Municipal officials will have four preconference workshops to choose from for the 2016 Annual Meeting in Charleston. All are half-day sessions and will take place during the morning of Thursday, July 14.
The preconference workshops are additional educational opportunities and not included in the Annual Meeting registration fee.
Transforming North Charleston: Community Development in Action
Through the years, the Association has offered preconference mobile workshops for attendees to see and hear firsthand how their peers are creating opportunities and managing the challenges of municipal government. This year’s mobile workshop travels to North Charleston.
Riverfront Park, North Charleston
While serving the state’s third largest municipality, city officials work hard to balance big-city amenities with a hometown sense of community.
Attendees from both large and small cities can benefit from learning how North Charleston is transforming its economy and physical environment by implementing creative economic development projects, building sustainable neighborhoods, restoring historic buildings and constructing attractive streetscapes.
Among other stops, attendees will tour the city’s award-winning redevelopment of the former Charleston Naval Base which closed in 1996 after a federal base realignment program.
Cost: $60 (includes breakfast). This workshop is limited to 110 registrants and involves some walking.
Realizing the Full Potential of Your Hometown’s Public Spaces
It makes sense that people want to live and work in a community that they love. Placemaking is both a philosophy and process for strengthening the connection between people and public spaces. It is about taking a collaborative approach to creating dynamic places that build on a community’s assets, inspiration and potential.
Attendees will learn the processes and techniques involved in placemaking. They will explore how special public places are the catalysts for creating dynamic cities and towns that attract pedestrian activity and economic investment.
Cost: $60.
Speak Up with Confidence
Public speaking is a challenge for some. For others, it can be downright terrifying. Even the most experienced speakers can learn new ways to perfect their message and strengthen their connection with an audience.
Through hands-on exercises, participants will learn about and practice building audience rapport, fine-tuning their delivery and making every point clear. Offered at last year’s Annual Meeting, attendees quickly snapped up the limited spaces for this workshop conducted by The Buckley School of Public Speaking.
Cost: $90. This session is limited to 35 participants.
The Basics of Parliamentary Procedure
Sponsored by the Association of South Carolina Mayors
Public meetings are the place where the mayor and councilmembers do their important work of conducting the public’s business. To do so efficiently and effectively, local officials need to ensure these meetings are orderly.
Mayors and councilmembers will learn from a certified parliamentarian the basics of parliamentary procedure including running a meeting and handling motions. Attendees will have time at the end of the workshop to ask questions.
Cost: $40. This session is limited to 40 registrants.