Exposition, make use of this proven method of building knowledge and fostering innovation.

“Starting from scratch in developing solutions to city concerns unnecessarily and wastefully consumes resources and time that could be better employed in other city projects and programs — resources that cities cannot afford to waste,” said NLC President Kathleen M. Novak, mayor of Northglenn, Colo. “The Congress of Cities and Exposition continues to be THE learning venue for city officials and staff on the major issues that affect municipalities.”

Veteran attendees of the conference agree that the Congress of Cities and Exposition isn’t a think tank atmosphere that emphasizes untried ideas; it’s a direct line to real-world solutions and innovations. Attendees at the Congress of Cities and Exposition take home ideas that improve the lives of their citizens.

“In November 2008, I attended a workshop on the EnergyStar program. The speaker was terrific and provided very useful documents about the program,” said Belinda Kenley, councilmember, Centerville, Ohio. “I immediately saw how the City of Centerville could use this tool to benchmark and track our energy usage in all city buildings.”

“At our January retreat, I presented the idea, which Council approved,” Kenly continued. “In March 2009, the City of Centerville signed up with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency as an EnergyStar partner. The city is now tracking energy usage through its Portfolio Manager program, which will help us track our progress as we implement energy-saving programs. By participating in this initiative, Council has had further discussions about becoming more energy-conscious, setting up an Environmental Committee, and doing a number of activities to reduce our carbon footprint, decrease energy usage, and educate our residents about environmentally-friendly practices.”

What municipal leaders learn at the Congress of Cities and Exposition can directly benefit constituents. Attending the conference can be one of the wisest investments cities make in 2009; and by registering now for the Congress of Cities, attendees can save more than $100 off the advance rate and nearly $150 off the onsite rate.

Those who have never attended the conference before can take advantage of the $375 first-time attendee rate. To register or to learn more about the conference, visit www.nlccongressofcities.org.