New Forums for 2008

The following new member forums were activated in June 2008. Our intent is to make additions, subtractions, and revisions to the member forum topics on an annual basis, with forum participation factoring highly into determining which forums continue. So if you really like a particular forum, post your messages and encourage your colleagues to do the same!

  • As You See It
    For more than fifteen years, Executive Director Jim Miller has penned the "As I See It" column for the League's Minnesota Cities magazine. His reflections on the roles and responsibilities of city leaders and the broader environment that affects their work often generate insightful comments from members. The "As You See It" member forum uses Jim's monthly columns as a springboard for discussion.
  • Gain and Loss in Minnesota's Geographic Population Shifts
    How can a city with a declining population attract new residents? How can a city with a growing population keep pace? How do today’s fiscal constraints leave room for the new investments necessary to respond effectively to population shifts? If you are a city official serving a city in rapid decline or growth, this forum is a place to exchange concerns and ideas.
  • Generating Renewed Interest in City Service
    The Baby-Boomers of city government are beginning to retire and many worry that not enough people are interested in or trained to fill their positions. And with citizens looking for balance, meaning, and flexibility in how they spend their time, it's also important to ensure the pool of potential city elected officials remains strong. The "Generating Renewed Interest in City Service" member forum is intended to spur dialogue on challenges and solutions related to promoting the value of city service.
  • Green Leadership
    Minnesota cities have long been leaders in "going green." While environmental stewardship and a "green" ethic might once have been viewed as visionary and innovative, it is quickly becoming a public expectation. The "Green Leadership" member forum is a vehicle for city officials to share information and ideas on how care for our natural resources and attention to energy efficiency relates to other responsibilities of city governance and management.
  • Minnesota’s Aging Population
    With today’s retirees being more active and living longer, cities are working to determine how best to engage and serve seniors throughout their golden years. The “Minnesota’s Aging Population” forum is a place to discuss the myriad ways seniors can contribute to the public work of cities, and how cities can collaborate with others to ensure seniors receive coordinated community support as they age.
  • Recommended Reading, Listening & Viewing
    We've all done it—read a book or an article, listened to a podcast, or viewed a program and felt compelled to share it with everyone we know. If you've found a resource that inspires your public service, presents a perennial issue in a unique light, or gets you thinking about new possibilities for city leadership, the "Recommended Reading, Listening & Viewing" member forum is the place to share it.

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