The February Conference Business meeting will focus on preparing for the Annual Springfield Drive Down and will provide tips on how to be successful in all lobbying efforts in Springfield. In addition, we will be presenting IML Executive Director Larry Frang with the Governmental Leader of the Year award. The meeting will be on Wednesday, February 17, 2010 at the Doubletree Conference Center in Downers Grove. A registration form is available on our website, or by contacting Mary Ann Jurevich, Events Planner.

The Conference is hosting Addressing Bad News: A PR Workshop, on Friday, March 26 at Addison Village Hall from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. Former Press Secretary to Jim Edgar and President of Mack Communications, Gary Mack, will be facilitating. The workshop will focus on media relations and how to answer to your residents and the media in the midst of budget and service cuts. The registration form is available on our website. Contact Kim Sumner, Member Services and Communications Manager, with any questions.

The Conference presented its 2010 Legislative Priorities to DuPage legislators at the Annual Legislative Reception and Dinner on Wednesday, January 20, 2010. We appreciate the following legislators for their participation in this event: Rep. Patricia Bellock, Rep. Michael Connelly, Rep. Jim Durkin, Rep. Michael Fortner, Rep. Paul Froehlich, Rep. Sandra Pihos, Rep. Darlene Senger.

 

The Conference's Legisative Action Program is available on the DMMC website.

The City of Wheaton will use $47,837 it received through the Illinois Clean Diesel Grant Program to retrofit 13 aged diesel trucks with systems that will improve the vehicles' emissions. The Illinois Clean Diesel Grant Program is being funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. Its goal is to reduce particulate matter emissions and other pollutants from diesel-powered vehicles and to improve public health. The Wheaton Public Works Department also incorporates the use of biodiesel fuel and follows a policy to reduce the idle time of its vehicles.

IMET's 1-3 Year Fund performance for the 12 month period ending December 31, 2009, provided a total return of 1.55% on a gross of fee basis, outperforming the benchmark, Barclay's Capital 1-3 Year Government Index, which provided a 1.41% total return for the same period. IMET's net of fees return for the last 12 months was 1.27%. IMET is proud to maintain a triple A rating from Standard & Poor's rating service providing members with the highest level of safety. IMET's Convenience Fund continued to provide a strong rate to IMET members as the Convenience Fund posted an average daily yield for the month of .60% as of December 31, 2009, and a net one-year return of .48% as of December 31. IMET's Convenience Fund is fully collateralized at 110% and is managed so as to maintain a stable $1.00 share price. Please check IMET's website for more information including membership and performance.

 

 

This winter, the League of Illinois Bicyclists is conducting 10 "Introduction to Bicycle Planning" continuing education seminars to introduce the technical aspects and strategic issues of local bike planning. DMMC and DuPage County are co-hosting a seminar on Thursday, February 25, 9:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at the County Administration Building. The seminar is geared toward local officials and bicycle advisory commission members, as well as planners and engineers. The cost is $25. Details and registration are at www.bikelib.org.  

DMMC now tweets about upcoming events and information. Follow us at www.twitter.com/DMMC_COG.