The Conference celebrated its Golden Anniversary on May 18 with a Gala at the Hilton Lisle/Naperville. Thank you to the event sponsors, AT&T, BMO Harris Bank, Call One, Chicago Zoological Society, Christopher B. Burke Engineering, Comcast, Ice Miller, Illinois American Water, IMET, Robinson Engineering, and Speer Financial. One highlight of the evening was the "passing of the gavel" from outgoing President, Mayor Gary Grasso (Burr Ridge), to incoming President, President Rodney Craig (Hanover Park). Other notable moments from the evening were the presentation of flags by the Hanover Park Honor Guard and the speeches given by former manager Greg Bielawski, Mayor David Brummel, Mayor Gayle Smolinski and Executive Director Mark Baloga. The master of ceremonies for the event was former city manager Peter Burchard. 
  

During the induction ceremony, outgoing President Gary Grasso thanked the 2011-2012 Board of Directors for their hard work during the year and President Rodney Craig enthusiastically welcomed the incoming Board. A complete roster of the 2012-2013 Board of Directors can be found on the Conference website.

Mayor Gary Grasso passes the gavel to President Rodney Craig

Registration is open for the DMMC Annual Golf Outing, which will be held at the Village Links of Glen Ellyn on Wednesday, July 11, 2012. Registration, lunch, and the practice range will be open at 11 a.m. The shotgun start/scramble format outing will begin at 12 noon. If you can't make it for golf, please join us for dinner. The cash bar reception is at 5:00 p.m. and dinner is at 6:00 p.m. There are also plenty of sponosrship opportunities to fit every budget.  Visit the DMMC website for information on registration and sponsorships or contact Kim Sumner, Member Services and Communications Manager.     

The Conference is hard at work implementing the recently adopted Strategic Plan. The Plan outlines our goals and the anticipated outcomes. More information on the Strategic Plan can be found on the DMMC website.      

The Conference held its final Springfield Drive Down for the 2012 spring session on May 15-16. Participants were Presidents Craig and Pruyn, Mayors Hartwig, Saverino, and Smolinski, Administrator Teich, Councilman Scalzo, and Commissioner Durkin. During the two day Drive Down, members met with many legislators to advocate for issues of importance to DuPage municipalities and local governments. Thank you to those who participated in the spring session Drive Downs!

For all communities who will be submitting an application for STP funding for FY 13-18, the STP Workshop is mandatory. This year's workshop will be held June 20 at 8:30 a.m. at the Naperville Municipal Center. It will provide project sponsors with application forms and information on using DuPage Council STP funds. The cost for members or their representatives is $10. The cost for non-members is $20. Registration must be completed by Wednesday, June 13. Cancellations after June 13 will be billed in full. For more information, contact Mike Albin, Transportation Project Manager.

DMMC's Fire Service Stakeholders met on June 4, as the group continues to highlight successful models of collaboration. The meeting featured a presentation by Clarendon Hills Village Manager Randy Recklaus and Fire Chief Brian Leahy on a shared services agreement with the Village of Hinsdale. This unique agreement allows Hinsdale (which has a full-time department) to share fire services with Clarendon Hills (which has primarily a Paid On Call/Part-Time department). Since the execution of this agreement in 2010, average response times have fallen from 8 minutes and 50 seconds to 6 minutes and 18 seconds in Clarendon Hills. The Stakeholders also heard an update from the West Suburban Fire and Rescue Alliance, which launched a dispatch system in March 2012 that better coordinates emergency services and enhances the department's ability to share resources.